The Last Bass Outpost

Gear Discussion Forums => Bill's Shop: Projects, Mods & Repairs => Topic started by: Denis on December 16, 2013, 11:11:39 AM

Title: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: Denis on December 16, 2013, 11:11:39 AM
So I got a call from the guitar shop with some bad news on my '73 Ripper pickups. They produce no sound, even when wired so they bypass all the other fancy electronics. On their own they registered 6.15-6.3 ohms but produce almost no sound.

Anyone ever try the Seymour Duncan replacement pups?
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: amptech on December 16, 2013, 12:35:00 PM
Quote from: Denis on December 16, 2013, 11:11:39 AM
So I got a call from the guitar shop with some bad news on my '73 Ripper pickups. They produce no sound, even when wired so they bypass all the other fancy electronics. On their own they registered 6.15-6.3 ohms but produce almost no sound.

Anyone ever try the Seymour Duncan replacement pups?

Are they epoxy potted? Are these the pickups from the ripper rescue thread?
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: Denis on December 16, 2013, 06:17:09 PM
Same pickups, different Ripper. I started on my rehab the year before last but was distracted by other projects. Getting back into it I realized I had all the parts so took it to my local shop for wiring, etc. Everything checks out except for the pickups. I don't think these were epoxy potted.
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: amptech on December 17, 2013, 02:04:29 AM
Can't they just rewind them, or have I missed something from the ripper thread?
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: neepheid on December 17, 2013, 03:00:55 AM
I have acquired a pair of SD replacements for my Ripper.  They've just left Customs (and the pound of flesh has been requested :( ).  I'll let you know how I get on.

Also, this video provides some relevant food for thought:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUMPcMsRNcA
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: Granny Gremlin on December 17, 2013, 09:46:25 AM
Quote from: Denis on December 16, 2013, 11:11:39 AM
they registered 6.15-6.3 ohms but produce almost no sound.


Looks like they went LoZ on you  :P

OK sorry, I know that's not helping, back to the thread we go. Good luck.
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: patman on December 17, 2013, 04:44:47 PM
That ripper demo is pretty awesome...
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: Denis on December 18, 2013, 07:24:49 AM
I like his mod for position 4 on the switch, converting it to front pickup only. I think I'll do that.
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: Denis on December 22, 2013, 07:05:20 PM
I took the bait as well and ordered a set of SD Ripper pickups. They knock $20 off if you buy the set as opposed to each. Looking forward to getting them, especially since my '73 really is a whole lot different than the '80.
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: wagdog on December 23, 2013, 06:36:13 AM
Quote from: Denis on December 16, 2013, 11:11:39 AM
On their own they registered 6.15-6.3 ohms but produce almost no sound.

To me it sounds like they've become demagnetized.  If they aren't potted maybe all you need are new magnets?

Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: Denis on December 29, 2013, 06:44:44 AM
Could be. Ripper pickups weren't potted and are probably easy to take apart, BUT not only do mine not work, the plastic covers are cracked. They'd be expensive to fix, I think. Seymour Duncan told me they don't normally pot their Ripper pups but said they'd gladly do it for mine. They email I got back from them confirming my order was real nice. They come with the mounting screws too, which is good because I don't have them and couldn't find the right replacements.
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: ramone57 on December 29, 2013, 07:43:36 AM
Quote from: Denis on December 29, 2013, 06:44:44 AM
Ripper pickups weren't potted.....

are you talking about Gibson Ripper pickups?  every one I've seen has been potted with epoxy
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: amptech on December 29, 2013, 11:19:10 AM
Quote from: wagdog on December 23, 2013, 06:36:13 AM
To me it sounds like they've become demagnetized.  If they aren't potted maybe all you need are new magnets?



It´s not very likely that weak magnets pulls the dc resistance of a normal impedance down to 6 ohms.
It is the coil itself that is at fault here (shorted, if you will)
Title: Re: Ripper pickup questions
Post by: wagdog on December 29, 2013, 01:09:48 PM
Ah, I read it as 6k not just 6!  You're right, it's not the magnets.