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Post by hgguitarguy on Nov 29, 2008 12:43:48 GMT -5
hey guys my neighbor came to me last night when i got home and he gave me a bass .... well the headstock dont have any serial numbers on it or anything marking what kind it is .... so started doin research and found that it is a Gibson Ripper bass .... or atleast it looks like one ... just seein if it may have been possible the neck had to be replaced ... i plan on keepin the bass and replacing parts that need replacing but cause it was free so ... but everything on it matches a gibson to a "T" except the fact that i cant find nothing on it gibson ... so i have no idea what it is just seein if there was a way to find out
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Post by cynical1 on Nov 29, 2008 13:31:20 GMT -5
Interesting. I used to have a Ripper years ago. It had more of a "piano bass" sound to it when it worked, but it had terrible electronics. The volume dropped, the rotary switch sucked, so pulled the frets off...but that's another story...
Since it's a glued neck you can't check the neck pocket for details... Did you pull the pickguard yet? There might be something telling in there.
What's the finish, or has it been re-finished? Any numbers on the pickup?
It's been over 25 years ago, but you might spark something...
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by hgguitarguy on Nov 30, 2008 11:39:49 GMT -5
i cant find any numbers on the pick ups , nothing under the pickgaurd , it is a sunburst black and then kinda looks like yellowish in the middle .... the finish is also cracked where the neck meets the body like it was replaced but i cant find any proof but that ..... im only about 2 hours away from the gibson shop in Nashville, TN so im thinkin about emailing them and seein if i can go up there and let them inspect it .... where would i look on the pickups when i took them off there was some foam on the bottom
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Post by cynical1 on Nov 30, 2008 14:21:52 GMT -5
Man, it's been more then a few years, but as I recall the most common Rippers were blond with a maple neck. The burst finished Rippers usually had a Rosewood fingerboard with a separate burst on the back of the neck.
As I recall, the pickups were rather small black affairs that had a rounded step towards the top with the poles visible on top. I don't remember the wiring configuration. I do remember looking at it for hours and just putting it back. I think someone from Volkswagen wired this bass.
Is this a glued or bolt on neck? All the Rippers I've ever seen were glued. The crack in the finish where the neck meets the body is typical of an older guitar. Is there about an 1/8" step from the body to the bottom of the neck where it meets the body? I remember I always hated this and filled it in with Rosewood strips and sanded it round. I know they only made the bodies from alder (older ones) or maple.
If this is a real Ripper then it should look 29+ years old (Last Rippers shipped in 1979) or it will look refinished.
If I recall the routing cavity will probably give you a good indication whether it's a Gibson or a knock-off. I do remember numbers and initials inside the cavity routing.
Back in the 70's just about everyone and their brother were ripping off Fender and Gibson, so if it isn't a Gibson it'll be next to impossible to determine its maker.
I'd be curious what the Gibson people have to say. I will say that ripping out the wiring, shielding and losing the pickups would be the first thing I'd do. The damn thing would always cut out or sound like I was playing big rubber bands.
Good luck
Cynical One
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Post by hgguitarguy on Dec 1, 2008 10:43:00 GMT -5
well on the bridge pickup there were some letters 4 of them ... the neck has that gap and its glued its got the neck with the burst on the back with a rosewood fret board when we get the the card reader workin ill take pictures of it
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Post by cynical1 on Dec 1, 2008 12:16:17 GMT -5
Well, that sounds encouraging.
As long as the crack around the neck\body joint is only in the finish I wouldn't get too concerned. This is pretty common on older basses, especially if the previous users liked very heavy strings.
Either way, I would seriously look at re-wiring this bass if you intend on using it live. Speaking from experience, it's sort of embarrassing to be standing on stage with your back to the crowd frantically trying to get the sound back... Maybe I got the only one wired poorly, but I'd hate to see history repeat itself for you...
If it turns out to be a real Ripper and you decide to strip the finish you can be certain you've got a maple neck behind the rosewood and an alder or maple body.
I always liked the neck and the action on this bass. I just never liked the electronics. And I could never take it straight into the board as it always sounded like big rubber bands. But what do I know, people are paying 4 to 5 times what I paid new for a 30 year old version...
Post back after you visit the friendly folks at Gibson.
Happy Trails
Cynical One
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Post by hgguitarguy on Dec 1, 2008 13:52:48 GMT -5
will do it will be later this month we are planning to go to Nashville to some grinch on ice ... it has scenes from the Grinch carved in ice and we are gonna stop by there and see what we can find out ... if it is a ripper ill end up refinishing it and fixin what needs to be fixed ... but if its a knock off im gonna make my own pickgaurd and rewire and new pickup and stuff like that ...
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