Gibson Grabber/Ripper/G-3 club

[Jaymi]

I was incognito when driving...the cape went on to bigger and better things....

 

[jworrellbass]

I'm glad you have a sence of humor about it. It must have taken balls to put that one up. I almost rented a cape back in the day for a gig, I came to my senses before I did.
I used to play a g-3, it was a great bass, I really learned how to play on it. John Entwistle called it "one of the ugliest bass ever made". Not mine, just g-3's in general.

 

[Jaymi]

yep, a sense of humor is the only way to be....life is too short....

anyway, I am thinking about getting another G-3 to match a grabber.....never know...I saw Entwistle's comments....kinda funny....

 

[jworrellbass]

Are you looking for an older one, or has Gibson updated it? I've read on TB they did that with the Grabber.

 

[Jaymi]

Older for sure...I am into stuff with "character"

 

[Thorsoundcore]

this is my 78 Grabber..

the neck says "G-III" on the heel, but the guard/electronics are Grabber..

the line on the forearm side of the body is were someone cut a large piece off the body.. then glued it back on with epoxy.. the bridge is from a Spector NSX.. at some point i'm going to refinish it, replace the bridge with something much lighter, probably a hipshot or a badass.. and replace the tuners with Hipshots..

i like the way it sounds..

i'm most likely going to paint it white, or silverburst..

lose that maple FB on the silverburst,and now we're talkin!! o yeah,can you do a silverburst ripper reissue too?

 

[jworrellbass]

If you find one with a big foot print on it, it might be my old one. Not really my old one was used as an experiment. I striped the black paint off, maple fingerboard, pick guard and pickups. I then put a ebony fretless fingerboard, 36" scale and moved the bridge and replaced with a Schaller roller. I then routered out the middle section and laid a piece of goncalo-alves and put in jazz bass pups. Oiled the body and neck. It sounded like a masterful work, really it did. I loved the sound I was gitting from it. The problem was when I glued the new fingerboard I didn't use hide glue. After a while I noticed the end of the board rolled up a touch (not enough glue at the end of the board). So I tried to remove it and broke it. My anger set in very fast and the pour thing didn't stand a chance againist the garage floor. I've mellowed since that day.

 

[Jaymi]

If you have pics, feel free to post!!

 

[Jaymi]

So I came home with a nice Wine Red Grabber, need to figure out the serial number / year thing..maybe I will just pull the neck off and see what date is written there.

 

[coreyfyfe]

So I came home with a nice Wine Red Grabber, need to figure out the serial number / year thing..maybe I will just pull the neck off and see what date is written there.

Does it have the serial on the back? If so, it should be something like decade - production day/365 - year - factory code

Mine is 70208 something something something, or something along those lines meaning january 20th, 78 and made in kalamazoo. I think I read that the numbers change in the mid 70s but there is a website out there somewhere which has it all laid out. I think I found the link off of the fly guitars gibson grabber page.

 

[Jaymi]

I looked at that///only works for basses made after 78...this one is earlier...let me get my screwdrivers...

 

[coreyfyfe]

From this page:

Invalid Link Removed

# 1969-1975: 6 digit peghead stamped serial number, MADE IN USA stamped below.
# 1975-1977: tagged (decal) serial number, MADE IN USA below.
# 1977-present: 8 digit stamped serial number, MADE IN USA stamped below.

6 digits + A 1970
000000's 1973
100000's 1970-1975
200000's 1973-1975
300000's 1974-1975
400000's 1974-1975
500000's 1974-1975
600000's 1970-1972, 1974-1975
700000's 1970-1972
800000's 1973-1975
900000's 1970-1972
A + 6 digits 1973-1975
B + 6 digits 1974-1975
C + 6 digits 1974-1975
D + 6 digits 1974-1975
E + 6 digits 1974-1975
F + 6 digits 1974-1975


Gibson Serial Numbers, 1975-1977.

All models, decal, 2 digit prefix followed by 6 digits. The decal can also states the model name/number.

Prefix Year
------ ----
99 1975
00 1976
06 1977

 

[Jaymi]

interesting....there is no handwritten date on the end of the neck, just the letter 'G'...the serial number is 6 digits...no stickers, no nothing...makes it either a 74-75...

 

[Webtroll]

So I came home with a nice Wine Red Grabber, need to figure out the serial number / year thing..maybe I will just pull the neck off and see what date is written there.

What's the TB rule about no pics no bass? I can't remember...

 

[abngourmet]

Here's my '74-'75 Ripper. I got it off ebay, and it was beat up cosmetically but otherwise fine. It is a factory second, and I had it refinished. It has a tortoise pickguard which, from what I understand is somewhat rare. Other than the refin, it is completely stock, a beast, and I love it to death. I also have a '77 RD Artist, an '81 Victory Artist, and a '87 Thunderbird.

 

[Jaymi]

What's the TB rule about no pics no bass? I can't remember...

I will be posting a video of it tomorrow.

 

[Jaymi]

here we are

 

[Jaymi]

a little grabber tone....a little dark in the light but....

 

[ryco]

My '77 fretless Ripper

Only bass I have bought new. Replaced a stolen EB3
Still play it every day. Neck finish is pretty much rubbed off.
Mostly gets used for jazz gigs now.
Been entertaining the idea of getting a white pickguard. Thoughts?

 

[Jaymi]

#18 abngourmet
#19 ryco