1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red

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1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red

1965 saw a brief uptick in custom-coloured guitars shipping from Kalamazoo, we recently posted a factory black ES-355TDSV that was finished around the same time as this Cardinal Red Melody Maker, and a quick trip with Google will show off many of the other weird and wonderful custom coloured guitars Gibson completed in 1965.

This 1965 Gibson Melody Maker D is a local, one-owner guitar that found its way to Folkway after having spent the majority of its life less than an hour from our shop. It’s just been carefully set up to play perfectly, with frets dressed, original electronics spray-cleaned, and trem-arm serviced. It’s strung with 11-49s and has an action set at 4-5 64ths, our shop standard.

The neck has a round carve, 1-9/16” nut, and first fret depth of .788”. The neck thickens quickly and has a 12th fret depth of 1.010”. The single coil Melody Maker pickups both measure 7.1k and have a tone that’s something of an alluring hybrid of a Strat and LP Special.

The guitar is in remarkably fine condition and shows very little playwear. There are no neck issues, no finish repairs, and no modifications to the electronics. It weighs 6 lbs.

With original chipboard case.
1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red
  • 1965 Gibson Melody Maker, Cardinal Red

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