1974 Grabber vs. 1978 Ripper

A casual video just me and iPhone 8plus with ‘Jack’ my 1978 L9S Ebony Gibson Ripper and ‘Grabthar’ by 1974 Gibson G1 Grabber.
Playing through my Mesa Boogie Buster 200 head and Gene Benz Focus 410 cabinet.
Unfortunately audio compression kicks in especially when I start playing Grabthar who has some incredibly rich overtones.
And in general my power source was not clean, so my normally quiet amps were kind of annoying.
One of these post Covid days I might do a serious video comparing and contrasting their capabilities- until then you can scroll around my page, find the Morticia videos - or someday see me at a gig or open jam where I’m actually playing real songs.
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Bass Descriptions
‘Grabthar’ - 1974 G1 Grabber
34.5” scale maple neck; bolt-on to a maple body. Modified with a Badass II bridge; strung with DR Pure Blue light gauge strings 49-60-80-100
This bass was refinished by the previous owner with black metallic coat including the headstock to match the later Grabber finish.
Only 219 Grabbers were made in 1974.
www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bas...
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‘Jack’ - 1978 L-9S Ebony Ripper
34.5” scale maple neck with Ebony fingerboard. Set in to a maple body; strings thru body. Modified with a HipShot Super Tone bass bridge.
Strung with Ken Smith Metal Masters Stainless Steel round wound Heavy Gauge .050 - .110
Two ‘Super Humbucking’ pickups - Passive electronics:
- 3 control knobs: Volume / Midrange control / Tone Control
- 4 way selector switch
* Position 1 - both pickups in Series / in phase
* Position 2 - bridge pickup only
* Position 3 - both pickups in Parallel / in phase
* Position 4 - both pickups in series / out of phase
466 Ebony Rippers were made in 1978
www.flyguitars.com/gibson/bas...
1978 Gibson Catalog listing
www.vintageguitarandbass.com/...

[@raysdga]

Love the 70's Grabber sound. THANKS!!!!

[@Phodie56]

My Ripper is my baby. Best bass I've ever had. It is such a monster of a bass; all tone all day! I just wish they did a rerelease and made a five string model. I would buy one tomorrow if they did that

[@Cap683]

A 1975 Gibson Ripper strung with Gibson Observer flat wounds was my instrument through most of the 1970s. I used the number 2 or 3 positions with scooping the mids by turning the presence control down. That seemed to bring out the best with flat wound strings. BTW, those Gibson Observer flat wounds were great. They were more lively and had lower string tension than just about any other flats. I was grief stricken when they were discontinued. Fond memories.

[@flamesfearfuture]

Rippers rule. I own a 78 Ripper in Black too. Great sounding Bass.

[@Cruiseangel72]

Wow you have the coolest bass's. I had the grabber years ago . I miss it very much.

[@thelusienorchestra]

Hi Xenia! Great comparison! I have Ripper 1978 but natural i rewind the pickup, now the sound is amazing I remove oroginale position 4 out of phase for only neck pickup!

[@rmccain99]

I like your review, so thumbs up and I look forward to more from you.

[@Cruiseangel72]

Great bass's 👍

[@shawnhuff3920]

I 3as born in April 1974 interesting 50 years coming up

[@multibassman]

I have the identical Ripper as yours same color and year 78. total beast , love the Ripper.

[@Crushin123]

Grabber 100% winner for me personally

[@jetcitysinatra7300]

Those were both used by Gene Simmons in the early KISS days.

[@rocknroller123]

They used Alder wood to make it lighter then back to Maple . My 1983 Grabber is all maple.

[@PushSueAside]

Thank you for the great video. I just picked up a 76 Ripper (“had to have as well”) someone did horrible things to the electronics, but that just made it easier (fund wise) for me to afford. I’m looking forward to making it more playable. Just wanted to say, cheers great video.

[@xnmcguire]

Thank you!

[@PushSueAside]

@@xnmcguire thank YOU!!! keep up the great work. Subscribed almost immediately, loving your content. Cheers

[@b00neDawg00]

Sad that Gibson can’t/won’t properly reissue probably the best bass series they made

[@xnmcguire]

I Know Right!!!

[@Phodie56]

I think that year after year.

[@boboala1]

Nice different bass video! Seems like I hardly ever see any Gibson basses out there in the usual marketplaces. If so they're usually EB-0 or EB-III models.

[@josephwalton487]

Holy crap you are amazing😍

[@xnmcguire]

You are too kind. Thank you. 🤟☮️❤️🌍

[@ralphwhittemore5041]

The Grabber reminded me I f the old EB3 LG Love the Bark!! Jack Bruce would've Smoked those Basses!

