My first electric, and its an S-500

[Andy]

Hi all, just posted an intro note, this is my first time on the forum. Just bought my first electric, know nothing about them, but have played acoustic for 35 years or so. Picked up a mid 90s S-500 off Craigslist from a guy (original owner with reciept and CoA) who never played it, seriously, it has the original strings on it. He did lend it to his nephew for a couple months who did not gig and thats about the total play time. A few issues with it, doesn't stay in tune (bridge leans way back, will attempt setup per manual and change strings). Also its wierd but the neck plate has B052645 which is a Bass neckplate as far as I can tell, but the CoA has the right numbers 52645 on it with no leading letters. Maybe they ran out of Guitar neckplates that day? Purchased in 98, but it has a 3 bolt plate so it must have been old stock. Anyway I paid $725 with a working Fender Princeton Chorus with pedal of the same vintage so I'm sure I did OK even if it needs work. The volume pot is a little scratchy, but everything else seems mint. Any suggestions on things I need to be aware of or watch for on these guitars?
Thanks in advance, Andy

[Craig]

Hi all, just posted an intro note, this is my first time on the forum. Just bought my first electric, know nothing about them, but have played acoustic for 35 years or so. Picked up a mid 90s S-500 off Craigslist from a guy (original owner with reciept and CoA) who never played it, seriously, it has the original strings on it. He did lend it to his nephew for a couple months who did not gig and thats about the total play time. A few issues with it, doesn't stay in tune (bridge leans way back, will attempt setup per manual and change strings). Also its wierd but the neck plate has B052645 which is a Bass neckplate as far as I can tell, but the CoA has the right numbers 52645 on it with no leading letters. Maybe they ran out of Guitar neckplates that day? Purchased in 98, but it has a 3 bolt plate so it must have been old stock. Anyway I paid $725 with a working Fender Princeton Chorus with pedal of the same vintage so I'm sure I did OK even if it needs work. The volume pot is a little scratchy, but everything else seems mint. Any suggestions on things I need to be aware of or watch for on these guitars?
Thanks in advance, Andy

Welcome, Andy!

I've fixed your Album (the Gallery software does have problems resizing large files).

Regarding the serial number: Many 3-bolt guitar plates in the range 52000 to 55000 were mis-stamped
with a B-prefix instead of the usual G-prefix due to a vendor stamping error, the factory did not want to
scrap them, so they were used.

Hope this helps.

[Andy]

Thanks Craig, that solves the mystery of the neckplate. This forum seems really great, with very helpful participants. I look forward to getting some feedback on my guitar purchase, advice on amp choices for these guitars, neck setup tips (I have the manual instructions), and anything else people would like to let me know about.

cheers, Andy

[gitman001]

My first G & L was also an s-500, i have had it for 12-13 years now and most of that time it has been my number 1 guitar. The frets are starting to get some wear, but other than that it has been rock solid - it is one of the only guitars that i own that i never have to touch the truss rod on ( even in the crazy climate changes of the great white north! ). I have actually blocked the bridge on mine and it never goes out of tune.
Welcome and can't wait to see the pics.
Scott

[blargfromouterspace]

Hi Andy. Sounds like you got a good deal. Those Princeton Chorus' are nice amps - solid state, yes, but they have a very nice sound. There are a millions amps out there - the best way to find out whats good for you is to go out and try as many as you can. I'm sure that with a good set up (and a change of strings!) that your guitar will stay in tune properly. Make sure the strings are fitted properly in the tuning posts - they slip out if they aren't put in correctly.

[Philby]

Hi Andy, welcome to the forum.

FWIW, my '95 S-500 (the blue one in the avatar) has a 'B' serial number too. I bought mine second hand and the bridge was set up as you describe, leaning right back in an attempt to make it into a hard tail. If you get it set up as per the specs, with the bridge 'floating' it will stay in tune much better and play much better. I ended up putting a Graph Tech nut on mine as the B and G string were binding in the nut so that it would go out of tune after bends. It now stays perfectly in tune. The locking tuners are great.

The S-500's are excellent guitars. If you experiment with the volume and tone controls you will get many different tones out of it.

Great deal you got. Enjoy!

[Andy]

Thanks guys, I have played with it a bit and its already better at holding a tune, I'll keep playing. I was hesitant to buy the Princeton Chorus as there are so many nice amps out there now, both combo and full tube, but I couldn't resist the "throw it in price". I'm actually surprised by the SRV kinda tones you can get out of it, but then I don't have a lot of experience with tone just yet. I note that the treble E is thin and quiet, may have to play with the string gauge and pickup a bit to fatten that up. Any suggestion on your favorite strings or gauges? I am trying to let go of "acoustic mode" and lighten up on my string attack abit but still picking too hard.

[blargfromouterspace]

I note that the treble E is thin and quiet, may have to play with the string gauge and pickup a bit to fatten that up.

Just raise the pole pieces on the pickup up a bit and that should be solved. You may even need to adjust the height of the pickups to optimize it. This makes a HUGE difference to the sound of the instrument.

[Andy]

Thanks. I have levelled the trem and added graphite to the nut now and it has improved things greatly. I am impressed by the nice selection of tones available via the switches and tone pots. The Princeton Chorus that came with it is actually kinda cool too. I'm a happy camper with the deal I got!
Some questions. I am missing the trem bar and it will cost me over $40 to get one shipped to me (Canada). Has anyone got a drawing on how to make one? Didn't see anything in the knowledge base.
Philby, what is the S/N on your B0? I would love to know just to narrow the yr down a bit better. As I said mine was purchased in 98 but has the B052645 S/N and 3 bolt so it is somewhere pre 97 I'm guessing.
I have a stain (rust?) on my pickguard from the 5way switch. Any tips on how to get it removed? Water doesn't move it.
Can someone explain how to insert a photo into a thread/response?
This forum is awesome, I have learned so much already. Love the "toothbrush under the trem plate" tricks etc. Thanks everyone.

[Philby]

Hi Andy,

My S-500 is a '96 model, though I have to rely on the previous owner's word about this. The s/n is below.



Re. the rust stain. Any liquid with citric acid in it should dissolve the rust away. I'd try a Q-tip saturated with lemon juice to start with. If that doesn't work, try some cloudy ammonia diluted ~1:3 and applied with a Q-tip. Don't forget to hold your breath with the ammonia!

[Craig]

Some questions. I am missing the trem bar and it will cost me over $40 to get one shipped to me (Canada). Has anyone got a drawing on how to make one? Didn't see anything in the knowledge base.
Can someone explain how to insert a photo into a thread/response?

Hi Andy,

Sorry, but we don't have any drawings of the trem bars. You might check with a local G&L dealer to see if they have
spare trem bars in stock or can order one for you without the extra shipping charge.

See the READ ME FIRST: guitarsbyleo.com History and G&LDP Guidelines post as there is a section on posting photos.
Also see the READ THIS FIRST - G&L Porn!!! post as there are examples of the different ways of posting photos inline.

Hope this helps.