1959 Gibson Melody Maker

The 1959 Gibson Melody Maker is a solid-body electric guitar which was initially designed as a cheaper alternative to a Gibson Les Paul Junior model, but underwent multiple variations in body shape during its years of production. It was built with a thin slab-style mahogany body & neck with rosewood fingerboard, with 2 single-coil pickups mounted.

Steve Hackett's second guitar was the '59 Melody Maker (specified to be a Serial No. 59). He used it for session work during the late 1960s/early 1970s as well as during his first year as a member of Genesis in 1971-72. Eventually, he would switch to a Gibson Les Paul Custom for a wider range of tonal possibilities and fewer tuning inadequacies than the Melody Maker.

Regarding the vintage of Steve's Gibson Melody Maker, it was erroneously attributed as a 1950 model in one report; the Melody Maker itself didn't enter production until 1959.