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Here's my 75' Ebony Ripper and 77' Red Wine Grabber.
Both strung with TI's.
The Grabber has a perfect plug in and play aggressive rock tone. Boingy character in its tone. Weight 8.7 lbs.
The Ripper has a tamer overall tone but is more versatile. Pickups modded to 1.neck 2.bridge 3.neck/bridge 4. mute. Simple eq'ing makes the Ripper pop out in the mix. Weight 8.5 lbs.
Both strung with TI's.
The Grabber has a perfect plug in and play aggressive rock tone. Boingy character in its tone. Weight 8.7 lbs.
The Ripper has a tamer overall tone but is more versatile. Pickups modded to 1.neck 2.bridge 3.neck/bridge 4. mute. Simple eq'ing makes the Ripper pop out in the mix. Weight 8.5 lbs.
Attachments
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
Thanks, they are mojo machines. Both are made from alder so that's why they are so light.
The Ripper neck is awesome, the neck only slightly widens from nut to body. The Grabber has a Pbass neck feel. Before I got these basses I always heard the stories about the Gibson baseball bat necks, these basses killed that stereotype for me.
The Ripper neck is awesome, the neck only slightly widens from nut to body. The Grabber has a Pbass neck feel. Before I got these basses I always heard the stories about the Gibson baseball bat necks, these basses killed that stereotype for me.
- Mar 8, 2011
- 12,232
- 51,187
- Disclosures
- Authorized greenboy designs builder/Owner of BNA Audio
Thanks, they are mojo machines. Both are made from alder so that's why they are so light.
The Ripper neck is awesome, the neck only slightly widens from nut to body. The Grabber has a Pbass neck feel. Before I got these basses I always heard the stories about the Gibson baseball bat necks, these basses killed that stereotype for me.
I've owned several Grabbers/Rippers/G3's over the years and never really had a problem with the necks, personally...really would love to find the right G3 again one day
And an ebony Ripper 
Depends on the year too. My 78 G3 feel thinner than my 81 Grabber. They're both wider than what I'm used to (my main basses before were a jazz and a jazz-necked P) but not uncomfortable.
I played a 1980's gibson grabber, it sounded great. balanced well, and looked really nice when hung "low"..the baseball bat neck threw me off in contrast to the thin body. And i like the look of a ripper better, and the tone varieties as well.
To all Ripper owners, what position do you prefer? 1-4. If you play with a pick, it's a bonus for me since i'm exclusively pick player, unless i do more mellow stuff such as some indie rock songs.
To all Ripper owners, what position do you prefer? 1-4. If you play with a pick, it's a bonus for me since i'm exclusively pick player, unless i do more mellow stuff such as some indie rock songs.
- Mar 22, 2000
- 1,972
- 73
- Disclosures
- Big Cheese Emeritus: Gollihur Music (retired)
Have to toss my Rippers in the mix, including the aforementioned original -
I bought this fretless Ripper above new in 1976, and did a total overhaul in 1997. I replaced the pickups with a set of Lane Poors, my first set of many that followed. It also has a onboard Bartolini preamp with three band EQ. The pickups are a bit wider and a third tone control and preamp switch has been added, but note that the original rotary switch looks the same but now controls a pickup pan pot. This instrument has a more versatile sound now, and with its vintage look intact is indeed The Stealth Bass.
I snagged the fretted Ripper from eBay a bunch of years ago, an early 70's model. This one has reverse, unmarked tuners (the fretless Ripper has "Gibson" marked, normal rotation) and a semi-transparent pickguard with a barely-noticeable tortoise shell pattern. And it's a lightweight, too, just 9lb. The wiring had been mucked with, but I've got the first three positions working properly again, and did anyone ever find that reverse phase fourth position useful for anything?!?
This project "Hipper" (Hoyt-Ripper) bass was born of the fact that I have played five string bass almost exlusively for the past several years - but I found this maple Epiphone Ripper body on eBay, and luthier Link Removed (who has built me four other custom basses over the last fifteen years) did me the special favor of building a three-piece five string maple neck/board and mounting it to the dark Gibson redburst Ripper body. It has a pair of Lane Poor J-bass pickups and Bartolini preamp. While the neck looks short, it is a 34" scale bass-- that long body and bridge placement brings the nut closer, which is frankly a nice position-- don't have to reach very far. The custom tortoise pickguard really brings it all together. It is a chunky 10lb. 1oz, but damn, it is sweet. The action is the best of all my fivers.
I bought this fretless Ripper above new in 1976, and did a total overhaul in 1997. I replaced the pickups with a set of Lane Poors, my first set of many that followed. It also has a onboard Bartolini preamp with three band EQ. The pickups are a bit wider and a third tone control and preamp switch has been added, but note that the original rotary switch looks the same but now controls a pickup pan pot. This instrument has a more versatile sound now, and with its vintage look intact is indeed The Stealth Bass.
I snagged the fretted Ripper from eBay a bunch of years ago, an early 70's model. This one has reverse, unmarked tuners (the fretless Ripper has "Gibson" marked, normal rotation) and a semi-transparent pickguard with a barely-noticeable tortoise shell pattern. And it's a lightweight, too, just 9lb. The wiring had been mucked with, but I've got the first three positions working properly again, and did anyone ever find that reverse phase fourth position useful for anything?!?
