This is a 'vintage' early 1970's Gibson 'Ripper' bass (1974, possibly 1975) serial number '552942'. But it is is not any old Ripper-it is the bass used by Arvell Shaw, Louis Armstrongs main bass player, when he played in the pit bands for the Broadway shows Bubbling Brown Sugar and Ain't Misbehavin' in the late 70s and early 80s.   Both the bass and the case are all original and in very good condition for a working bass. The only real 'damage' is a small smooth 'rut' in the body near the very end of the fret board (see pix) caused by Arvell Shaw resting his thumb-nail there while he plucked the strings with his fingers (as he was more accustomed to playing an 'upright' acoustic/double bass most of his long and infamous career!) and some wear marks on the neck.

Played, the bass has a wonderful "growl" much richer than any other Gibson bass I have played.

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