• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Official Epiphone Ripper Bass Club

#21
Reverend179 said:
If you picked that one up at Clackamas Guitar Center, I'm the guy with the Grabber you talked to. You got a nice bass!
Click to expand...

Yup. That was me. You scored pretty danged sweet yourself. I really wanted to feel the neck on that Grabber. Looked so nice and worn in. Congrats!

By the way--I was just searching up Ripper/Grabber/G3 threads on here and saw a pic of a guy playing a Grabber identical to yours. It occured to me that it might be the same one you bought.
 
#22
Muddslide said:
Yup. That was me. You scored pretty danged sweet yourself. I really wanted to feel the neck on that Grabber. Looked so nice and worn in. Congrats!

By the way--I was just searching up Ripper/Grabber/G3 threads on here and saw a pic of a guy playing a Grabber identical to yours. It occured to me that it might be the same one you bought.
Click to expand...

You shoulda just asked man, I wouldn't have had a problem. And yeah, that bass is now my bass. I cut the saddle screws down, and it's nice and comfy until I get my new bridge. :cool:
 
#23
I have the natural LE Epi Ripper. Got it from Musician's Friend a few years back - the only mail-order bass I've ever bought new. I like to play before I buy, but mail-order looked like the only way I would be able to get one. As it turned out, the first one I was sent was damaged, and I had to return it for another one which I kept. They did a really lousy job boxing them up for shipping. It's a miracle the second one arrived undamaged.

I bought an original Gibson Ripper new back in 1975, but sold it for a Rick 4001. The Ripper was just too heavy for me on-stage. It was a sunburst with rosewood fingerboard. Wish I'd kept it.

I've seen posts asking about cases for the Rippers. A friend of one of my sons gave him a Coffin case, which I appropriated for my Ripper. It's old, ugly, and beat to crap, but the coffin shape accommodates the large Ripper body, albeit rather snugly.

I'm curious about what others are stringing their Rippers with - I put some Blue Steels on mine and I like the way they sound. What are you guys using?
 
#24
LowNotes1 said:
I have the natural LE Epi Ripper.
Click to expand...

I had one of those a few years ago, but only had it for a few months before finances dictated selling it. I found it not long after they went out of production at some online music shop that had a couple of old-stock ones. I wish I still had it, but I am digging my new (old) bloack one to death.

I bought an original Gibson Ripper new back in 1975, but sold it for a Rick 4001. The Ripper was just too heavy for me on-stage. It was a sunburst with rosewood fingerboard. Wish I'd kept it.
Click to expand...

Back in the 80s I had a '76 Gibson Ripper. I loved the way it felt and played, but I could never dial in much more than mud from it. I honestly think my Epi is better than my old Gibson was. At least it suits me better and seems to offer a lot more useful tones. Of course, it's very un-like the old Gibson Rippers...

I've seen posts asking about cases for the Rippers. A friend of one of my sons gave him a Coffin case, which I appropriated for my Ripper. It's old, ugly, and beat to crap, but the coffin shape accommodates the large Ripper body, albeit rather snugly.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to try this I guess. Don't care much for Coffin cases though.

I'm curious about what others are stringing their Rippers with - I put some Blue Steels on mine and I like the way they sound. What are you guys using?
Click to expand...

I don't know what strings are on mine, but I don't plan on changing them (or doing any mods, etc.) at this point. The current strings sound nice and bright and have a lot of life left in them.
 
#25
This bass is the business! I've been playing a lotta years and have owned a lotta basses, so I feel like I know a little whereof I speak when it comes to good instruments.

I'm digging this more day by day. The P/J pups (stock) sound really crisp but growly and bombastic as well. They are placed closer to the neck than they would be on a Fender and I think this gives them extra round/fatness or something. This thing is built like a tank but it sounds like a cannon!
 
#26
I had one of these back when i played bass. loved it.
rip.jpg


For those of you looking for a case to fit this beast, heres your answer.

EPIPHONE JACK CASSIDY BASS CASE

Exact fit. Just thought id share that with everyone looking for something to haul this beast around in.
 
#27
Kyle Anadora said:
For those of you looking for a case to fit this beast, heres your answer.

EPIPHONE JACK CASSIDY BASS CASE

Exact fit. Just thought id share that with everyone looking for something to haul this beast around in.
Click to expand...

Ah! Cool. Thanks so much for that. I had been looking at those online and thought they might work.

I will most likely order one soon and will report back as to its fit.
 
#31
Kyle Anadora said:
For those of you looking for a case to fit this beast, heres your answer.

EPIPHONE JACK CASSIDY BASS CASE

Exact fit. Just thought id share that with everyone looking for something to haul this beast around in.
Click to expand...

Well, I said I'd report back.

I had the local GC order up a Jack Casady bass case for me.

Had to pay for it in advance, around $130.

They got it in today, took my Ripper in to make sure it fit and...no dice.

The upper horn of the bass just would not go. Even considering removing the lining from the inside of the case at that place, it wouldn't have worked.

I did discover, however, that the Coffin Case 300 VX (which is made for Flying V and Explorer-style guitars) is a near-fit.

It's actually a little wide for the body of the bass, but a little foam rubber or one or two of those "pillows" that come in the Coffin cases will make it workable.

Only thing that sucks is, I really don't like Coffin Cases much. They are decent cases, but the whole doom/goth thing kind of puts me off, and I'm already stuck with one of them for a guitar I have that has a funky body style and a Coffin Case was the only real option for it.
 
#36
Just finished building my Epiphone Ripper yesterday. I wanted the look of the original Gibson Ripper. It took me 4 years to find all the parts. I bought the body, and 2 years later I found the neck. The last piece I added was Deep Sixx pickups. All the parts are original Epiphone, with the exception of the pickguard, that I made myself.

Link Removed
 
#38
kenfxj said:
Well I joined today.
Img_1920.jpg
Click to expand...

Yup, this looks just like mine. Great bass. Only thing with mine is, for some reason it doesn't have a brass nut. All the LE Rippers I've seen (as well as the one I used to own) have brass. Mine appears to be plastic. Not sure if it's original to the bass or not, but it seems like it was made for it.

Weird. I'm not sure who would mod this bass to go from brass to plastic nut.

CriminalCypress said:
I can't find any of these online. Anyone know a seller?
Click to expand...

They've been out of production since 2006 or 2007. Gotta go used I'm afraid.
 
#40
just dropped down $40 on layaway for a used LE Ripper. even though i couldn't throw down the full $200 today, it still seems reasonable, and they seem to be rare enough that you gotta grab it when you happen upon a good one.

i went in the store to buy a cheap-o drum throne for a gig tomorrow night, and happened by the used stuff. which is always a bad idea :p

they had a blonde one in fantastic shape. picked it up and gave it a whirl. very, very impressed with it. i don't necessarily need a new bass. but like i said, you see something like this, and if its within your means, you do what you can to get it. it'll also be my first P/J bass, even though with the body size and construction, it's still more Gibson than Fender. but it's a cool twist between the two.

will report back once it's paid off (in the next couple weeks) and i've got it integrated into my arsenal.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back