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Reviving an early 80s Special

txfiddler

Asked by txfiddler,

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txfiddler Member

txfiddler

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I have an early 80s Special. It’s been sitting in its case for over twenty years. I guess some moisture got in because the string ferrules are corroded and the electronics are basically shot. The bridge and tuners seem fine. I plan on gutting it out and getting it back to being playable again. Most of the parts seem pretty basic but I do want to make sure I get the correct input jack and switch. Likewise the correct ferrules as well. Any information y’all can provide for me will be greatly appreciated.

15 answers to this question

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Jakeboy Veteran HFCer

Jakeboy

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Welcome and congrats! I have a 1980 Special that is incredible. You maight want to try and clean the corrosion off the ferrules,beth. If it is just surface corrosion.

You have a gem there to repolish! We would love before and after pics.

veatch Veteran HFCer

veatch

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Welcome to the forum!

The barrel jack is a Switchcraft 151. Allparts carries them as well as a number of other places. About $10. If you have trouble finding one, let me know. I might have a spare...

Oh - and please post a pic or three of the guitar. Before and after pics will be interesting to see.

ETA - Link to Allparts - $10 on the nose... :)

http://www.allparts.com/EP-0151-000-Switchcraft-Mono-Long-Threaded-Jack_p_1275.html

txfiddler Member

txfiddler

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Thanks for the welcome. Your input is greatly appreciated.

I got this guitar in 86 as a deal to settle a dept. The belt buckle damage was already there. It saw some heavy use from 87-89. After my uncle gave me an extended loan on his 54 Tele, That became my main guitar and all others in my collection got mothballed. When I retired from full time road work in 96, I pretty much quit playing guitar and focused on playing the fiddle. My stance has softened the past few years and I am slowly reviving my collection to get them all in playing condition. I had forgotten how good this guitar sounds acoustically. Even with the decades old strings everything rings clear. Once I get it up and running it should be a regular on stage.

Hamer%2BFront.jpgHamer%2Bback.jpg

BTMN Veteran HFCer

BTMN

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Welcome!! Love Some Sustain Block Bridge Specials!!

I have one just like that that I have had since January 1990. Clean the ferrules and spray the pots/jack with some contact cleaner first if that is possible and let it RIP!! Good luck on the redo.

velorush Veteran HFCer

velorush

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Welcome! You mentioned in the original post the need for a switch. Here are some posts from a recent thread on the topic:

You can buy them here, or here, or even here.

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Try this:
http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/SWT35-24/Switchcraft-3-Way-Right-Angle-Guitar-Toggle-Switch.html

3 or more - $0.50 off per
6 or more - $1.00 off per

Free shipping for orders over $49

aknapp Inner Circle

aknapp

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Guitar Electronics probably has most of the items you need, certainly anything electronics-wise. Good prices, great selection, and a fairly large set of (free) wiring diagrams..

benjammin308 Outer Circle

benjammin308

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It looks to me like the bridge pickup is in the neck position and vice versa. You might want to flip them back when you reassemble.

velorush Veteran HFCer

velorush

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It looks to me like the bridge pickup is in the neck position and vice versa. You might want to flip them back when you reassemble.

My '80 was swapped that way when I got it. I tried it the "right" way and it sounded nowhere nearly as good. I swapped them back to the "wrong" orientation and it sounded much better. In my case, the zebra pickup was much beefier sounding; the white pickup was much brighter. Could be why this one is swapped, too. ;)

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