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Gear Discussion Forums => Gibson Basses => Topic started by: Hörnisse on September 01, 2013, 11:50:01 AM

Title: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Hörnisse on September 01, 2013, 11:50:01 AM
I was looking at some on Ebay and came across this one.  It states in the auction that it is NOS but I can't understand the holes around the pickup openings.  They are unlike any I've seen on The Ripper.  The originals had no pickup mounting holes while the later ones had a sort of triangular arrangement.  Any theories?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-old-stock-Gibson-Ripper-pickguard-from-the-70s-/171111453253?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27d7099245

(http://i39.tinypic.com/1z6bc5g.jpg)
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Lightyear on September 01, 2013, 07:07:46 PM
Looks right to me - three pots, varitone and input jack.  The reflection of the ceiling through me off initially.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Dave W on September 01, 2013, 07:27:48 PM
He's asking about the pickup mounting, not the control holes.

Some pickups do need that hole configuration but I've never seen a Ripper pickup that did.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: godofthunder on September 01, 2013, 08:13:44 PM
Those pick up openings look much bigger than Ripper pups. more like Mudbuckers. Early Rippers are pictured with Mudbuckers, is this a pg from the prototypes? Also Ripper pgs are one color, tortise or black this is b/w/b.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: dadagoboi on September 01, 2013, 08:33:02 PM
Mudbucker ones had a smaller guard, like this

(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/RipperPrototype_zps8f9f3e24.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/ME/RipperPrototype_zps8f9f3e24.jpg.html)

Could it be from an Asian copy?
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: hollowbody on September 02, 2013, 10:02:18 AM
Based on what looks like oversized holes and the screw config I'd say it was set up for Guild sludgebuckers.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Lightyear on September 02, 2013, 10:05:22 AM
OK, I guess I should read all of the words :-[

That said the pic of the back side has "72" written on it with what looks like grease pencil.  Might be a prototype piece.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: hollowbody on September 02, 2013, 10:05:36 AM
(http://www.theguitarmechanic.com/hb31.jpg)
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: amptech on September 02, 2013, 11:03:49 AM
Quote from: dadagoboi on September 01, 2013, 08:33:02 PM
Mudbucker ones had a smaller guard, like this


Love this ad! But I´ve never seen a ripper with muds in real life. Are they common?
Or was this just a prototype too?
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: dadagoboi on September 02, 2013, 11:13:02 AM
Quote from: amptech on September 02, 2013, 11:03:49 AM
Love this ad! But I´ve never seen a ripper with muds in real life. Are they common?
Or was this just a prototype too?

No clue, popped up on EBay.  Here's a similar Grabber ad from the same period, check the thru body strings and tort.

(http://i976.photobucket.com/albums/ae241/cata1d0/ME/GrabberPrototype_zps1299bb2d.jpg) (http://s976.photobucket.com/user/cata1d0/media/ME/GrabberPrototype_zps1299bb2d.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: uwe on September 02, 2013, 12:34:42 PM
That pg is a strange beast. I have several Rippers, prototype, early oversize body model, mid-period model and final run as well as modern day Ripper 2, the pg wouldn't fit a single one among them. That is not to say that there might never have been a prototype at one point where it might have matched, but certainly no regular series Ripper.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Dave W on September 02, 2013, 12:35:58 PM
Definitely not for Guild pickups.

We've seen Kalamazoo surplus from greatdealz1967 that was never from anything actually issued. This could be another example. Could have been intended for a prototype that was never even built.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Hörnisse on September 02, 2013, 12:36:49 PM
Quote from: amptech on September 02, 2013, 11:03:49 AM
Love this ad! But I´ve never seen a ripper with muds in real life. Are they common?
Or was this just a prototype too?

Uwe has a prototype Ripper with Mudbuckers.  

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v615/uwehornung/gibson0.jpg)
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: uwe on September 02, 2013, 12:39:20 PM
Yup, that bass is a monster in weight, no wonder they started routing out the wood as the model progressed. Those pups look like mudbuckers, but they are not. More akin to what eventually found its way into the series Ripper, albeit under a different cover.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Hörnisse on September 02, 2013, 12:40:03 PM
I found a photo of a Ripper with what appears to be a similar pickguard, but it has the early type pickups.

(http://i41.tinypic.com/353dueq.jpg)
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Aussie Mark on September 02, 2013, 05:03:46 PM
If we're asking about the pickup mounting holes on the pickguard, the early Ripper ('73?) I bought off Steve Barr back in the day has those same holes around the pickup mounts too ...

(http://deayton.com/guitars/ripperbody.jpg)
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Dave W on September 02, 2013, 10:23:53 PM
And that was a production bass, so obviously this type pickguard was used on at least some production. Thanks, Mark.
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: PhilT on February 15, 2014, 10:29:00 AM
Quote from: Hörnisse on September 01, 2013, 11:50:01 AM
I was looking at some on Ebay and came across this one.  It states in the auction that it is NOS but I can't understand the holes around the pickup openings.  They are unlike any I've seen on The Ripper.  The originals had no pickup mounting holes while the later ones had a sort of triangular arrangement.  Any theories?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-old-stock-Gibson-Ripper-pickguard-from-the-70s-/171111453253?pt=Guitar_Accessories&hash=item27d7099245

(http://i39.tinypic.com/1z6bc5g.jpg)

Sorry to drag up an old thread, but that pickguard looks like ones that used to be sold by WD Music. I started a thread about them way back.

http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=5433.msg87591;topicseen#msg87591
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: Highlander on February 15, 2014, 11:40:40 AM
Hello Phil, long time no type... how's life been treating you...?
Title: Re: Gibson Ripper Pickguard
Post by: uwe on February 17, 2014, 07:43:41 AM
Strange.