1978 Gibson L9-S Ripper

• Solid maple body • set three-piece maple neck • ebony fingerboard • 34 1/2 inch scale

This bass was produced in 1978 at Gibson's famous Kalamazoo plant, Michigan, USA (Original Rippers were only ever built in Kalamazoo), under the ownership of Norlin. The serial number dates this bass to November 27th (day 331) of 1978. This example is one of 466 Ebony Rippers produced in 1978; out of a total production of 991 shipped that year. In May 1978, the Ripper had a US list price of $559.

This is a great example of a late-period Gibson Ripper: note the five ply scratchplate with pickups mounted directly onto it with three screws (older versions were mounted into the body wood itself with two screws), and the varitone numbers engraved into it. Compare this bass to a 1976 Ripper.

Hardware fitted includes Ripper humbucking pickups, the Gibson 3-point chrome bridge, and Schaller BM machine heads. The Ripper bass can be strung from the bridge (top-loaded) using regular long (34") scale strings, or strung through the body, as shown here using extra-long scale strings.

Have a look at the Gibson Ripper in the 1978 Gibson guitar catalog

The Gibson Ripper looks particularly sleek in ebony finish. Only the white revealed edge of the pickguard and a flash of chrome bridge cover stand out from all the black: body, pickguard, pickups, control knobs... Ebony, is of course, Gibson's name for a black finish, not a reference to the body wood, which is maple in this case. The fingerboard on black and Sunburst Rippers was actual ebony wood though, as opposed to the maple boards of Rippers with a natural finish.

Later Rippers had the 5-ply (b-w-b-w-b) scratchplate, with the varitone position numbers etched into it, instead of the numbered metal ring of older Rippers - much tidier... have a look at the previous version on a 1976 Ripper. The pickups are now mounted to the scratchplate via three screws rather than directly screwed into the body via two screws through the pickup itself, giving a greater degree of accuracy when setting pickup height.

The reverse side view of the Gibson Ripper bass. Note the string-through plate at the lower end of the body. When stringing this bass through-body, (rather than top-loading at the bridge) the strings are posted through these holes. Of course to do this, extra-long scale strings are required. There is no control access on the reverse of this bass (and numerous other seventies and eighties Gibson instruments); the electronics are accessed by removing the scratchplate on the front. Whilst this is a little inconvenient when performing repairs and maintenance, it simplified the production process, reducing routing and allowing the electronics to be assembled remotely from the guitars themselves. This in turn kept costs down at a time of incredible pressure on the US guitar industry in the mid-1970s.

The Ripper humbuckers are attached to the scratchplate via three spring-mounted screws. Earlier versions of this bass had them mounted with just two screws going through the pickup itself into the guitar's body wood - see the pickups of a 1976 Ripper. Three-screw mounting allows height and tilt adjustment rather than just height. Each pickup has four adjustable polepieces.

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. Note also that the position numbers are engraved onto the scratchplate - compare this with a 1976 Ripper - still with metal label plate.

All Ripper basses came with the Gibson Three-point bridge with chrome-plated bridge cover. The four holes beneath the bridge allow stringing with extra long strings through the guitar body from the back, for potential increased sustain and resonance; but this bridge can also be top-loaded. To what extent sustain is increased by stringing through the body is always up for debate, but string tension is increased, and is certainly noticeable for finger style players!

The Gibson Ripper humbucker as fitted to Gibson Ripper and Flying V bass guitars. The three-screw mounting allows the pickup height to be set, but also the angle, allowing easy alignment with the strings.

Gibson's black finish was called ebony in catalogues and company literature of the time, though the body and neck woods were maple at this time. Black, and sunburst basses did have an actual ebony wood fretboard. Maple is heavier than many other woods used in guitar building: at 4.7kg this is a heavy bass.

The serial number is stamped on the back of the headstock, above the Schaller BM machine heads. The serial number follows the same pattern as today's Gibson basses, ie 73318034 tells us that this bass was stamped on the 27th November 1978 (day 331), at the Gibson Kalamazoo plant, and was the 34th instrument stamped that day. Older Rippers either had six digit (see a 1975 Ripper serial number) or eight digit decals (see a 1976 Ripper serial number).

Few 70s Gibson bass guitars had inlaid headstocks, and the Ripper is no exception; just a simple black headstock with Schaller BM tuning keys and silk-screened Gibson logo. A late period Ripper feature is the white edged truss rod cover. For the first couple years, Ripper's had single ply black truss rod covers, though still with "The Ripper" model designation. See a 1975 Ripper for comparison.

The three-piece maple neck and headstock with stamped, eight digit serial number. This serial number system started in 1977 and continues to this day. Tuning keys are German-made Schaller BM type. The slightly raised area of wood where the neck meets the headstock is known as a volute, and was added to strengthen the area behind the truss-rod adjustment cavity. Headstock breaks are common in Gibson guitars without this volute (especially those with mahogany necks), but can still occur occasionally in guitars with it.

Gibson Ripper sound clips

Soundclips were recorded on this 1978 maple bodied Ripper with Fender flat wound strings, plugged directly into a mobilePre preamp. Compare this clips with a Ripper with a maple fingerboard here.

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