mr4stringz Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 Hello Cleveland! I’ve had this ‘76 Ripper a good while now. It’s a YOB bass and was very much ridiculously cheap back when I bought it, on account of the condition and erm…interesting mods. I’ve used it on occasion since owning it, but never to any great degree. Question is - and for the purposes of this exercise you’ll have to take the bass on face value as per pics - if this was yours would you a) Leave as is (the pickup - a DiMarzio Model G DP121, I believe it is- sounds EVIL) b) Attempt to expensively restore (electronics only, the rest can stay as is) to somewhere approaching as it would have been stock OR c) would you possibly do something different? I’ve no firm plans one way or the other but generally interested in people’s thoughts. In an era of lovingly kept and maintained vintage basses something like this is very much a bit of fun. One thing is for sure - for better or worse there likely isn’t another one like this anywhere. 🤣 I should add I’ve no idea what’s going on under the current pickguard or the somewhat idiosyncratic input jack area at this time, before you ask! That third photo is just for laughs. You have to wonder what goes through some people’s heads… 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grahambythesea Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 If you like the sound of it then keep the pickup and enjoy it. However I would try and “tidy up” the jack socket, get a new pickguard cut with a normally mounted Jack and something closer to the original shape. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddo Soqable Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 I think it's great as it is, provided it all works I'd just leave it exactly like that, and use it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr4stringz Posted July 17, 2023 Author Share Posted July 17, 2023 1 minute ago, Grahambythesea said: If you like the sound of it then keep the pickup and enjoy it. However I would try and “tidy up” the jack socket, get a new pickguard cut with a normally mounted Jack and something closer to the original shape. This is where I’m at currently. As rarely as I play it, I can’t trust it for that reason! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 12 minutes ago, Grahambythesea said: If you like the sound of it then keep the pickup and enjoy it. However I would try and “tidy up” the jack socket, get a new pickguard cut with a normally mounted Jack and something closer to the original shape. ^^^ This and keep it. YOB, unusual and all that. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pea Turgh Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 I’d whip the scratchplate off to see what lies beneath, then replace it. Maybe even add another pickup if the routing is already present. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 If it plays and sound nicely I'd say keep it as it is. What I would have done at least. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bunion Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 I think @walshy would be the man for advice he does love a good Ripper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshy Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 Oh aye I’ve a couple! Great basses If yours plays well and you like it leave it alone. If you want to sell it, sell it as is. Putting it back to stock will cost more than you think. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 I was going to ask whether it's financially astute to return it to original - @walshy suggests not. Even so if it has sentimental value I'd think about it. I'd expect a Gibson to increase in value over time so maybe one day.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshy Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 Just now, TheGreek said: I was going to ask whether it's financially astute to return it to original - @walshy suggests not. Even so if it has sentimental value I'd think about it. I'd expect a Gibson to increase in value over time so maybe one day.... Finding the right bits, probably importing them and then making it 'stock' will cost way more than you think and Im not sure you'd see the return back. Man, if you like it, it's yours, sounds and plays well and if you don't need the cash just leave well alone. There isn't another one like it out there so just enjoy it would be my advice. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr4stringz Posted July 17, 2023 Author Share Posted July 17, 2023 5 minutes ago, walshy said: Finding the right bits, probably importing them and then making it 'stock' will cost way more than you think and Im not sure you'd see the return back. Man, if you like it, it's yours, sounds and plays well and if you don't need the cash just leave well alone. There isn't another one like it out there so just enjoy it would be my advice. Cheers Walshy. I did do some very preliminary searches for pickups etc a long while back and promptly binned the idea off then due to the £££ involved. Must admit I’ve not searched about since. It probs answers the question for me that I’ve left it as is since getting it. Always worth getting views from others though, so thanks to all. It certainly will stay with me long term irrespective of owt else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grenadillabama Posted July 17, 2023 Share Posted July 17, 2023 It looks sleek , nothing extra. I messed my Ripper up with a third pickup-no help it was. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 (edited) I agree entirely with Walshy and grenadillabama. Restoring this to original spec would cost a fortune. The current mods look very cool to me, though I’d tidy up the input a bit. I had an active circuit and SD P pickup fitted to mine and it’s never had the classic Ripper tone since. I’ve had a look at creating or procuring a typical Ripper plate - very expensive indeed unless you get really lucky. Only pic of mine I have to hand, you can just about see the middle pickup - modded Rippers look brilliant (to me), even if they lose their core tone. Baggy lemon keks and a permed mullet - gotta love the ‘80s Edited July 18, 2023 by three 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NikNik Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 I'd leave. It looks pretty cool as is. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Maybe an idea to shave back the silks a bit at the nut and E saddle. I used to find it difficult to find strings that would fit properly back in the day - I think the Ripper is a 34.75" scale. No problem now and many strings no longer use silks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Having restored a Ripper from nothing but a starting point of the body and neck, I can confirm that it is a labour of love and in no way financially astute. The difference in my case is that I wasn't starting with a working bass. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 It completely depends on what you want to do, it is your bass after all. IIRC, the only pickups available for the Ripper are the Seymour Duncan Custom Shop which aren't cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theyellowcar Posted July 18, 2023 Share Posted July 18, 2023 Seems like sticking with it is the way to go, I’m deadly curious to see what’s under the pickguard though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr4stringz Posted July 19, 2023 Author Share Posted July 19, 2023 16 hours ago, theyellowcar said: Seems like sticking with it is the way to go, I’m deadly curious to see what’s under the pickguard though. It will go for a spruce up and a sort out of the input jack etc before too long. When that’s ongoing I’ll ask my repair guy to take some shots under the hood if he can. Curious myself! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted July 19, 2023 Share Posted July 19, 2023 Being a '76 and they didn't change to pickguard mounted pickups until '78 if memory serves, it should look like this under the hood as on this '75 model: 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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