The "California Melody Maker" ?

[jps]

+2!

But, where else are you going to get one?

[jps]

Well, maybe here?

[customxke]

It's an early 70s model, and I've seen ones like that she has used with clear cover humbuckers with the "square" looking pole pieces. Gibson did some SGs like that too, and some had slider switches as opposed to toggles. Modifications started really becoming popular in those days due to the availability of aftermarket parts, and her stage guitars may have been modded for hotter pickups, or even for humbuckers. Almost every MM, (I've known to be stock), that I've seen of that era had those non exposed pole piece solid black pickup covers and were single coil strat type.
Mitch, I want that doll, send me a link or info on where to get one please

No. It's a 65 or 66. This was the 3rd shape for the MM. 1967-1971 they were SG shaped. Discontinued in 1971.
Whojamfan; I'm not singling you out by this next comment, but would like to say this to everyone here, ad it's a huge peave of mine.....
Please don't post if you don't know. These forums are a wealth of information. Unfortunately, most of it is wrong. This, and many other forums, lose their value (other than being a guitar-centric version of facebook) when the posted info is of dubious accuracy. Rant over.

[collin]

ad it's a huge peave of mine.....

Oh yeah?

My peeve is spelling.

[jps]

ad it's a huge peave of mine.....

Oh yeah?

My peeve is spelling.

+1

[customxke]

Ok. My bad. I thought we were hear to talk about guitars.

[collin]

Ok. My bad. I thought we were hear to talk about guitars.

Man o MAN!

Testy, eh? I thought we were all kidding Jonathan!

[octagon]

Mitch, I want that doll, send me a link or info on where to get one please

Here you are Mike. Just don't get the whole collection...

http://www.amazon.com/Barbie-Joan-Jett- ... B002IB7Q0G

Holy Moly-that's way too much money for a stupid Barbie-sheesh

It's on sale here for $35(link)

[admin]

Perhaps the focus on spelling was a bit overdone here. Sometimes good fun is at the expense of others at which point it becomes hurtful or embarrassing.

[collin]

No offense intended, point taken!

[octagon]

Matching set(of Gibsons)?

[whojamfan]

It's an early 70s model, and I've seen ones like that she has used with clear cover humbuckers with the "square" looking pole pieces. Gibson did some SGs like that too, and some had slider switches as opposed to toggles. Modifications started really becoming popular in those days due to the availability of aftermarket parts, and her stage guitars may have been modded for hotter pickups, or even for humbuckers. Almost every MM, (I've known to be stock), that I've seen of that era had those non exposed pole piece solid black pickup covers and were single coil strat type.
Mitch, I want that doll, send me a link or info on where to get one please

No. It's a 65 or 66. This was the 3rd shape for the MM. 1967-1971 they were SG shaped. Discontinued in 1971.
Whojamfan; I'm not singling you out by this next comment, but would like to say this to everyone here, ad it's a huge peave of mine.....
Please don't post if you don't know. These forums are a wealth of information. Unfortunately, most of it is wrong. This, and many other forums, lose their value (other than being a guitar-centric version of facebook) when the posted info is of dubious accuracy. Rant over.

This is information I was told in the early 80s at Guitars R Us and Freedom Guitars in Hollywierd when I was a kid, and never had a reason to question it's accuracy. I've seen and repaired many different Melody Maker guitars over the years, and to see a completely stock one pre 80s has been a rare thing for me. In fact, most MMs that came across my counter or repair bench were mainly just bodies fitted with aftermarket parts and pickups. I've owned one from the early 60s, and own a current one now, but in no way claim to be an "expert" on them. I fail to see how relaying the information supplied by people believed to be more than credible qualifies us as "dubious". I also don't agree that most of the information is wrong, or that we are losing our value and becoming a "guitar-centric" version of Facebook. We have many members here who have either worked or currently worked for Rickenbacker, as well as all other levels of the music industry. There is quite a sense of accuracy,(mind numbing at times), amongst our members,and probably one of the highest quality control factors of any musical forum online.

Don't lump us in with Harmony Central please.

[octagon]

From The Joan Jett message board:

Joan has at least two white Gibson's. The one on the cover of Album has been retired from touring and is usually only brought out for recording and photo shoots. It is a 1968 Gibson Melody maker previously own by Eric Carmen.

Quote:What is your most prized possession? Tie: 1968 White Gibson California Style Melody Maker and 1968 Blond (natural) single cut Les Paul Deluxe (my 1st real guitar!).


Quote:5: What kind of guitar do you use?
Jett: My first guitar was a blonde Les Paul and it was getting really heavy, so I saw the Melody Maker. It was Eric Carmen's. I bought it off one of his roadies. It's a really unique guitar, a California style, so its got two pick-ups, which Melody Makers usually don't.


She uses a second white Gibson on the road for concerts and it is covered in stickers. I don't know the history of that one.

Quote:AT: Are you still playing a white Melody Maker?
Jett: Yeah I am. I play a white double cut-away Melody Maker, covered in stickers.


Quote:Q: What year and model is your white Gibson guitar?
A: My #1 (which never goes on the road anymore) is my baby. It's a double-cut 1968 California style. It was white when I bought it. My #1 on the road, is just your standard double-cut melody maker. Don't know the style or year, but I figure it's late 60s and we painted it white.

Here are some interviews to read that mention her guitars.

http://joanjettbadrep.com/cgi-bin/fullS ... erview.htm
http://joanjettbadrep.com/Interviews/19 ... mag8.shtml
http://joanjettbadrep.com/Interviews/fa ... sue1.shtml

[whojamfan]

Thanks for the information Mitch,it really clears the air about what year Joans prize guitar is. Learn something new every day

[octagon]

Thanks for the information Mitch,it really clears the air about what year Joans prize guitar is. Learn something new every day

It is really hard to figure out the true origin of this guitar.Even interviews given by both Eric Carmen and Joan Jett don't add up .She said bought the guitar from one of The Raspberries roadies? He said he gave her the guitar? She said it was a 1968 but all the 1968 Melody Makers I have seen have a SG shaped body. I just read another book which says that Eric had the guitar painted white many years ago. But I read other interviews with both Eric and Joan in which they refer to this as a White California Style Melody Maker,like it was a special model. I cannot find any other reference to a "California" Melody Maker in Gibson literature or elsewhere.So,The search for the "truth" goes on.