Pots and Caps for an original S-500

[PensnCrows]

Hello everyone. I could use some help. I just got a 1982 S-500 mahogany with natural finish. Before that i had a Blue 1983 S-300 (*edit-typo S-500) that had the best sound of any guitar I have ever owned. This new one, was not even close.

So I looked at the innards. Main problem is someone had replaced the volume pot with a 1M pot . They used what appears to be solder from copper pipe rather than electronic and it looks like the pot was overheated. Replacing the pot may fix my entire problem-the sound is nonexistant -to muddy-to clear but peircing at wide open.

But, there are differences in the caps also. So this adds to my question. My blue 83 (reference point) has three caps total. 2A222k on bottom tone pot, .047 cap on the upper tone knob, and a 1kv cap on the volume knob. These work together to give a great sound and appear factory original. The specs I downloaded from the forum of the wiring diagram seem to show different value caps in different places.

The mahogany 82 has (in ascending order) 222k , 223k (not a .047 like the blue one), and a 1k cap on volume knob.

So, does it matter? Which is right? I am going to be ordering a new 250k pot, it CTS the company of choice for replacement? Lastly, as far as caps, everyone has their favorite but I would like a G&L specific answer, silver, tin, oil, paper, which is best?

Any guidance you can give is greatly appreciated. If you give me a remedial lesson on how to attach pictures, I am glad to attach pics of the project and guitars.

Thanks in advance.

[Craig]

Hello everyone. I could use some help. I just got a 1982 S-500 mahogany with natural finish. Before that i had a Blue 1983 S-300 that had the best sound of any guitar I have ever owned. This new one, was not even close.

So I looked at the innards. Main problem is someone had replaced the volume pot with a 1M pot . They used what appears to be solder from copper pipe rather than electronic and it looks like the pot was overheated. Replacing the pot may fix my entire problem-the sound is nonexistant -to muddy-to clear but peircing at wide open.

But, there are differences in the caps also. So this adds to my question. My blue 83 (reference point) has three caps total. 2A222k on bottom tone pot, .047 cap on the upper tone knob, and a 1kv cap on the volume knob. These work together to give a great sound and appear factory original. The specs I downloaded from the forum of the wiring diagram seem to show different value caps in different places.

The mahogany 82 has (in ascending order) 222k , 223k (not a .047 like the blue one), and a 1k cap on volume knob.

So, does it matter? Which is right? I am going to be ordering a new 250k pot, it CTS the company of choice for replacement? Lastly, as far as caps, everyone has their favorite but I would like a G&L specific answer, silver, tin, oil, paper, which is best?

Any guidance you can give is greatly appreciated. If you give me a remedial lesson on how to attach pictures, I am glad to attach pics of the project and guitars.

Thanks in advance.

Check out the early S-500 schematic block diagram located on the main G&L website, it has the cap and pot values. The G&L on-line store has a 250K pot, look under Electronics.
Also, check out this post: Early S-500 and Skyhawk circuits.

Do really have an S-300, or it that a typo? I know of two other prototypes of the S-300.

For posting photos see:

READ ME FIRST: guitarsbyleo.com History and G&LDP Guidelines

Tutorial: Posting photos

Also, please do register your G&L instruments in our G&L Registry.

Hope this helps.

[PensnCrows]

i feel like such a programmer.... my nephew had to help with the web hosting.

1. it was a misprint. the guitar is a s-500. typo city.
2. i got the schematic, original, and printed it out. thanks. mine is just different and i am pretty sure it is factory original. the only main difference i can see is the .047 cap on mine.
3. the link was great. i would have never thought that the pots were 1meg, 500k, and 250k respectively. on my guitar in question, they put in all 1meg pot in all 3 spots, i will include better pictures tomorrow of both guitars and the mess the mahogany s-500 appears to be.
4. do you have a cap style of choice? oil? silver? paper? tin?

thanks again.

[Craig]

4. do you have a cap style of choice? oil? silver? paper? tin?

You might check out this post: Let's discuss capacitors and G&Ls. Maybe Darth will weigh in.

Perhaps others will jump in and add their thoughts on which style of cap to use. I have no idea which style is best or preferred.

Hope this helps.