S-1 Electronics help

[shmit001]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but I need some help.

I'm restoring my dad's old gibson S-1. He sold it to a friend a long time ago. This friend never paid, so my dad took the guitar back, but that wasn't before this friend did some experimental wiring to the poor thing. He thought the 4 way switch was "too complicated" and cut it out. He then continued to molest the electronics to make it "simple".

Anyways, I've managed to determine what was stock and what wasn't, but I still can't work it all out, and there are no wiring diagrams available on the internet (that I can find anyway)

So if anyone who has one could send me pictures of the internals, or if anyone knows of a S-1 specific wiring diagram that would be SO awesome. Thanks!

 

[TVR1977]

I've got two of them that I'll be working on in the next couple of days. I won't be getting around to taking them apart for a day or two, but when I do, I'll be happy to send you pictures. I also just picked up a few NOS chickenhead knobs for the four way switch. If you need one, you're welcome to it (gratis).

 

[shmit001]

thank you so much! that would be awesome. I would love one of the knobs too, because I'm missing mine. However, I am up in canada, and the shipping may be somewhat rediculous. How much would you want for it? Let me know in a couple days when you take it apart. Thanks again!

 

[TVR1977]

No problem. I plan on disassembling them tomorrow, so pix will follow shortly. As for the knob, it's a freebie. I was looking for one, and found a lot of 4 knobs on e-bay for next to nothing, so I have spares I don't need. Click on my screen name/profile and leave me a visitor message with your e-mail address and I'll get back to you with the pix.

 

[TVR1977]

Okay, I took some pix of the innards. I don't think you're going to like it - it's a real confusing mess of wires in there.

In the words of Dr. Zaius - "Be careful what you look for, you might not like what you find."

I plan on getting to the other S-1, so I'll compare the two of them and try to get around to drawing a schematic. My work schedule is jammed up, though, so it may be a while.

Honestly, though, you may be better off trying to get a schematic from Gibson, or from Bill Lawrence, the S-1's designer (If you Google "Bill Lawrence Pickups," you can find him pretty easily). Better still, see if you can send your
pickguard assembly to him for rewiring.

Good luck in any case. The two position toggle switch that cuts out everything but the lead pickup has eight, count 'em - eight, contact points, and the four-position rotary switch has 14 or 15 contacts. Man - that's a lotta soldering!

 

[shmit001]

dude! thank you so much! i think i will be able to re-wire it with these pictures! I'm gunna give wiring it a shot tonight and will let you know how it goes. Post more pics of the other one too if you can. thanks again!

 

[shmit001]

i looked at it closely, and i have a different front switch. Yours has 8 leads and mine has 6. I read somewhere that there were 2 versions, with very slight differences in wiring, depending on the year. Maybe yours is the newer one? Let me know when you've got new pictures. And If possible, could you remove the black tape to expose the wires better? If you don't want to spoil it's vintage then thats fine. thanks again

 

[TVR1977]

Yeah, I'll try to get pix of the other one for you tomorrow. As well as clearer pix of the first one.

I think they did change the wiring in later years. I've seen seemingly contradictory info as to what combinations the 4 position switch provides, including a gibson ad that I'll post also.

I recall the four positions as neck and middle, middle and bridge, neck and bridge, and all three together. The pairs were wired to act as humbuckers, and the cutout switch bypassed everything and gave the bridge p/u alone as a single coil. Bill Lawrence described it as a "single pickup guitar with 3 coils."

The gibson ad gives the positions as neck and middle, middle and bridge, all 3 together, and neck and middle(out of phase). Pretty big difference.

The 4 position switch looks like a bitch to connect. I doubt you can do it from the pictures alone. I'll see if I can work up a schematic for you.

I think the 2 I have are earlier models, but I'll double check the serial #s

 

[TVR1977]

Oh, BTW, if you look at the pictures again, you'll see that the toggle switch has 8 connectors but only 6 connections. Two of the connectors are soldered together and one is unused, making 6 total.

So, your switch is probably compatible with the same wiring set up, provided, of course that you can figure out how they correspond to the connectors on
my switch.

 

[TVR1977]

Sorry, man, haven't forgotten, just haven't had a chance to get anything done yet.

Saw this on eBay, though. May be the easier route to take.

GIBSON S-1 MARAUDER COMPLETE PICKGUARD ASSY ORIGINAL - eBay (item 310130019539 end time Apr-18-09 09:58:30 PDT)