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Gibson Ripper Bass Users

Gibson bass guitars | Ripper bass main page | Ripper Users

A look at some of the influential bass players with some association with the Gibson Ripper bass

Ralphe Armstrong

Ralphe Armstrong with his Ripper bass

Speaking to FlyGuitars.com, June 2007 I met Bruce Bolen and designer Walt Johnston and they asked me to write down what I wanted; and that’s how they came up with this bass called the Ripper and the G-3 more

Dartanyan Brown

Dartanyan Brown with his Gibson Ripper

Gibson promotion record for the Ripper bass featuring Dartanyan Brown of Chase, and the Ripper bass.

Greg Lake

Greg Lake on the cover of September 1974s issue of Guitar Player

Feature in Guitar Player magazine, September 1974A new prototype model distributed by Gibson called "The Ripper," Lake's instrument embodies more powerful pickups than the standard bass humbuckings, as well as a mid-range choke to wring greater highs from the instrument. Greg feels it is the most "reliable and accurate" instrument on the market. He likes a bass that is electronically well-designed with an absolutely precise neck in perfect tune all the way up to the 22nd fret of the low E string. He also prefers for nothing to be heard resonating in sympathy with a particular note; that is, the bottom E string is of the same intensity as the high G. Lake feels the main feature of his instrument is its capacity to produce four entirely different sounds. With a front and back pickup producing two different signals.

Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera

Peter Cetera appeared on the front cover of the 1975 Gibson bass catalog

Bobby Valentín

Bobby Valentín with his Ripper bass

Bobby Valetin, or 'El Rey del Bajo' as he is often known, is one of Americas leading Latin Jazz / Salsa bassists.

Rick Danko

Rick Danko with his Gibson Ripper

Rick Danko of The Band

Louis Johnson

Louis Johnson posing with a Gibson Ripper bass

Louis and guitarist brother George Johnson, of the Brothers Johnson were Gibson endorsing artists - there are photographs of them posing for Gibson using the Grabber, G3 and Ripper basses and the S-1 guitar. Although this picture is still posed, the lack of bridge cover and changed out knobs suggest this bass was not something he just picked up at the Gibson photoshoot.

Suzi Quatro

Suzi Quatro playing a Gibson Ripper bass

Speaking to FlyGuitars.com, June 2006 ..used this bass for about 3 years - very, very big body. The neck was also thick and long. It had a good woody sound, but cumbersome - not sleek like some of the other big bodied bases ...pretty colour..tan ...finally moved on more

Justin Meldal-Johnsen

Justin Meldal-Johnsen with one of his Gibson Ripper basses

Speaking to FlyGuitars.com I've got two mid '70's Rippers; one maple, one black. Love those. more

Krist Novoselic

Krist Novoselic playing a Gibson Ripper bass

Dave Kiswiney

Dave Kiswiney playing a Gibson Ripper with Ted Nugent

Dave Kiswiney playing a Gibson Ripper with Ted Nugent

Speaking to FlyGuitars.com the Gibson Ripper was like a godsend for me. It was balanced, different variations of what you could do with the tone, it just worked for the amplification I was using, it just worked. And it had that big body, that big maple body, right? it just was a fantastic bass. more

Bill Wyman

Bill Wyman Gibson Ripper bass

Rolling Stones bassplayer Bill Wyman with a Gibson Ripper bass. According to (the excellent) Rolling Stones Gear by Andy Babiuk, Wyman was Given the Ripper by Gibson in 1975, and he used it through 1976 to promote his Stone Alone solo album.

Gibson Ripper bass for sale

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Replacement 1970s Gibson Ripper electric bass guitar bridge with studs

Replacement 1970s Gibson Ripper electric bass guitar bridge with studs

Spring Hill, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$66

Replacement 1970s Gibson Ripper electric bass guitar bridge with studs. This is an aftermarket replacement. Great condition. No damage will ship USPS priority mail
... more
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Original 1970s Gibson Ripper electric bass guitar case plush lined

Original 1970s Gibson Ripper electric bass guitar case plush lined

Spring Hill, Florida, 346**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$300

Original 1970s Gibson Ripper electric bass guitar case plush lined. Case is in good shape. It does have some black tape along the edge where it was starting to peel. Very solid . Will ship FedEx ground fully insured with tracking shipping to the lower 48 states only. No Alaska Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam or PO boxes. No international shipping
... more
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1976 Gibson Ripper L9-S Vintage Bass Ebony Black

1976 Gibson Ripper L9-S Vintage Bass Ebony Black

San Antonio, Texas, 782**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$1990

1976 Gibson Ripper L9-S Vintage Bass Black. Condition is Used. Shipped with USPS Ground Advantage.
... more
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1974 Gibson Ripper Bass

1974 Gibson Ripper Bass

Coudersport, Pennsylvania, 169**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3200

