Gibsocaster!!! (S1 model Gibson)

rarely encountered, short run guitar offering with numerous variations. gibson effort to break into the fender strat market that was making serious gains into their market share at that time. three single coils with a bolt on neck,

did the "S" in S1 actually designate "stratocaster" from some tounge-in-cheek engineer?

production began officially in 1975. but some of the earliest models with 4-way chicken head PUP selectors, bridge PUP only ~or~ four way selector only toggle switch, rosewood fret board, alder body AND a serial number that does not jive with the years this model was actually listed in the gibson catalog were made >likely< in 1974. perhaps an unofficial pre-run using uninstalled NOS flying V necks to test the water? i don't know, and neither does the gibson hysterical department, don't waste your time.

OR THEIR'S!!!

later incarnations have mahogany bodies, maple bodies, single coils with out the lawrence circuit, maple fret board, clear AND blackout plastic casting blade lawrence single coils.


as stated above, basicly a strat format. then Bill {God Bless Him} Lawrence cooked up the mother of all strat circuits for it that still floors all of those unfamiliar with this model to this day. a three position dual ~OR~ single coil "humbucker" circuit that goes in ~OR~ out of phase. there are staggering sonic variations to be had after one learns the many ways to tickle the somewhat complex circuit.

i would think the patents have run out on this design due to non-renewal of a discontinued model from gibson by now.

if any fender employees are reading this, turn about is fair play. release a special run of "Fender Stratocaster G1" models, and watch the sales of same skyrocket after the secret gets out.

love mine. i have lined the routing pockets with thin brass shim stock and turned it into a truly "noiseless" circuit. other than that, an OEM axe.

chime in please, "ITSGOTQUACK"!!!

mitchfit

So would this be a Fibson or a Gender? :shock: :razz:

What this thread needs is some pics. I don't have an S-1, but I've borrowed some pics from the Net.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/GIbson_S-1.jpg
http://www.jbeckl.com/word/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/s-1close.jpg
http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/graphics/s1-72pricelist.jpg

It was interesting to note that the June 1975 price list above refers to "three new design [Bill Lawrence] pickups wired in humbucking configuration."

Oh, follow-up question. What was the scale length on that neck? I get that it was a bolt-on, but 24.75" or 25.5"?

I know a fellow guitarist who has one, tried it once, nice guitar. I don't know if its specific to this pup, or if his s-1 needs a quick tweak but it generates lots of feedback and what not. That aside, it's a fairly nice guitar though, very unique.

LGOberean,

with intonation dialed ALL of the way out, it could be 24 3/4". guess that wouldda been too stratesque for gibson, if it were 25 1/2"? as set on mine, closer to 24 1/2"

mitchfit

Frank B,

..."or if his s-1 needs a quick tweak but it generates lots of feedback and what not."...

are these OEM PUP's? are single coils wrapped the long way around a single "blade" type magnet, and then placed face down in a mold that clear plastic gets poured into from behind. the origins of "wax potting"?

any way mine does ok with a tri-amp set up of 35 watt victorilux 3x10, winfield thomas 30/18 watt "winfield" head into 2x12, and a 30 watt peavey delta blues 1x15. none are dimed out, just up high enough to hear the output tubes clipping when strings are hit with a "medium" application of the pick and the guitar volume knob is running about 50-75% through #4 position on the rotary dial circuit.

that particular PUP arrangement is prone to feed back. with all three going at once, lotsa air moving by. it WILL get a strat-like squeal when there's too much volume going on. but at volumes that'd get you and your S1 both 86-ed while playing the local club.

what wattage amp does your bud use? what # was the chicken looking at? bridge only VS 4-way only toggle is in which position?

mitchfit

Sorry man, I didn't analyse that much lol
All I can say is that the guitar was probably never modded.
I think he plays in a 50w 2x12 crate vintage club these days.

I'll sneak back in from the lurking corners for you mitchfit. These are easily the best guitars Gibson has ever put out. I can't say enough about them. So, I'll just post some stuff of MINE to let you all enjoy. Yes, they are all different ones and I'm always in the market for more if you have original ones you want to let go of.
GDrp4TF5IFQ
2rgePStCMt8
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/Gibson20S-120Scott20Grove20Groovy20Productions.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197820Gibson20S-120Scott20Grove20Groovy20Productions.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197820Gibson20S-120Scott20Grove20Groovy20Music20Lessons20003.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197720Gibson20S-120Maple20Fretboard20Scott20Grove20004.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197620Gibson20S-120Rosewood20Neck20Scott20Grove20Groovy20Productio ns20003.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197520Gibson20S-120Scott20Grove20Groovy20Productions20004-11.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197520Gibson20S-120Scott20Grove20Groovy20Music20Lessons20Sunburst2 0005.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197520Gibson20S-120Scott20Grove20Groovy20Music20Lessons-1.jpg
http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb245/groovydjs/197520Gibson20S-120Rosewood20Scott20Grove20Groovy20Music20Lessons. jpg

WOW, Scott! :shock: Thanks for that! :grin: Nice collection, nice rundown on the history and the features of the S1, nice tones, nice playing!

Like mitchfit said, God bless Bill Lawrence. A Gibson that's got quack and twang, and so much more. I need another electric guitar right now like I need another hole in my head, and if I tried to bring another one home, I probably would have another hole in my head! (Kidding...kind of. :wink:) But man, you made that look FUN! Thanks for sharing.

Whoa, man we rarely ever see s-1s... you having that many is very cool.
Nice !

ITSGOTQUACK,

green with envy here! i'll have to settle for just the one i have now, but some day i'll find another for sale so it doesn't get lonely.

do any of yours have a serial # that dates majorly pre 1975? if i recall correctly mine has a late '60ish D.O.B., but would have to check again to be sure.

really, who cares? i like listening to it much more than chasing facts....

thanx for your excellent jpg addition to this thread.

mitchfit

OOo-o-ps, my bad. sent above before i watched the video.

mitchfit

just watched both videos. you seem much better informed about these than itself. thanx for clearing up some of my misinformation in original post.

hell, i've only seen three in person, mine and two others. did you ever contact gibson about the serial mismatch? i did with out any luck. IF so, did you do any better than i did?

kinda reluctant to ask, 'specially after you said they are your favorite model, they are mine as well...

BUT, would you consider a trade for two [except cracked body guitar] of your least favorites against a kalamazoo tobacco burst CMT 81 explorer E2? pieced head model, cure for a problem that doesn't exist fine tuner stop bar, solid ~HEAVY~ mahogany body and neck, square corners w/white binding, pitting gold plating, with unaltered dirty fingers PUPs/circuit? no mods, mechanically sound, would go VG rating except chip in finish on back of neck at about 12th fret that is unnoticeable when playing it.

see posting #9 @:

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/guitar-owners-clubs/264636-explorers-club.html

either way, thanx again for your great contributions to this thread.

mitchfit

ITSGOTQUACK,

green with envy here! i'll have to settle for just the one i have now, but some day i'll find another for sale so it doesn't get lonely.

do any of yours have a serial # that dates majorly pre 1975? if i recall correctly mine has a late '60ish D.O.B., but would have to check again to be sure.

really, who cares? i like listening to it much more than chasing facts....

thanx for your excellent jpg addition to this thread.

mitchfit

Thanks my friend. Yeah, actually, all of my 1975's (4 of those now) all have 1967 and 1968 serial numbers on them. It's a pretty funky thing huh?