Okay! Gibson stated that my Ripper was build in late 1973 at the Gibson Factory in Kalamazoo. She got (I name all my basses after girls) a very rare dark tobaccoburst finish. This finish was avaiable for the fretted version for the first time in 1975 and only 5 where made (offical). I think they made a few more but I was unable to find a Ripper who is as old as mine.