Gibson Ripper
Encyclopedia
The Gibson L9-S Ripper is a model of electric bass guitar
made by Gibson Guitar Corporation
.
The Ripper was manufactured from 1973 until 1983; the peak year being 1976. Most had a maple body with laminated maple neck, however a significant number manufactured in 1975 had lighter alder bodies while retaining the maple neck. Also in 1975, an edgier, and slimmer body, with more beveling and contours around the horns of the bass was introduced. The new look was geared towards heavier music that was gaining popularity under the ending decade.
The later models of 1976 and on featured a different routing in the body for the wires, and the pickups were screwed in by three posts as opposed to the old two-post variation.
The Ripper was initially available in three colors: natural, black, and tobacco sunburst. Natural Rippers received a maple fingerboard, while black or sunburst basses received an ebony fingerboard. A handful of 1974 basses were finished in cherry sunburst, which was never listed as a standard finish option. These basses are extremely rare.(This is speculative, no actual proof)
The headstocks were painted black and featured the "Gibson" logo in gold script. Most models feature a black pickguard, though closer inspection reveals that some pickguards only appear black and are actually a very dark tortise shell pattern. A few early basses were equipped with a bright red tortise shell pickguard.
The Ripper came equipped with two humbucking
pickups - designed especially for the Ripper by Bill Lawrence
which were called "Super Humbuckers", and a four way pickup selector control; a familiar Gibson feature from the older Gibson EB-3
bass.
There was also a fretless version of the Ripper - identical in all respects (fretboard aside).
The original Gibson model is now rare and has seen significant inflation in value recently; however a cheaper Epiphone
model was still in production for a few short years, it was featured with two single coil pickups rather than Gibson's Super Humbuckers.
But Gibson's new "Limited Run Series" has brought the Ripper back beginning in 2009. The new Rippers features are not exact to the original. The older Rippers did not have a brass nut, they were all string-thru models, and the Super Humbuckers were wired differently. Now, the new Rippers feature two volume knobs, and one master tone (a feature seen on newer Gibson and Epiphone basses such as the Viola, EB-0/3, Thunderbird, and Les Paul). Original Rippers had one master volume, a mid-range booster/negater, and a treble roll-off
knob. The chicken switch on the originals had the options of:
1 "in phase — series"
2 "bridge only — single"
3 "in phase — parallel"
4 "out of phase — series".
The new Ripper II has a six position switch. Gibson lists it as follows http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA/Ripper-Bass.aspx:
"In position one you get the bridge pickup only. Position two gives you the second coil of the neck pickup and the first coil of the bridge pickup. Position three delivers the first coil of the bridge pickup. Position four dials in the second coil of the neck pickup. Position five gives you the first coil of the neck pickup and the second coil of the bridge pickup. And the sixth position gives you only the neck pickup."
The Ripper is "cousin" to the Gibson Grabber (G-1) and Gibson G-3 models also manufactured by Gibson around the same time. The three are vintage in today's world, though the "Grabber II" and "Ripper II" are being released for Gibson's "Limited Run Series". The Grabber II came back in January 2009 for the opening of the series, along with the "Holy Explorer".
of Nirvana
Greg Lake
of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Rick Danko
of The Band
Mark Evans of AC/DC
Mikey Welsh
formerly of Weezer
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
made by Gibson Guitar Corporation
Gibson Guitar Corporation
The Gibson Guitar Corporation, formerly of Kalamazoo, Michigan and currently of Nashville, Tennessee, manufactures guitars and other instruments which sell under a variety of brand names...
.
The Ripper was manufactured from 1973 until 1983; the peak year being 1976. Most had a maple body with laminated maple neck, however a significant number manufactured in 1975 had lighter alder bodies while retaining the maple neck. Also in 1975, an edgier, and slimmer body, with more beveling and contours around the horns of the bass was introduced. The new look was geared towards heavier music that was gaining popularity under the ending decade.
The later models of 1976 and on featured a different routing in the body for the wires, and the pickups were screwed in by three posts as opposed to the old two-post variation.
The Ripper was initially available in three colors: natural, black, and tobacco sunburst. Natural Rippers received a maple fingerboard, while black or sunburst basses received an ebony fingerboard. A handful of 1974 basses were finished in cherry sunburst, which was never listed as a standard finish option. These basses are extremely rare.(This is speculative, no actual proof)
The headstocks were painted black and featured the "Gibson" logo in gold script. Most models feature a black pickguard, though closer inspection reveals that some pickguards only appear black and are actually a very dark tortise shell pattern. A few early basses were equipped with a bright red tortise shell pickguard.
