1974 Gibson Ripper

• Solid alder body • set three-piece maple neck • maple fretboard • 34 1/2 inch scale • twin humbuckers with Q-system electronics

Have a listen to this great vintage bass here

1975 Gibson bass guitar catalog

The earlier, wider, slab-bodied version of the Gibson Ripper was produced from the model's inception in 1973, through 1974. Compare this body shape, particularly the bevelling around the horns, with a later 1978 Gibson Ripper - these later Rippers have a far more sculptured look about them, although this is not always easy to see in photographs.

Like all Gibson Ripper basses, this guitar was built in the famous Kalamazoo plant (MI, USA) during the Norlin period of ownership.

1974 US zone 1 price for the Ripper was $449 in the January and June 1974 price lists, rising to $469 in November. A total of 1288 Rippers were shipped in 1974, with the vast majority in Natural finish as seen here, although many very early ones had a tobacco or cherry sunburst finish. See the Ripper shipping stats for further details.

This is a really punchy bass; lots of Gibson low end, but with so much more higher frequencies than Gibson's older basses.

see also 1976 Gibson Ripper, 1977 Fretless Gibson Ripper, 1978 Gibson Ripper

The Ripper body changed from this wider slab bodied bass, to a more sculptured version - see a 1976 Ripper with the newer body styling.

The alder grain patterns on this Ripper are clearly visible through the natural finish. Like the other 70s-designed basses, controls are scratchplate mounted, so requiring no rear control-cavity access.

The Ripper humbuckers are mounted with two screws through each pickup, and into the guitar's body wood. Not the most adjustable method... and Gibson soon improved upon this. Compare this 1974 (or any up until at least 1976) to the pickups of a later Ripper; Gibson then mounted them directly on to the scratchplate, but now with three screws. Note also the four polepiece screws, one under each string.

The Ripper's electronic circuitry, or Q-system consisted of a four way tone selector switch, volume control, mid range control and tone control. For a more about these controls see Gibson's Ripper controls description, but also listen to the 1974 Ripper promo record and some soundclips of this actual bass here
Like all early Rippers, the varitone position markers are on the metal switch marker ring - compare this with a later 1977 Ripper - which has these numerals engraved into the scratchplate.

All Ripper basses came equipped with the Gibson Three-point bridge with metal saddles. Extra long scale strings can be used, and strung through the body, as shown here, or standard long scale strings can be used, and strung directly from the bridge. The chrome-plated bridge cover has been removed for this picture.

Each string of the Gibson Ripper was able to be strung through the bass' body, entering from the rear, and passing over the bridge at the front. Early and middle period Rippers had four separate holes as shown here, but later these were covered by a 'four-hole eyelet' - see a 1977 Ripper for comparison.

The serial number on the back of the headstock still has six digits - a sure sign of an early Ripper. But precise dating of six digit s/n Rippers is not so easy - unlike the eight digit decals (see a 1976 Ripper serial number) or the eight digit stamp (see a 1978 Ripper serial number), there is no date encoded into the number. However from studying several Ripper basses, it would seem that the majority of six digit serial numbers starting 1 would have been shipped in 1974. The other headstock marking, the 'MADE IN U.S.A.' stamp, can be seen, though to some extent obscured by the tuning keys, if fitted.

The headstock of the Ripper bass was simple compared to basses of the previous decade; no fancy inlaid designs or logos, just black paint and a simple silk-screened 'Gibson'. Slight finish cracks can be seen where the wings attach running vertically down this bass' headstock. All Ripper truss rod covers had 'The Ripper' model designation, but early ones like this were one-ply black. Compare this to a later 1978 Ripper Truss rod cover with white revealed edging.

Three-piece neck and solid headstock. The three piece maple has two extra wings added at the headstock to give it a little extra width. 1973/74 open gear tuners. Seventies Gibsons (especially those with maple necks) typically have the volute where the neck meets the headstock; this strengthens the potentially weak area on the other side of the truss rod cavity.

Gibson Ripper soundclips

The Gibson Ripper bass is tonally very different from the 50s and 60s Gibson models that preceded it. Much more midrange frequencies, much more tonal definition and much more bite. With the four position switch, tone and midrange controls, there is a wide range of sounds available. The two sounds below were suggested in the 1974 Ripper promotional disk, and were recorded through a 1964 Ampeg B15. For more clips, check out the audio samples of this bass through various vintage valve amps here

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