Rip me a new one…NBD

[AndyTravis]

So in the mid 90’s my older brother used to put a VHS on called “Nirvana: Live Tonight Sold Out”.

 

There was this Human shaped Spider guy on bass, about 19ft tall with 15ft long arms…

 

He played these bloody handsome basses - and I obsessed about them, just staring at Adverts for used Gibson Basses.

 

His sounds were really warm plummy and “boingy” - even with Fuzz/Overdrive sounds.

 

Anyhow, the years came and went…I got into the dreaded Slapping and Tickling of basses, so the Gibson’s didn’t really seem to fit that ideal.

 

Having recently joined an indie band, the time has come.

 

With a huge helping hand from our very own @walshyand some selling and some inheritance…

 

Here’s my new toy…

 

1970’s Gibson Ripper.

 

And “that” sound is present.

 

But also, shockingly…some funkier and Jazzier sounds are to be had.

 

Going to experiment with the original 70’s bridge too.

 

Its a decent weight - a shade over 9lbs. 
 

And while it’s evidently “old” - it’s by no means battered. It’s in lovely condition.

 

I’m pretty smitten to be fair.

 

”never meet your heroes” - The old adage says…

 

I say meet them!

 

Natural next 😆

 

 

Edited December 11, 2023 by AndyTravis

[Happy Jack]

By sheer coincidence, I've just finished watch a twoodfrd YouTube about fixing & setting up one of these.

 

 

[Happy Jack]

Quite surprised to see how much these things go for nowadays ... well north of £2k I gather.

 

In all fairness, I greatly prefer the Grabber. I do like me a sliding pickup. 😎

[AndyTravis]

22 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Quite surprised to see how much these things go for nowadays ... well north of £2k I gather.

 

In all fairness, I greatly prefer the Grabber. I do like me a sliding pickup. 😎

They can be inordinately pricey if clean and tidy. 
 

There’s a blonde one on eBay with a neck repair for £950

 

 

[Skybone]

Nice Ripper, great looking basses. Enjoy your new toy!

[Lozz196]

Very nice Andy

[ezbass]

That is pretty tidy, nice score. However, buying a new bass for a new band, who ever heard of such a thing? Err… umm… (sound of innocent whistling)… oh yeah, that’d be me then. As you were, carry on.

[Guest]

Very nice looking bass!

[lemmywinks]

12 hours ago, Happy Jack said:

By sheer coincidence, I've just finished watch a twoodfrd YouTube about fixing & setting up one of these.

 

 

 

Best channel on YT!

[Muzz]

Have a look at the Babicz three-pointer while you're considering bridges: I took the Old Skool Gibbo one off a Thunderbird when I was fettling it, and put a Supertone like yours on, but was never completely happy with the look; it was a bit too modern. The Babicz is, too, but seems to look less like a big cast thing...and it's a great bridge.

 

Edit: IIRC, some of the Rippers had a BBOT on them (tho yours obviously has the posts for the 3-pointer), that could be a consideration, tho it might involve drilling...

[AndyTravis]

1 hour ago, Muzz said:

Have a look at the Babicz three-pointer while you're considering bridges: I took the Old Skool Gibbo one off a Thunderbird when I was fettling it, and put a Supertone like yours on, but was never completely happy with the look; it was a bit too modern. The Babicz is, too, but seems to look less like a big cast thing...and it's a great bridge.

 

Edit: IIRC, some of the Rippers had a BBOT on them (tho yours obviously has the posts for the 3-pointer), that could be a consideration, tho it might involve drilling...

1976 3 point is going back on I think

[AndyTravis]

1 hour ago, Muzz said:

Have a look at the Babicz three-pointer while you're considering bridges: I took the Old Skool Gibbo one off a Thunderbird when I was fettling it, and put a Supertone like yours on, but was never completely happy with the look; it was a bit too modern. The Babicz is, too, but seems to look less like a big cast thing...and it's a great bridge.

 

Edit: IIRC, some of the Rippers had a BBOT on them (tho yours obviously has the posts for the 3-pointer), that could be a consideration, tho it might involve drilling...

think the Grabber/G-3’a have something approaching BBOT

[neepheid]

37 minutes ago, AndyTravis said:

think the Grabber/G-3’a have something approaching BBOT

 

Yes, but with side walls:

 

[Guest]

You’re right about a giant with very long arms - I saw them live back then and he was huge but strangely very mobile. I’m 6ft 3ins but that’s nothing next to him. 

[Supernaut]

Gibson Grabber makes me think of early Green Day. 

[Lozz196]

I can’t remember if Kevin Mooney of Adam & The Ants used a Ripper or Grabber, but do remember that was the first Gibson bass I’d seen - or at least with knowing it was a Gibson.

[three]

Utterly marvellous! I still have mine - first really posh bass I bought. I don’t mind the 3 point original bridge - I suppose I’m just used to it. Unique tone to the Ripper and that looks gorgeous Andy

 

Check out Patrick Djivas with PFM if you have a chance. My inspiration re: the Ripper. Other worldly talent 

Edited December 12, 2023 by three

[eude]

That's a bit of a peach @AndyTravis

Hope you have a lot of fun with it!

 

A girl I met in first year of Uni, over from Oregon on an exchange reached out to me a year or so back about a similar bass. She'd had a long long term waster of a boyfriend who she'd managed to get rid of, eventually, and he'd left a bass behind which she'd forgotten about and he claimed at the time he didn't want it back. It had been years, so she asked me what it could be worth. It was exactly the same as your new acquisition and in mint condition. She sold it for a pretty penny.

 

Anyway, nice aside. Enjoy the bass!

[AndyTravis]

Back to the factory bridge. Acoustically a bit quieter. But who plays these acoustically 🥴

[neepheid]

Yas, the three point love make a welcome change from the usual derision.

 

Why are you top loading?  Preference, or strings too short?  Just curious - no wrong answers.

[AndyTravis]

1 hour ago, neepheid said:

Yas, the three point love make a welcome change from the usual derision.

 

Why are you top loading?  Preference, or strings too short?  Just curious - no wrong answers.

Got some D’addario Half wounds on way - the current Rotos are cut too short for through body.

[AndyTravis]

Just looks “better” - new strings in the post.

[AndyTravis]

 

all is well…

[neepheid]

Down the hatch(es)!

 

[Grassie]

Very nice! Can't understand why Epiphone don't do a version of this, or a non-reverse Tbird...