Author Topic: Help with Gordon Smith Wiring (Read 5942 times)

Keith Crossen · « **on:** June 02, 2008, 10:43:17 PM »

Hi
I've just taken delivery of a pair of Riff Raffs to be installed into my 1980 GS Gypsy 2. I would like to retain the same push/pull vol coil tap functionality of the original pups. My problem is that I'm not too sure which wires to hook up from the BKs. Dave McCawley of GS Guitars very kindly sent me the following wiring diagram.

Any pointers as to how to repicate this wiring using the BKs would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Keith
PS
Bigger pic here
http://www.pbase.com/crossenk/image/98030999/original

Philly Q · « **Reply #1 on:** June 03, 2008, 12:40:03 AM »

I think it'll be:

1. Red wires of the BKPs connected where the Red wires of the GSs are;
2. Green and White wires of the BKPs connected where the Blue wires of the GSs are;
3. Black* and Bare wires of the BKPs connected where the Shield wires of the GSs are.

* That's Black. Serves me right for trying to be clever :roll: .

Keith Crossen · « **Reply #2 on:** June 03, 2008, 12:51:12 AM »

Excellent. Thanks Philly, I'll give that a bash. Unfortunately I won't get time until the weekend, but prior preparation & planning, etc....

Philly Q · « **Reply #3 on:** June 03, 2008, 01:00:46 AM »

I reckon those Riff Raffs will sound great! :D

I had a GS2-60 years ago and fitted some totally inappropriate DiMarzios which sounded much worse than the GS pickups, which aren't at all bad to be fair.

Keith Crossen · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2008, 05:45:22 PM »

Installed the Riff Raffs today. Reasonably painless installation, althought I had to do a wee bit of work with the wood chisel - those GS boys don't leave much room to manouver!! Getting the bridge cable fed through was a bit of a fiddle as well.
The result? Awesome, awesome, awesome.
The GS pups were good - BKs are on a whole new level.
Many thanks for the wiring guides; that bit was a breeze.
1 guitar done - 3 to go...

Philly Q · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2008, 07:07:38 PM »

:D Have you already decided on pickups for the others?

sgmypod · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2008, 09:51:52 PM »

yeah had probs with a couple of my pickup choices for my GSmith...chisel was useful

Keith Crossen · « **Reply #7 on:** June 08, 2008, 10:23:34 AM »

Quote from: Philly Q

:D Have you already decided on pickups for the others?

Now there's the rub... Thinking of Cold Sweats or Holy Divers on my Ibanez S520EX;
can't make up my mind for the '78 LP Std (might try the Riff Raffs in it);
my '87 Ibanez 540p is H-S-S - stock pups are DiMarzio and I've already replaced the neck pup with a Seymour Duncan mini humbucker. I might go for a Holy Diver in the bridge.

Philly Q · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2008, 11:02:59 AM »

Those sound like good choices. The HD has always appealed to me, but nearly all my guitars are Gibson types and I think it may be too fat-sounding for them.

The CS is of interest too - in fact most of the BKP range is of interest, except maybe the really high-output ones! :lol: