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December 2015
Posts: 9
| Hi folks,
I am the owner of a Viper II guitar, dated circa 1978 (serial Nr E7880). Unfortunately the original pickups have been removed and replaced by Tom Andersons that really don't fit.
I'd like to reset the guitar in its original condition with the original pups. Anyone to help me to find a pair? Or just one of these?
I am in Belgium (Europe) but can afford the sending.
Thanks to you all. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't have any extra pickups, but someone like MWoody might stop by and have some. Picky person that I am, I wanted to point out that there really isn't such a thing as a Viper II or a Viper I for that matter. The ones with two pickups were Vipers and the ones with 3 pickups were Viper IIIs.
Good luck with your search. The original pickups are great, but a lot of people seemed to have removed them. There has to be a stash of Viper pickups around. Possibly in the same place where all those tremolo bars ended up. |
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December 2015
Posts: 9
| Thanks, Mark. Could you be more specific about the place where "all those tremolo bars ended up" ? |
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December 2015
Posts: 9
| And, who the f... is MWoody? |
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yannek - 2015-12-06 3:07 AM
Thanks, Mark. Could you be more specific about the place where "all those tremolo bars ended up" ? That would be the trash can.
And, who the f... is MWoody? And that would be the person that might have the f...... pups that you are looking-for.
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | I was talking to a guy in a music store many years ago about all the used electric guitars that had all their tremolo bars removed. He suggested that there was an "elephant grave yard" for all those missing bars. He actually had a bunch in a vase behind the desk. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7224
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I have several Viper bridge pickups available put no neck pickup. It was somewhat common for folks like myself to swap out the bridge pickup for maybe a humbucker and leave the neck pickup because they are such great sounding pickups. You can email me mileskb at aol.com and we can discuss. |
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Posts: 3615
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yannek,
FYI, MWoody is one of esteemed members, that has done miraculous restorations on old Ovation hardbodies. In that process, he has acquired some rare parts, and just might have some parts appropriate to your project. Another member, Numbfingers, has quite a collection of electronics, also.
Check out the BFLG discussion forum. We have some talent here, to be sure! |
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January 2006
Posts: 1120
Location: NW Washington State | I don't have any that I want to part with right now.
Seems to me that the bridge and neck pickups in the 2-pickup Viper are wound about the same. It's been a long time since I checked a set. You might be able to use two bridge pickups, but the polepiece spacing could be a little wide in the neck position.
-Steve W. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7224
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | numbfingers - 2015-12-07 12:29 PM
I don't have any that I want to part with right now.
Seems to me that the bridge and neck pickups in the 2-pickup Viper are wound about the same. It's been a long time since I checked a set. You might be able to use two bridge pickups, but the polepiece spacing could be a little wide in the neck position.
-Steve W.
It would work, but the poll layout is different as well. Remember the Neck side the poles run at an angle from lower left to upper right. |
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Posts: 1120
Location: NW Washington State | Mr. Ovation - 2015-12-07 3:46 PM
It would work, but the poll layout is different as well. Remember the Neck side the poles run at an angle from lower left to upper right.
I don't get it- maybe I just don't understand what you're saying. I remember the neck pickup having the poles straight across and the bridge poles angled. But I'm not looking at them right now.
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Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yes, the Bridge pickup poles are angled.
But I am sure that a neck pickup would still work while sounding slightly different.
You could adjust the height of the "treble" end of the pickup to compensate.
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December 2015
Posts: 9
| Thanks Old Man Arthur.
This said, I don't see this name within the members list. How can I get in touch with him?
Sorry if I may seem somewhat ignorant but I'm not used to the site yet.
Thanks. |
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December 2015
Posts: 9
| This could lead to a lack of response from some strings, don't you think so? |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | MWoody should be on the member list. Look at it by number of posts and he should be near the top. Or you could use the search function and search for Viper, for example, and type MWoody into the field for search by member. Find a post by him and then click on the "PM" box to contact him inhouse. It's not too safe to post someone's email address on the site.
Regarding your last question, there might be a diminished response from some strings in the neck pickup if you use two bridge pickups, but it may be so slight you could hardly tell. Maybe Miles (Mr. Ovation) will sell you one of his bridge pickups and you could use that in the appropriate place until you locate a neck pickup. |
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Posts: 13988
Location: Upper Left USA | Doh, ratted out...
I don't have any spare parts but I'll respond to the PM. |
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March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Just trying to force you out of your bunker.
I was alternating between my Viper and UKII last night and they produced really different sounds, using the same settings on the Fender G-dec. It was a great example of why we need different guitars. Too bad I was the only one listening. Then I played the OFC I and the #47RI. The difference was slight and I can't justify having them both, but I'll keep them both until I'm desperate. |
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December 2001
Posts: 7224
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Yannek, Arthur and you are correct. You "can" use a bridge pickup in the neck position, but the angled poles will make for a different tone, but it will sound fine. However, if you are trying to "restore" the guitar, I'd say get the right pickups. I can sell you a bridge pickup, although I'd be happy to sell you two if you wanted to set it up that way until you found a proper neck pickup. You can email me mileskb at aol.com and we can discuss.
The big question is if you have the mounting hardware. I don't have any mounting frames and that's pretty key, although you could probably make them out of UHMW. |
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Joined:
December 2015
Posts: 9
| Well, I haven't give a thought to the hardware parts. It seems difficult to find what I am looking for. What if I put P90 in it? Or do you have a clue on which other pup could match the original ones' sound?
Rickenbackers? Or...? |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7224
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | You should probably post some pictures of your guitar now. Depending on what you have left to work with might make it easier to guide suggestions. |
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Viper II pups