Ripper! (Bass, that is.)

Gibson promo 45 audio, etc: www.flyguitars...

[@keithfraser9705]

Sunday night is not the same without a twoodfrd video. Thanks Ted, it’s our pleasure watching you work. Said by a cbg builder and a poor one at that. All the best from Scotland 👍

[@JoeySchmidt74]

Braw, ahm fae jist ootside ah Glesga.

[@davidlittle7182]

@@JoeySchmidt74 old Falkirk Bairn here - always look for the big man's calming videos this time of the week

[@MenkoDany]

What is "CBG"? Cello, Bass, Guitar?

[@MenkoDany]

Oh, it's Cigar Box Guitar

[@derekmckee3364]

Ted's Scottish fanclub! I'm an Airdrie man!

[@robbytheremin2443]

Retired engineer here. Think of an inductor as the opposite of a capacitor. A cap will have less resistance as frequency increases and an inductor will have more.

[@jl4831]

Love you Ted. You make the world a better place to live in.

[@NitroModelsAndComics]

I think Gene Simmons of KISS famously used one. I never knew of the oddness of this bass. But it seems a capable instrument. My Norlin era Explorer has served me for 38 years with grace and great tone.

[@davidbaines7330]

Definitely, just came here to say the same. Cheers 🤘😛

[@jimshorts6751]

You're like a cooler version of Bob Ross for guitars ! Such a calm, professional person, and I love the real nuts and bolts touring musician type repairs you show us all. Catching these things early greatly reduces repair cost and time. Sometimes we can save a potential repair from ever being needed from your post. Don't worry, plenty of us clutzy Gibson players for you to reattach headstocks for. 🤘🖖

[@vikingbeard]

I love your Guitar Sunday School, thank you for delivering it every week! The bass sounds great and your playing does as well.

[@thinker8699]

I always love my Ted Talk Sundays!! Helps for the work start Mondays....

[@kbjerke]

I was just watching an older twoodfrd video when this one popped up! Thanks, TED!!!

[@thewizardmountain]

Always love it when a bass surfaces on your channel. Basses need polishing too!

[@musicmann1967]

I had one of these Rippers when they first came out, in my hogh school band. I moved from an old P Bass to this thing, and eventually I missed the P Bass. But I had fun with the Ripper for a while. It sounded so totally different from the P Bass, like it was from another planet. Big chunky thing too, with a huge neck, if I remember correctly. Mine was all natual wood finish with a maple board, unlike this one. That was pretty popular in the 70's, (but I would have liked black better I think!) This was a nostalgic trip, watching this video!

[@brianengquist2110]

Woo! Woo! A bass video! I'm more of a Fender guy, but the Ripper, Grabber, and especially the Grabber G-3 (amazing sounding instrument) deserve some real kudos.

[@locolunch]

"Flat Forward" I needed this. Thanks!

[@richsackett3423]

The volute TOTALLY saved that neck being thrown down stairs.

[@ArashFallah]

Just sat down and watched the last 77 seconds waiting for something to happen, like it's a Marvel movie! :D Another quality video Ted!

[@seanj3667]

I just picked up a non-functioning Ibanez 5 string for just $99 today. When I opened up the back, there was SO much extra wire. Each pickup has like 10 inches of extra wire. The wire to the battery (has active electronics) also almost 10 inches of extra wire. The electronics cavity looks like spaghetti with all the extra wire in there.

[@BlackMarketYoga]

LOVED my Ripper. Should have kept it. Funny thing, crazy lady threw mine out a door down a few outside steps. Played perfect for another 10 years. Maple neck! Finding the long strings was a pain but worth the effort as it sounded fuller to me. Thanks!

[@vayabroder729]

I imagine it would be the same scale as an old string through Fender P Bass? If so the strings are available but you have to specifically look for them.

[@xdoctorblindx]

The way I remember intonation (and I'm not sure why no one else thinks of it this way...) is "shorten to sharpen, lengthen to lower." For example, if the twelfth fretted note is flat, you need to shorten the scale length to sharpen the note up to the harmonic. It's the easiest way to remember, in my opinion.

