retrosurfer1959 Posted February 17, 2008 Share Posted February 17, 2008 I have a 1977 L6-S in natural that is in great condition some heavy play but no damage and original case . this is one of my favorite guitars bought it new while in high school and it went through college the L-6S and a J-45. they had direct and beneficial outcome to my social life as I learned that girls really do like rebels with guitars a lot of guitars have passed through my hands but bot the L^-2 it here forever it would be like selling a brother to lose this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the mink Posted February 18, 2008 Share Posted February 18, 2008 My first guitar was an unusual black sunburst L6-S. I got it for $500 in the late '80s and learned how to play on that guitar, and didn't realize how strange they sound compared to Les Paul, especially the last postion on the switch. It got ripped off the first day I moved to LA, and I pined for it for 15 years... until last January, I found one EXACTLY like it and won it on eBay. The coolest part was that the seller was in my hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan... the same place where I bought the original one 20 years earlier! I now have it tuned to E and strung with 13s for slide. Thinking about putting fancy capacitors and tone controls in it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted February 19, 2008 Share Posted February 19, 2008 A few years ago I bought a black '74 L6S. I always mix up the Customs and Deluxes, but this was the one with the string through body setup and a regular 3 way swithc and the pointy guard. The guard had been replaced with an aluminum one that looked like crap no matter how hard I polished it. I had that Brian guy on ebay (dasbootman) make me one in w-b-w. Very striking against the black body! In pursuit of a J200 I sold it on ebay. In that process I had to respond to many emails from know-it-alls asking what happened to the 6 way switch. It got so bad I ended up posting a catalog pic of the model, clearly showing they DID make one with a 3 way! I regret selling it but we do what we gotta do at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volt Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 I used to own a 1976-ish L6-S (natural) that I used for a few years while playing my band back in the mid to late '70's. Great guitar. Wish I still had it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matiac Posted February 25, 2008 Share Posted February 25, 2008 My first exposure to a Gibson guitar was an L6S a guy up the street had, he let me borrow for a while. I remember it was all natural maple finish, and I thought it played pretty good, better than the piece-o-crap I had at the time, jeez that was like 1977, looooong time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qblue Posted March 15, 2008 Share Posted March 15, 2008 I still play my L6-S, in my band. Its a Silverburst with the 6 position switch, with the Sustain Sisters bridge and rosewood fingerboard. I know it's a silverburst( black-to-grey ) as recently Gibsons last guitar of the month, a reissue of the RD Artist was in the same color. I bought it in 1985 used, used it for a year, and bought a Stratocaster, and left it in the case until 2008. I hear it could fetch up to $1000 USD on eBAY. I am sooo glad that I never got rid of it, because it still plays well, and has become a 'vintage' unit. The neck is a full two octaves (24frets). I only recently got info on the 6-position switch, as far as what it was doing. This guitar sounds like Gibson and a Fender, with the parallel and series settings, both in and out of phase. The pickups always sounded good to me!! Those super humbuckers are simply awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qblue Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 the mink said: My first guitar was an unusual black sunburst L6-S. I got it for $500 in the late '80s and learned how to play on that guitar, and didn't realize how strange they sound compared to Les Paul, especially the last postion on the switch. This is the story on those 6 positions: Position# 1: Both pickups on in series - in phase Position #2: Neck pickup only Position #3: Both pickups on in parallel - in phase Position #4: Both pickups on in parallel - out of phase Position #5: Bridge pickup only Position #6: Both pickups on in series - out of phase This may explain that "strange" sound, however, that is what makes this guitar great. Positions 5 & 6 sound like a Fender Strat/Tele. The other positions give that 'rich' Gibson humbucker sound. Oh by the way I saw a L6-S played by the rhythm guitarist in an early video of AC/DC, on YouTube; he had a Light maple finish on that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WB9MCW Posted September 1, 2008 Share Posted September 1, 2008 I bought my L6-S right after the great blizzard