Gibson Ripper basses - what are they like?

[rtslinger]

Originally Posted by pattyløve

Awesome responses so far, really helpful. Any more insight?
I've read in some places it being described as dark whereas others are desricibing it as bright and aggressive.. which is more accurate?

Also, Im sure the producer is capable of recording it nicely. However he has requested i bring my own bass, possibly so we have our own sound? So i was just wondering how it would compare to my jazz, tone-wise

I have had my Ripper since 1974 I have recorded Metal, Pop, Hairband stuff with it as well as r&B and most recently some county stuff it is a very versatile player you can use the selector switch to pull off many tones. I agree it is different feel wise from a jazz, or P or whatever but, that should not make any difference if the sound Eng. is worth his salt! In the studio the Ripper can hold it's own. Using it live is a bit tougher on most it is a big animal with some weight to it. Play it, you will love it or hate it. I loved mine from the day one I can lose myself in it for hours.
as for the dark, bright aggressive, out of phase pick up sounds, it has all of that in it's bag of tricks!

Do a youtube search for Gibson Ripper and listen to the different sounds people are getting from this bass as I had mention very versatile reason enough the studio has one in the first place I think.

[Arnie]

Originally Posted by samtastic

If you are going to record, any good engineer should be able to record any bass. My suggestion is to use your own equipment, you are accustomed to playing it and are familiar with they way it sounds. If you try something new in the studio it could lead to disappointment.

Oh man I couldn't agree more! Bring your bass and play with the Gibson during breaks!

[Fullback32]

Originally Posted by Flyingfrets

When the Ripper/Grabber issue comes up, early Kiss (pre-"Destroyer") comes to mind. For all their pretentions at being metal back then, most of their stuff up to "Alive" was pretty straightforward rock w/pop overtones. Not a huge fan, but I remember Simmons' Ripper/Grabber as sitting pleasantly enough in the mix - "there" (with a little growl) without being in your face.

That's pretty much where I was going to go with this as well. Listening to KISS Alive! or earlier albums will give a good sense of what the tone is like. That being said, he tended to use both a Ripper and a Grabber, with the Grabber being used as his primary stage bass. It might be hard to tell whether he was using a Ripper or Grabber on any given track.

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by mcm

Like playing a warped 6 by 6 pressure treated post

LOL! Thread drift: I have an album where one of the musicians is credited with playing "pressure treated 'cello"

Eventually found out that he'd built his own electric instrument by removing the neck from a cheap student model 'cello and attaching it (with stainless steel U-bolts) to a stock fencepost made of pressure treated lumber. And it sounded great!

Home Depot is your friend.

[aquateen]

Originally Posted by mcm

Like playing a warped 6 by 6 pressure treated post

you obviously have not played one

[Andii Syckz]

Listen to nirvana, Krist Novoselic used many gibson basses including two rippers. He had great tone with gibson through ampeg svts. Depending on the amp you're using, you may come close to getting a jazz/musicman cut in the mix but the ripper adds it's own territory.

I'm in the process of building one and let me say, i love these basses to death. shape, feel, tonality. But it's not for everyone.

Try it, see for yourself, at worse record one track with it, and listen to that track, if it doesnt cut through the mix like you hope it will, use your gear. no harm done

[pattyløve]

Originally Posted by Andii Syckz

Listen to nirvana, Krist Novoselic used many gibson basses including two rippers. He had great tone with gibson through ampeg svts. Depending on the amp you're using, you may come close to getting a jazz/musicman cut in the mix but the ripper adds it's own territory.

Oh really? Is that the bass on the Nevermind album? If so, I've always LOVED that tone! :O

[thumpbass1]

I bought one new in 75 and gigged it for years, before I let it go in trade for something else, after I'd gone back to playing Fender back in 92. Overall I really liked my Ripper. I found it to be a decent and versatile instrument.

[altamont]

I've got a 75' Ripper and I also had a 77' Grabber.
Before we went in the studio to record our EP, I really love my Ripper tone. I thought I had it all nailed down for the studio. When we got there, I never got that "clanky-tone" sound that I wanted. I tried the Grabber, it missed something in the highs. I finally went with a friend's MM HH Stingray with flatwounds. It was the perfect fit between the aggressive attack of the active bass and the low thump of the flats.

To me, the Ripper is a great bass, but it was missing some mids for my recording. If you want to get an idea of the Ripper, check out this video of Chris Novoselic recording with Foo Fighters. That, my friend is the Ripper tone.

http://youtu.be/ML6WfN7uS_Q?t=2m10s

[Andii Syckz]

Originally Posted by pattyløve

Oh really? Is that the bass on the Nevermind album? If so, I've always LOVED that tone! :O

Yeah on the nevermind album he used gibson rippers, thunderbirds, rd artists. Great tone. im sure he used some gibsons on in utero album. Good luck