Anyone play one of these? I've been wanting one for years because of how kick ass they look and the styling of the bridge, but I have yet to actually hear how they play. I'd love to hear some clips on this bass before I put a bid on one, as they are in the $1k range nowadays online. I'll probably end up with one either way, but I was just wondering about the quality and playability of this bass.
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1978 Gibson Ripper
- Thread starter entertoexit
- Start date
They're pretty cool basses.
I played one for a Halloween show as Nirvana this year and I rocked it for a couple weeks prior to the gig. The neck kind of felt like a 70's P bass, but the action on mine was pretty gnarly - about 1/4" off the fretboard. Not sure how it would've played with a better setup...
Defintely didn't SOUND like a P bass. It was a real bright, almost overdriven tone. I didn't care for the way it sounded in the band mix...definitely sounded better solo'd than with a band, even a 3 piece Nirvana trib band...it had a cool slap tone though
I've seen them from $500 to $1000. I'd lean towards the low-end of that if I was picking one up...
I played one for a Halloween show as Nirvana this year and I rocked it for a couple weeks prior to the gig. The neck kind of felt like a 70's P bass, but the action on mine was pretty gnarly - about 1/4" off the fretboard. Not sure how it would've played with a better setup...
Defintely didn't SOUND like a P bass. It was a real bright, almost overdriven tone. I didn't care for the way it sounded in the band mix...definitely sounded better solo'd than with a band, even a 3 piece Nirvana trib band...it had a cool slap tone though
I've seen them from $500 to $1000. I'd lean towards the low-end of that if I was picking one up...
I've got the Ripper's brother the grabber. I believe they have fairly similar tones. The have their own natural growl to them, and have a pretty punchy but deep tone. I really really enjoy mine, and have thought about grabbing (ha!) a ripper. The necks are really smooth to play on and pretty thin acroos the fretboard for a bass. I've got nothing but compliments on how my grabber plays.
I probably wouldnt pay over $1k for either the grabber or the ripper, especially in this economy.
I did a search on youtube and came up with this. there were some other vids there too check them out
YouTube - Sweet Child O' Mine (Bass Cover)
I probably wouldnt pay over $1k for either the grabber or the ripper, especially in this economy.
I did a search on youtube and came up with this. there were some other vids there too check them out
YouTube - Sweet Child O' Mine (Bass Cover)
I would STRONGLY urge you play one of these before you buy it based on how "cool" it looks. These are particular basses, with necks that are a bit different. Some folks really like them, so do not. Find one in a store and play it before you buy. Trust me on this.
In any other situation, I would agree with Harry, but I would be very surprised if you find a store that would have one. Not impossible, but unlikely. It'll most likely come down to an online gamble...
It'd be worth snagging one for 500-600 IMO. then you at least don't LOSE money if you don't like it. No way I'd drop $1000 on one though
You should really play one as they are quite different feeling and sounding from any other bass, they are truly a love hate thing. I have owned several Rippers as well as an Aria copy, a Grabber and a G-3, the G-3 I still have and like it dearly but it ain't for every gig that's for sure. Being Gibson basses they are each a bit different some necks may feel clubby while other feel thinish some just right and since they are set neck sometimes they are perfect and other times the pitch may be a degree of off either way and that has a major impact on playability. The 'cool' bridge can be a major pain to get set up right, my 2nd all time least favorite bridge after Rickenbacker.
Thanks for the info everyone. I did scan a few local stores and no one has one sitting around that I can get a feel for sadly. I'll hold out for a better deal. I first saw one of these when I was like 8 years old and dreamt of being an epic bass player with it. I didn't pick up a bass until I was 25 cause I got into drums in my teens. But now I still have this vision of playing a ripper and being epic lol.
+1
I have had the opportunity to play one once. It WAS my dream bass for years after. I was a huge fan of the Band, and bassist Rick Danko played one at the later stages of the Band.
I played it, and!!!!! I was very much disappointed. It sounded a bit too twangy, and the neck was awkward, but not bad. It was gonna send me back over $1000 too!
I then went out and bought a $450 P Bass which I use to this day.
bassbrad said:
I was confused by the bridge on these. They look like a string through with a simple bridge cover but every image I've seen the strings aren't strung through the back but instead an inch off the bottom of the bridge? Is this just something people are doing to not cause tension on a bass they are selling or is this bridge something entirely unique?
slowburnaz
Commercial User
I've played a ripper and a grabber and they were both strung through to the back.
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The Ripper uses a 3 point floating bridge that has the option of thru bridge or thru body stringing. Most often you will see thru bridge because it takes a very long string to thru body string on a Ripper. Gibson has used that bridge on other basses like the RD series.
