Ripper project - questions

[Grog]

On a similar thought, I had read years ago that pickup magnets could loose their magnetism over time. They could be recharged by equipment that would be used by people that repaired speedometers back in the day. The article was referring to guitar pickups (humbuckers?), I have never heard anyone refer to bass pickups having this issue. Any thoughts? This equipment is likely obsolete for todays speedometers but may be repurposed for pickup repair........... If it works. 

[Dave W]

Bill Lawrence insisted that pickup magnets would never lose more than a tiny portion of their magnetism over time, I think he said no more than 2%. OTOH, pickups can deteriorate in other ways, and alnico can be degaussed.

Good article by Jason Lollar

We've discussed pickguard off-gassing before. It definitely can happen, and not just with Rippers.

[Grog]

I was also told by someone not to use my Weller soldering gun around pickups, it might demagnetize them some, at least more than a small soldering pencil.

[Denis]

I rehabbed a '73 a few years ago from a project I got off Craigslist. Got it for $250, stripped the hideous paint off it to find it was a natural finish originally. Installed Seymour Duncans and required the 4-way switch so I could use each pup independently.
It was a fun project!

[Denis]

More pics...

[Denis]

I was lucky enough to score a really nice original pg for it!
During the course of this project I discovered there were at least two variations of the Ripper TRC.

[Denis]

Finished it after a year or two. Still have some of that nasty white stuff on there I couldn't get off. Someday...

[ack1961]

I rehabbed a '73 a few years ago from a project I got off Craigslist. Got it for $250, stripped the hideous paint off it to find it was a natural finish originally. Installed Seymour Duncans and required the 4-way switch so I could use each pup independently.
It was a fun project!

Thanks for the info and great pics, Denis.  Always nice to have a local expert around.
The Ripper is somewhere near Sanford, and I'm going to see how much he's willing to deal.
I also have my eye on another bass purchase, and I'd like to pull off the 'ol two-fer (without getting caught by "homeland security").

Steve 
 

[Denis]

Hope it goes the way you want it to! I feel that Rippers get the short end of the stick so am pleased when someone brings one back to life.
It's interesting to note that Seymour Duncan offers relpacement Ripper pick ups for the EARLY ones, not the later Rippers.

[66Atlas]

Wow, that turned out great Denis!  It's always nice to see a bass rescued from a horrible fate like that.

[Denis]

Wow, that turned out great Denis!  It's always nice to see a bass rescued from a horrible fate like that.

Thanks so much! And it sounds GREAT with the Seymour Duncans!

I think maybe I'd posted a pic of the finished bass but given I was using Photobucket it likely disappeared long ago into behind the "third party hosting" error crap.