S-500 without the toggle switch?

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:20 am

I'm purchasing a used but mint S-500 (Mary Kay type blonde and gloss tint neck), and it does not have the usual toggle switch which you see on S-500s. The seller stated that it was a custom option where the toggle switch was not included (I had wondered if a previous owner removed the toggle switch). So....were there some S-500s which had no toggle?

SouthpawGuy · Post by **SouthpawGuy** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 11:55 am

Maybe it's on a push / pull on the volume knob ?

astutzmann · Post by **astutzmann** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 12:30 pm

Are you sure its not a legacy?

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:09 pm

Yes, definitely an S-500, with the proper S-500 neck.

darwinohm · Post by **darwinohm** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:25 pm

Do the pickups have hex wrench adjustable pole pieces? -- Darwin

Fumble fingers · Post by **Fumble fingers** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:34 pm

if it don't have a toggle switch it should have a push pull switch as far as I know

yz250f49 · Post by **yz250f49** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 1:59 pm

When I bought my Tribute Legacy in 2005, I also looked at the Tribute S-500, and I remember them having a toggle. It looked like this one.

[image]http://www.sheltonsguitars.com/images/2011/06-09-2011/g%20and%20l%20s-500-tribute/big/bigDSCN3219.jpg[/image]

I don't believe I've seen a newer one in person.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 2:15 pm

Yes, typically the S-500 does have the toggle switch. I'm curious as to whether a few were made (possibly by custom request only) without the toggle. The one I have purchased is an S-500 (MFD pickups, S-500 neck, no tampering, etc), but it does not have that toggle.

yz250f49 · Post by **yz250f49** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 2:44 pm

fenderfan, what year is yours?

SouthpawGuy · Post by **SouthpawGuy** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 2:57 pm

fenderfan wrote:Yes, typically the S-500 does have the toggle switch. I'm curious as to whether a few were made (possibly by custom request only) without the toggle. The one I have purchased is an S-500 (MFD pickups, S-500 neck, no tampering, etc), but it does not have that toggle.

I'm guessing yours has the pickguard and pots from a Legacy ( it has Legacy plastic knobs instead of S500 knurled knobs) , and by default it does not have a hole for the mini switch.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:06 pm

yz250: I have to research the year when it arrives.

Southpaw - there actually are some S-500s that do not come with the knurled knobs.

An intriguing guitar...

astutzmann · Post by **astutzmann** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:20 pm

I'm no expert by any means, but looks like a Legacy with S-500 decal. Anyone else care to comment?

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:25 pm

Hi Alf - Yes, I wonder, too. Although a Legacy would not come with those MFD pickups...

SouthpawGuy · Post by **SouthpawGuy** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:30 pm

fenderfan wrote:yz250: I have to research the year when it arrives.

Southpaw - there actually are some S-500s that do not come with the knurled knobs.

An intriguing guitar...

Yes, but the Legacy uses different pots than the S500. Push on split shaft on the Legacy, solid shaft with grub screw on the S500.

So for someone who wanted an S500 with conventional strat style knobs instead of the tele style knurled knobs it isn't just a case of replacing the knobs ... they won't fit.

So in a production situation the simplest solution is to use a Legacy pickguard and pots.

Just a guess.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 3:37 pm

This is fun stuff. I did a little more digging here on this site, and saw a post from Craig which said that, as of July 1, 2015, the S500 comes with regular bell knobs instead of knurled metal knobs, and that the knobs would be the same color as the pickup covers (in the case of the S500 I purchased, that's creme color). Still curious about the lack of the toggle switch...

darwinohm · Post by **darwinohm** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 4:40 pm

It may have a push pull pot. The pickups shown in the picture are adjustable pole piece s500 Mfd's. Nice mystery! -- Darwin

KenC · Post by **KenC** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 5:40 pm

What do the headstock decals say? Where is the serial number (three-bolt neck plate, decal on headstock, or metal tag on headstock), and what are the first three characters? That will help to narrow down the date.

Ken

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Oct 26, 2015 7:06 pm

Ken - it's a four-bolt neckplate, and the serial number is on the back of the headstock. Since serial numbers have been on a metal plate since 2011, this must be a pre-2011 guitar. I'll know the specific serial number as soon as the guitar arrives.

Post by **Craig** » Tue Oct 27, 2015 9:04 am

Got some free time (Grandson just went down for a nap) so I thought I'd chime in here.

Based upon the photos, I estimate the build year to be somewhere from 1998-2010.
Schaller tuners were standard beginning in 1998.
Deluxe cases were standard beginning in 2010.

See this post in our G&L Knowledgebase: Are there expander and coil splitter switch options?.
In 2013, the mini-toggle expander switch was changed to a push/pull pot on the S-500.
This was changed back to a mini-toggle in 7/2015.

I think the seller may be right about the deletion of the expander mini-toggle as being a custom request to the factory.
Please post the serial number so I can check with one of my G&L contacts to look up the order.

BTW, the early S-500's (1982-1987) did not have the expander function. The mini-toggle was added in 1988, see: Production List of G&L Instruments (USA).

