Rebuilding 1980 Special/ Which parts aren't stock?

[Montelovesco]

I got this nice little 1980 Special with a lovely flame on the top (and some severe, not so nice dings on the side the seller wrote NOTHIN about... :-( ), and even before purchasing that one some of you stated that there are some parts that are not stock. So here are some pics, and I need your help.

1.) The tuning machines: The Grovers aren't original, I know that. Any idea where I can get original ones?

2.) The PU rings. Black, but original? If not - which color would deb correct and where do I get them?

(see first pic)

3.) Last - and serious - issue: The PUs. There is a DiMarzio in the neck position and a SD in the bridge. The do sound nice. But are they correct?

I am yet not decided if I will try to bring her back in the "original state of mind/build", since I like the sound the way it is. And i never tried to do so on any of my guitars - e.g., it was never necessary.

Any help is mucho appreciated! Thanks!

PS: What about the knobs... ?

[Andrew]

Neck pickup looks original, you need a double cream Dimarzio PAF for the bridge. About 8-8.5 kohms if you can get one.

Surrounds would be Dimarzio cream rings, these should be easy to find.

Machines should be the larger Schaller M6, they still make the identical ones.

[Bloozguy]

Daniel,

There are lots of folks here who are smarter than I am about these things (and I hope they chime in and correct me if I'm wrong), but I would say:

The Grovers definitely are not original. From the looks of the existing screw holes, this had OEM-style (angled mounting hole) Schaller M6 tuners with the Hamer-branded backplates. I may have a set lying around my office. I will check and let you know.

Nearly all of the sustain block Specials of that era that I have seen had cream colored pickup rings and black knobs.

The neck pickup looks like it might be original, but I can't say for sure. The bridge pickup is probably not original.

How does it sound and how does it play?

If you're not intent on bringing it back to 100% original you could at least change the pickup rings...

Ray

P.S.: What's in the Music Man case?

[Montelovesco]

Ray, Andrew, thanks! Now I got a first idea what I would have to look for... And yes, if it so easy - or at least not sooo hard - I would like to bring it back to 100% original...

Ray, it might look like a MM case, but it is in fact a Peavey case. It i even the LTD or a very nice Peavey Generation which I planned to sell, but it seems like I could not let her go...

[polara]

My '81 Special has Schaller-branded M6s, so I wouldn't work about getting Hamer-branded. And yes, I think black knobs. If you just got a creme-creme DiMarzio PAF bridge pickup that'd get you close to original attitude. Nice guitar!

[murkat]

everything said is spot on.

you like playing it as is?

sounds good as is?

nuff said as you look in the mirror

[tbonesullivan]

I would just keep it as is. there will always be holes on the back of the headstock even if you put back the original style of tuners. If the sound is good, just play it and love it. Those are incredible guitars, even if they aren't stock.

[carfish7]

Daniel, your PM box is full!

I also say "leave it" if you dig the tone. Maybe replace the knobs as they won't do much to alter that........

[burningyen]

Call me crazy but I like everything about that guitar, including, maybe especially, the black rings.

[velorush]

Neck pickup looks original, you need a double cream Dimarzio PAF for the bridge. About 8-8.5 kohms if you can get one.

Surrounds would be Dimarzio cream rings, these should be easy to find.

Machines should be the larger Schaller M6, they still make the identical ones.

Unless it's been sold, Len has a double cream DiMarzio PAF for sale on the other board for not too much.

It is 'era correct' for the '80 Special and, if it's the one I sold him, it sounds great! I can't find the listing, but shoot him a PM and see if he still has it.