Gibson S-1 Solidbody Electric Natural, 1976 [USED]

Here we’re looking at a Gibson S-1 built during 1976 in Nashville TN. Aside from the Indian Rosewood fingerboard, this guitar is built almost exclusively of Maple, used for the three-piece body and bolt-on neck. 

This example is in largely original condition. The Bill Lawrence design pickups with distinctive clear covers are original. The clear, nitrocellulose lacquer satin finish is original and has some honest play wear on the back. Fret wear is light to moderate.   The tail strap pin is not original. 

Overall, this Gibson S-1 is in good working order, plays well and has a wide array of available sounds.

The original Gibson hard shell case is included. 

Construction and Materials

At its 1974 introduction, the Gibson S-1 was built using Maple for the body and scarf-joint neck, with Maple or Indian Rosewood as options for the fingerboard.  At some points in its run, Mahogany and Alder were available for body woods. 

Construction of the Gibson S-1 moved boldly away from several traditional Gibson practices. Clearly sharing design influences with the concurrent Gibson Marauder and taking production cues from Fender, the neck bolts to the body and the pickups and electronics all bolt to the pickguard for faster assembly, installation and removal. 

Gibson-branded tuners are on the Flying V-style arrow-shaped headstock, and a ‘Harmonica’ style long-travel adjustable bridge (made by Schaller) is paired with a standard stop tailpiece.

Electronics

The electronics are where the Gibson S1 really stood out.

There are three Bill Lawrence design single coil pickups, a four-position rotary pickup selector, master volume and tone, and a two-position toggle ‘Bypass’ switch.

The Rotary ‘Transfer’ selector originally offered these settings:

    Neck and Middle pickups in humbucking mode.
    Middle and Bridge pickups on
    All three pickups on
    Neck and Middle pickups out of phase

The Gibson S-1 ‘Bypass’ switch enables only the Bridge pickup, regardless of the position of the Transfer switch.

During later 1978, the ‘Transfer’ switch was redesigned by Pat Murphy to allow a missing but key setting – the neck pickup by itself.

Production of the S-1 and the Marauder ended by 1980, and due to low sales they were removed from the catalogs.  In total, S-1 production was 3,089 units. During this period, Gibson (and other American builders) faced stiff competition from new offshore competitors, and had to reduce costs.  While the model was dropped from the 1980 catalog, sales of remaining stock continued into 1982.

 

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here

 

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DETAILS: 

• Instrument Model:  S-1
• Instrument Manufacturer:  Gibson
• Instrument year:  1976
• Instrument Finish:  Natural Gloss
• Instrument Class:  Solidbody Electric Guitars
• Instrument serial number:  00174127, built during 1976 at Nashville, TN
• Country of Origin:  USA
• Instrument Condition:  Good
• Right-handed 
• CITIES Documentation Required:  No
• Case included:  Yes
• Case original:  Yes
• Case Type: Hard Shell 
• Instrument Weight Imperial:   7.788 lbs
• Instrument Weight Metric:   3.54 kgs
• Scale Length Imperial:    24.65 in
• Scale Length Metric:    626 mm
• Nut Width Imperial:    1.666 in
• Nut Width Metric:  42.31 mm
  
• Items in Case: Strings, picks
• Consignment: Yes
• Product ID: 190681

There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here