Will do! The BS-DS did not fit, unfortunately. Makes me sad! It was too wide and too long. I would have to carve the cavity and add new screw holes. Not worth it. I think I'm going to exchange it for the Novak EB-BSx, which is a bisonic type pickup that fits the standard Rivoli route.
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NBD! '66 Epiphone Rivoli
- Thread starter neilshane
- Start date
Will do! The BS-DS did not fit, unfortunately. Makes me sad! It was too wide and too long. I would have to carve the cavity and add new screw holes. Not worth it. I think I'm going to exchange it for the Novak EB-BSx, which is a bisonic type pickup that fits the standard Rivoli route.
I just had this mod done to my ‘67 Epiphone Newport. That EB-BSx is a perfect drop in fit. I bought it with the cover but decided to use the old pick up cover instead.
I was surprised at the difference too, I think the choke was put in to emulate a standup bass because unamplified they get thin when you get up high.
I would much prefer not to remove the wiring harness so my plan is to cut the wire from the old pickup and solder the wiring of the new Novak BS-DS pickup to it. I saw Dan Erlewine demo the method on Youtube some time back.
The old pickup has a black wire inside a mesh wire sheath. Like this:
Do I connect the black wire of the new pickup to the sheath and white wire to wire inside the sheath? Or what?
Here's the Rivoli schematic:
Thank you!!
When you cut the wire coming from the Gibson pickup make you sure you leave some of the wire there in case you want to put it back in
.When you cut the wire coming from the Gibson pickup make you sure you leave some of the wire there in case you want to put it back in
Thanks! Yes, that is my plan. In fact, I'm leaning now toward having it professionally installed so I can do a coil tapping option. I would have no clue how to go about that!
I wouldn't either, that is definitely something I'd have a pro do, good luck, that's a real nice bass. Are you looking for some top end?
Yes, that was the goal. But honestly, the more I play it with the clutch removed from the circuit, the more I'm liking it. I'm giving some amount of consideration to just leaving it alone, getting a new set of strings and a Hipshot Supertone bridge upgrade. (The bridge is doing some weird buzzing.)
Caution: a new bridge might alter how it sounds. Which way is unknown until you try it.
The pickup without the choke is much more versatile than people think. Play with it for a while before you replace it.
The supertone is a great upgrade but it doesn't fit the arch of the top well and it will definitely make an impression into the top. Something to consider if you go to sell it later.
I’m hesitant to comment but after all this is a forum that encourages discussion if not out right debate.
I’ll go on record that the precision bass tone is my favorite tone of all. I’m split on whether I like the original single coil or ‘57 style more, I love both. I’m less a fan of jazz basses in general for tone. I have several but none with single coils. I’m always comparing my jazz tone trying to cop a more p tone honestly. I hope therefore the following doesn’t sound hypocritical .
When I bought my Rivoli I knew what I was getting. I knew what to expect. I didn’t plan for it to sound like a Fender or a boutique hi-fi modern bass. I knew it wouldn’t be the do everything bass.
I have nothing against changing out components on guitars but with these I prefer to leave them alone unless absolutely necessary to replace something. It just takes the instrument further away from its original mission and charm. Maybe on a later Korean Rivoli I wouldn’t feel as strongly.
Again, what someone does to their property is their decision and theirs alone. To me it’s like putting modern aftermarket wheels on a classic muscle car. Just my opinion.
I’ll go on record that the precision bass tone is my favorite tone of all. I’m split on whether I like the original single coil or ‘57 style more, I love both. I’m less a fan of jazz basses in general for tone. I have several but none with single coils. I’m always comparing my jazz tone trying to cop a more p tone honestly. I hope therefore the following doesn’t sound hypocritical .
When I bought my Rivoli I knew what I was getting. I knew what to expect. I didn’t plan for it to sound like a Fender or a boutique hi-fi modern bass. I knew it wouldn’t be the do everything bass.
I have nothing against changing out components on guitars but with these I prefer to leave them alone unless absolutely necessary to replace something. It just takes the instrument further away from its original mission and charm. Maybe on a later Korean Rivoli I wouldn’t feel as strongly.
Again, what someone does to their property is their decision and theirs alone. To me it’s like putting modern aftermarket wheels on a classic muscle car. Just my opinion.
I've retrofitted my 2 Korean Rivoli II's with vintage pickups as well as disconnecting the choke on my 65. It's all reversable to stock if I wanted to go back. The vintage Rivoli sound just isn't useful IMHO. Modern amplification accentuates the flaws.
But what do I know? I have fancy aluminum rims on my 71 Mustang
But what do I know? I have fancy aluminum rims on my 71 Mustang
I'm amazed at the condition it's in actually. There's some wear, obviously, but it's very minimal. She's a keeper for sure!
It should be called a dynamo.
