1963 Gibson Melody Maker, Sunburst
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
At a Glance:
Model: Melody Maker
Finish: Sunburst
Provenance: Previously owned by respected guitar tech Mike Clement (Black Sabbath, Motorhead)
Body: Mahogany double cutaway body
Neck: Mahogany
Neck profile: Chunky C
Pickup: Original single coil
Electronics: Correct Centralab pots - week 8 of 1963; wiring and solder appear stock
Tuners: Correct 3-on-a-strip tuners; D-string tuner slightly bent
Bridge: Changed, Badass
Nut Width: 42mm
Neck Depth: 20.6mm at 1st fret / 26.1mm at 12th fret
Pickup Reading: 7.38k
Case: Period soft shell case with various tour stickers and passes
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.
1963 Gibson Melody Maker, Sunburst
Regular price
- Unit price
- / per
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1963 Gibson Melody Maker, Sunburst
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Description
A very cool 1963 Gibson Melody Maker, finished in Sunburst and previously owned by respected guitar tech Mike Clement.
Mike was best known for his long association with Tony Iommi and Black Sabbath, and worked at the sharp end of professional guitar setup, maintenance and touring for many years. Mike sadly passed away in 2022, and we're honoured to have been asked to offer this guitar for sale on behalf of his family.
This is the single pickup, double cutaway version of the Melody Maker, with a simple, lightweight, solid mahogany construction. It feels lively and resonant, and the single pickup/volume/tone layout echoes its no-nonsense approach.
Condition-wise, it is a good honest example with no breaks or repairs. The guitar has a nice chunky neck profile, measuring 42mm at the nut, with a depth of 20.6mm at the 1st fret and 26.1mm at the 12th. It feels substantial in the hand without being cumbersome, and overall it feels great to play.
Hardware includes the correct 3-on-a-strip tuners (D-string tuner is slightly bent.) It has a changed Badass bridge and the guitar intonates well.
Electronically, both pots are correct Centralab dating to week 8 of 1963, the wiring and solder all look stock, and the pickup reads 7.38k.
Tonally, this is exactly what these guitars do so well: spiky, punchy and direct, with a strong, powerful attack. It is not an overly complex sound, but that is very much the charm, and overall it has loads of character and cuts through beautifully.
A fantastic early ’60s Gibson with no breaks or repairs previously owned by one of the best techs in the business. Complete with a period soft shell case displaying a variety of tour stickers and passes.
Adding product to your cart
At a Glance:
Model: Melody Maker
Finish: Sunburst
Provenance: Previously owned by respected guitar tech Mike Clement (Black Sabbath, Motorhead)
Body: Mahogany double cutaway body
Neck: Mahogany
Neck profile: Chunky C
Pickup: Original single coil
Electronics: Correct Centralab pots - week 8 of 1963; wiring and solder appear stock
Tuners: Correct 3-on-a-strip tuners; D-string tuner slightly bent
Bridge: Changed, Badass
Nut Width: 42mm
Neck Depth: 20.6mm at 1st fret / 26.1mm at 12th fret
Pickup Reading: 7.38k
Case: Period soft shell case with various tour stickers and passes
We are not box shifters, we take your packing and shipping very seriously..!
We have to. You're considering spending a lot of money with us and you would obviously like your valuable musical instrument to arrive at your door, without drama, fuss or damage.
We have many years (stretching way back in to the last century) of packing and shipping fragile musical items all over the world - in fact the number of sometimes priceless, vintage instruments we have shipped is in the thousands.
When you buy a vintage or second hand item from us, it will be hand packed by one or more of our specialist, in house staff and then shipped in our own custom made cardboard boxes (If applicable).
We normally ship via our preferred carriers UPS, DPD, Parcelforce and Royal Mail for smaller items such as straps and leads. Tracking numbers are always provided.
Shipping prices vary by item and by location, please see the individual products for details but as a guide, prices for a guitar is usually:
UK - £50
Mainland Europe - £75
USA - £200
Rest of World (rates can vary a lot depending on country) - £250
How can I pay?
All our base prices are in £GBP Sterling and exclude delivery.
Payments can be made by bank transfer (up to any amount) or credit/debit card through our website (up to £10,000.) Due to fraud risks we do not take payment by phone. We accept and use many online payment services that work by way of bank transfer and recommend Wise.com who will in generally offer far better exchange rates than banks.
Do your prices include VAT?
All prices include UK VAT but most used or vintage guitars are sold under the UK marginal scheme for secondhand goods which means you will not get an invoice with the VAT amount shown separately, neither will you be able to claim this VAT element back if you are VAT registered, and the VAT element cannot be deducted for export sales.
For new items such as some guitars, pedals, straps, cables etc 20% UK VAT is included and if you are in an export country, which since Brexit now includes Europe and of course the US, this 20% VAT will automatically be deducted at checkout for you. You may have to pay local taxes and duties when your goods arrive in your home country, we advise you to check with your local customs office to be sure.
Can I reserve or put an item on hold?
Yes you can. Items can be put on hold for a deposit payment of 10%. This will hold the item for up to 30 days but this deposit payment is non refundable in the event of the buyer failing to complete the sale.
A further 10% payment at the end of the initial 30 day period will extend this period for another 30 days and subject to individual approval, this arrangement can be extended at our discretion. ATB Guitars holds title to the goods until paid for in full and if the buyer should change his/her mind for any reason, a restocking fee equivalent to to 15% of the total purchase price will be deducted from any refund given.
Do you have a mailing list?
The best way to get on our mailing list is to submit the form at the bottom of every page on our website. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ATBguitars as most new items are posted there as soon as we buy them and before they go on the website. If you are searching for a specific guitar then send us an email and we will attempt to alert you once one has been found.