of 1979 in Chicago with money made from snowplowing. It was barely used (new like) had lowered and polished frets and Grover Heads. I have never found a good reason to buy another hardbody electric guitar since the L6-S did every sound I ever wanted to make. Just like Carlos said it is truly a "rainbow of sound" -- Bill Lawrence did a great job on the pick ups and the electronics -- BTW Bill has a great website ( http://www.billlawrence.com/ ) with a lot of good info on mag P/U's worth checking out not to mention the history on the man. Quite a fellow that Bill is no doubt. He is still making them at 77 years young-- there is even a u-tube vid of him on a Fender at the NAMM show. Here is a vid on his P/U's http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELQt9A6UdYQ&feature=related I have always been a Gibson Man but I do have to admit I would not mind someday to buy a Strat just to have one for kicks and Grins --- but I would really love to buy that new Gibson Sig- Les Paul Jimmy Page guitar no doubt!!! I like the Flying V II very much as well. Someday I will get some more guitars. For now the L6-S and Ovation and a Classical Yamaha (my first guitar in 1972 -- my mom thought it was a waste of money -lol) So little time and so many Guitars to pick from!!! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volt Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 My L6-S was unique as I have not seen any other like it. It had a 3-position pickup selector switch, and a phase-reverse switch that was mounted below the pup switch. It had a stop tailpiece, no pickup covers and no pick guard. I wish I never sold it. It was a very long time ago and i don't remember for sure, but I might have removed the pup covers and the pick guard. Note: This picture was taken in the late '70's, in the heyday of disco and embarrassing clothing. lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WB9MCW Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Hey Volt, My guess is that the original switch was changed out for the standard 3 position toggle and with the additional 2 position toggle you would now have all 6 positions. Here is the stock set up in the Santana Ad. This is the Schematic for the L6-S And this is a 78 Black L6-S with the same toggle as yours (you can even read the 1-6 #'s) but no second toggle so I think this one only was wired for 3 positions. Notice the P/U's are not the standard ones (all sealed up) but a different design all together. Now this may be a special version or one that had the P/U's changed out and the toggle wired for a Les Paul type arrangement. it will be interesting to see what others think and say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WB9MCW Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 Volt we did a bit-o-googling and here is what we found >>> From "The Blue Book of Gibson Electric Guitars": L-6 S - single sharp cutaway maple body, black pickguard, maple neck, 24 fret maple fingerboard with pearl block inlay, tunable bridge/stop tailpiece, blackface peghead, 3 per side tuners, chrome hardware, 2 covered humbucker pickups, 2 volume/1 tone controls, rotary switch. Available in Cherry and Natural finishes. Mfd. 1973 to 1980. L-6 S Deluxe - similar to L-6 S, except has bolt-on maple neck, pearl dot fingerboard inlay, strings through anchoring, volume/tone control, 3 position switch. ============================ Vote tally from 2 reviews Gibson LS6 Electric 6-String Guitar Maker: Gibson Description: From the 70's, rare, but not pricey. Unusual 6 pos toggle switch allows wide range of sound, and quick switching from one to other (humbuckers will split to single coil w/toggle). Overall Rating: 5.0 (of 5) Ratings Votes % # of Stars 2----------100-----------5 0-------------0-----------4 0-------------0-----------3 0-------------0-----------2 0-------------0-----------1 ==================================== Review #1 Rating: 5 stars Chose this one, cuz there it was in a pawn shop, never seen one before, played it and thought wow, an old Gibson with that sound at that price! Price: $800 CDN (used) Features: 5 stars US made, typical solid body, two humbuckers, that will split to single coil in various front back combos. One volume, two tone plus the unusual toggle switch. Solid colors, only one's I've seen (2 ever) have been black. Strings through bridge, single cutaway. Playability: 5 stars Fast, more like an SG than Les Paul. Sound Quality: 5 stars The thing about this guitar, is that the toggle switch and single to humbucker switching allows a wide variety of tone at the flick of the toggle. You can go from rauncy blues, to soft blues, to chicken pickin' country just by turning the toggle. Apparently considered complicated when it came out, not popular. Not complicted at all. Ray Davis of Kinks, owned (?? I seem to remember he regretted still not having...), and has been quoted as