[@MikeGervasi]

I watch Uncle Ted at normal speed, in full, and ALWAYS hit the like button before the vid starts.

[@Echo-Head]

Another user of these basses is Nirvana's Krist Novoselic, most notably on Live and Loud and their 1992 MTV VMA appearance, where it lands on his head.

[@that_thing_I_do]

Still dig the opening music...should make it my wake up alarm or background music whilst polishing my guitars.So uplifting....Homer and I have something in common...love Mel. Amazing detective work...Batman take notes.

[@Lu_Woods]

It took me a couple times through to find the buzz on my G&L bass...it was the same issue with a Schaller tuner key. I used superglue. Still silent ten years later ; )

[@AverageCitizen333]

As a fairly green beginner just starting my journey into the building and maintaining of guitars, i greatly value your videos. So many great nuggets of info throughout them. Thank you

[@chrisdawber3548]

wow rare bonus Uncle Ted. I approve! Thanks Uncle Ted

[@vanshankguitars]

Yay!

[@christopherb.2658]

If someone is tuning their bass down to B, then wouldn’t it make more sense to use a 5-string bass? Totally cool that the base is tuned like that but insane at the same time. 🤘🏻

[@gerardlabelle9626]

Are they even using a B string, or is that a just regular E string tuned down down down?

[@drdoktor77]

Yeah, I'm getting some serious stoner/doom metal vibe off this bass.

[@davidethridge5748]

I loved the Corvus models Bill Lawrence did especially the Futura Corvus with the neck through design and optional Ultraviolet color in nitro finish. One of the rarest models Gibson ever put out, but isn't worth a whole lot because it was never in the hands of someone famous.

[@SirBoden]

To tighten the metal around the tuner handle, you need to remove the tuner handle, then squeeze it shut and slide the handle back in. Squeezing it with the handle in place, as you surmised, will not work. Always a bit of spring back.

[@MrJhonbaker]

I think the tuber handle is mechanically fixed and would not be easily removed, if it's possible at all without dismantling the entire machine head - which also may not be possible. Some machine heads are simply not serviceable. Other machine heads only need a nylon washer replaced when many people replace the whole thing unnecessarily.

[@carlosanvito]

Great video from a fellow Ontarian. Always learn something from you. I had never seen an inductor in a guitar tone. I did some circuit analysis, turns out it is a mid-scoop control. What a great idea. I'd like to see this on 6 string guitars. Keep up the informative work.

[@peterjones3100]

Some of the later Korean made Westone 6 strings used one, they called it a "tone shaper" fairly useless in practice, but it is somewhat useful to tame unwanted feedback.

[@nickparnell4756]

I know you don’t read the comments, thanks from the bottom of my heart for all the hard work you put in, each and every week!❤❤❤

[@BrianWilliamsTheEngineer]

Twoodford crew in the house!!

[@Brewhound77]

Watching you fix guitars while I fix guitars. Life is good.

[@samuelhatman8995]

Yeah, I'm probably gonna comment every time... Because it's a Gibson and I played Bass at Church today. When you repair and I remember when I did, and sometimes do still repair, it's a world of care and balance for our customer. Watching you perform the balancing act and make decisions in the magical real of care....??? and for money? That sir set a smile on old Sammy's face that you would enjoy much more than a respectful happy comment. May many happy repairs to come flow under your bridge! Hey... Amen!

[@charlesclark3840]

I was legally required to pause the video and go play Last Dance as soon as you mentioned it.

[@BakerGlare]

Mikey Shoes from Queens of the Stone Age used to play a ripper tuned down to C.

[@jquill6]

Not being able to isolate the necks pick-up is a tad ridiculous for such a complicated control schematic

[@drdoktor77]

Norlin era Gibson... gotta love it.

