Help ID Finish and Specs of 2002 S-500?

Mon Mar 22, 2021 8:18 pm

Hi. Trying to sell my son's S-500. He bought it used from Guitar Center a few years ago. I've narrowed down its production year to 2002, but I'm trying to ID it's finish (honey perhaps) and some of it's specs. I do not have the build sheet. Also a bit confused exactly what to call it: S-500 Custom? S-500 RMC? Not really sure how to attach pics to this post so I'm including the Reverb.Com link just so you can view the pictures: https://reverb.com/item/39423454-g-l-s-500-custom-2002-curly-maple-honey-finish. Also, feel free to tell me if my asking price is too high. Thanks!

Re: Help ID Finish and Specs of 2002 S-500?

Mon Mar 22, 2021 9:19 pm

klc9761 wrote:Hi. Trying to sell my son's S-500. He bought it used from Guitar Center a few years ago. I've narrowed down its production year to 2002, but I'm trying to ID it's finish (honey perhaps) and some of it's specs. I do not have the build sheet. Also a bit confused exactly what to call it: S-500 Custom? S-500 RMC? Not really sure how to attach pics to this post so I'm including the Reverb.Com link just so you can view the pictures: https://reverb.com/item/39423454-g-l-s-500-custom-2002-curly-maple-honey-finish. Also, feel free to tell me if my asking price is too high. Thanks!


The model is the S-500 Deluxe [2001 - June 2015].
Reference post: Production List of G&L Instruments (USA)

Here is the S-500 and S-500 Deluxe photos from the 2001 G&L Catalog:
Image

Here are the 2002 Specs from the Internet Archive of the G&L website:
http://web.archive.org/web/20020613104720fw_/http://www.glguitars.com/instruments/instruments.asp?prcode=S500Deluxe
PICKUPS
3 G&L; Magnetic Field Design single coil pickups
BODY WOOD
Figured Maple Top over American Tilia body
NECK WOOD
Hard Rock Maple with Rosewood or Maple fingerboard
NECK RADIUS
12" (304.8mm)
NECK WIDTH AT NUT
1 5/8" (41.3mm)
TUNING KEYS
Schaller locking
BRIDGE
G&L; Dual Fulcrum vibrato
CONTROLS
5 position pickup selector plus push/pull switch enabling additional pickup combinations of neck+bridge or all 3 pickups together, volume, PTB system
FINISH
Standard and Premier finishes included
OTHER
Rear-mounted controls; chrome hardware; no pickguard; G&L; molded hardcase included


Note: The maple top is not Curly Maple but is Flame Maple and the body is American Tilia (Basswood).

The finish looks like Natural Gloss to me.
Here is a reference photo of the 2001 G&L Catalog page for the ASAT Special Deluxe in Natural Gloss finish:
Image

For pricing see this post: Is there a good source for getting G&L instrument values?.

Hope this helps.

Re: Help ID Finish and Specs of 2002 S-500?

Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:08 pm

I see that you have made some changes to your Reverb Ad.
However, you should change your Spec detail to reflect the 2001 Specs I provided you in my previous post.
Specifically, the neck profile is #1 neck profile with 12" radius, body wood is figured Maple top (not Quilted) over Americian Tilia (Basswood) body,
Nut material is Micarta (not Bone), and the case is the G&L molded hardcase.

Also, who's signature is that on the back of the headstock?

I added your guitar to our G&L Registry, too.

Hope thiis helps.

Re: Help ID Finish and Specs of 2002 S-500?

Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:23 pm

Thanks for the update. I did contact G&L as was surprised to learn that they can ID the guitar and will be sending me it's spec sheet, so I'm also waiting on that.

Re: Help ID Finish and Specs of 2002 S-500?

Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:25 pm

Oh, and no idea who's signature that is. My son bought it from GC a few years ago without any history.