Richard Makinson's Gibson Grabber & Gibson Ripper bass page.

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Richard's Ripper & Grabber Page	Richard Makinson
MUSICAL HISTORY
1978 - The Annoys - Ossett punk 1979-1982 - various bits & pieces 1983 - Clear the Pier - Roddy Frame meets The Jam 1986-89 - The Prowlers - R & B / Country Punk - A lot of fun 1990-98 - The wilderness years - a succession of crappy jobs followed by a career in comic books - go figure ! 1999-2005 - small local bands playing small local places to even smaller local crowds - not the best perhaps. 2006 - DOSCH - after 16 years of searching, I'm finally home again - This is gonna be fun !

BACKGROUND In 1980 I was asked by the careers officer what I wanted to do when I left school. “Well, I’m interested in music and comics” I told him innocently. Barely able to hide his amusement, he put the question again,“ But what do you want to do for a living ?”
This shaped the future somewhat for me, as I played in a succession of bands desperately trying not to have to work for a living. In 1986, a pal of mine put me forward for the job with The Prowlers in Leeds, which soon became a full-time profession; sleeping in the back of a van is a completely different proposition when you’re doing it professionally. At the end of the 80s, the band went their separate ways for a while, leaving me to indulge my other passion, and set up my mail order comic-book business (Quicksilver Comics), followed by opening a shop in Leeds four years ago. Finding myself with a bit more time on my hands and the urge to gig again, I grabbed the opportunity to join Dosch in 2006 with both hands - I look upon this as a fusion of my two great loves - the showmanship and musical excellence combine so well for me.

AMPLIFICATION
AMPEG

GUITARS

Gibson Ripper

Gibson Grabber

My Gibson Grabber bass (The Beast) Early 70's

- this guitar was found in a decent but well used condition in a Leeds shop for a bargain price twenty years ago. It dates from the early 70's, and fit the bill for me as physically the biggest bass I could find. It had to travel the country wrapped in a quilt for a year until I could get a case made that was wide enough to fit it in. Let's just say it's had plenty of use and looks all the better for the wear..

Photobucket - Mid 70's vintage Gibson Ripper bass

My Gibson Ripper bass (Jack The Ripper) Mid 70's

- this bass surfaced last year in Penistone of all places in decent and reasonably original shape. Dating from the mid-70’s, this has become my main instrument as the neck plays much better than the Grabber, and the twin pickups deliver a nicer all round growl.

I’ve always been fascinated by Gibson guitars - the Grabber was introduced by Gibson in late 1973 with a bolt on neck, double cut body and a sliding pickup, an interesting feature which afforded the player a range of tonal quality - this was later superceded by the G3, which sported 3 pickups. Gibson gave two Grabbers to Gene Simmons of Kiss in 1975.
Photobucket - Gibson Grabber

Other well known Ripper and Grabber users include Krist Novoselic (Nirvana), Rick Danko (The Band), Mikey Welsh (Weezer), Suzi Quatro, Mike Shuman (Queens of The Stone Age) and Jerry Casale (Devo)

Krist-Novoselic (Nirvana) used this Black Gibson Ripper Bass, for the recording of "Nevermind" and "In Utero"

The Ripper bass, also introduced in 1973, was a different beast altogether. It shares the same body size and shape as the Grabber, but gives more punch and power with its two fixed humbucking pickups and 4-way tone switch.
Photobucket - Gibson Ripper
Gibson Ripper
He is seen here with his Ripper , which along with his Kramer bass, is reported to have been the inspiration for his design of the famous Axe bass, later bought by Jason Newstead of Metallica.

MORE RIPPER AND GRABBER PLAYERS

Photobucket - John B.Sparks of Dr.Feelgood was another famous Gibson Grabber user. - Wilko Johnson, Lee Brilleaux and John B.(Sparko) Sparks

John B.Sparks of Dr.Feelgood was another famous Gibson Grabber user. Here's a video of him with the Feelgoods doing Going Back Home -

Photobucket - Suzi Quatro used both a Ripper and a Grabber
Suzi with the Ripper

Are you a Gibson Grabber or Gibson Ripper owner / player?
Send me a picture of you and your bass, quicksilvercomic(AT)btclick.com
I'd like to add it to my OTHER GIBSON BASS PLAYERS page.

Photobucket - 70's Gibson Ripper Bass

Richard and one of his Gibson Rippers

Photobucket - Black Gibson Grabber

Richard's Gibson Grabber

Gibson Ripper Basses (Gibson Bass Website)

Gibson Grabber Basses (Gibson Bass Website)

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DO $ CH Bass player Richard Makinson uses a vintage Gibson Grabber Bass & a vintage Gibson Ripper Bass