[@senacht]

It can be remedied wither with a 5-position rotary switch, or more easily by moving two wires on the exiting one. Only drawback is you’ll lose the out-of-phase setting since position 4 then becomes neck only. Because many of today’s players don’t care for the out-of-phase sound, this is a very common modification you’ll find done on about a quarter of the Rippers out there.

[@violao206]

And IIRC when I first caught George Benson live in '78 (my brother and me were 14 yo), one thing I remember was how his bassist Stanley Banks was not only playing a Gibson Grabber bass, all maple, with the triangle headstock. Not only was he holding down an amazing groove, but he also played a tambourine with his foot by shaking it sideways! It was quite the party trick. And I could not get over how George sounded "just like the record". Up until that point in my life, most artists had a decidedly different sound coming off the stage compared to their recordings. George was obvi taking different lines in his solos, but his tone was true to the source. I was gobsmacked. I soon figured out how to play Breezin' and Affirmation. And the opening act was Minnie Ripperton! I feel so lucky to have seen all that.

[@tompass82]

Dang man! Always on point! The patience to chase down the loose wires and correct the problem, rather than just charge the client for a whole new re-wire, is a real testament to your love of the craft. Love your videos!

[@mrz80]

Wait a minute... a **GIBSON** instrument survived being thrown down a FLIGHT of STAIRS by a vengeful ex without a break in the headstock?!!??!! I am speechless in amazement. :D Oh, and nice save on the rotary switch! Bill did like the unconventional approach to guitar and bass wiring. The LS-6 and S-1 guitars exemplify his original thinking.

[@alexcorona]

Can you come up with a new joke?

[@mrz80]

@@alexcorona It was less a joke and more honest amazement. I mean, come on, thrown down a flight of stairs? That's not high on the list of ordinary wear-and-tear items. I'd be surprised any guitar survived that kind of treatment headstock intact.

[@stevebloke5455]

Another Ripper video as usual, Thanks for posting!!

[@fepatton]

I remember “The Gripper” video! It sent me down a _long_ rabbit hole, almost a whole a warren, about Gene Simmons’ basses. Love the sound of this one!

[@NorthBayRepublic]

Waited for the Gene Simmons shout out....denied ! He was responsible for selling more Gibson Basses than anyone, ever.

[@Bcarn1998]

I’d always wondered what bass he was using in the last waltz. That burst ripper is a doosie!

[@christopherjamesb7751]

Play that funky music, white boy. Thanks for covering this bass. I ran into one at my music venue a year ago, and had never come across one before. Now I want one even more 😊

[@Obscurity202]

I like the "flat is forward" memory trick. It's better than my "sharp is short" idea

[@telecasterbear]

I love the high tension of my LaBella 45-105 flats on my 1973 telecaster bass. Floppy is no good.

[@wingracer1614]

You don't have much choice but floppy when going down to c or b standard. Need heavy gauge strings and do the best you can, especially with a 34.5 scale length. The only other option is a longer scale or multi-scale bass like a fan fret

[@samparker1637]

Great video Colin keep me skint again another guitar I want did a magnet flip on an epiphone studio Happy with that at mo keep up the fab work see u Friday!

[@RedLittleBee]

In my band both the guutarists and the bass player used the DIGITECH „The Drop“. From then on no manual tuning was necessary any longer.

[@matthewbartolone7036]

Thank you Ted for a fresh Bass presentation, appreciated,, How you found that turner head buzz was amazing.

[@brentstewart59]

Nice repair here. It's being asked to do things it was just never designed for. Not sure if i love it or hate it. Love a P bass

[@carlmontney7916]

The Grabber and Ripper basses are IMO the best basses Gibson has ever produced. That said. In typical Gibson fashion they quit making them. That's been an issue with Gibson forever. I've used thin CA glue and accelerant to fix that same exact issue on tuning keys before. The glue wicks down in there and it works really good I've got one that I repaired that way three years ago that still works just fine.

[@activese]

The best 2 big guys, in KZbin, with beards, talent, knowledge and calm voice, that their videos, lessons, craftsmanship is really a great experience and worth to watch: twoodfrd and Jack Ruch.

