Here’s a 1967 Gibson Melody Maker II, completely refinished with a nice natural brown finish. The electronics were partially modified with the addition of a mini-switch, new tone capacitors and a replacement jack, and the original trapeze tailpiece has been swapped for a stoptail, giving it more sustain and stability – even if the work was clearly done by an amateur. No doubt it looks cool, no doubt it plays and sounds good, but no doubt it’s been modified, which also means it won’t break the bank.

Launched in the late 1950s as an entry-level model, the Melody Maker quickly found its audience thanks to its light weight, simplicity, and unique look. The II version, equipped with two original Gibson single coils, is especially sought after both for its SG-style design and its snappy, versatile tone.

This example combines the vintage vibe of a sixties instrument with mods that make it a super fun guitar to play, full of character. A real riff machine, built to rock – because at the end of the day, that’s exactly what these SG-style guitars are made for.