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Hello Fellow Lefty Bassist, I am new to the forum. I have a Left Handed 1980 L9S Ripper Bass, Serial #80810062 Engraved, Made in USA. I ordered this bass from a dealer that had a Gibson dealership. He told me that when I ordered it, Gibson had quit making this model but since it was a custom left handed bass they would have to set up for it anyway and would make one more. Can anyone tell me if this was a line of crap. I have always wondered if it was true or not. Can anyone tell me if anymore were made after this number? It took me a year to get it. They said 6 months initially but apparently it did not pass inspection and had to be started all over again. Thanks in advance. Ricky with the Ripper from Atlanta GA.

Pix?

Ditto on the pix. There are no known lefty Rippers in existence, AFAIK.

Gibson has never offered the Ripper or the Grabber/G3 lefthanded and as far as I know does not do one-off custom builds.

I have always wanted a Ripper but assumed I'd only have one if I commissioned a luthier to build one. So, like everyone else, I'd really like to see pictures of yours!

See pics. The story i was told from my friend who was a new dealer. When i ordered the Ripper, Gibson told him they had quit making this bass but since he was a new dealer and since this was a left handed bass order they would have to set up for it anyway they would make one more. I do regret losing the bridge cover and the original nut plate cover.

Rad.

That's a rare one!
Very cool!

WOW! This is not just a unicorn.......

....this is a BADASS UNICORN!!!

My God, that is amazing!
Something I never expected to see in my life, you sir are one lucky man, congrats!

You really need to post this over at The Last Bass Outpost forum.
They are a group of serious Gibson heads over there and would probably get a real kick out of this.

I keep coming back to look at this over and over. I wanted a Ripper from the very first time I saw Gene Simmons with one back when I was a kid just starting out on bass. The fact that an authentic Gibson lefty exists just blows my mind!

So this is the only Left Hand Ripper in existence? Wow!!! It is indeed a great looking bass!

Not sure if it's the only one as others are saying, I was told when it was made that it was the last Ripper made, not sure that is true either, I am trying to verify with Gibson.

DAMN! NOW I know what Hen's teeth look like! I'd love to own that bass!

I ordered a Bi-Centennial Thunderbird, which was listed as available in their catalog, by Gibson. I put money down on it through Manny's Music in Manhattan. I waited, and it was taking a long time.. I wrote to Gibson, remember when we mailed letters? They said it wasn't going to be produced. I transferred the money to a Ripper, also listed as available- after hearing my friend's Ripper. That bass, never arrived. I was fed up. I got my money back, and had Carl Thompson make me a bass in October, 1976.

Drool...
Gene Simmons was my idol growing up back when he played the Rippers. To this day I always wanted to own one. Almost bought a righty a while back just to have one. If this is real, man... what a catch. I would love to hear some sound clips with that 4-way switch.

gravesbass wrote:Drool...
Gene Simmons was my idol growing up back when he played the Rippers. To this day I always wanted to own one. Almost bought a righty a while back just to have one. If this is real, man... what a catch. I would love to hear some sound clips with that 4-way switch.

I actually thought he played the Grabber (single sliding PUP model). Did he play Rippers too?

No love for Gerald V and his "customized" Ripper?

LefThanDed wrote:No love for Gerald V and his "customized" Ripper?

That was the first guy I thought of, but Gerry played a heavily modified righty and taped up the right sided cavity with electrical tape.

Wow, I hope you got a safe for that thing, because in 20 years time, it's going to be through the roof...

Still, Gibson remains dead to me.