saying the LS6 was one of the best sounding guitars he ever played. Durability: 5 stars Typical rugged Gibson quality, c'ept I did have to work on the wiring, to get rid of a grounding hum (one reason it was priced a bit lower than market). Oh, and watch that headstock! You often see a repaired Gibson headstock on older guitars. ====================================== Review #2 Rating: 5 stars I played with a friend years ago who had one... i tried it out and knew i needed to have one. i would try (in vain perhaps) to replace this guitar if lost or stolen. if you can find one like this try it then buy it. Model Year: 1972 Price: $250.00 (used) Where Obtained: thoughobred music (1983) Features: 5 stars I was told this guitar was an L6. 24 frets great action with no fret buzz. very light solid body easy to hold for a long time. mine has only a 3 position toggle and one vol. and one tone control. dual gibson humms and the original gibson heads were replaced with shallers. very nice. usa made (except the shalls). maple body and mohog. fretboard. still original finish. I love this sweet thing...so easy to play. Playability: 5 stars Nothing but kudos for this instrument. easy action and a wonderful tone speak for itself. Sound Quality: 5 stars Great for any gibson based guitar riffs and lead. i use a roland but sounds great with marshalls too. my favorite guitar overall. Durability: 5 stars Must keep her climate controlled...any sudden changes affects her sound and playability =================================== Forum Ramblings Quote Ahhh ah ahhhh I've seen a few pics of Angus playing other than an SG, a blonde guitar, looks like a modified Gibson LS-6, and I believe his brother used to have an LS-6. I never meant to say he never plays anything but a SG, I saw that stones video someone posted too. But I meant in studio (for AC/DC albums) and live (for AC/DC) concerts. I am no expert of course and don't know the dude personally. Just speculating from what little I have read about him. -------- Check it out! Looks like a Gibson LS-6 but in doublecut, maple fretboard, 2Vol 1Tone, 24 frets. If I recall correctly, in the early days, I'm pretty sure Malcom was seen playing a blonde Gibson LS-6 (single cutout, sort of a large slab LP shape). I don't have the Malcom pic. But perhaps after a design modification, these two guitars were one in the same. Just a guess. Malcolm's playing it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VlRUIHwygc ---------- Quote from: 74 Jailbreak on November 26, 2008, 12:41:30 PM Malcolm's playing it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VlRUIHwygc Jailbreak Great work my friend, thanks! I almost bought into a nice used LS-6 in downtown SanDiego, CA around the middle 70's when I bought a 425 Explorer (tremelo and coil split) that proceeded my SG I have right now. I just didn't know that much about the model, but I think it would have been nice. Probably late 60's and real nice pickups. Malcom also likes SG style guitars hense some of his Gretschs are double cuts, so it's little surprise to see a double cut LS-6 with the Young brothers. ============================================ Well that is it for now --- eyes are blurry ---- LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volt Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Thanks for the info. I suspect that my L6's pickup switching was modified and the pickups were changed-out by a previous owner or the guitar shop, although I was under the assumption that it was new when I bought it. I especially loved the 24 frets, all guitars should have 24 IMO. Here's an L6-S wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_L6-S Vintage guitars info about the L6-S http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gibsonL6S.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WB9MCW Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Thanks for the info.I suspect that my L6's pickup switching was modified and the pickups were changed-out by a previous owner or the guitar shop' date=' although I was under the assumption that it was new when I bought it. I especially loved the 24 frets, all guitars should have 24 IMO. Here's an L6-S wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibson_L6-S Vintage guitars info about the L6-S http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gibsonL6S.php[/quote'] Yes Volt that was the page last night I was looking for the Vintage Guitars page on the LS-6 it has all the details on the guitar for sure. I am going to make a copy of it on a word document so I have it handy for the future. That is where I got the schematic from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiberAl Posted December 4, 2009 Share Posted December 4, 2009 I have been looking for a nice Natural LS-6S. Anybody have one that they would want to part with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.