[@seanmckelvey6618]

I'll always associate the Ripper with Krist Novoselic from Nirvana, I also seem to recall Gene Simmons using one for a while.

[@MichaelSmith-rn1qw]

I have a 1973 Gibson SB-450 bass I bought in a Houston pawn shop about 30 years ago. It had the pickup selector switches wired backwards. I took off all the hardware when I sanded it down to bare wood and re-finished it with a satin finish some years ago. It's great for use in the recording studio when played sitting down, but kind of uncomfortable to play on stage because the headstock end is heavier than the body.

[@cameronwhite9959]

I was just watching your Grabber video last night while I tried to set up a lefty bass I defretted!! Great video as always, Ted.

[@sysop007]

I seen Green Day back in the early 90’s and their bassist played one of these.. we opened for them actually before anyone really knew of them. Krist loves his gibsons too. But I’ve never seen otherwise nor played a Gibson bass in my years of playing. Not that I’m against it, just never had a chance to noodle around with one. Cool piece of history! 👏🏻

[@andrewmiller2868]

That’s it Ted. You passed the audition. You’re now the bassist in my new band 🤣🤣🤣.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

The choke isn’t implemented as a dummy coil in these. It’s a choke for a mid scoop tone control, like the varitone.

[@mikesonneson2824]

Really enjoy bass content. Bass player since the 70's and never a fan of the Gibson bass other than a Thunderbird. Those Grabbers and Rippers were cumbersome and a dime a dozen back then.

[@mushroomsamba82]

Krist Novoselic also played/plays a ripper

[@lumpyguitar5169]

Tuner knob - JB WELD?

[@michaeldorcey9305]

Can't say why anyone would complain about not seeing things go wrong on your video. Not your fault you have the experience and patience to plan the repair through to the best of your abilities. If they wanna watch non stop eff-ups, maybe I could post a set up, or they can do their own

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

The Fresh Connection? Great movie!

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

In summer 1978, a top film was _Thank God It's Friday!_ featuring Terri Nunn, who went on to fame in 1986 with Berlin and "Take My Breath Away"; and Jeff Goldblum, who became a pod-person later that same year. EDIT: Interesting choice for demo tune. "Like A Virgin" by Madonna. Woot!

[@beytone]

Am I the only one who spent a full minute after “Thanks for watching” with a black screen waiting for a final little pun?

[@Obscurity202]

Thanks for the videos!

[@johnsee7269]

I learned all of Mel's bass parts on the GFR songs cause he was so good. I bought a Fender Jazz cause it was what he used. Wish I still had it but I switched to a Precision... Not a negative comment Twoody. Maby your source knows something I don't... Plus, I'm not implying you're not the best luthier in the world or as good as one gets. I've noticed that other commenters seem to worship you; I'm ecstatic about that; good for you! 🤘

[@tomdbass1]

Love when basses are featured on your channel. Especially love this one. Although frustrating because I don’t believe Gibson ever offered the Ripper (or Grabber bass for that matter) in left handed. I’ve been searching for one for years!

[@corporalrich]

Everything guitar is complicated and fun. I love bases too. I guess we'll see the SG on next Sunday.

[@Magnetron33]

I had one, ash? body maple neck natural finish. I think it was a 73. GREAT instrument!

[@Kenba40]

Mel used a Jazz bass with a Gibson humbucker installed. Later he used a Precision bass. I never known him to play a Ripper.

[@charlesclark3840]

The Ripper sounds like a bass Mad Max would use.

[@vayabroder729]

The original bassist for AC/DC used a Gibson Ripper for the first few albums.

[@G60syncro]

A friend of mine had one of the knock-offs.... The real deal is fine and dandy, nice big ol' bass made out of solid maple but at least it's a set neck and they made it pretty thin... The cheap knock-off was bolt on, so they had to plaster on an extra 3/4'' on the back of the body to get a neck pocket going on.... That thing was a boat anchor!!!

