AndyTravis Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 (edited) 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 44 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 By sheer coincidence, I've just finished watch a twoodfrd YouTube about fixing & setting up one of these. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted December 11, 2023 Share Posted December 11, 2023 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. 😎 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 11, 2023 Author Share Posted December 11, 2023 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Nice Ripper, great looking basses. Enjoy your new toy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Very nice Andy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Very nice looking bass! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 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! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muzz Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 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... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 12, 2023 Author Share Posted December 12, 2023 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 12, 2023 Author Share Posted December 12, 2023 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 37 minutes ago, AndyTravis said: think the Grabber/G-3’a have something approaching BBOT Yes, but with side walls: 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 Gibson Grabber makes me think of early Green Day. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
three Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 (edited) 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 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eude Posted December 12, 2023 Share Posted December 12, 2023 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! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 12, 2023 Author Share Posted December 12, 2023 Back to the factory bridge. Acoustically a bit quieter. But who plays these acoustically 🥴 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 13, 2023 Share Posted December 13, 2023 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 13, 2023 Author Share Posted December 13, 2023 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. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 14, 2023 Author Share Posted December 14, 2023 Just looks “better” - new strings in the post. 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyTravis Posted December 18, 2023 Author Share Posted December 18, 2023 all is well… 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 18, 2023 Share Posted December 18, 2023 Down the hatch(es)! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grassie Posted December 18, 2023 Share Posted December 18, 2023 Very nice! Can't understand why Epiphone don't do a version of this, or a non-reverse Tbird... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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