Help: Gibson Ripper - (Big Pics)

[AltGrendel]

The date is probably when the electronics were changed.

 

[mg.audio]

The date is probably when the electronics were changed.

Ripper electronics were never changed. On later models the chicken-head switch had its numbers engraved into the pickguard and the mounting system for the pickups was updated, but as far as the guts, they remained the same from beginning to end.

 

[xXxTWO FACExXx]

If the fingerboard is maple, then the original finish was merely a natural clearcoat. Any ripper with a stock finish other than natural (black or sunburst) came with ebony fingerboards. Looks like this bass has been refinished twice. The red in the cavity might have told us it was a red-burst of some sort (quite rare for rippers), but the maple fingerboard makes me think it was originally a natural finish.

On a side note, it makes me sad when people modify these basses to this degree. Mostly because I'm such a huge fan of them. Stock rippers are fantastic basses, given that it's in the hands of the right player. Plus, they're not easy to come by - ebay and craigslist are pretty much the only places I've seen them, with the occasional appearance on the used section of GC.

I digress.

You pretty much just said what was on my mind for about 2 years these are really incredible basses and every time I watch a nirvana video i get really sad when Krist starts throwing his Ripper up in the air or at his amp.

 

[xXxTWO FACExXx]

Not as popular but there were definitely some black and sunburst Rippers and Grabbers that had maple necks.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It is a refinish if it were an actual sunburst Ripper it would have an ebony fingerboard cause every other color besides natural got an ebony fingerboard black, sunburst, cherryburst. Besides the burst pattern doesnt even match other sunburst Rippers sorry to burst your bubble.

 

[BASSDROID]

I still think it came about later as mine was a fairly early one or perhaps it was some version of a custom shop/trade show sort of finish. But whatever. I'd have gobbled one of those up had they been available to me. That one pictured is gorgeous!

I have it on pretty good authority that the Cherryburst Rippers were only available at the 1975 NAMM show and nowhere else. There were supposedly only six total and they were all maple-bodied basses produced in 1974.

 

[BASSDROID]

Not as popular but there were definitely some black and sunburst Rippers and Grabbers that had maple necks.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It is a refinish if it were an actual sunburst Ripper it would have an ebony fingerboard cause every other color besides natural got an ebony fingerboard black, sunburst, cherryburst. Besides the burst pattern doesnt even match other sunburst Rippers sorry to burst your bubble.

It could be original, possibly a custom order or modded with a maple board. This burst pattern was used on Rippers from the late '70s on. The pickups and the pick guard on this bass also correspond to that time frame. A pic of the back side of this bass would be very interesting to see and could answer the originality question with a bit more certainty.

The late Tom "T-bone" Wolk (of the SNL band and others) had one with the earlier burst pattern:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8kxgrZBwXA

 

[Randy S]

I had a Ripper in the 70's. Traded it for a 71 sunburst Jazz that was my warhorse for many years. It sounded fine, but I recall the frets wore pretty bad.