Gibson Ripper Pickup Measurements

[belwar]

Someone walked into my shop with an old beat up Gibson Ripper bass yesterday. Probably 1970's. I now make a habit of measuring everything that comes my way. So without further ado, here are some measurements from the Gibson Ripper Pickups.

Bridge Pickup:

Resistance to DC Current:
Total DCR: 6.25kohms
First Coil DCR (Black Wire Coil): 3.138
Second Coil DCR (Red Wire Coil): 3.106

Magnets:
Pole Screws read north
Pole 1: 598 gauss
Pole 2: 598 gauss
Pole 3: 600 gauss
Pole 4: 600-700 Gauss
Outside of the pickup, on the side of the plastic case: 400-580 Gauss, south pole.

Inductance/Capacitance/Q/D:
These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "SER" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 2.400H
Capacitance @ 120hz: 700nf (0.7uf)
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .293
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.397
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.234H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 11.317nf (0.011uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.86
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5499

These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "PAL" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 30.2H
Capacitance @ 120hz: No Reading
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .293
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.406
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.88H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 8.68nf (0.0086uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.848
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5412

Resistance to AC current:
AC Resistance @ 120hz: 6.297KOhms
AC Resistance @ 1000hz: 7.474KOhms

Resonance Peak: 12.18 khz @ 0.76v

Signifigant figures were not used, these are direct readings only.


Neck Pickup:

Resistance to DC Current:
Total DCR: 6.35kohms
First Coil DCR (Black Wire Coil): 3.13
Second Coil DCR (Red Wire Coil): 3.215

Magnets:
Pole Screws read north
Pole 1: 380 gauss
Pole 2: 350 gauss
Pole 3: 311 gauss
Pole 4: 340 Gauss
Outside of the pickup, on the side of the plastic case: 275-400 Gauss, south pole.

Inductance/Capacitance/Q/D:
These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "SER" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 2.462H
Capacitance @ 120hz: 682.8nf (0.68uf)
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .2958
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.38
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.291H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 11.037nf (0.011uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.854
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5478

These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "PAL" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 30.63H
Capacitance @ 120hz: No Reading
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .2953
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.386
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.957H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 8.486nf (0.008uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.855
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5387

Resistance to AC current:
AC Resistance @ 120hz: 6.43Kohms
AC Resistance @ 1000hz: 7.634

Resonance Peak: 12.37 khz @ 0.78v

Signifigant figures were not used, these are direct readings only.

[LtKojak]

Bad memories...

When I was young, a friend of mine got one of those... it sucked the big one and then some... worst sound on a bass ever! At least that's what I thought thirty years ago.

Maybe it's really not that bad, but I don't think I'd like to relive that frightening experience again, not even after thirty years! That bass was the cause of breaking up our friendship...

Bad, bad memories...

[Sock Puppet]

I've posted a thanks there solely for the effort you've put in to document the pickups and the historical significance.

It's interesting in it's own right but I can't help wondering if it's a little bit over the top...

Can I see the calibration charts for your measuring equipment now?

- I'm not looking for a flame thing, nor being overly sarky, just a bit worse for wear and I apologise in advance.

Rob. (bedtime here)

[David Schwab]

When I was young, a friend of mine got one of those... it sucked the big one and then some... worst sound on a bass ever! At least that's what I thought thirty years ago.

Maybe it's really not that bad, but I don't think I'd like to relive that frightening experience again, not even after thirty years! That bass was the cause of breaking up our friendship...

Bad, bad memories...

Maybe your friend couldn't get a good sound from a bass?

On a whole, Gibson never made great basses, but I can point you to some players back in the day that got a great tone from Rippers ....

[belwar]

I've posted a thanks there solely for the effort you've put in to document the pickups and the historical significance.

It's interesting in it's own right but I can't help wondering if it's a little bit over the top...

Can I see the calibration charts for your measuring equipment now?

- I'm not looking for a flame thing, nor being overly sarky, just a bit worse for wear and I apologise in advance.

Rob. (bedtime here)

eh, i love snark :>

It took me all of 10 minutes to do, so no big deal. I know someday, someone is going to want that info. I'm an information whore. I made a cut and paste sheet which I just type in the info as im measuring it. My meter shows everything on my computer screen so I dont even have to look down.

I hate looking down. The whole thing smacks of effort.

[LtKojak]

Maybe your friend couldn't get a good sound from a bass?

Of course not! That was the whole point!

Bad, bad, REALLY BAD memories...

[David Schwab]

Of course not! That was the whole point!

Bad, bad, REALLY BAD memories...

But it's really not an awful bass. Maybe he was using the series out-of-phase setting! I have no idea why that was there. It's hardly useable. They should have had a position with the neck pickup instead.

