Pups/electronics replacement for Ripper

[Ripper75]

I have a Gibson Ripper body I need to put some pups and electronics into. I dont know much about this stuff and have read some horror stories about trying to restore rippers. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I see seymour duncan makes pups but im dreading trying to find pots/electronics etc so I’m open to buying a set of different pups that would work well with pots/electronics set that will just need to be installed. It has no pickgaurd so I’ll need figure that out, also I know nothing about electronics and wiring so it limits what I can do here...

 

[ofajen]

The Ripper has been my main electric bass for 35 years. I really think the pickups and electronics are a clever and useful design. However, it's not the easiest rebuild for someone with very little electronics experience or knowledge.

As you know SD sells replica pickups and I think they are $160 each. It's a great pickup, my favorite of all bass pickups. I don't think there are many other bass pickups the same size.

Wdmusic.com will sell you a basic black Ripper pickguard for $39.95.

Wilde pickups will sell you the Q-filter part for $24 IIRC.

You will need the wiring diagram and a four position, three pole rotary switch. Then of course you will also need an output jack and three pots. In the original, I think at least one is 300K which is less common. It will probably work pretty well with all 250K pots. And of course some hookup wire.

It's going to be a bit of a project. Doing something other than the original will probably not be much simpler or easier.

I hope that helps.

Otto

 

[96tbird]

The original wiring isn’t that difficult. Here’s the diagram etc. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Qfilter. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[ctmullins]

I have been tempted for a while now to do a Ripper inspired build using Qtuners and an ACG filter preamp....

 

[Ripper75]

Thanks this is very helpful. I was hoping to buy everything I need and then take it to a luthier to do the install. I've just never done anything like this and don't have a soldiering iron. I'm just a little confused on what all I need as far as electronics are concerned but it looks like you descriped everything I need so I will go do some hunting and purchase things, some of the stuff you mentioned is new/foreign to me but its all a learning process. Hopefully this works haha

 

[Ripper75]

Finally finished this, a lil sloppy on pickgaurd, i might use some black tape around pups to hide holes/shag ups but plays and sounds fantastic!