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Gibson S-1 - Before Gibson Designed The S-1, Ron Wood Had His Guitars Customized
1977 advert for the S-1, featuring Ron Wood. A very similar advert was put out the previous year; featuring Ron Wood, alongside Rod Stewart
The guitars that Ron Wood has played with Jeff Beck. Rod Stewart & Faces and now the Rolling Stones were customized to the point that the names on the pegheads were meaningless. But this isn't the case with Ron's new Gibson S-1 guitar. Its a genuine Gibson right oft the production line.
Ron s forte is loud, hard, powerful rock & roll. and the three high frequency pickups put out everything he needs. They re flexible too, under the control of a four position pickup/phase selector switch, plus a bypass switch that shuts off everything but the lead pickup. So. Ron can evoke the mood he needs for a mournful Maggie Mae, or make the music burn for Gimmie Shelter..
Ron Wood can afford the most expensive customized guitar. But instead he plays the best. A factory made Gibson S-1 —the quitar that s priced for just about anyone. Available in Natural, Sunburst and Black | 
Gibson S-1 - Before Gibson Designed The S-1, Ron Wood Had His Guitars Customized
1976 advert for the S-1, featuring Ron Wood and Rod Stewart. A very similar advert was put out in 1977; compositionally identical, though with updated picture of Ron Wood, and without Rod Stewart
The guitars that Ron Wood has played with Jeff Beck. Rod Stewart & Faces and now the Rolling Stones were customized to the point that the names on the pegheads were meaningless. But this isn't the case with Ron's new Gibson S-1 guitar. Its a genuine Gibson right oft the production line.
Ron s forte is loud, hard, powerful rock & roll. and the three high frequency pickups put out everything he needs. They re flexible too, under the control of a four position pickup/phase selector switch, plus a bypass switch that shuts off everything but the lead pickup. So. Ron can evoke the mood he needs for a mournful Maggie Mae, or make the music burn for Gimmie Shelter..
Ron Wood can afford the most expensive customized guitar. But instead he plays the best. A factory made Gibson S-1 —the quitar that s priced for just about anyone. Available in Natural, Sunburst and Black |
There were two variations in the S-1 wiring. In the Adventures in Archives articles from November 1997, Gibson historian Walter Carter explains
I also came across a schematic for the "S-1, Second Series," made in 1978 and after I was talking with Customer Relations head Wayne Green about it when a voice behind me said, "I drew that schematic." The voice came from Pat Murphy, who recently rejoined Gibson after working here from 1975-78 in final assembly and quality control. According to Pat, the S-1 was supposed to be Gibson's version of the Fender Stratocaster, but the original design didn't let the player select "the Hendrix sound" -- the neck pickup alone. Pat was the one who rewired the S-1 to fix that problem
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| 1978 spec sheet for the Gibson S-1 |
FEATURES:
Alder (perhaps in 1975), maple (1976 - 79) or mahogany (1978-79) body
Laminate maple neck. Rosewood fingerboard (1975-early '78). Maple fingerboard (1976-1979)
3 high frequency Gibson special design adjustable pickups
13" wide, 17 ¼" long, 1 ¾" deep; 24 ¾" scale, 22 frets
An explanation of all controls (of the series 1 S-1) can be seen in the 1978 S-1 spec sheet
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