Gibson Ripper

Overview

The Gibson Ripper is an electric bass guitar produced by Gibson during the 1970s. It was part of a renewed effort by Gibson to compete with Fender in the electric bass market, alongside related models such as the Grabber and the G-3. The Ripper has a distinctive offset body, two humbucking pickups, and a four-way rotary pickup-selector switch that gives it more tonal options than typical two-pickup designs.

Origin & History

Through the 1960s, Fender dominated the electric bass market with the Precision Bass and Jazz Bass. Gibson’s earlier basses had not achieved the same penetration. The 1970s line, including the Ripper, represented a serious design effort: new body shape, modern circuits, and a clearer focus on the working bass player. The Ripper was produced from the early to late 1970s.

How It’s Played

The Ripper is played as a standard electric bass. Its four-way switch selects between bridge pickup alone, neck pickup alone, both pickups in parallel, and both pickups in series, providing a wider range of tones than a typical two-pickup bass. The body is solid maple in early years, with later examples using alder. The neck is bolt-on and the scale follows long-scale conventions.

Cultural Significance

The Ripper found a place in 1970s rock, funk, and progressive bands looking for a more aggressive bass voice than the Fender models offered. While it never achieved the same dominance as the Precision and Jazz, it has developed a strong following among collectors and players who appreciate its distinctive character and the flexibility of its switching system.

Related Instruments

• Fender Precision Bass – the dominant electric bass reference
• Fender Jazz Bass – the standard two-pickup contrast
• Gibson Thunderbird – the iconic Gibson bass shape
• Fender Telecaster Bass – a contemporary 1970s alternative
• Electric upright bass – a contrasting bass form

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Ripper’s four-way switch do?
It selects between bridge alone, neck alone, both in parallel, and both in series, providing a wider range of tones than a typical two-pickup bass.

Is it a long-scale bass?
Yes. It uses a long scale length consistent with most modern electric basses.

How is it different from the Gibson Grabber?
The Grabber has a sliding pickup mechanism and different electronics. The Ripper uses fixed pickups with the four-way selector.

Image: photograph by Bassdroid, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).