Gibson Grabber/Ripper/G-3 club

[I<34080]

I had a beautiful red wine colored Grabber. I'm pretty sure it was a '75.

It was stolen from me in Williamsburg, VA on my first tour in either '01 or '02. At least the thieves we played with that night were kind enough to leave my Rickenbacker behind. Their bassist already had a Rick and, if I remember correctly, a Thunderbird and vintage SVT stack so my Grabber must of made a very nice addition to his collection.

Are they still a band? It seems like you could have definitely busted him if you knew he took it.

 

[_jojo_bass]

Has anyone else had problems with the pickups? On my G-3 the pickups broke at the sides of the pickguard and now they are just floating there being pushed up by a peice of cardboard.

 

[pharaohamps]

Is discussion of the Epiphone Ripper allowed here?

I once owned a '76 Ripper but sold it long ago.

Since 2007 I've owned 2 of the Epiphone Rippers (still have one of them) and I quite like them.

I saw one guy on another forum refer to these Epiphone Rippers as Gripp3rs.

THE GRIPP3R! They're great but they're not Grabbers OR Rippers OR G3's. Very mish-mash IMHO. If you want to sell, PM me.

I've got 2 Grabbers in pieces right now and this beauty:

It's a '74 based on the pot codes, and from what I've read there are less than 200 sunburst fretted Rippers out there (less than 2% of the 10,000 total Rippers made.) I've not seen another sunburst like mine, the others I've seen are more yellow with the black just around the edges. Mine isn't black at all, just brown. Reminds me of the Ric Autumglo finish in a way.

I'd love a # if you're still handing 'em out.

 

[Jazzcat]

Modified yeah, but this bass was way too cool to pass up. 1974 Ripper, defret, antique natural refin, badass bridge, pbass PUs, wired with 3-way switch.

Seems like a lot of changes, but everything is nicely done and functional, and the bass sounds and feels great. Still feels like a Ripper. I like the darker look too. This Ripper has logged a bit of playing time since the mods. No abuse - but you can tell it was a well loved bass. The neck set is still in great shape, so it hasn't been in any bar fights.

 

[s_wood]

Here's a pic of one of my Rippers. She's a sister to Pharaohamps cherry sunburst beauty above. The pot codes show a 1974 build date, and the tortoiseshell pickguard is original.

 

[chechunka]

I just bought a 1976 Grabber missing the string ferrule plate. Any idea where I can buy one?

 

[96tbird]

Has anyone else had problems with the pickups? On my G-3 the pickups broke at the sides of the pickguard and now they are just floating there being pushed up by a peice of cardboard.

I had one with broken tabs. I got.an NOS one on ebay. 25. Bucks. At the time, January, they listed they had 4 more, but they never listed them again. Try rebuilding the tabs with epoxy putty, a dab in the break, let it set up (or CA it) and build it up a little on the inner bottom and around the break. ( a fellow G3 owner knows what I mean.) Rough up with sandpaper first. The putty is good stuff. You can put it on quite thin and its pretty strong.

 

[beebassdude]

any guys in this club with a grabber, im looking for a bridge cover. if you have one or are willing to sell yours, please PM me. thanks!

 

[96tbird]

any guys in this club with a grabber, im looking for a bridge cover. if you have one or are willing to sell yours, please PM me. thanks!

Saw some NOS ones on eBay a couple months ago. They were raw unchromed brass, they may still be there.

 

[beebassdude]

damn, i gotta look and see if i can find that.

Saw some NOS ones on eBay a couple months ago. They were raw unchromed brass, they may still be there.

 

[96tbird]

Yeah, if you don't want to plate it, polish it and laquer it and that would be nice.

Just checked and they're up there. 20 bucks

Edit, the seller is greatdealz1967 I'm on my dumbphone so I can't get the url.

 

[beebassdude]

Yeah, if you don't want to plate it, polish it and laquer it and that would be nice.

Just checked and they're up there. 20 bucks

damn, i cant find it. can you post a link??

K cool, ill look him up.

 

[beebassdude]

So that cover is for a Tbird/EB series, and its not the same size as the grabber bridges. thanks for that guys name tho, cause he might end up with one at some point. thanks!

 

[96tbird]

Has anyone else had problems with the pickups? On my G-3 the pickups broke at the sides of the pickguard and now they are just floating there being pushed up by a peice of cardboard.

If you have the black ones, greatdealz1967 on ebay has them. 25 bucks a pair! They are listed as a marauder guitar pickup, but they were used on the g3. Made by Bill Lawrence. They Keep your plumbing clear too.

 

[96tbird]

So that cover is for a Tbird/EB series, and its not the same size as the grabber bridges. thanks for that guys name tho, cause he might end up with one at some point. thanks!

I've seen the same thing on g3 and over the 3 point bridges, message the seller for dimensions, I bet theyre the same.

 

[beebassdude]

I've seen the same thing on g3 and over the 3 point bridges, message the seller for dimensions, I bet theyre the same.

ive talked to FlyGuitars dude who is pretty knowledgeable and he told me the G1 bridge cover is bigger.

ill email this guy tho and ask, although just from looking at it it looks thinner and longer. the G1 is like a squatty fatter bridge cover.

 

[coreyfyfe]

There was a guy selling repro covers on ebay for a while. I think like $50 or $60 so definitely not cheap. They fit almost perfectly. Better than slicing your hand on the edges of the screws on the bridge at least.

 

[96tbird]

^^bugger!

^ yeah that price kinda made me clench up.

 

[godofthunder59]

Here's a pic of one of my Rippers. She's a sister to Pharaohamps cherry sunburst beauty above. The pot codes show a 1974 build date, and the tortoiseshell pickguard is original.

Nice that's a pretty rare combo there ! Cherry sunburst with the tort guard. I bought a natural with a tort guard a few years ago for cheap, next think I know I had someone offering me over 2k for it, Yes I sold it !

 

[s_wood]

Nice that's a pretty rare combo there ! Cherry sunburst with the tort guard. I bought a natural with a tort guard a few years ago for cheap, next think I know I had someone offering me over 2k for it, Yes I sold it !

I wonder if it was me