pohatu771 Posted January 24, 2022 Share Posted January 24, 2022 Did you know that Joan Jett plays a 1964-1969 Olympic Special? It's overshadowed by her various Gibson Melody Makers, and her multiple modern signature reproductions. It's nice to see some representation of this often-forgotten Epiphone guitar. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SGLPFB_Lover Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 I’m loving how they have released some cool signature styles lately. But everytime I think “OK…let me give Epiphone another try”, I get the guitar and the fret finishing is non existant, and usually some other QC issue. Very cool though this guitar, and I am again thinking to buy one, but I know it will be the same as thenother 4 Epis i bought in 2021… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted January 26, 2022 Author Share Posted January 26, 2022 My only criticism of the signature model is the color. Rather than copying her Gibson Melody Maker style on the Epiphone body, they should have offered this in a sunburst. I'd be tempted to get one just as a reissue of the vintage Olympic Special. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sshows Posted January 26, 2022 Share Posted January 26, 2022 I saw this and it explains the color choice. I’m thrilled to get my hands on this puppy as soon as I can! I ordered mine yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted January 28, 2022 Share Posted January 28, 2022 (edited) On 1/24/2022 at 11:35 AM, pohatu771 said: Did you know that Joan Jett plays a 1964-1969 Olympic Special? It's overshadowed by her various Gibson Melody Makers, and her multiple modern signature reproductions. It's nice to see some representation of this often-forgotten Epiphone guitar. I think this era of Olypics were made in the US like the Melody Maker, which had several variations of body design that was shared on several different student level guitars. I had several Melody makers from the 60's era, they are great playing guitars and people weren't afraid to modify them to the extreme, usually upgrading the single coil pickups, tuners, Badass style bridge and even shaving down the neck trunnion. Joans new signature model looks to have benefitted from the typical mods that were usually done. The new Olympic should be fun to play and the price isn't bad even though its a few times high than the original cost. Edited January 28, 2022 by mihcmac Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pohatu771 Posted January 30, 2022 Author Share Posted January 30, 2022 The Melody Maker went through four designs before being discontinued and replaced with the SG-100, SG-200, and SG-250: Single-cutaway Les Paul-style body Symmetrical double-cutaway Les Paul-style body Symmetrical double-cutaway "fish" body with beveled edges (the Joan Jett Melody Maker) SG-style body The Olympic is slightly more complicated: Single-cutaway Les Paul-style body (same as 1 above) Symmetrical double-cutaway Les Paul-style body (same as 2 above) Asymmetrical contoured body shared with the Coronet and other models The Olympic Special was introduced at the same time as the transition from 2 to 3 above, but was only offered with a single pickup: Symmetrical double-cutaway Les Paul-style body (same as 2 above) Asymmetrical, elongated double-cutaway, the Joan Jett Olympic Special They were all made in Kalamazoo. This is the first Olympic or Olympic Special to be made since 1970. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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