Gibson has announced the launch of the Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker guitar, designed and produced in close cooperation with the rock legend herself. The model pays tribute to the iconic Melody Maker Jett played on hits like “I Love Rock N’ Roll,” and “Do You Wanna Touch Me” and, true to her trailblazer status, marks the first Gibson electric signature model designed in conjunction with a female artist.
Gibson’s Joan Jett Signature Melody Maker features a lightweight, slab mahogany body with a White Worn finish. Handcrafted to the same specs as Jett’s original guitar, the slim-tapered neck profile is similar to the Les Pauls and SGs of the mid to late 1960s. The fingerboard of the Melody Maker is constructed from the highest grade of ebony on the planet, Jett’s personal choice for her signature Melody Maker, and the headstock features Gibson’s classic, silk-screened logo.
The classic, snarling growl of Jett’s original Melody Maker is accurately captured by a single Gibson Burstbucker 3 zebra humbucker, slightly overwound with asymmetrical coils, unpolished Alnico II magnets, and all the punch and power of an original Gibson PAF pickup. The tuners are mini-Grovers with authentic “witch hat” knobs, exactly as they are on Jett’s guitar. A “kill” switch replaces the normal Gibson toggle switch, and the body is outfitted with a period-correct black vinyl pickguard. The guitar also includes such typical Melody Maker features as 24-inch scale length and the standard Gibson Tune-o-matic and stopbar tailpiece.
Joan Jett has been a force in the world of music since the age of 15 when she co-founded the all-girl punk quintet The Runaways. After being rejected by multiple labels for a record contract after the Runaways, she formed Blackheart Records, making her the first major female artist to own her own record label. With hits such as “I Love Rock n’ Roll,” “Bad Reputation” and “Crimson and Clover,” she has scored nine Top 40 hits and eight Platinum and Gold albums. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts continue to win over fans both new and old with their live shows, including a main stage headliner spot on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour. Jett also currently hosts her own show, “Joan Jett’s Radio Revolution,” on Sirius’ Faction (Channel 28).
Melody Maker Specifications
– Body Style: “California” Body Shape
– Body Species: Mahogany
– Fingerboard Species: Ebony
– Scale Length: 24 ?”
– Number of Frets: 22
– Inlays: Dot
– Pickups: One Burstbucker 3 Pickup (Zebra Coil) in the Bridge position
– Controls: Kill Switch Black Witch-hat knobs with Chrome inserts
– Neck Species: One Piece Mahogany Neck
– Neck Profile: Rounded
– Nut Width: 1.695”
– Neck Join Location: 16
– Truss Rod Cover: Joan Jett Signature on the Truss Rod Cover
– Plating Finish: Chrome
– Tailpiece: Chrome
– Bridge: Chrome
– Knobs: Black Witch-hat Knobs with Chrome Inserts
– Tuners: Chrome Mini-Grover Special Tuners
– MSRP: $839
This is a Press Release
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Mary Ford was the first. Who said Joan Jett was?
It was Gibson themselves that said Joan Jett was first to have a signature model.
Les Paul did apparently do some custom work on Mary Ford’s SG, but I don’t think it qualified as an official Gibson Signature guitar.