[@proudflesh100]

I’ve been waiting for this video since you posted about this wiring on Instagram. Makes me real happy my ripper hasn’t given me trouble haha

[@activese]

Ted, your videos, bring happiness to my face and joy to my brain, "observed by noted musicologist Homer Simpson" , and, wow you laughed "the owner's former partner introduced it to a flight of stairs"🤣🤣, "a chicken without a head". Never imagined, that the rattle would come from that tuner. Cheers.

[@frankperricone2065]

I love the Ripper, not sure black but at this time I don't care, what color it is, i just want one.

[@contrabandjoe7974]

Your attention to detail is remarkable

[@billbones1000]

Thank you sir

[@bengordon2330]

Thank you.

[@mellowvids9637]

Great video !!!!

[@simondeeth9097]

Band I joined was suspicious of my fretless P bass so I traded an epi casino for one of these back in 1976. Still have the P bass and wish i still had the casino. The ripper got pawned. They were popular in Australia at the time.

[@killingmasheen]

I hate old rotary switches. It's either the plastic cracks/melts or the terminals break off or both. I admire the patience it took to get that wire stick to the broken pin because vintage to be damned, I would have tossed it in the trash and replaced it with a new 3P4T switch. I'm sure most people wouldn't want to mess with the stock configuration but I'd be tempted to use a 5 way switch to add a neck pickup only function.

[@petedazer3381]

Nice fix on the switch Ted!

[@donaldholman9070]

great video. I love that bass

[@MegaTerryNutkins]

I had to use XL scale strings on my old RD Artist, PITA at the time as it cut choice right down. Never got on with those old Gibson basses, something about the necks I didn't get on with. My RD was a spine killer as well.

[@guitarhoarder5426]

Ted is the man!

[@xdoctorblindx]

Love the bass episodes.

[@user-ty6do8yz4l]

1978-1985 PEAK of my life!

[@ianrose5505]

Superb thankn you

[@incubism]

Mark Evans from AC/DC

[@316diag]

you're watchers want 45 minute episodes. forgive us if we dont understand and ask for too much. thanks for sharing, and i hope your time is being compensated. Blessings

[@guitartec]

Had a Bill Lawrence electric guitar on the bench the other day. A blast from the aghast!

[@kbjerke]

Do the Seinfeld riff! LOL Thanks for the video, Ted!

[@mattliebenau9083]

Cool Ted. One thing you didn’t show so you may already know it but I like to set up those 3 point bridges with the front post just slightly higher then the other 2. That old girl is probably fine but on the newer Epi’s it seems to help keep the threaded inserts form pulling up.

[@seancollins9745]

Low temperature solder, for the loose tuner key handle. My Schaller's did the same thing. Soldered them 15 yrs ago, still nice and snug. Bass intonation, new levels of hell lol

[@telecasterbear]

The maple neck is a big help against headstock breaks. Mahogany is where the breaks occur.

[@ileutur6863]

Maple will absolutely split if theres an angle in the headstock

[@jeremyschuhmann9671]

Nice job on making the bass fully operational. I think that you mixed up the description of the difference in sound between series and parallel pickup combination (or perhaps you described what you’re hearing but the switch isn’t wired the way you think it is). Series combination is louder and bassier, parallel is less loud and brighter. You can check the wiring by measuring the dc resistance at the output jack as you change switch settings (with pots turned all the way up to minimize their effect). Series setting will have twice the resistance of a single pickup, parallel setting will have half the resistance of a single pickup.

[@Riverdeepnwide]

Jack was back in 1888 but that yellow bottle still seems somehow appropriate.

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

I’ve got the 07/08ish Epi’ Ripper… Very Different bass in many ways, but the pick up spacing and huge slab of maple body concepts the same… Sounds huge.

[@GCMBass]

I have one of those too, maple/maple and P/J pickups instead of the original Ripper soap bars so the tones are very different. I had an original Ripper back in 1975 but sold it quickly, too heavy. Got a Rickenbacker 4001 instead.

[@brucefreedman3655]

Ted rocks da bass! I’m not a bassist, but I’d love to play that Ripper in a band.