Gibson Ripper bass

_Franik

_Franik

Apr 24, 2015
96
170
4,551
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Vacaville, CA
#1
Not sure if this is where I'd post/ask about this? Sorry if I'm breaking the rules.

I need help with a Gibson Ripper I recently bought. It appears to be a real Gibson ripper but it doesn't have a serial number on the back of the head stock (from what I can see, haven't got it yet) When I investigated further I noticed that there are some Gibson Rippers that don't have serial numbers directly on top of the head stock, but are placed in odd spots like behind the tuner keys. Worried that maybe its fake or refinished? If you have a ripper could you help me out? Thanks.
 
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#3
1976-natural-ripper10.jpg
 
#4
Its really clean and I don't see any evidence of one being there. theres also a lot of checking on the headstock so if there was an oval decal there would probably be evidence of one, right?. Is it possible they peeled it off in its early years and cleaned it? or did decals have a clear coat over them?
 
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#6
The serial numbers from ‘75-‘77 were usually decals that were under the lacquer. If it’s missing I would suspect a refin somewhere along the way. If the bass is a set neck, like all Rippers are, I really wouldn’t worry about a fake. A set neck is hard to recreate for the average hack, and Rippers aren’t really valuable enough to be worth the trouble.
 
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#7
The seller sent me these today. Think Im good? or does something look fishy? I know that they sometimes stamped the SN going across where the top tuner keys are? Might be behind there? He shipped it today so I'll have to wait to inspect it myself. I also have a money back guarantee so not too worried. Just want some reassurance.
 

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#9
If it was refinished wouldn't the paint on the body/neck be different from the face of the headstock? Im also starting to worry that I might have paid too much for it. If it was refinished would $1000 be too much? and if it wasn't refinished and everything checks out, did I get a good price? Kind of jumped the gun on this purchase cause it seemed like a good price and looked better compared to the other ones which were going for $1400-1800. Now I'm questioning it haha...

I really just need to wait for it to come in and see for myself but would appreciate opinions.
 
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#10
As I’ve said, the best guess is that the decal disappeared in a refin. If it’s a refin, you probaly paid a bit too much but if you like the bass I wouldn’t worry about that. What I would be most concerned about it is a refin that was done to conceal the repair of a broken headstock. That would really devalue the bass. A good headstock repair is hard to detect but a trained tech can usually do it.
 
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#11
Did they make rippers with rosewood fretboards? cause it is rosewood which I don't believe ever got put on rippers.
 

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#12
Rippers were never made with rosewood fretboards. The natural maple ones had maple boards, and the black, tobaccoburst and (very rare) cherryburst ones had ebony boards. It's really hard to tell from your photos because they are small, but the fingerboard of yours almost looks like rosewood. Don't take my word for it, though, because (as I said) I really can't tell from your pics.

BTW, here's a great site for Ripper info: Gibson Ripper Bass Guitar - L-9S >> FlyGuitars
 
#13
I reposted with better image quality. take another look at the images. Were ripper II basses made with rosewood? were ripper II basses even made in the 70s??
 

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#18
I thought the same, Im not sure what to think anymore. Ive heard of ripper II's from the 70s but theres no info on them so probably not real.
Gibson Ripper Bass has a couple dark rosewood fretboard rippers posted that are real. Im just going to listen to Kesslari and just walk away from it all and wait till the bass comes in. Sturmundrang made me feel better about it too haha. I just need to quit digging into it. its not going to change anything..
 
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