Grabber / Ripper Build

[chechunka]

I’m working with a luthier on a custom build grabber ripper hybrid bass that can get me close to both worlds sonically.

Grabber pickups are single coil and rippers are humbucking. I'm
wondering if a Novak t-bird pickup platform might be a good option for
us that would afford the best of both worlds as I could coil tap to get a single coil in the neck.

Grabber pickup
specs: Gibson Grabber bass pickup

Ripper pickup
specs: Gibson Ripper bass humbucker

I am aware that SD makes a ripper pickup but it is not splittable.

Novak mentioned the EBSX being an option but I don’t see how that could get any of the growl and bite territory I’d want to get with a grabber as it’s basically a dark star in a mudbucker housing. EB-BSx

Would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!!

 

[ctmullins]

The Ripper pickups are humbuckers, but not in the usual “two coils side by side” way. They’re sidewinders, which means that the two coils share a single central magnet structure that senses the strings with the same narrow aperture as a single coil. This means that splitting a Ripper pickup to just one coil won’t have the same effect as splitting a normal side-by-side humbucker. The tone will change; it will be slightly brighter and more than slightly weaker, but the tonal profile will only change subtly.

 

[sikamikanico]

Yeah, sidewinders are different, a humbucker doesn’t seem to be a good match for either pickup/bass. Now, some Thunderbirds did have sidewinders, but I presume that’s not inside the Novak?

If you entertain Sidewinders, I’d talk to Fralin - I believe he makes some guitar sidewinders in Gibson formats that may look the part. or Sentell perhaps. Other sidewinders work great on bass but come in soapbar (Bart or EMG) shapes… maybe Nordstrand would make a Zen Blade in a custom shape/housing?

What exactly is the design of the bass? How many pickups? Sliding pickups or fixed? Where would the be located, or what would be the movement range? That information could help stimulate our thoughts and provide additional ideas…

 

[chechunka]

I’d like to have the grabber pickup in the next position (fixed). Sliding is cute but not practical live imo. Bridge wise I’m game for whatever is gonna get me where I want to be on the neck if they need to match. If they don’t need to match.. maybe a ripper simply cuz it’s so unique.