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Up for sale, a 1975 Gibson "The Ripper" L9-S bass in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. One of the more unique and versatile Gibson basses ever produced, the Ripper comes equipped with its original pair of Bill Lawrence designed "Super Humbucker" pickups and a four-way rotary switch for series, parallel, and out of phase pickup settings.
The contoured alder body (as opposed to maple) is a particularly uncommon option, only offered on the Ripper circa 1975 and attributable to the instrument's smooth, balanced natural sound. The set neck, string-through body design (this bass is currently strung as a toploader), maple neck and ebony fingerboard ensure a powerful tonal platform and excellent sustain, with the glassy articulation and note attack of ebony. And while the bass does have a distinctive growl and grind accentuated by a set of roundwound 45-105 strings, rolling back the Tone knob to taste can yield a broad, meaty thump. The pickups have a rich tonal palette, delivering fundamental punch and top end cut.The four-way rotary pickup selector switch works as follows:
1. In phase — series
2. Neck only — single
3. In phase — parallel
4. Out of phase — series
Lightweight at 8lbs 4oz, this bass has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with easy-playing action and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple (three-piece)
-Shape: Medium C at nut, more heft in upper registers, measuring .835” 1st fret, .995” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled and crowned, virtually no wear
-Scale Length: 34”
-Nut: 1 5/8”
-Tuners: Clover button, nickel-plated
-Serialization: Six-digit stamp on peghead
Body Specs:
-Wood: Alder
-Pickups: “Super Humbucker” (Bill Lawrence-designed) x2
-Harness: Untouched solder, CTS pots date to 42nd week of 1975
-Hardware: Three-point bridge (chrome-plated)
-Plastics: Two-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs
An honestly-played example, cosmetic wear on the gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish includes buckle rash across the back and some dings and finish scratches on the body as a whole, most prominent along the lower bout perimeter and on top behind the bridge. The neck profile retains its gloss, with some shallow marks along the profile length that have been buffed smooth.
The original black tolex hardshell case is included.
The contoured alder body (as opposed to maple) is a particularly uncommon option, only offered on the Ripper circa 1975 and attributable to the instrument's smooth, balanced natural sound. The set neck, string-through body design (this bass is currently strung as a toploader), maple neck and ebony fingerboard ensure a powerful tonal platform and excellent sustain, with the glassy articulation and note attack of ebony. And while the bass does have a distinctive growl and grind accentuated by a set of roundwound 45-105 strings, rolling back the Tone knob to taste can yield a broad, meaty thump. The pickups have a rich tonal palette, delivering fundamental punch and top end cut.The four-way rotary pickup selector switch works as follows:
1. In phase — series
2. Neck only — single
3. In phase — parallel
4. Out of phase — series
Lightweight at 8lbs 4oz, this bass has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with easy-playing action and accurate intonation.
Neck Specs:
-Wood: Maple (three-piece)
-Shape: Medium C at nut, more heft in upper registers, measuring .835” 1st fret, .995” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled and crowned, virtually no wear
-Scale Length: 34”
-Nut: 1 5/8”
-Tuners: Clover button, nickel-plated
-Serialization: Six-digit stamp on peghead
Body Specs:
-Wood: Alder
-Pickups: “Super Humbucker” (Bill Lawrence-designed) x2
-Harness: Untouched solder, CTS pots date to 42nd week of 1975
-Hardware: Three-point bridge (chrome-plated)
-Plastics: Two-ply black pickguard, black speed knobs
An honestly-played example, cosmetic wear on the gloss Ebony nitro lacquer finish includes buckle rash across the back and some dings and finish scratches on the body as a whole, most prominent along the lower bout perimeter and on top behind the bridge. The neck profile retains its gloss, with some shallow marks along the profile length that have been buffed smooth.
The original black tolex hardshell case is included.
