Hardware consist of: the Grabber sliding pickup, Schaller BM tuners, Grabber/G3 metal-plate bridge (part no. The Gibson Grabber had the same body shape (and the same scratchplate shape), as the Gibson Ripper, and both were 34 1/2" scale, made of alder/maple, with a maple neck - they were certainly cut from the same cloth, but there were also a lot of differences, that meant the Grabber could be sold for significantly less than the Ripper: they had different constructions (the Ripper was set neck, the Grabber was bolt-on) pickups (one single-coil sliding Grabber pickup, versus two fixed Ripper humbuckers) and controls (the Grabber's single volume and tone, versus the Ripper's "Q-system"). 1981 Victory Standard (Candy Apple Red).To address the OP, some 70s Gibsons are phenomenal basses and, to me, something different (often better) than the glut of Fenders. The latter, a massive revision of the electronics completely changed the tone of the instument - still great but very different and I miss the Ripper growl. In the early 80s I commissioned two major hot-rod 'upgrades'. So too - at the time - the extra-long scale.
Another big influence in the choice was Patrick Djivas of PFM - what a tone (but what a player!). Also, the bass had a massive powerful, clang and growl - not Fender-like at all. The overall build and set neck is beautifully done and the playability has always been extraordinary (even guitar players have loved it). I wanted something different and was impressed by the elegance of the Ripper compared to Fenders. In the mid 70s the shops were full of Fenders - probably a 15:1 Fender/Gibson ratio. Two years on, a job on the post gave me access to the credit I needed. My first proper bass was a Ripper - I'd lusted after it for years - an early one that had been very well used by the time it appeared in Manchester's A1 around '77.
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