Maybe found a decent Gibson mudbucker replacement? - Page 5

DavidRavenMoon · #81 02-02-2008, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

The original pickup was extremely weak sounding and was horribly microphonic. The bass sat around my apartment half-disassembled for many months, in the hopes that I would eventually find a pickup that might be better for it....I just saw this pickup online and figured "why not?"

Oh I see. Yeah, that would have been a better replacement pickup then.

Why not take the bass somewhere else. The pickup is good, the bass is good, now you need them properly mated.

lunarpollen · #82 02-02-2008, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

Oh I see. Yeah, that would have been a better replacement pickup then.

Why not take the bass somewhere else. The pickup is good, the bass is good, now you need them properly mated.

I don't know where else to take it, really. This guy is really the best around, he has been wonderful for all other work I've needed. I just think that there is something wrong with my bass that is particular to the make and model and if he's never worked on Rivolis or EB-2s, it wouldn't be apparent to him. Maybe it's whatever Epiphone used for a choke in the reissue Rivolis. Or maybe the pickup itself is defective as well. I don't know, I have no way of telling, myself. Maybe it's something extremely minor and so obvious that it's being overlooked. If I still lived in Rockland County, NY I would have no problem bringing it down to Montclair for diagnosis and repair...

scotch · #83 02-02-2008, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

That's called a "choke". I think changing the cap for a larger value would have been a much more interesting mod than single coil on the Model 1...

Real easy. The Model 1 has four wires. Two of those wires should be connected together. They should be the white and black wires. That's the series connection between the two coils. Connect a wire from that series connection to one terminal on the switch. Connect the other terminal on the switch to ground.

Now when you switch the switch, you will shut off one coil on the Model 1.

Wow, many thanks DavidRavenMoon!!! What do I owe you?

I'm interested in what type of cap might be a good replacement instead of the single-coil mod?

Also, here is the "choke" that I removed (it doesn't look like a typical capacitor to me, more like a little transformer????):

DavidRavenMoon · #84 02-02-2008, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Wow, many thanks DavidRavenMoon!!! What do I owe you?

Just glad to help! And it gives me something to do besides cleaning the house, which I'm avoiding!

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

I'm interested in what type of cap might be a good replacement instead of the single-coil mod?

Also, here is the "choke" that I removed (it doesn't look like a typical capacitor to me, more like a little transformer????

It is a transformer, but they are using it as a choke, or inductor coil. In the original EB-2, the choke cut all the low end out of the bass, which is why they called it a "baritone switch". Pretty useless for a bass if you ask me. The idea was to imitate the Danelectro "Tic-Tac" bass sound that was popular back then. This is what the Fender bass VI was for also.

On the Gibson Ripper bass, they also have the choke, but between it and ground is a 0.1M cap. This acts as a midrange notch, giving that popular scooped mid tone. On the Ripper is was a pot, not a switch.

On some Epi's they have a smaller value cap. The smaller the value, the higher the notch. If you really want to get fancy, do what I did with my EB-2. Replace the push button switch with a 6 position rotary, and wire it up as a varitone, using 5 different caps.

But go and give the coil tap a try, it might be exactly what you are looking for. An alternative is to fit a larger DPDT toggle switch in that hole and wire the pickup up for series/parallel.

scotch · #85 02-02-2008, 07:54 PM

Oh yeah, the Varitone is awesome! I have a Birdsong Bbox which is basically an outboard Varitone circuit housed in a wooden box. It's the bees-knees!

I think that the series/parallel mod would probably just reduce volume in parallel mode, right? Of course this might also be true of the single coil mod.

Actually, I'm happy with the current sound. I'm just annoyed by the do-nothing switch I'm left with. If single coil mode results in a more trebly option, that might be cool - as long as the output is decent. I could also wire it as a "kill" switch. Not very useful, but at least it would do something!

lunarpollen · #86 02-02-2008, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Also, here is the "choke" that I removed (it doesn't look like a typical capacitor to me, more like a little transformer????):

Ah yes that's the same little bastard that's in my bass.

It just doesn't act like it's supposed to; it's like it's confused or something.

DavidRavenMoon · #87 02-02-2008, 10:27 PM

It's a "producer switch"

(Leland Sklar used to have a dummy switch on his bass. When a producer asked him to get a different tone, he flipped the switch and said "how's that?" The producer would say "much better!")

scotch · #88 02-03-2008, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

It's a "producer switch"

(Leland Sklar used to have a dummy switch on his bass. When a producer asked him to get a different tone, he flipped the switch and said "how's that?" The producer would say "much better!")

