Re: Spectrum GT 1984 -possible preproduction model

Guest on Mon Jul 26, 2010 8:13 pm

Isolating it is easy - just don't switch the middle pickup on, take off the back cover and measure the resistance between the middle pickup signal lead where it connects to its on/off switch and ground. If it's like other H/S/h Westones, mid position on the pickup switch will be both humbuckers on full, unless the coil tap is engaged.

**corsair** on Tue Jul 27, 2010 9:05 am

Thank you!

I remember reading somewhere that taking a reading off a pick-up while it's in the circuit is not a true reading due to the resistances involved, and that you should really take it physically out of the circuit to be 100% correct; is that right??

Barry on Tue Jul 27, 2010 1:53 pm

Thorn wrote:Isolating it is easy...

Um yeah, about that...she's out on rotation just now, so I had a quick look:

I spent a few moments poking about but there are just too damn many wires in a small area. Don't know why they bunched everything into one corner like that when there's plenty of room in there. I was not in the mood to take everything apart, and frankly, I don't need to know the output that badly. Laughing

As an addendum...I'm not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere already but the cover on the control cavity is metal, not plastic! Another nice quality touch from Uncle Mat:

**corsair** on Tue Jul 27, 2010 2:28 pm

Coward!!!

I can't remember if mine was alloy or plastic, but I suspect plastic....

Hey, have you still got the speed knobs on this; Thorn has the Switchmasters for sale and I've got a set; they're fabulous; go get some, man!!

Barry on Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:00 pm

corsair wrote:...Hey, have you still got the speed knobs on this; Thorn has the Switchmasters for sale and I've got a set; they're fabulous; go get some, man!!

Yeah, I'm still a bit strapped for spare $$$ at the moment. A pensioner's life is not a happy one.

The guitar came with one original so all I need is 2 more. I would need you to do the shipping honours though. Wink

Guest on Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:12 pm

Barry wrote:
Thorn wrote:Isolating it is easy...
Um yeah, about that..

Oops, forgot to say which lead it was - if it follows the same wiring as the rest of the three pickup ones (Probably does), the middle pickup is turned on by a pull switch on the middle pot, the signal wire connects to the top terminal on the switch on the back of the pot

**corsair** on Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:17 pm

Barry wrote: I would need you to do the shipping honours though.

Not a problem.

Barry on Mon Aug 16, 2010 6:43 pm

Big thanks to Thorn for making these reproductions available again, and a special thanks to Corsair for acting as middle man to ship them to this side of the pond! Very much appreciated John.

The weather finally cooperated on the day they arrived, so I shot some new pix to show this old gal with all her parts finally restored. The first two are close ups to show off the knobs:

The rest of the pix are just showing off! Razz

To refresh memories, the guitar came with only one of the original switchmasters and I ordered 2 repro's to complete the set. The new ones are very good quality and you have to squint a bit to see the difference, which primarily is that the original is metal and quite hefty by comparison. It's also a tad shinier. The original is the first one (volume) in the pix.

She looked good with the speed knob replacements, but now she looks correct! And I no longer worry about pulling the knob off the shaft thanks to the Allen set screws.

**corsair** on Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:48 pm

A little dredge here as I was looking around in the Electra site and was looking at this thread...

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electraforum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=3621

... and about halfway down is the dead ringer for Barrys Dream Machine!!

boutjp97 on Tue Nov 09, 2010 7:13 am

Nice catch Corsair, if you click to save the picture it is labeled redburt x190. Other than the headstock having the dual logo it really is a dead ringer.

**corsair** on Tue Nov 09, 2010 9:18 am

Ahh!! I didn't notice that... interesting as the code for the GT was X185??

Barry on Tue Nov 09, 2010 4:23 pm

Some nice guitars on that post too, as well as some bizarre ones like the Greco with the crazy chevron pups!
It does appear to be the same guitar though.

**corsair** on Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:15 pm

That Greco 12 string with the crazy pups is a bottler, eh!! He lives in Seattle and is a really nice fella....

Westbone on Tue Nov 09, 2010 10:51 pm

If you held your red burst upside down, it looks like a strawberry on a stick or a toffee apple, Loverly jublee .
Looks very good. cherry

Barry on Wed Nov 10, 2010 2:18 am

Westbone on Wed Nov 10, 2010 8:12 am

Excellent, very good. lol!