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I was flipping through a gear catalog and saw the Melody Maker for $500. It's made in the U.S. and people here generally think it's a decent guitar.

So why can't Fender have a lower-priced American-made guitar for around the same price point (what the entry-level MIMs & Blacktops are going for now)?

Yea, just noticed that today while going through my Sweetwater catalog. I think it's to the tune of like 469$ or something. Definitely cool.

can you still find them in white brand new?

Les Paul Jrs are so overpriced and always in the same boring colours. Gimme a goldtop LP Jr. if I gotta lay down a grand. I'd be into that.

Cause if they did the workmanship would be worse than the Squier CV series, which is already well below that price.

The MIMs are fair too, they've just become unforgivably heavy.

are the cheap melody makers even worth a shit?

those guitars are cool in a very, "this guitar is so crappy, look how indie I have to be to play it"

I mean, their lightweight. Maybe they could do it with a cheap Esquire or some other one pickup combo to save money but they would be $500 and not as nice as the CVCs or anything else in that price range.

So the answer is, they could. It just doesn't make sense to. I know the stores I go to NEVER have Melody Makers in them because they won't sell.

Sloan wrote:are the cheap melody makers even worth a shit?

Judging from past posts on here, people seemed to think they were decent for the money. I did a search earlier because I was wondering the same thing after seeing it in the Sweetwater catalog.

i played a REAL DEAL '65 melody maker and it wasn't all that great.

Sloan wrote:i played a REAL DEAL '65 melody maker and it wasn't all that great.

YOU'RE NOT INDIE ENOUGH!!!!!!!

hotrodperlmutter wrote:can you still find them in white brand new?

Sweetwater has them in stock, but GC's site states that they won't be in until the 20th. But that's not any indication that they'll actually have them in stores. It might just be that you can buy them online.

Speaking of, I pop into GCs every now and then and the Blacktops still aren't in the stores but you can buy them online. Must be a supply problem.

Eh, I don't think I would want a Fender that was built to the specs of a Gibson like that. The closest I think they've ever came was the highway 1's when they were first out at $599 (I think?)

portugalwillie wrote:

Sloan wrote:i played a REAL DEAL '65 melody maker and it wasn't all that great.

YOU'RE NOT INDIE ENOUGH!!!!!!!

THE MAN MADE AN AWESOME ALBUM FULL OF FUTURE REAL COUNTRY CLASSICS!

My very first guitar was a legit '59 melody maker, and it was a hunka poopy. I mean really great tones for a 13 year old, but i'll be damned if I didn't feel like I was at batting practice everytime I went to fret.

The new ones have slimmer necks. I need to get one in white and grab that '59 for a little side by side ackshun.

Wow, around £300 in the UK. That really is a surprise. Can't see myself choosing this over a Squier CV though.

I has a Melody Maker and a Highway 1 Tele both are great sounding guitars, but all anyone on here ever comments is the thickness of the paint?

I just wish Lollar made their Melody Maker pre-wired P90 pick guard for the new ones....the pick guards are different and for the older style the Lollar pick guard basically drops right in and then u got a Jr...... I hope they start making these for the newer ones...if they can, routes willing

P90

Fender does have the HighwayOnes....Pretty close to $500 ....Somewhat.

Fender also has the new American Special series. forgot about thems

Those American Specials are still $200 more than a Melody Maker.