Pricing and availability
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Price
Average Price: $1,900
High-end/Boutique
$400
$1001+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
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Description
Embrace the thunderous growl of the Gibson Ripper Bass, a beloved relic from the '70s that has found favor with musicians seeking a robust and flexible sound palette. With its lean body and beveled edges that bear the classic Gibson signature, this bass guitar not only looks the part but also delivers on performance. The unique six-position switch gives you the freedom to control the humbuckers independently, together, or split for a punchier single-coil sound. Famed for being the weapon of choice for legends like Gene Simmons and Krist Novoselic, this model stands tall as a powerhouse of heavy bass tones.
Key Features:
- Versatile six-position switch for varied tonal outputs
- Classic Gibson design with beveled edges
- Humbuckers that can be operated separately, in tandem, or split for a single-coil sound
- Notable association with legendary bassists Gene Simmons and Krist Novoselic
- Heavily favored for its aggressive character and flexible sound options
FAQs
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What is the neck profile of the Gibson Ripper Bass like?
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The Gibson Ripper Bass features a hard maple neck with a satin finish, providing a smooth playing experience. The neck is designed for comfort and playability, suitable for various playing styles.
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What kind of tones can I expect from the Gibson Ripper Bass pickups?
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The Gibson Ripper Bass uses a single-coil/split-coil pickup combination, offering a versatile range of tones from bright and punchy to warm and mellow, making it suitable for rock, funk, and jazz genres.
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Is the Gibson Ripper Bass suitable for advanced players?
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Yes, the Gibson Ripper Bass is well-suited for advanced players, featuring high-quality materials like a hard maple body and neck, brass nut for sustain, and versatile pickup configuration, which allows for a wide range of tonal possibilities.
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How does the 3-way switching work on the Gibson Ripper Bass?
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The 3-way switching on the Gibson Ripper Bass allows players to select between different pickup configurations, offering a variety of tonal options to suit different musical styles and preferences.
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What materials are used in the construction of the Gibson Ripper Bass?
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The Gibson Ripper Bass is constructed with a hard maple body and neck, a maple fingerboard, and features a durable polyurethane finish on the fretboard, ensuring longevity and excellent playability.
Videos
Patrick Hunter
A True Classic! - 1974 Gibson Ripper [Demo]
Reviews
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Gibson Ripper Bass.
Features and functionality
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The Ripper's chicken-head pickup selector can toggle pickups in and out of phase, offering versatile sound options.
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Setup and maintenance
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The 1974 models have tortoise guards known to decompose and release corrosive gases, affecting metal parts.
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Some users recommend moving the strap button to the back of the body to address neck heaviness.
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Incorrect winding of A and G strings can cause nut issues, such as becoming unseated, requiring careful string installation.
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Comparisons
User experience
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The bridge's intonation screws can be uncomfortable, sticking out and digging into hands during play.
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Owners often find Rippers with bent or warped necks, making it difficult to find one in good condition.
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Some owners find the Ripper's neck to be unusually thick, which may require larger hands for comfortable playability.
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Build quality
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The Ripper is notably heavier and denser than many basses, which can be uncomfortable for long playing sessions.
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Value and pricing
Mods and upgrades
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It's recommended to replace the bridge for better action, enhancing playability and setup precision.
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Critic Reviews
4.5 out of 5
Based on 3 Reviews and 14 Ratings
76
Smooth as butter!
Smooth as butter neck makes it a real joy to play! The sound is awesome - full of bite, growl and edge. It's the real deal!
2423
The name says it all
It was gifted to me by Hannah as she did not need it because she had just bought the Non Reverse Thunderbird. its a great bass, and every time I play the first thing I play is the bass riff to "Breed" by Nirvana.
166
Really mixed feelings
I played a '73 Ripper for a couple years. It had a great "tuba" sort of sound. Partly due to the longer scale and partly to those fat single coils. Plus...it looks cool as hell. But it was the biggest neck diver I have ever played. I tried everything to get it to sit right around my neck so my hand could move, but nothing worked and I finally sold it.
Artist usage
Add artist
In the Reverb News article "New Reverb Shop Will Let You Own a Piece of Billy Corgan," a Gibson Ripper Bass is shown among the gear associated with Billy Corgan.
"Krist had at least two of each in Ebony and Natural finishes. One of Krist's Natural finish Rippers can be seen in the Come As You Are video; An Ebony model can be seen in some of the footage used for the Sub Pop In Bloom video (you may also have seen one smacking Krist in the face at the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards!."(http://www.livenirvana.com/equipment/krist.php).
Also used from 91' - 93' on tour seen here at playing Milk It for the first time live at Cow Palace
According to this article from Guitar Center Mike says "I had a Gibson Ripper bass similar to the Grabber with a Bill Lawrence pickup system, the same thing that Chris Novoselic used to play." now that bass was sold to Mike friend.
Kim Gordon can be seen with a Gibson Ripper Bass in this photo. On Sonic Youth's website it says:
"Used by Kim: 1993 NOTES:
Only seen in "Youth Against Fascism" video, no idea if it was borrowed or just one of the many spare instruments SY have accumulated. -Sunburst body -2 pickups? -Rosewood fretboard w/ C D E G markers -Black pick guard"
Michael Shuman used two Gibson Rippers throughout the 'Era Vulgaris' tour, using a black model for songs in C Tuning and a natural model for songs in E Standard.
"Gibson Ripper - played it on many of the Paul Simon tracks I did in 70's, including the movie "one trick pony" because it had that warm sound engineer Phil Ramone liked."
Further down on this page, in the touring programs, it is mentioned that Squire owned a Gibson Ripper.
In the i want you around scene at minute 3:16 we see dee dee playing a ripper bass in the shower from "Rock N Roll High School" film, not used in concert or recording
“I've got two mid '70's Rippers; one maple, one black. Love those” - JMJ https://www.flyguitars.com/interviews/justinMeldalJohnsen2.php
Album Usage
The Gibson Ripper Bass has been featured on the following albums:
Genre Usage
Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.
Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Gibson Ripper Bass, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
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Add recommendation1 alternative for Gibson Ripper Bass, curated by the Equipboard community.
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