The Grabber and G-3 are string thru body but the bridge is flush mounted on the body similar to a Fndr style.
- Mar 8, 2011
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I've had a couple Grabbers (really liked), a Ripper (not so much, but still cool), and my very fave, the G3...they are their own thing for sure...personally, Grabbers sound way better than Rippers to me...
Hmmmm
A gamble based purely on "it looks cool" seems like a poor gamble indeed. If the OP has played one in the past and has a wild hair to get one, I get that. But just based on appearance for this bass is not a good idea unless the deal is crazy good and he can flip it.
I tried a 76 fretless Ripper briefly last year and I liked the feel of it. The body was deceivingly light for its size, about the same weight as a Pbass, but bigger. That big, shallow body is epic; no other way to describe it. As I recall, it has a pretty big electronics cavity. With that cavity and the body dimensions, it gives off an unplugged ring that reminds me of a semi-hollow. I liked the neck but I didnt play it long enough to figure out why. I also didnt pay much attn to the tone either because I was troubleshooting worn out electronics at the time. Based on that test run, I decided to keep an eye out for one to buy.
Last week, I bought a 74 fretless Grabber. The basic dimensions of the Ripper and Grabber are said to be the same, but they have different pickups, neck sets, etc. The Grabber neck profile is similar to my 73 Pbass, but a little bit shallower just enough to notice. I think that the Grabber tone is pretty similar to the Pbass too more similar than different.
Realize that the Grabber pickup is said to be brighter and more Pbass-like compared to the Ripper pickup, which has the muddier Gibson sound.
Last week, I bought a 74 fretless Grabber. The basic dimensions of the Ripper and Grabber are said to be the same, but they have different pickups, neck sets, etc. The Grabber neck profile is similar to my 73 Pbass, but a little bit shallower just enough to notice. I think that the Grabber tone is pretty similar to the Pbass too more similar than different.
Realize that the Grabber pickup is said to be brighter and more Pbass-like compared to the Ripper pickup, which has the muddier Gibson sound.
I played a 1975 Ripper for eight years as my main bass and gave it up only because I bought a Steinberger L2. Despite what others have said in this thread, the Ripper CAN sound like a P bass -- in fact, that's why I bought it after my old Precision became unplayable. The Ripper still is the only Gibson bass I like the sound of, and that's because it sounds more like a Fender. I never liked the EB Series basses or the T-bird, and I flat out hated the Les Paul bass. The Ripper can punch like a Fender but also can give you the low end of the EB series basses, but with less mud.
The neck on the Ripper is close enough to a P that I had no trouble making the switch, and -- again, despite what others have said -- standard long scale Rotosound 66 Swing Bass fit through the back of the body with no problem -- silk cleared the nut easily. Used them exclusively on this bass. The original Ripper has a four-position rotary switch that will give you a variety of sounds: #1 (both PUPS in series, in phase) is the fattest of the bunch; #2 (bridge PUP only) has less bottom but great punch; #3 (both, parallel, in phase) has a midrange, scooped character; #4 (both in series, out of phase) is so thin that I never used it. I briefly wired my Ripper with two coil tap switches and a standard three-way toggle and immediately hated that setup -- it never gave me the sounds that I got from the rotary, so I switched back. I still have recordings made with that bass and it sounded great.
I also never had a problem with the neck and found the oversized body not at all heavy or hard to get used to. Played both finger- and pick-style with ease.
All this said, $1000 is too much for a used Ripper. I wouldn't spend more than $700, and then only if it was in primo condition.
The neck on the Ripper is close enough to a P that I had no trouble making the switch, and -- again, despite what others have said -- standard long scale Rotosound 66 Swing Bass fit through the back of the body with no problem -- silk cleared the nut easily. Used them exclusively on this bass. The original Ripper has a four-position rotary switch that will give you a variety of sounds: #1 (both PUPS in series, in phase) is the fattest of the bunch; #2 (bridge PUP only) has less bottom but great punch; #3 (both, parallel, in phase) has a midrange, scooped character; #4 (both in series, out of phase) is so thin that I never used it. I briefly wired my Ripper with two coil tap switches and a standard three-way toggle and immediately hated that setup -- it never gave me the sounds that I got from the rotary, so I switched back. I still have recordings made with that bass and it sounded great.
I also never had a problem with the neck and found the oversized body not at all heavy or hard to get used to. Played both finger- and pick-style with ease.
All this said, $1000 is too much for a used Ripper. I wouldn't spend more than $700, and then only if it was in primo condition.
slowburnaz
Commercial User
Thanks again everyone. This has been very enlightening. As for being epic... that's a state of mind lol. I'm more looking to find a deal on one and put some vintage mods down.