[@louissuppa490]

Aww regret watching this in a way, wanna get one now. I actually had an epiphone ripper as a backup to the punisher, I was in a Kiss tribute at the time it was only 299, was all I could afford at the time and surprisingly the punisher became my backup just loved the sound and comfort

[@antoniocognato5023]

gene simmons played them! September 1974----Late 1975, and he had another gibson in 76 he used once in a blue moon on destroyer tour, and his thunderbird in 77, back up bass

[@sira.scottascot8865]

The Ripper is a sharp machete, and The Grabber is a blunt object. 😊

[@xnmcguire]

Not a great video for sound, or organization, as I wasn’t really intending to make a video, but I was just jamming and drinking and thought what the hey, why not?! Next time I’ll ensure I have a clean power source, planned examples and use something better than my iPhone 8 Plus to record. (* that moment you pick up the Grabber launch into John Entwistle’s ‘Heaven and Hell’ and immediately forget the bassline 😳😆 at least Boris the Spider came across somewhat ok.)

[@user-uo8om1zq3b]

Keep rocking,you Godess😁

[@fredrikstadwhite]

Sounds like the perfect evening.

[@Clencovision]

How do I tell what year my Ripper is by the serial number?Thx for the vid.

[@xnmcguire]

This is how I found out: www.flyguitars.com/gibson/serial_numbers/

[@josephzummo9685]

Never closed the deal on a Ripper. God knows I've tried. I've never got to play a Grabber. It's sounds like a freight train. I love it. I tried a G3 once and it was not for me. Funny it was the only one I could afford. But it wasn't to be. Have you ever played a Peavey T-40? Meanest bass I ever owned. Many sounds. I used to nail Gene's sound with it. Sold it because it weighs a ton. Thanks for the video!

[@xnmcguire]

I love the T-40!! I’m still kicking myself for not buying one in the late 80s for super cheap. But yeah, that was when I was playing 4 set nights in northeastern Iowa and just couldn’t imagine holding for that long during my biker band days!

[@josephzummo9685]

@@xnmcguire I was playing 3, 1 hr and 15minutes sets a night with that thing on my back. The next morning I looked like the letter S!

[@xnmcguire]

@@josephzummo9685 😮 that is harsh! Did you also have an SVT and 810 cab? 😀

[@josephzummo9685]

@@xnmcguire SWR With 2 X 15 cab. Earth shattering tho!

[@YokRzeznic]

Got a 76 Ibanez Ripper copy, awesome bass but yes the bridge is awful. Just dropped a new set of MFD pickups in it cos the originals were weak as. Next step is the Hipshot. Glad to know it really helps it.

[@-GRAVESITE-]

Always thought both looked cool, but I’ve never played either one.

[@user-uo8om1zq3b]

Кленовый вариант зачётный.Дама охренительноая 🙃

[@maijavalpuri]

I guess I'm having some sort of a serious blackout and probably should see a neurologist, but what the hell is the song played in the end, at 11 min or so?! So familiar. Tried to listen what's said about it before but can't really get a grasp of the spoken English here 🙄

[@xnmcguire]

"Boris the Spider" by The Who I couldn't quite remember how to play it in the video, but its easy to get a classic 1970s era John Entwistle tone out of the Grabber.

[@maijavalpuri]

@@xnmcguire Thank You!!! Cause this was really driving me insane... 😅 I first stumbled on your video while trying to find some information about a dark red Gibson Grabber that I got from my sister to play with! And yeah, it's an awesome instrument. Really nice to hear you playing it, you definitely got great taste and style as a musician.

[@sira.scottascot8865]

They should have made "The Gripper".

[@hairyhunk44]

I still have my Blond Ripper that I got in used in 1980. I played it till I got sick of the sound. I haven't played it in years. There's not any resale value. I'm on a Walnut 4003 Rick that has the push pull knob now live.

[@xnmcguire]

Ordinarily I play a fender jazz or precision, but after replacing the 3-point bridge with a HipShot SuperTone, my Ripper has really opened up with fast action and an incredibly versatile instrument. It’s suited particularly well for jazz and metal gigs. As far as resale value, in spring-summer 2023, a 70s ripper in good condition has sold for as high as 3,800 dollars though averaging between 2,200 - 3,000

[@F3502000]

I love you... 😁

[@oldmanwinter63]

Teach me how ta play!!! 😉

[@greedygringoprospecting6941]

i put a hipshot on my eb5. so much better. (babicz bridge sucked) nice sound.

[@xnmcguire]

Johan Segeborn has this great video (much better than mine) comparing the differences kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWK2o6Wfit6ehqM

[@dustinhamlin2333]

Selling the buster?

[@xnmcguire]

Not a chance. 😉. I need it for bigger venues, plus recently had it retubed. 🤟☮️❤️🌍

[@bflo1000]

There's one for sale at Guitar Ctr, now.

[@nikkikay4188]

Запиши на тапочек ещё, лять

[@oldmanwinter63]

Dirty tone pot on the Grabber..

[@xnmcguire]

That's Rock n Roll, babe! ;)

[@bflo1000]

@@xnmcguire But no fret buzz; Nice N clean. I'm impressed.

[@bflo1000]

I was talking about the Ripper. The problem w the Grabber IMO is the heavy dirt killed your low end.

[@harrybrooks8514]

Evil?

[@xnmcguire]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWK2o6Wfit6ehqMsi=uotg306TRd5K64EH