Gibson Melody Maker Explorer GOLD TOP?!! One of a Kind SkunkWerx Custom!

Once again, SkunkWerx brings you the un-obtanium, the guitars that you WISH the factory had made, swapped up, and ready to hit the stage thanks to our three and a half hour FretWerx fret polish, prep and stage ready setup! It's what we do! Only SkunkWerx! Yes, We cost a little more, just read our feedback, and see why!

Gibson NEVER offered the Melody Maker Explorer in a gold top finish, in fact, the Gibson Melody Maker Explorer, released as part of a 2011 limited run, was exclusively offered in three satin nitrocellulose finishes: [1, 2, 3]

• Satin Blue
• Satin Ebony (Black)
• Satin White

So we did what we ALWAYS do and MADE OUR OWN! SkunkWerx, you're CRAZY!

We took a very decent black example of an already rare guitar, took it down to wood, fixed the little finish flaws, re-primed it, shot it with vintage-type gold lacquer that has all of those cool green highlights, and then a couple of light coats of clear to keep it looking good for years, but also allowing it to breathe and age like an old Les Paul goldy.

We left the neck natural mahogany, cleared it, (so cool against the gold,, like a Louisville Slugger), but just in finish, this neck is medium C, and super fast!

We then stuffed the baddest pickup we could find into it, the positively legendary PRS Dragon II, vintage out of a USA Core Guitar. We tried several, the original 490T, a Railhammer, and the PRS SMOKED them! One super versatile guitar, with sustain for weeks!

All packed up in a smaller, lighter package, with the original excellent padded gig bag it came with, a rarity in itself AND original case candy, including quality control checklist!

There are two little paint imperfections, both are in the pictures, under the clear. We tried a new guy for clearing our guitars, and had a few issues, but felt they were still very cool guitars, and that we should share them.

Gibson says:

The 2011 Gibson Melody Maker Explorer features a 22-fret torrefied (heat-treated/roasted) maple fingerboard. This specific process gave the maple a rich, brown appearance similar to rosewood while improving stability. [1, 2, 3, 4]Key fingerboard and neck specifications include:

• Fretboard Material: Torrefied maple
• Number of Frets: 22 frets
• Fret Size: Medium jumbo
• Radius: \(12\text{"}\) (30.48 cm)
• Scale Length: \(24.75\text{"}\) (62.86 cm)
• Nut Width: \(1 \frac{11}{16}\text{"}\) (approx. \(42.85\text{ mm}\))
• Inlays: White/pearl dots
• Neck Material: Quartersawn mahogany
• Neck Profile: Unique, slim "Melody Maker" rounded

Yes, we have The Better Benton! But your guitar also includes Our Comprehensive FretWerx In-USA Fret Dress and complete setup! Check our feedback! 

At SkunkWerx USA, we definitely have the "Better Benton"! Check our feedback, and see why nobody does Harley Benton's better than SkunkWerx! And now we have many different upgrades available, from pickguard colors to hardware to nut replacement, all at prices that are easy on your wallet! DM us for more info and pricing.

The copycats just can't match our experience and expertise, because nobody on Reverb has imported and sold more Harley Bentons than we have! At SkunkWerx USA, we have procured, literally worked on and sold over seventy different Harley Benton models, so we have the knowledge to find the right Harley Benton for you!

So, what makes a SkunkWerx USA Harley Benton better than a regular off-the-boat Harley Benton?

The SkunkWerx USA promise. Read more about it below***

***SkunkSpex: Weight 8 lb 6 oz. Bridge Pickup 8.60 ohm ****

At SkunkWerx USA, we definitely have the "Better Benton"!

So, what makes a SkunkWerx USA Harley Benton better than a regular off-the-boat Harley Benton?

The SkunkWerx USA promise:

Every single guitar will be sent out ready to play, properly set up, sniglets and issues dealt with, so you have no surprises. The "B-stocks" are weeded out BEFORE they have become B-stocks. We go to great lengths to pack our guitars properly, and we feature the Reverb Shipping Guarantee and Insurance for your protection. Zero guesswork, no BS.

Each and every guitar we sell has undergone a strict quality control inspection and play test upon receipt, then is rested to acclimate prior being listed for sale. This lets the guitar relax prior to our comprehensive FretWerx process and setup, relieving stresses, and exposing any work that needs to be done to ensure they are absolutely perfect upon arrival to you.

Every guitar gets our free FretWerx complete fret prep and mini setup, including, but not limited to:

- Adjust neck in pocket for all bolt on guitars

- Check neck relief and adjust truss rod to factory specs or better

- Remove any sharp fret ends, level, round fret ends, crown and polish frets

- Treat fretboard if needed using PRS and/or Music Nomad conditioners

- Lubricate all string contact points with Big Bends Nut Sauce

- Set bridge height, check and adjust nut slot depth, tune and intonate, replace strings if needed with Ernie Ball or equivalent. Custom string requests are available, some require additional costs.

- Play test all electronics, adjust pickup height, verify ground to bridge connection.

- Clean and polish the entire guitar with Music Nomad cleaners and polishes

We will even send you a picture of your VERY OWN guitar during the FretWerx process, so you can see first hand the great care we take in making your new guitar the best it can be.

Who does that? Only SkunkWerx.

We REFUSE to send out any guitar not meeting or exceeding factory specs! If we do, it will be disclosed, mutually agreed to, and documented thoroughly.

SkunkWerx Guitars USA always recommends a full set up by a qualified technician in your city or town, as temperature and humidity can affect playability during shipping. We recommend waiting 24-48 hours after receiving your guitar BEFORE performing any setup to allow the guitar to acclimate to your local humidity and temperature. This often alleviates issues without the need for additional setup. Guitars may show some signs of light play wear, and condition is reported as accurately as possible.

All instruments are VIDEO RECORDED during packing to ensure you have accurate images in case of damage during shipping, or dispute. Returns are allowed up to three days after sale. Both initial and return shipping is at the BUYER'S expense, so please review all photos carefully, and ask questions before you buy. We strive to provide as accurate information and descriptions as possible, nobody like surprises! Requests for "partial" refunds will be sent directly to Reverb for review. Scammers will be publicly shamed and reported, we've had enough. Honesty is the best policy.

You can count on SkunkWerx Guitars USA to do what we can to make sure you are satisfied with your purchase, and the next. We pride ourselves on making things right! Your positive review means everything to us, let us earn it!

SkunkWerx USA is not affiliated with Harley Benton, nor do we receive any special treatment or pricing. We are simply providing top quality, hand selected, fully sorted Harley Benton's for stateside buyers for a nominal fee.

Thanks for trusting your purchase to SkunkWerx USA!

- Spanky and The Gang