| Model |
1976 Gibson Ripper |
| Pickups |
Two Ripper humbuckers |
| Scale |
34 1/2" |
| Body |
Three piece alder body |
| Neck |
Three piece set (glued in) maple neck. Maple fingerboard. Adjustable truss rod. 20 frets. Width at nut 1 5/8" |
| Hardware |
Q-system electronics: 1 volume, 1 tone and 1 midrange control. Gibson 3-point bridge. Schaller BM tuning keys. |
| Weight |
4.2 kg |
|
The Gibson Ripper changed subtley over the years of it's production. This particular Ripper was built soon after the changeover to the second, narrower body style (you can see the older style on this early 1975 Gibson Ripper). Another change from the earliest Rippers is that the body wood is now alder as opposed to maple. Like all Rippers, it was produced in the USA (Kalmazoo, MI) under Norlin's period of ownership.
Note that the serial number on the back of the headstock is in the form of a decal, which also includes the model name. Instruments with this numbering follow their own dating method. The first two digits give the year: 99 - 1975, 00 - 1976, 01 - 1977. This was a short-lived practise, and from late 1977 the eight digit stamped serial number that is used today replaced it.
The bass pictured has typical Ripper hardware Ripper humbucking pickups - mounted through the pickup rather than to the scratchplate (as in for example this 1978 Gibson Ripper). The bridge is the Gibson 3-point chrome bridge, with chrome cover; and Schaller BM machine heads.
The translucent Natural Satin finish was the best selling of 1976 - see the Gibson Ripper shipping figures for full details.
1976 zone 1 prices for this guitar were as follows: $469 in March 1976, rising to $499 in June 1976. The Ripper was more expensive than the Grabber and G3, less expensive than the Les Paul Triumph, and priced the same as the EB3.
1976 Ripper soundclips
Soundclips were recorded on a 1976 alder bodied Ripper with Labella flat wound strings, plugged directly into a mobilePre preamp.
- Postion 1. Activate both pickups in a series in phase configuration. (Series wiring achieves a bit more "bite" than might otherwise be obtained.)
soundclip - position 1 tone - 10, midrange -10 fingerstyle |
soundclip - position 1 tone - 0, midrange -0 fingerstyle
- Position 2. Activates back pickup only for a maximum treble response.
soundclip - position 2 tone - 10, midrange -10 played fingerstyle
- Positon 3. Activates both pickups in an in phase, parallel wiring configuration. ("Parallel" resulting in more bottom end response.)
soundclip - position 3 tone - 5, midrange -5 played fingerstyle
- Position 4. Activates both pickups in series, out of phase for a very funky, dirty type tonality.
soundclip - position 4 tone - 10, midrange -10 fingerstyle |
soundclip - position 4 tone - 10, midrange -10 played with a pick |
soundclip - position 4 tone - 5, midrange -0 fingerstyle
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