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NBD '74 Gibson Ripper time machine

#42
Thorsoundcore said:
Well, there was that ill fated reissue that came out years back now. I don't even remember anyone here claiming to have actually played one (they were not common/possibly had low production numbers), but boy do I recall everyone flaming it left and right.
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The reissue was an abomination: a Ripper shaped piece of wood with a whole different wiring scheme and different pickups too. Was it also a bolt on neck?
 
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#43
KimDealWithIt said:
They were about $450 in 1974, which works out to over $2,400 now, so I wasn’t complaining.
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Paid $386 for mine in April 1974. That included a $15% discount
Ampslut said:
If Gibson brought back the ripper today, how many of you would buy one?
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If I didn’t already have a backup I definitely would.

But the likelihood of Gibson ever doing that approaches zero. So I doubt we’ll ever find out if an actual reissue it would sell.
 
#46
Pauly 4001 said:
The reissue was an abomination: a Ripper shaped piece of wood with a whole different wiring scheme and different pickups too. Was it also a bolt on neck?
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Haha, yes! This is the kind of shunning I remember!! That's right, it was totally different than the originals wasn't it? It had been so long since I looked into one, I couldn't remember why it was so hated.

Sadly, I don't recall the type of neck either, sorry.
 
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#49
Awesome Bass!! Congrats on a great find and score!!

This is what Gibson needs to build and sell now! And yes if they came out with a real reissue the right way I would buy one. That's the problem with Gibson, for some reason they never stick with their bass designs very long unless it's that SG shaped thing. Their Guitars on the other hand they've been basically building for years.
 
#50
Nice!
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#52
40Hz said:
Paid $386 for mine in April 1974. That included a $15% discount


If I didn’t already have a backup I definitely would.

But the likelihood of Gibson ever doing that approaches zero. So I doubt we’ll ever find out if an actual reissue it would sell.
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When it comes to basses, Gibson can be counted on to do the opposite of whatever makes sense.
 
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#55
KimDealWithIt said:
When it comes to basses, Gibson can be counted on to do the opposite of whatever makes sense.
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Yeah. Agree.

I had extremely high hopes for the new management team until they started those recent almost completely meritless lawsuits, and then let Mark Agnesi take the heat and bulk of the arrows for it in the wake of the public backlash.

Since then I’ve largely stopped caring what Gibson does anymore and adopted the philosophy Gibson will either make it or it won’t. And none of my business either way.

So I’ve decided I’m just going to stay focused on Gibson’s instruments and history and ignore everything else about the company going forward. It’s a complete 180 from my interest in and attitude towards Gibson over the last 40 years. But so it goes.

In the meantime I’ll just play my four Gibson and two Epiphone basses and be content with that while dreaming of someday finding a mint condition Victory Classic I can afford. ;) :)
 
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#57
electracoyote said:
Sadly, with many classic basses and guitars, it seems they got it right the first time around and the reissues suck.
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Which is probably why Fender very wisely just kept manufacturing their four masterpieces, and kept them virtually unchanged since they were first introduced. Apparently their customers love them for it too if the sales figures and the number of songs featuring a Fender guitar and/or bass are anything to go by.

Sometimes it’s wiser to just stick with what you’ve got.
 
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#58
Thorsoundcore said:
Haha, yes! This is the kind of shunning I remember!! That's right, it was totally different than the originals wasn't it? It had been so long since I looked into one, I couldn't remember why it was so hated.

Sadly, I don't recall the type of neck either, sorry.
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The neck was Gibsons usual mortise and tenon. It came with Seymour Duncan alnico humbuckers and a 6-position switch which (if I remember correctly - it’s been awhile) introduced some coil split selections. And a 34” scale vs 34.5” on the originals.

It had a small number of admirers. But genuine reviewers gave it a “meh.” The vast majority felt it wasn’t anything special as far as sound went. Just “yet another me too” dual humbucker bass. And expensive to boot.

Most Gibson bass fanciers consider the Ripper II a novelty item Gibson came up with to generate some buzz and quick cash. There was absolutely no commitment towards it on Gibson’s part. It was produced in deliberately limited quantities with a warning that it was a special one time only release. And once they were gone, they were gone for good. To which most Gibson bass players (myself included) replied: Works for me! :laugh:
 
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#60
KimDealWithIt said:
When it comes to basses, Gibson can be counted on to do the opposite of whatever makes sense.
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Funny, but true! :D

What always ticked me off about Gibson, was they would introduce a new bass, and never give it time to gain popularity, label it a failure, then cease production.

Such as: The RD series, the Victory bass, The Ripper, Grabber, G-3.

Why couldn't they have made small batches every year until they caught on, I will never know.

Mike
 
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