Gibson Ripper II Electric Bass (with Case)

The Gibson Ripper II Bass is part of Gibson's 2009 Limited Run Series. This time around Gibson enhanced what makes the original Ripper but-gustingly good. New features include an upgraded Corian nut, top loading heavy sustaining bridge, redesigned Seymour Duncan pickups, chicken-head pickup selector knobs, Grover shamrock tuners and much more.

Body
Species
The body of the Ripper II Bass is constructed from a solid piece of maple wood. It provides the perfect balance for the 34-inch scale length neck, and also adds a bright, crisp attack to the tone. No paint is used, as each body is left in its natural color, and given two coats of high-gloss nitrocellulose lacquer.
Grade: A-grade

Average Weight
The average weight of a Ripper II Bass body is 5.31 lbs, which is about average for a bass guitar, and provides balance, a solid feel, and brighter tones that prove compatible with the Ripper II's special pickup configuration.

Tonal Characteristics
The maple body yields a crisp, clean attack for each note.

Other Materials
The glue is a proprietary Type 1 glue that forms an everlasting bond, and enhances the tonal characteristics of the body.

Neck and Headstock
Species
The neck of the Ripper II Bass is also constructed from maple, and is a three-piece neck. It also has a volute carved into it to help strengthen the neck joint area. The use of maple also helps provide a rigid support for the string tension.

Truss Rod
Through the center of the neck is the same historically… read more proven and recognized truss rod for the fine adjustments needed to ensure ultimate and personalized string action and sustain.

Grade: A-grade

Profile
Gibson's traditional rounded profile is hand-carved into the neck, delivering a comfortable, super-fast feel to one of the quickest necks in the industry.

Joint Angle: 14.0 in.

Headstock Logo
The classic Gibson logo is silk-screened onto the face of the headstock veneer. It is the most recognizable in all of music, representing more than a century of originality and excellence. There is simply no equal.

Average Weight
The average weight of a Ripper II Bass neck is approximately 1.46 lbs.

Fingerboard
Species
The fingerboard on the Ripper II Bass is constructed from the highest grade rosewood on the planet. Rosewood is harvested from a wide range of worldwide species, and has been the fingerboard of choice for a broad variety of many models.

Grade: A-grade

Radius
The 12-inch radius of the fingerboard provides smooth note bending capabilities and eliminates "dead" or "choked out" notes, common occurrences on fingerboards with lesser radiuses.

Frets
The traditional "medium/jumbo" fret wire is a combination nickel and silver alloy (approximately 80 percent nickel and 20 percent silver) specifically designed for long life and superior wear. After hand pressing it into the fingerboard, a machine press finishes the job to eliminate the gap between the bottom of the fret wire and the fingerboard.

Inlays
The Ripper II Bass features Gibson's traditional Dot inlays made from figured acrylic. They are pressed into the fingerboard using a process that eliminates gaps, and the need to use fillers.

Average Weight
The average weight of a rosewood fingerboard is approximately .44 lbs.

Tonal Characteristics
The aesthetic character range makes for a great polished surface regardless of its color intensity and resonates with a well balanced mix of warmth and brightness.

Nut
Material
The nut on the Ripper II Bass is made from Corian, which is mainly composed of acrylic polymer. It's a very durable material, delivers enhanced sustain, and holds the tolerances of the precision cuts made by the PLEK machine. It is installed into the top surface of the neck, butting up to the end of the fingerboard, which ensures proper tone and sustain transfer between them.

Width
The width of the nut on the Ripper II Bass is approximately 1.695 in.

Neck Fit
Joint
The style of joint used in joining the neck to the body is called a Mortis & Tenon joint, which has been used for years in joining two pieces of wood to make one solid piece, especially in the building of ancient ships and cabinetry. It actually enables the neck and body to become stronger together than if the instrument was made from one piece of wood. The SG Carved Top in Ocean Blue is equipped with a larger neck tenon that increases the guitar's level of sustain.

Adhesive
The adhesive used to join the neck and body is Franklin Titebond 50, one of the strongest glues on the market today.

Tolerance
Precise measuring equipment are implemented when fitting the neck and body together so that all angles, pitches and alignments exhibit a tolerance of less than .005-inch, which is required to maintain accuracy and proper string alignment relative to the fingerboard.

Joint Angle: 0.0 in. (+/- 15 seconds)

Finish
Color
The Ripper II Bass is only available in a smooth, high-gloss natural finish.

Surface texture
The high-gloss finish on the Ripper II Bass leaves a very smooth texture, and aides the guitar's tonal qualities by decreasing sound restriction.

Electronics
Tonal Control
The new six-position selector knob lets you dial in six very different tone selections. In position one you get the bridge pickup only. Position two gives you the second coil of the neck pickup and the first coil of the bridge pickup. Position three delivers the first coil of the bridge pickup. Position four dials in the second coil of the neck pickup. Position five gives you the first coil of the neck pickup and the second coil of the bridge pickup. And the sixth position gives you only the neck pickup. That's six distinct choices - each one a clear and well-defined tone all its own.

Input Jack
The Ripper II Bass features a 14-inch input jack made by Switchcraft. Its super heavy duty construction holds your guitar cable securely in place for a superior electrical connection and tight positive feel.

Pickups
Model
The Ripper II features two totally redesigned humbucker pickups that were wound for Gibson exclusively by the Seymour Duncan custom shop in California.

Coil Material
The coil of each pickup is made from ABS plastic, which is hard and durable and can withstand a broad range of temperatures.

Pole Piece Position From Nut
In the neck pickup, the pole pieces are positioned 26.375-inch from the nut, while the pole pieces in the bridge pickup are positioned 31.00-inch from the nut.

Tonal Characteristics
The pickups in the new Ripper II were designed to deliver the broadest range of adjustment possible, along with as much cutting power as you'll ever need. The sound from these pickups is especially superb, and they're only available in the Ripper II.

Hardware
Tuning Keys
The Ripper II Bass features Grover Shamrock tuners, which give the bass a classic, old-school look, combined with gear ratio performance of 20:1, with excellent tight gear drive. These Grovers tuners are made of zinc and then plated with chrome. They deliver precision tuning in a durable housing that provides maximum protection for the gear and string post. All moving parts are cut for exact meshing, eliminating the possibility of slippage.

Strap Buttons
The strap buttons are the same style and design that Gibson has used since the early 1950s. They are made from aluminum.

Plastics
Pickguard
The Ripper II Bass pickguard is made in the same style as the original Ripper bass in the 1970s. It is made of vinyl plastic, and is approximately .090-inch thick.

Truss Rod Covers
The truss rod cover on the Ripper II Bass is made from vinyl plastic, and has the "Ripper II" hot stamp directly on top.

Control Knobs
The control knobs on the Ripper II Bass are Gibson's traditional black speed knobs. They are made from ABS plastic.

Strings
Guage
The Ripper II Bass is fitted with genuine Gibson strings, sizes .045 - .100.

Accessories
Case/Gig Bag
Each Ripper II Bass comes with its very own black hardshell case, with the Gibson USA logo silkscreened across the front in white letters.

Certificate of Authenticity
Each Ripper II Bass comes with a special 2009 Limited Run Series guitar certificate of authenticity. read less