1974 Gibson L9-S “The Ripper” Bass Guitar – Natural

The Gibson Ripper bass was launched in 1973, as something new for the guitar buying public, who had began to tire of the EB basses that had dominated the 1960s. As one of their mid seventies adverts proclaimed, they haven’t been hanging about for fifteen or twenty years. Mahogany was out – the earliest Ripper bodies were manufactured from maple, though in 1975 to 1976 alder was used before going back to maple in 1977. It was designed by Bill Lawrence who was working for Gibson at the time.

A cult favorite of the company’s bass offerings from the ’70s, the Gibson Ripper has developed an affinity with heavier players for its aggressive character and versatile tonal options. Coming in a svelte body design with beveled edges reminiscent of Gibson guitars, the Ripper’s six-position switch allows you to operate the humbuckers separately, in tandem, or in split for a single-coil sound. Most notably used by Gene Simmons and Krist Novoselic, this model is a pillar of heavy low-end.