The Ripper came equipped with two humbucking
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
pickups - designed especially for the Ripper by Bill Lawrence
Bill Lawrence (guitar maker)
Bill Lawrence is a recording musician and an electric guitar pickup designer/maker and guitar designer/maker in the musical instrument industry, designing pickups and guitars for Fender, Gibson, Peavey and other companies from the 1950s to the present.MusicianThe Bill Lawrence story began...
which were called "Super Humbuckers", and a four way pickup selector control; a familiar Gibson feature from the older Gibson EB-3
Gibson EB-3
The Gibson EB-3 is an electric bass guitar model produced by the Gibson Guitar Corporation.Introduced in 1961, the EB-3 was one of the bass guitar equivalents of the popular Gibson SG...
bass.
There was also a fretless version of the Ripper - identical in all respects (fretboard aside).
The original Gibson model is now rare and has seen significant inflation in value recently; however a cheaper Epiphone
Epiphone
The Epiphone Company is a musical instrument manufacturer founded in 1873 by Anastasios Stathopoulos. Epiphone was bought by Chicago Musical Instrument Company, which also owned Gibson Guitar Corporation, in 1957. Epiphone was Gibson's main rival in the archtop market...
model was still in production for a few short years, it was featured with two single coil pickups rather than Gibson's Super Humbuckers.
But Gibson's new "Limited Run Series" has brought the Ripper back beginning in 2009. The new Rippers features are not exact to the original. The older Rippers did not have a brass nut, they were all string-thru models, and the Super Humbuckers were wired differently. Now, the new Rippers feature two volume knobs, and one master tone (a feature seen on newer Gibson and Epiphone basses such as the Viola, EB-0/3, Thunderbird, and Les Paul). Original Rippers had one master volume, a mid-range booster/negater, and a treble roll-off
Roll-off
Roll-off is a term commonly used to describe the steepness of a transmission function with frequency, particularly in electrical network analysis, and most especially in connection with filter circuits in the transition between a passband and a stopband...
knob. The chicken switch on the originals had the options of:
1 "in phase — series"
2 "bridge only — single"
3 "in phase — parallel"
4 "out of phase — series".
The new Ripper II has a six position switch. Gibson lists it as follows http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Bass/Gibson-USA/Ripper-Bass.aspx:
"In position one you get the bridge pickup only. Position two gives you the second coil of the neck pickup and the first coil of the bridge pickup. Position three delivers the first coil of the bridge pickup. Position four dials in the second coil of the neck pickup. Position five gives you the first coil of the neck pickup and the second coil of the bridge pickup. And the sixth position gives you only the neck pickup."
The Ripper is "cousin" to the Gibson Grabber (G-1) and Gibson G-3 models also manufactured by Gibson around the same time. The three are vintage in today's world, though the "Grabber II" and "Ripper II" are being released for Gibson's "Limited Run Series". The Grabber II came back in January 2009 for the opening of the series, along with the "Holy Explorer".
Notable Ripper players
Krist NovoselicKrist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic II is a Croatian-American rock musician, best known for being the bassist and co-founder of the grunge band Nirvana. After Nirvana ended, Novoselic formed Sweet 75 and then Eyes Adrift, releasing one album with each band...
of Nirvana
Nirvana
Nirvāṇa ; ) is a central concept in Indian religions. In sramanic thought, it is the state of being free from suffering. In Hindu philosophy, it is the union with the Supreme being through moksha...
Greg Lake
Greg Lake
Gregory Stuart "Greg" Lake is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as a vocalist and bassist of King Crimson, and the bassist, guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of Emerson, Lake & Palmer.-1960s: King Crimson:...
of Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
Rick Danko
Rick Danko
Richard Clare "Rick" Danko was a Canadian musician and singer, best known as a member of The Band.-Early years :...
of The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
Mark Evans of AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
Mikey Welsh
Mikey Welsh
Michael Edward "Mikey" Welsh was an American artist and musician, best known as the former bassist of Weezer. He played with Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo during Cuomo's time in Boston during the hiatus in the band Homie...
formerly of Weezer
Weezer
Weezer is an American alternative rock band. The band currently consists of Rivers Cuomo , Patrick Wilson , Brian Bell , and Scott Shriner . The band has changed lineups three times since its formation in 1992...
External links
- Gibson Ripper — information, sound clips and pictures of the Gibson Ripper.
- Ripper Community — a new site featuring the stories and pictures of original Gibson Rippers.
- Guitar Center — Guitar Center's page for Gibson Basses.
- Gibson Limited Series — Gibson's Limited Series Run page