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MGR/Dave Rotherham MGR/Dave Rotherham

« Gibson S-1 »

Published on 10/21/11 at 15:00
The 1976 model - alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. There was a later version with a notoriously heavy mahogany body and maple fretboard, and an early one with slightly different pickups. Mine is natural, gone a pleasant yellow with age. Bill Lawrence's update of a Les Paul Special to compete with a Strat. The classic Gibson LP single cutaway body style, with a flat top and bolted neck. Three single coil pickups wired to combine into spread humbuckers in 4 combinations: Neck and middle for fat rock tone (like middle on Strat, but gutsier) bridge and middle for bright rock tone (like bridge on LP) all 3 for thick melody/rhythm tone(like neck on Strat or Rick)and out of phase for spiky funk tone ( like bridge and middle on Strat plus toe down on wah-wah). Then another override switch brings up the bridge pickup alone (Like bridge on Tele)
I string mine with Ernie Ball Stainless 010s and play rock, blues and country on it, at home or sometimes at open mic nights

Bought from a Kentucky pawn shop through eBay for about $400. In 1975 or 76 Norlin (Gibson) sent a prototype around UK music shops. I tried it and loved it. Then they didn't release it for the UK market after all. I never forgot, though, and when internet shopping was invented, I started looking again.

Easy feel. Comfort. Versatility: 5 great tones. Amazing sustain for a light guitar, but crisp enough for very fast licks, too. General mojo.

Picks up hum from lights.

Sturdy and durable, although one switch needed fixing after 33 years and the other started to crackle after 34 years. Stunning neck, sloppily fitted. The slight misalignment of the neck gives more room for vibrato on the first string, so it is an accidental good thing. Feel is wonderful.

It instantly felt like I had owned it all my life and is the most playable, comfortable and versatile guitar I have ever had.

<img src="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150477013858976&set=a.10150477009073976.459711.590748975&type=3&theater" />

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com