If you can, pop off the pickguard and look under the hood. There should be two green caps on the Bass tone pot. If there is
only one, then SouthpawGuy may be right about the Legacy pickguard/pots being used. Though it may not have been done at the factory but by
a previous owner.

Also, don't forget to add this to our G&L Registry.

Sweet looking S-500.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Tue Oct 27, 2015 3:00 pm

Thanks VERY much for the information, Craig. As soon as it arrives on Thursday, I'll get you that serial number.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Thu Oct 29, 2015 4:56 pm

Craig - the serial number is CLF46400 Also, it needs tension set screws for the vibrato arm - do you know if I would buy the metric set or the pre-2005 set?

Thanks!

Post by **Craig** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 10:47 am

fenderfan wrote:Craig - the serial number is CLF46400 Also, it needs tension set screws for the vibrato arm - do you know if I would buy the metric set or the pre-2005 set?

Thanks!

I see that this serial number is already registered, but there are some differences, see: G&L Registry entry for CLF46400.

I emailed Dave at G&L about this and am just waiting for a reply.

I saw your other post regarding the tension set screws and replied to it.

Stay tuned.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Nov 02, 2015 4:33 pm

Thanks, Craig. That's weird about the registry posting for my serial number, since this one is definitely a Mary Kay type translucent blonde, and not a honeyburst.

Post by **Craig** » Thu Nov 05, 2015 6:07 pm

fenderfan wrote:Thanks, Craig. That's weird about the registry posting for my serial number, since this one is definitely a Mary Kay type translucent blonde, and not a honeyburst.

Craig wrote:
fenderfan wrote:Craig - the serial number is CLF46400 Also, it needs tension set screws for the vibrato arm - do you know if I would buy the metric set or the pre-2005 set?

Thanks!
I see that this serial number is already registered, but there are some differences, see: G&L Registry entry for CLF46400.

I emailed Dave at G&L about this and am just waiting for a reply.

I saw your other post regarding the tension set screws and replied to it.

Stay tuned.

I've heard back from Dave:

Hi Craig,

CLF46400 shows as an S-500 in Blonde, maple neck with Tinted Gloss finish, pearl pickguard, white covers. The only note was "must be light ash only."

It was shipped to Wolfe Guitars in Jupiter, Florida on May 17, 2007.

Seems to me the guitar was modded somewhere along the way.

Thanks, Craig.

Dave

I'm thinking that a past owner replaced the white pearloid pickguard with the current black one and might have decided to remove the expander switch.
Please edit the registry entry and add yourself as the current owner.

Hope this helps.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Fri Nov 06, 2015 9:10 pm

Yes, thanks to your research and Dave's info, the mystery is solved. And, it's a truly great S-500 (the birdseye figuring on the neck is really stunning). I'll make the registry posting, too.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 10:51 am

Just a final note, Craig - I took the neck off, and there is a handwritten " TG ", along with this handwritten number 262514-2

Curious if we know who the TG refers to, and if the number has any significance.

Thanks!

SouthpawGuy · Post by **SouthpawGuy** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 3:32 pm

TG ... tinted gloss ?

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 5:51 pm

That makes sense.

Post by **Craig** » Sun Nov 08, 2015 9:25 pm

SouthpawGuy wrote:TG ... tinted gloss ?

fenderfan wrote:Just a final note, Craig - I took the neck off, and there is a handwritten " TG ", along with this handwritten number 262514-2

Curious if we know who the TG refers to, and if the number has any significance.

Thanks!

Yes, SouthpawGuy is correct.
The series of numbers is the sales order number.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Mon Nov 09, 2015 6:16 am

Thanks, everyone - no more questions from me about this incredible S-500. I used it at its first gig with my surf band last Saturday night, and it cut through the mix with outstanding, full twang like no other Strat model I own.

fenderfan · Post by **fenderfan** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 3:51 pm

At the risk of over-posting about it: I have discovered one more fascinating element about this S-500. Although there is no toggle switch, the bass tone knob rolls the neck pickup in or out! So, if I'm on the bridge pickup with the bass knob at 1, there is no neck pickup involved . But, if I roll the bass knob to 10, there is full neck/bridge pickup response (and as I roll the bass knob slowly from 1 toward 10, the neck pickup response gradually increases). Same with positions 2, 3, and 4 on the pickup selector. I can still control treble/bass tone in any setting with the treble knob.

This S-500 gets even more interesting...

oldhatt · Post by **oldhatt** » Wed Nov 11, 2015 7:01 pm

fenderfan wrote:At the risk of over-posting about it: I have discovered one more fascinating element about this S-500. Although there is no toggle switch, the bass tone knob rolls the neck pickup in or out! So, if I'm on the bridge pickup with the bass knob at 1, there is no neck pickup involved . But, if I roll the bass knob to 10, there is full neck/bridge pickup response (and as I roll the bass knob slowly from 1 toward 10, the neck pickup response gradually increases). Same with positions 2, 3, and 4 on the pickup selector. I can still control treble/bass tone in any setting with the treble knob.

This S-500 gets even more interesting...

We should have someone post about the PTB system on this. It sounds like the general idea, but maybe not to this extreme ? Grats on a damned interesting piece -lol- sounds like fun

Guitars by Leo (aka "GbL")

S-500 without the toggle switch?

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