A serious bass for a discriminating collector or player. Very versatile tone options. Solid maple body and neck. Comes with original case. Equipped with flatwound strings for a darker tone but sounds great with roundwound strings. Some minor finish checking as can be expected on a nearly 50 year old instrument. I've played this bass regularly for decades and always get compliments on its great sound and uniqueness. I've made a minor alteration to the strap pin location. The original locations ... more
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Vintage 1974 Gibson The Ripper L9S Natural W /  Good Hard Case

Vintage 1974 Gibson The Ripper L9S Natural W / Good Hard Case

New York, 100**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3295

Vintage original circa 1974 Gibson The Ripper Model L9S in original Natural finish
A real nice example with a good straight neck, and great sounding pickups
Original Natural finish is clean and looks great. Some honest signs of wear and use
Comes with a Gretsch hardshell case that fits it well and protects it well
Guitar is exactly as pictured.
Buyer pays $125 shipping in the USA, $150 to Hawaii or Alaska, $400 International, $450 to Australia
Pay Pal Accepted ... more
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Gibson Ripper (L9-S) Bass Guitar with Seymour Duncan

Gibson Ripper (L9-S) Bass Guitar with Seymour Duncan

New Florence, Pennsylvania, 159**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3500

Gibson Ripper (L9-S) Bass Guitar with Seymour Duncan.
This bass is in very good condition. There are a few small marks located in the pictures. Feel free to ask questions, can send more pictures. Must have at least 10 positive comments to purchase. For sale in the United States Only
... more
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1975 Gibson Ripper L9-S Vintage Bass Sunburst, Alder Body w /  Case, Hangtag

1975 Gibson Ripper L9-S Vintage Bass Sunburst, Alder Body w / Case, Hangtag

Seattle, Washington, 981**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3800

Up for sale, a 1975 Gibson "The Ripper" L9-S bass in exceptional condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case and warranty card. One of the more unique and versatile Gibson basses ever produced, the Ripper comes equipped with its original pair of Bill Lawrence designed "Super Humbucker" pickups and a four-way rotary switch for series, parallel, and out of phase pickup settings
The contoured alder body is a particularly rare option, only offered on the ... more
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Gibson L9S RIPPER 1976 Electric Guitar USA Vintage Rare Maple with Hard Case

Gibson L9S RIPPER 1976 Electric Guitar USA Vintage Rare Maple with Hard Case

Chesterfield, Virginia, 238**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$3800

I bought this guitar around 1982. I played it in the high school marching band. It is a marvelous instrument that has always deserved a better player than myself. That being said, my only consolation in letting it go is that whoever owns it next plays the hell out it. They didn't call this model the Ripper for nothing and rock stars have long sought after this model built during this time. It sounds beautiful and it is painful for me to sell it. But I don't play it often and my home air ... more
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1972 Gibson L6-S Bass Prototype (Ripper, Grabber) Singlecut Sunburst

1972 Gibson L6-S Bass Prototype (Ripper, Grabber) Singlecut Sunburst

Syracuse, New York, 132**, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

$9000

1972 Gibson L6-S Bass Prototype (Ripper, Grabber) Singlecut Sunburst
 
This bass guitar is the prototype for the L6-S bass, a model that was never manufactured by Gibson. Although it is the prototype for an instrument that was not produced, it also seems to be a prototype of the Ripper and Grabber models introduced later that are constructed with the same materials (maple neck and body) and similar dimensions. The look of this one does foreshadow those later models
SETUP & ... more
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1974 GIBSON GRABBER  /  RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA

1974 GIBSON GRABBER / RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€299


1974 GIBSON GRABBER / RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA:
+ black tolex, has a lot of wear & rips
+ bottom is loose=check pic 7
+ strap that holds case open is gone
+ deep purple interior, has stains
+ 1 latch is broken=check last pic
+ handle was replaced
+ all feet on bottom are missing
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK !!!... more
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1974 GIBSON GRABBER  /  RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA

1974 GIBSON GRABBER / RIPPER BASS CASE - made in USA

COLOGNE, GERMANY

€350

1974 GIBSON case for RIPPER & GRABBER models:
+ black tolex, has a lot of wear & rips
+ rips & material missing at the plastic surround
+ strap that holds case open has a rip
+ deep purple interior, has some wear
+ all latches work fine
+ handle is gone
+ top of case is at headstock front resting on the bottom part=NOT OVRRLAPPING AS USUAL
+ all feet on back are missing
Over 1000 more
GUITARS-BASSES-PARTS in our OTHER
AUCTIONS !!!!
TAKE A LOOK ... more
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Basse Gibson Ripper Fretless Black Ebony  ~  1976

Basse Gibson Ripper Fretless Black Ebony ~ 1976

Balanod, 39***, FRANCE

€2550

Superbe basse Fretless Gibson "The Ripper" L-9-SF Black, touche ébène, en très bon état. ~ 1976Configuration d'origine passive avec 2 micros humbuckers Bill Lawrence d'origine, sélecteur 4 positions d'origine, réglages Volume, Treble et Tone. Potentiomètres "CTS" et condensateurs "TAD Mustard" neufs. Chevalet d'origine avec pontets laiton réglables en hauteur individuellement. Etui d'origine usagé inclus
... more
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