Help with identifying S 500!

[Nu2gl]

Just purchased an American made S500. I was drawn to it because of color and reverse headstock. I've tried to use the neck plate # G050765 but no luck. Brought it to a local dealer and they thought it was an early model based on pickups and that the body looked narrower than modern S500s. They also said it all looks original except for the neck plate... That it looked newer. Anyway, I removed the neck and there was a lot of writing i.e. S500 #1 B/E E.B. Decal upside down. Also a lot of writing on neck pocket and under pick guard. Everything is marked #947. I provided the url with 4 photos. Any info would be a big help! Thank you!

https://flic.kr/p/KG6Mz7

[Elwood]

I see a FEB stamp on the neck heel, I can't read the year but it's a late 90's S-500.
The neck plate is most likely original, they weathered well.
EB =ebony BE= Birdseye

that's all I got
welcome,elwood

[Craig]

I see a FEB stamp on the neck heel, I can't read the year but it's a late 90's S-500.
The neck plate is most likely original, they weathered well.
EB =ebony BE= Birdseye

that's all I got
welcome,elwood

Also, the earliest that Gold Metallic was offered is 1992, see: Album: 1992-93 Catalog.
Based upon the serial number the build year is 1996-97, see: Serial number significance.

Please do add your S-500 to our G&L Registry.

[KenC]

It's hard to read the markings, but I think the neck is S-500 #1 E.B. Decal Upside Down. That would be an S-500 with a #1 neck profile, ebony board, and the headstock decal upside down (that is, the headstock is reversed but the decal isn't). For the body markings, S-500 and Gold are obvious. There's something scribbled out, followed by BE for a birdseye neck. It looks to me like the scribbled out letters were either RW (for rosewood board) or RH (for reverse headstock). Either way the next lines are L/H Neck and Ebony, so one of those corrected the scribbled out letters. I'm not sure what the difference would be between a left-hand neck and a reversed headstock, but hopefully others will be able to chime in.

The only marking that doesn't seem to match the completed guitar is "BLK PG", which would have specified a black pickguard. Maybe there was a last minute change to the order, or a previous owner might have swapped the white one in your photo.

Ken

[Fumble fingers]

Ken maybe the lefty neck verses reverse head stock is for cutting the nut correctly for the intended application

[Craig]

I I'm not sure what the difference would be between a left-hand neck and a reversed headstock, but hopefully others will be able to chime in.

Ken

The Reverse Headstock option was not officially a dealer option until 1998. See: February 1, 1998 Dealer Price List, page 8.
So, the L/H and Decal upside down notations is the same as the future RH option.

[Nu2gl]

Thanks guys for the info. I also noticed where it was marked for black pick guard. The one in it is definitely from G&L. All the screw holes line up. Was thinking of changing it to black but may just want to keep everything original. Keeping this in my collection along with an 80s ASAT tele. Any idea what the value of this S500 is?

[Craig]

Thanks guys for the info. I also noticed where it was marked for black pick guard. The one in it is definitely from G&L. All the screw holes line up. Was thinking of changing it to black but may just want to keep everything original. Keeping this in my collection along with an 80s ASAT tele. Any idea what the value of this S500 is?

See this post in our G&L Knowledgebase: Is there a good source for getting G&L instrument values?.