|
|
 |
Gibson Ripper Bass
Solid alder or maple body, maple neck. 34½ inch scale
The Gibson Ripper was launched in 1973. The earliest ripper bodies were manufactured from maple, though in
1975 to 1976 they were manufactured from alder before returning to Maple in 1977. Famously played by Phil Cetera of Chicago
and Suzi Quattro (who also played a Les Paul Bass). I'm sure there were other, "cool" famous players but I cannot recall
any at the moment. Apart from Arvell Shaw, that is (see below). And you can't get cooler than him!
Click on a picture to see more photographs |
|
A 1978 Maple Gloss Ripper Ref RP11
Click on the photo to see more pictures and a detailed description
A 1974 Maple Gloss Ripper Ref RP 12
(Owned by Arvell Shaw-see below)
Not currently for sale - but click on the picture to see more photos
Arvell Shaw was best known for his long association with Louis Armstrong. The bassist first
worked with him in 1945, and made the position his own.
He was one of the few players retained when Armstrong
eventually disbanded the large group in favour of a septet, Louis Armstrong and The All-Stars, in the wake of successful
concerts at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in New York in 1947.
The bassist played with Armstrong regularly for
the rest of his career, including the trumpeter’s last appearance at the Waldorf Astoria in New York a few days before
his death in 1971. He played on all his recordings from 1945 on, and appeared with him in seven films, including The Glenn
Miller Story (1953) and High Society (1956).
He also worked with a range of other notable jazz leaders.
They included Benny Goodman, Teddy Wilson, Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, Barney Bigard, Earl Hines, Wild Bill Davison, Buddy
Tate, Dorothy Donegan and Lionel Hampton, among others.
He was much in demand as a freelance musician in New York,
and played in the pit bands for the Broadway shows Bubbling Brown Sugar and Ain't Misbehavin' in the late 70s
and early 80s (presumably this was when he used the Ripper).
|
Total Ripper numbers produced: 7775 |
|
1973 |
1974 |
1975 |
1976 |
1977 |
1978 |
1979 |
|
39 |
3501 |
1288 |
2291 |
1373 |
991 |
534 |
See highlights of the collection at: www.mygibsonbass.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Questions or comments? Get in touch with us at:
|
|
|
|