The Gibson Victory bass was quite interesting too. I almost bought one a couple of years ago.

[Superferrite]

That Victory is really an excellent bass, as well as the despised RD Artist. Damn, that one sounds and plays excellent--I've been trying to buy my friend's for years now.


As for the Ripper, anything good enough for Peter Cetera is good enough for me (lol).

[mkat]

I used a Victory on a session in 86 and was quite surprised that I liked the sound which worked quite well for hard rock piece. I was a Fender precision bass man at the time.

[David Schwab]

The Victory was supposed to sound and feel good to a Fender P player. I think Lee Sklar had them do the small mandolin sized frets.

I'm really sorry I didn't grab the one I saw in a local music store. My wife actually pointed it out to me. She doesn't know one bass from another, but they thought it was nice and sleek looking. She thought maybe I could show her how to play it! It would have been an easy sale.

[the great waldo]

Hi Matt

You wouldn´t happen to know which direction these pups are wound by any chance, and which end of the bobbin is the start. I just had one in with the black lead out bobbin dead and would like to rewind it.

Cheers

ANDREW

Someone walked into my shop with an old beat up Gibson Ripper bass yesterday. Probably 1970's. I now make a habit of measuring everything that comes my way. So without further ado, here are some measurements from the Gibson Ripper Pickups.

Bridge Pickup:

Resistance to DC Current:
Total DCR: 6.25kohms
First Coil DCR (Black Wire Coil): 3.138
Second Coil DCR (Red Wire Coil): 3.106

Magnets:
Pole Screws read north
Pole 1: 598 gauss
Pole 2: 598 gauss
Pole 3: 600 gauss
Pole 4: 600-700 Gauss
Outside of the pickup, on the side of the plastic case: 400-580 Gauss, south pole.

Inductance/Capacitance/Q/D:
These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "SER" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 2.400H
Capacitance @ 120hz: 700nf (0.7uf)
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .293
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.397
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.234H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 11.317nf (0.011uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.86
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5499

These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "PAL" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 30.2H
Capacitance @ 120hz: No Reading
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .293
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.406
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.88H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 8.68nf (0.0086uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.848
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5412

Resistance to AC current:
AC Resistance @ 120hz: 6.297KOhms
AC Resistance @ 1000hz: 7.474KOhms

Resonance Peak: 12.18 khz @ 0.76v

Signifigant figures were not used, these are direct readings only.


Neck Pickup:

Resistance to DC Current:
Total DCR: 6.35kohms
First Coil DCR (Black Wire Coil): 3.13
Second Coil DCR (Red Wire Coil): 3.215

Magnets:
Pole Screws read north
Pole 1: 380 gauss
Pole 2: 350 gauss
Pole 3: 311 gauss
Pole 4: 340 Gauss
Outside of the pickup, on the side of the plastic case: 275-400 Gauss, south pole.

Inductance/Capacitance/Q/D:
These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "SER" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 2.462H
Capacitance @ 120hz: 682.8nf (0.68uf)
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .2958
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.38
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.291H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 11.037nf (0.011uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.854
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5478

These reading measured using an Extech 380193 using the "PAL" setting.
Inductance @ 120hz: 30.63H
Capacitance @ 120hz: No Reading
Quality (Q) @ 120hz: .2953
Disapation (D) @ 120hz: 3.386
Inductance @ 1000hz: 2.957H
Capacitance @ 1000hz: 8.486nf (0.008uf)
Quality (Q) @ 1000hz: 1.855
Disapation (D) @ 1000hz: .5387

Resistance to AC current:
AC Resistance @ 120hz: 6.43Kohms
AC Resistance @ 1000hz: 7.634

Resonance Peak: 12.37 khz @ 0.78v

Signifigant figures were not used, these are direct readings only.

[David Schwab]

Hi Matt

You wouldn´t happen to know which direction these pups are wound by any chance, and which end of the bobbin is the start. I just had one in with the black lead out bobbin dead and would like to rewind it.

Cheers

ANDREW

I'm not Matt, but the two coils should be wound the same, and then have the tops both facing the poles. If you wind it wrong compared to the other coil, don't worry, just swap the polarity. You'll know if it's wrong because it will hum.

[the great waldo]

I'm not Matt, but the two coils should be wound the same, and then have the tops both facing the poles. If you wind it wrong compared to the other coil, don't worry, just swap the polarity. You'll know if it's wrong because it will hum.

Hi David

I was hoping that was the case, I couldnt see which way the coils were wound but measured the phase of the working coil and its the same as the one I rewound. I suppose i´ll need to let it "break in" for a while to get it to match up with the working coil.

Cheers

Andrew