Gibson All American II double cut melody maker from... 1994?

Wasn't the All American II Melody Maker model only in catalogues from 1996-1998?

Was this 94 a prototype?

Was it a trade show model?

A Guitar Center exclusive with possibly less than 100 created?

Gibson employees past and present have answered some questions and raised even more. I believe the answer lies somewhere in the middle.

The All American II Melody Maker wasn't in any printed material until 1996. And then only for two years.

There haven't been any modifications, no shenanigans, no switcheroos... No replaced necks .. This left the factory in 1994. Two years before it showed up in Gibson literature. Awaiting details from gibson.com customer service to verify or deny what this mysterious derringer is. Will publish my findings as soon as they respond.

Gibson customer service response is included in photos.

Other online forums speculate this model from 1994 was possibly a very limited run. A Guitar Center exclusive. All sources straight from Gibson employees past and present state in 1994 at least, there are very few.

If this was a Guitar Center exclusive model consider this. In 1993 there only 17 Guitar Center stores across the US. By 1997 there were 30 Guitar Center locations in California with other locations in Michigan, Ohio and Florida. Now assuming there were only 25 Guitar Center locations in 1994/1995 if every location received 4 guitars that would put the run at about 100 instruments.

I speculate that this guitar was a limited run and indeed less than 100 Gibson all American II Melody Makers from the year 1994 actually exist.

One kind veteran of the Gibson plant from 1994 reached out to me via Reverb Messenger regarding the construction of this instrument. According to him few were made. At least in the year 1994. See his comments below in photos.

1994 was the centennial year and hence the SN is as follows

94027144

I've included a screenshot from gibson.com customer support page to assist in confirmation.

This is the perfect guitar for rock and roll. First off, It's a Gibson!!! Second, It won't cost a fortune. Third, It's practical. Last but not least... It sounds and feels incredible.

Push these hotter than hell single coils through any tube driven amp and you will believe.

Weighs in at 7.7 lbs.

in the bridge position, on clean, you can get some major Tinariwen sounds. Trust me on this.

Somewhere between a melody maker, an SG, Les Paul & a Strat... the good people at Gibson USA in Nashville decided to create the Gibson All American II. It's like every guitar was thrown in a blender and this is what came forth. Screaming.

2 years before the official launch of the All American II line, and 13 years before the reissue the melody makers of 07 (remember those sold in a cardboard box) and then 15 years before the Joan Jett melody maker in 2009 Gibson cooked up this axe.

What a dynamite axe this truly is!! For the truly adventurous, imagine routing the bridge cavity for a full sized dirty fingers humbucker!!! Or leave it completely stock and enjoy the feel of an early 90s Gibson with the blazing hot sounds of a tele!

The guitar is as cool as anything else out there and just rips!! The dual single coil pickups sound great clean or dirty.

The body is thicker than a melody maker. More like the body depth of the junior. However it retains the shape of the double cut MM.

Tuning stability is good for the factory installed tremolo bridge. I've lubricated the nut with graphite and made appropriate adjustments to the bridge saddles. This guitar has the ability to whammy, but I wouldn't recommend for divebombs.

Neck profile is a comfortable C shape. Not too thick, not too thin. Full sized Gibson open book headstock.

Has minor nicks but the wiring is good. Everything on this guitar is original.

Will ship in a moulded skb case. The case is ONLY FOR SHIPPING. this case fits the guitar and latches, but there is some cosmetic damage to the case. It is not perfect.

Any questions please don't hesitate to ask.