Ripper Restoration

[dukeplaysbass]

So, I may have a chance to snag a Ripper at a decent price locally -- anyone got any comments/suggestions on what to look for/complaints?

[nolabass]

Watch the weight.

[Mike]

Indeed, most of the ones I've played over the years way a friggin' ton. But now and then I come across a lighter one....

Mike

[Barklessdog]

The early ones were made of Alder, they had rounder horns and sounded a bit less sharp and were a bit lighter, but scratched really easily. The all maple one's are heavy, but well balanced. Not sure if they weigh more than a RIC?

The one I had, had the best necks I ever played. I loved mine just for the neck. Minty ones go for around $1000+, but deals can be had from $600(beater)- $900 (player)


They are a versatile bass, but not high output. They are a bit tame sounding out of the box. Make sure the chicken head switch (varitone) works- one setting is a choke which sounds real nasal. Also it should have a bridge cover. Killer bass in all black.

[dukeplaysbass]

OK, it's here! I changed the name of this thread as this will obviously need a bit of restoration work. The frame is all there and except for a dumbass drilling job in the control cavity (and thru the back - doh!) it's not too badly mangled. Not carefully handled? Check. Banged around a bit? Check. Mercilessly beaten upon? Check.

But yeah, most of it is here. Plays really nice, good feel. The sound (from the one pup that's working) is pretty good. Action is fine. Stays in tune.

I dunno -- I think for under $200, not a bad find. See fer yerself....




Obviously, the tuners are not original:


And yeah, only one pup is original:


One is not. Not sure what this is. No markings, and epoxied into place...weird.....sounds pretty good, though, and I think it's the only one working...


..but that could be the wiring, which is a mess, and the toggle switch doesn't do a damn thing other than on-off. And two of the knobs do nothing...


Here's the hole. Not sure what this was all about...


And last, the Kahler bridge. Four relatively small screws. I think we'll be finding the proper 3-point, eh?


So, it'll need a new guard, and a complete rewiring job. Any other suggestions are appreciated (even if it's "sell that beast off....")

Any idea where to find parts for this, other than Ebay? Esp. the pickup -- that kinda bums me out, but I thought Seymour Duncan did one but I can't find it on his site.....

Any help appreciated guys, even if it's a suggestion to ask at another forum....

[aussiemark]

Great score at that price!!

The tuners look original to me, the same as my '73 Ripper. The hairline cracks in the headstock are pretty much standard for Gibsons from the 70's, and aren't a big deal.

You're going to struggle to fine a replacement varitone switch, but you won't have much trouble finding a bridge or pickguard. Not sure about how easy it will be to find a pickup.

There's a guy on ebay selling a bunch of NOS Gibby parts, and he has a black Ripper pickguard at a good price ($19.99) ...

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dl ... arch&fgtp=

[Barklessdog]

looks like an alder Ripper and that's a rare finish. Semour Duncan makes replacement pickups but cost $160. As Mark said the Varitone is hard to find. Three points come up often enough. If you can't find one, I can sell you my old 3 point with studs from my RD - if your intersted and if I can find it?

This is supposed to be a similar switch to a varitone
http://www.smallbearelec.com/Detail.bok?no=46
http://www.surplussales.com/Switches/SWRotaryAll-1.html

Duncan Ripper pup here
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/c ... _bass_rep/
http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/c ... p?page=all

[dukeplaysbass]

John, all I've seen is aftermarket 3-pt bridges so, yeah, if you can find your old RD bridge and you think it'll fit, I'd be very interested.

As for the Varitone, I don't care all that much if it's not "NOS perfect" just as long as I can wire it up so that it works similarly. Looks like at least one of the rotary swx links is for a 4-stop swx so yeah, that's do just fine. I'm gonna need to bone up on the schematic reading skills tho...

And thanks for the SD link. Could not find that at all -- cool that they look a lot like the originals.

Marc, I did see those pickguard guys you linked to and will grab one in a day or two once I settle on how I'm gonna attack this.

Marc/John, can one of you guys post a pic of your tuners (backand front of 'stock)? Just from the way the tuners cover my "Made in USA" imprint I though they were replacements.

Lastly, I had a thought last night -- what about Dark Starring it?????

Normally I would never think of such a thing with a vintage axe, but the asshat with the hole saw who drilled thru the body (who also probably made that spaghetti mess in the wiring) pretty much destroyed the vintage value. And it's not like these are $2000 axes.....

Not wedded to the DS idea, just wondering whatchuall think.....

Thanks!






Oh, almost forgot -- 9 lbs!

[Barklessdog]

I would not hesitate to Dark Star it. Ripper pickups, while nice sounding are a bit tame, nothing bad, nothing great- I would check the body depth/string height needed for the Dark Stars. I no longer have my Ripper, but I remember it being around 1 1/2 thick? Mine was a maple one. I'm not sure about Marks.

rio Grande Pitbulls are great pickups as well and are guitar sized so it might be an easier fit?

I might have a picture at home the back of the tuners-

You know Hipshot makes a nice replacement bridge that the saddles dont fall on the floor when you change the strings?

This is a better bridge that is a direct replacement- I would use this over a three point if you are not restoring it- it should work on any flat top three point bass.
http://www.hipshotproducts.com/cart.php ... tail&p=264

[dukeplaysbass]

John, that Hipshot looks like it just bolts down in the the existing left/right threaded inserts -- am I right about that? If so, that's pretty damn cool.

I will talk to Fred about the Dark Star idea. Might be a fun way to go......

[Barklessdog]

yes I believe so. It would be much better than the three point.

[dukeplaysbass]

I always thought the 3-points were OK...but I only had one on my old Casady bass....

[Barklessdog]

they are not that bad, they work, but it can be a pain when changing strings or a string breaks and the saddles fall everywhere. Also you have to adjust the whole bridge for string height adjustment. if you are real picky about that the Hipshot would be better.

If you still are intersted in my three point I will look for it.

allparts makes three point replacement, but I remember someone either had trouble fitting or some other problem???
http://www.allparts.com/store/bass-brid ... roduct.asp

[dukeplaysbass]

All things considered, I'm not much of a set-up tweaker. And I don't break strings much. So, yeah, a 3-point might still be fine for me if you have one that'll fit....

[Barklessdog]

I will look when I get home.