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Topic: 8 String Melobar |
David Knutson
From:
Cowichan Valley, Canada
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Jeff Peterson
From:
Nashville, TN USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2021 5:47 am |
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| If it were original, which it is not, it would be a Mosrite/Melobar hybrid. They were made in the late 60's, maybe dribbled over to the early 70's. There were not many made. They were 10 strings, impossible tuning/string spacing. I have one that I just strung up as a 6 string to play 'heavy' slide live. Really good tone out of the original Mosrite pickups. As a 6 string, it's easy to play while jumping and flying around on stage...good neck angle. |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2021 1:26 pm
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It's an original Melobar except for the missing tuners - I have one that's similar but fully original. Fretboards were often changed from the numbered types to plain dot inplay.
Smith also changed the bridge and nut designs constantly; the critical items are the body/neck/finish and the electronics. The linked one has the same highly desirable Paul Barth pickups as mine which gives it some enhanced value - but it's WAY overpriced according to the last Vintage Price Guide, which has them at $6-800 in excellent condition.
This is mine - an example of excellent condition:
FWIW I also have another - a double neck with a Melobar neck and Tele-style upper neck. Kind of a junior Brown setup but much easier to play. I added a Hipshot b-bender to it just to put an exclamation point on the insanity
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No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional |
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