Please Identify this Status Guitar *IMAGES FIXED*

[Danno137]

Hi guys, trying to identify this guitar.

It says "Status" on the pickups and on the head, so wondering if that might have something to do with Status Graphite in the UK?

I know nothing about guitars but for some reason it only works intermittantly through an amp. It's either perfect or nothing. Think it might be dodgy pots. The switches below the pots are to each of the three pickups and don't affect wether it's working or not.

Also, would the bridge pickup be a Humbucker? I ask because it is larger than the other two pickups.

Want to try and find a wiring diagram as there is one loose wire that could be shorting somewhere?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Value would be interesting but more importantly is it any good?

Looks like someone has had some dodgy repair efforts in the past.

http://img20.imageshack.us/i/11072010.jpg/

http://img713.imageshack.us/i/11072010002f.jpg/

[VintAxe]

Hey Danno137.

I don't know who built your guitar at the moment, but I can tell you it was not Status Graphite in the UK. They focus primarily on building bass guitars and employ graphite in all their designs. If you look at the logo on your guitar you'll see it's quite different from the Status logo of Status Graphite which I don't believe has changed since they've been in business.

It looks to me like someone is trying to built a budget version of an Ibanez Jem with your guitar. I suspect it is Korean in origin but don't know for sure. A picture of the headstock might help with the ID.

My hunch is you are right about the intermittent volume issue, it is most likely a pot that needs to be cleaned. Buy some contact cleaner and try spraying the pots before you move to more drastic measures.

Your bridge pickup is indeed a humbucker so you are looking for a HSS wiring diagram. The thing is, all the HSS diagrams I can find use a 5 way switch. I'm guessing the three switches on you guitar are simply on-off switches for each pickup (another feature that makes me think budget guitar).

Here is a diagram of a HSS setup using a 5 way switch. Since your setup is actually more basic, you might be able to figure out what you have with this bit of help.

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/WDUHSS5L1101

[Bassassin]

If there's a single loose wire, get a bright light & a magnifying glass & have a look at the lugs & solder on the pots & switches - chances are you'll be able to see where the loose wire came from. If not, it's very simple wiring anyway and shouldn't be too much trouble to fix.

There's probably no connection, because this is clearly an 80s or early 90s guitar, but Status was used as an importer's brand during the 70s, before Status Graphite was around - I've seen it on a couple of Japanese-made copy instruments.

Status Graphite's been around since 1981 - and curiously the first basses and the 6-string guitar from the original line were actually marketed under the Strata brand. The name was changed after Fender's legal people noticed the first 4 letters of the name were the same as that of some Fender product or other.

Jon.

[Danno137]