I like it!

I remember reading about that - brilliant!

Maybe I'll consider it my "Sonic Maximizer" on-board switch. "Oh yeah, that switch harmonically aligns my signal while maximizing punch and correcting phase anomalies..."

Johnny Crab · #89 02-03-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

It's a "producer switch"

(Leland Sklar used to have a dummy switch on his bass. When a producer asked him to get a different tone, he flipped the switch and said "how's that?" The producer would say "much better!")

That might also work in a band context.

Topic # 2:
Alignment of these pickups in an SX(normal scale) is VERY nice(pics below). I'll let you know how they do on the short scale later. Apologies for the naked tree reflections in the pics but it's the best natural light I can get in the weather here. I said natural light not Natural Lite.

DavidRavenMoon · #90 02-03-2008, 05:06 PM

Oh that's nice. You cover every bass tone there!

I had a mudbucker in one of my '73 Ric 4001's. I'm currently restoring the bass to stock condition, but it did sound really good.

You can hear it here (with a '76 Bartolini Hi-A at the bridge):

Buzz Worthy

lunarpollen · #91 02-05-2008, 01:53 PM

Bleh I hate not being able to decide what to do... I'm sort of stuck in between trading my Rivoli as-is for a barely-used Squier Vintage Modified TB Precision Bass (+ $60 cash to put Pyramid flats on it), or sending it cross country in the hopes it might fixable for not too much $$... I know, i'm gonna go eat sushi or something!

lunarpollen · #92 02-06-2008, 11:31 AM

hmm well even after a night to ponder my dilemma, I can't decide what to do. Balancing all the pros and cons in my head hasn't helped... maybe I should put it up to a vote? haha

DavidRavenMoon · #93 02-06-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

hmm well even after a night to ponder my dilemma, I can't decide what to do. Balancing all the pros and cons in my head hasn't helped... maybe I should put it up to a vote? haha

I vote that you get someone to rewire the bass. Really, it's a simple task, and then the bass will be whole again!

scotch · #94 02-06-2008, 05:37 PM

Consider bypassing the "baritone" switch as well.

I never found a use for it, at least not on a short-scale hollowbody which I string w/ flats... (I do use a similiar circuit on other basses however)

lunarpollen · #95 02-06-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

I vote that you get someone to rewire the bass. Really, it's a simple task, and then the bass will be whole again!

Heh I'd be sending it to you after all!

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Consider bypassing the "baritone" switch as well.

I never found a use for it, at least not on a short-scale hollowbody which I string w/ flats... (I do use a similiar circuit on other basses however)

Actually I like it! If it wasn't for the excessive hum I'm getting from it now, I can get a Ronnie Lane Ogden's Nut Gone Flake tone with the switch engaged.

scotch · #96 02-06-2008, 08:27 PM

Wow, a Small Faces reference! You don't see that everyday.

lunarpollen · #97 02-06-2008, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scotch

Wow, a Small Faces reference! You don't see that everyday.

Haha I'm not your everyday kind of alien

But yeah, the bass guitar tone on that album is one of my all time faves.

DavidRavenMoon · #98 02-07-2008, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lunarpollen

Haha I'm not your everyday kind of alien

But yeah, the bass guitar tone on that album is one of my all time faves.

His tone was always cool!

lunarpollen · #99 02-21-2008, 07:31 PM

No further developments here, my Rivoli is still in my living room, unplayable, and I am just waiting for the Harmony H22 reissue to come out... At that point I'll either sell/trade my Rivoli or ship it off to NJ for repair.... Right now I'm awaiting a Burns Barracuda (completely different animal) and trying not to think about the Rivoli too much....

aquateen · #**100** 02-22-2008, 09:07 AM

shops in my area charge $60 or so for rewiring. it's gotta be worth that much!
fwiw, when I got my Rivoli, the output jack was flopping around inside the body and the pots were pretty scratchy, so I didn't have much choice about it. Gibson customer service sent me a wiring diagram and I was able to do it myself. it's a little tricky getting some of the components out of the body but, hey, they went in there right? once all the guts were out, I used the harness as a sort of template to create the new one. while I was at it, I replaced the bland epi pickup with a Dimarzio Model G. I have limited experience with electronics and soldering but it turned out fine.