Body style[edit]The Gibson Melody Maker was first launched in 1959 and discontinued in 1971.^[4] It had a thin slab-style mahogany body and a one-piece mahogany neck.^[4] All the electronics, from the small single-coil pickups to the cable jack, were assembled on the pickguard and installed in a rout in the front of the body. The strings ran from a straight-sided simplification of the traditional Gibson headstock at one end to a wraparound bridge/tailpiece unit at the other.^[5]

From 1959 until 1961,^[1] the Melody Maker had a single cutaway slab body style similar to the early Les Paul Junior model but thinner. In 1961 the body style changed to a symmetrical double cutaway, resembling a Gretsch 6122 or a Danelectro Shorthorn; the single cutaway model was discontinued.^[1] The body style was changed in 1966 to a style similar to the SG, with pointed "horns", a large white scratchplate, and white pickup covers instead of black.^[2] Note: Melody Maker "D" refers to the double pickup model of any vintage but is often mistakenly used for the double cutaway model.^[4]

Options on the Melody Maker included two pickups, the "D" model and a short-scale 3/4 neck.^[2] In 1967 a twelve-string version and a three pickup version were introduced, the Melody Maker 12 and III respectively.^[1] A short length version of theVibrola vibrato device was also available as an option.^[2]

From 1959 to 1962 the finish was a sunburst, from 1963 to 1965 it was cherry, from 1966 it was fire engine red or pelham blue, in 1967 red was replaced by sparkling burgundy and walnut became an option from 1968.^[1] Rare examples were made to order in other custom Gibson colors e.g. Inverness Green.^[6]