This project "Hipper" (Hoyt-Ripper) bass was born of the fact that I have played five string bass almost exlusively for the past several years - but I found this maple Epiphone Ripper body on eBay, and luthier Link Removed (who has built me four other custom basses over the last fifteen years) did me the special favor of building a three-piece five string maple neck/board and mounting it to the dark Gibson redburst Ripper body. It has a pair of Lane Poor J-bass pickups and Bartolini preamp. While the neck looks short, it is a 34" scale bass-- that long body and bridge placement brings the nut closer, which is frankly a nice position-- don't have to reach very far. The custom tortoise pickguard really brings it all together. It is a chunky 10lb. 1oz, but damn, it is sweet. The action is the best of all my fivers.
I just picked up a Fretless G3 (to keep my G1 Fretted company).
I bought on Ebay and got a good price as an 'as is' instrument. It plays really well but it appears to have a dead pickup. I'd love to keep it original. Any advice on where to find a replacement pickup? I'd also like to see any wiring diagrams (other than Flyguitars) as my G3 toggle has an extra terminal that doesn't feature on their picture. Thanks in advance...
I bought on Ebay and got a good price as an 'as is' instrument. It plays really well but it appears to have a dead pickup. I'd love to keep it original. Any advice on where to find a replacement pickup? I'd also like to see any wiring diagrams (other than Flyguitars) as my G3 toggle has an extra terminal that doesn't feature on their picture. Thanks in advance...
You may have a replacement switch in there. Mine came with a big sqaure one like this, and it wore out eventually so I replaced it with what appears to be a proper right angle 3-way switch from stew mac.
This is what mine looked like. Pretty sure the pickguard is a replacement as well, never seen another G3 with a tort guard.
Here are the pictures from the Fly Guitars page
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The white wires in these pictures are just taped up, not sure if they're supposed to be connected or what. On mine they're connected to ground. My G3 seems to have fairly week output and I've never really known why, but maybe some other G3 owners could chime in here with pictures of theirs...
As far as a replacement pickup, good luck. Try to search ebay, maybe?
This is what mine looked like. Pretty sure the pickguard is a replacement as well, never seen another G3 with a tort guard.
Here are the pictures from the Fly Guitars page
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
The white wires in these pictures are just taped up, not sure if they're supposed to be connected or what. On mine they're connected to ground. My G3 seems to have fairly week output and I've never really known why, but maybe some other G3 owners could chime in here with pictures of theirs...
As far as a replacement pickup, good luck. Try to search ebay, maybe?
I bought one from this seller about 2 years ago. The clear model. They may have more if you contact them.
Link Removed
Here they have a pair of black for 25 buck! You may not get the rw/rp but they are the pickups that fit. All these pickups are identifiable by the wire colors. Follow the schematic to get the right positioning of each color. If you contact them they may have the colors you need. I doubt that they know about the color scheme.
Corey yes the white wires should make contact. Don't know why yours are weak, mine is the loudest bass I have. My height is quite high and then they began to bark!
Link Removed
Here they have a pair of black for 25 buck! You may not get the rw/rp but they are the pickups that fit. All these pickups are identifiable by the wire colors. Follow the schematic to get the right positioning of each color. If you contact them they may have the colors you need. I doubt that they know about the color scheme.
Corey yes the white wires should make contact. Don't know why yours are weak, mine is the loudest bass I have. My height is quite high and then they began to bark!
- Jun 3, 2009
- 3,330
- 399
- Disclosures
- Bassgearu, Music Industry Consulting and Sales. Tech 21, NBE Corp, Sonosphere.
Jaymi look what I found (pink Bass Content)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peavey-RJ-I...t-/350673468246?pt=Guitar&hash=item51a5c47b56
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Peavey-RJ-I...t-/350673468246?pt=Guitar&hash=item51a5c47b56
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Thanks! They do still have these pickups.
The clear ones? If so, you may want to stock up. IMO these are as rare as hen's teeth and they are selling below their true value.
you ripper owners,, I have a 76 ripper that has "second" stamped into the back of the headstock, mine does not have the rotary dial just 2 pickups with V/V/T.... the pickups look vintage but have any of you seen this type of ripper around?
no lets say if it had a roatary at one time and maybe someone removed it,, can I get another rotary switch somewhere,,,AND is there anywhere I can get a Stock ripper bridge?
no lets say if it had a roatary at one time and maybe someone removed it,, can I get another rotary switch somewhere,,,AND is there anywhere I can get a Stock ripper bridge?
there's a Gibson 3 point bridge on ebay right now
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Vi...950?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3a7d3a77e6
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Vi...950?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3a7d3a77e6
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I have seen Rippers marked second, the first one was at a guitar center in massachusetts, another at a smaller local store. Both were natural finished. Maybe they were the same bass as this was years apart within a 50 mile radius, but I digress. The second stamp was usually for finish flaws, and both I saw had the rotary switch. I doubt they'd let one go out with incomplete electronics.
