| Author | Message | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 486 Registered: 5-2007 |
Here's one that may stir up a pot: I know that some folks on this forum love Ritter basses and others have made some "interesting" comments about them (references to Dr. Seuss notwithstanding). Now we find that a Ritter bass is being accepted into the Smithsonian alongside Leo Fender's Precision Bass! Here is the note I got from Jens Ritter: "Dear Customers, dear Friends, I'm very proud to announce, that the world's biggest Museum - the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. - just acquired a bass of mine! They got the Jupiter "Eye of Horus" which I custom designed for Phil Lesh. It is the SECOND (!) electric bass in their permanent collection beside the famous "Precision Bass" of Leo Fender!!! I'm very proud and happy that this even happened during my life time!" HOW ABOUT THAT? | ||
| keith_h
Senior Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 1700 Registered: 2-2005 |
It's not the second. I doubt that it is even the third. I definitely know there is an Alembic in the collection as I've seen it. Keith | ||
| 811952
Senior Member Username: 811952 Post Number: 1975 Registered: 10-2003 |
It is what it is. *shrugs* | ||
| dannobasso
Senior Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 1386 Registered: 3-2004 |
Maybe he means bolt on? | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 487 Registered: 5-2007 |
http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/national-museum-american-history-receives-phil-lesh-s-eye-horus-bass-guitar?device=mobile | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1739 Registered: 9-2002 |
What I really like about Ritter is this guy is in his own world design-wise. I also respect he does his own metalwork and electronics (though I wonder about his hardware, www.ets-hardware.com). Do I need that many neck bolts? The Dr. Seuss reference, at least for me, is a great compliment. All I know are that most guitars and basses are so bound in tradition that the few new ideas that do gain acceptance are vital to move things along. LP's and Strats and Pbasses and Martins are all fine, but there is just no evolution left in them, save for and endless remix of small features (can anybody really explain the 200+ LP variations Gibson has marketed, or Martin's endless 'Signature' models beyond them being marketing hooks?). So any time somebody can come along and push things along a little (PRS or Taylor or Line 6) or completely launch a shot across the bow like Steinberger or Ritter, I'm all for it. And BTW, judging by Jens' Price List, could it be that PL got a bigger tax deduction for the donation than he paid for this UFO of a bass ? Lawyers and CPA's, the real heart of the Music Business ! ! ! J o e y | ||
| adriaan
Moderator Username: adriaan Post Number: 2834 Registered: 6-2002 |
And from a purely musical point of view, it would appear that Mr Lesh was no longer interested in playing the instrument. | ||
| tubeperson
Intermediate Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 184 Registered: 5-2005 |
Ahhhh Adrian isn't that really the key? I have a Ritter which I like very much, as well as my Alembics, Steinbergers, Rickenbackers, even my Peavey B-Quad. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we are lucky to have so many choices, and that a selection other than Alembic may the the right one for that person. That is not a knock against our love for Alembics, nor does it make that person a bad one, it is merely another way to travel so to speak. Until three years ago (I'm 54) I did not own a single Fender bass. Although I do now, I still think the Alembic is better made, better sounding and easier to work with, other than the long waiting times, for me. That is just the price one pays for custom made excellence. Others are free to decide what is best for them, without judgement. Ahhhhh Grasshopper, the deeper understanding that comes with tolerance. And of course there are some on this forum that pontificate and bloviate way too much. Sorry had to get that editorial comment in. Heh, Heh, heh!!! | ||
| jbybj
Advanced Member Username: jbybj Post Number: 335 Registered: 6-2006 |
Steve, Thanks for your post. I love it when I have to go to the dictionary! I can't wait to use bloviate in a conversation. | ||
| tubeperson
Intermediate Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 186 Registered: 5-2005 |
Effective communication is important. There is always something new to learn, just as it is with music. Even if it is what not to say or play. | ||
| thumbsup
Advanced Member Username: thumbsup Post Number: 362 Registered: 7-2008 |
hey Joey, what is your thoughts of ets hardware mark III 2 piece bridge? I thought it looked very good. Am I missing something? Steve | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 1746 Registered: 9-2002 |
Steve: I always like the separate bridge and stop tailpiece better, but with this reservation: Generally the length of travel on the bridge is not as great a distance as you typically see on most one-piece bass bridges, so I wonder IF there's enough travel on each saddle once you go to five or more strings. On my two ALEMBICs, the 'B' saddle is backed ALL the way out and just manages to synchronize the harmonic with the fretted note. And I've seen this on more than one five-string. We've seen this before: Guitar players who remember the 70s/80s remember the Ibanez Gibraltar bridges, which were much wider (with longer saddle adjustments) than the typical Gibson TuneOMatic brdiges of the day. The TOM's were set up for 50s string guages and would not always 'reel in' a set of 08s or 09s that were becoming the norm by then, not the big wound G sets of the 50s. I've only seen a few Ritters, and IF that really was ETS hardware, it looked very solid. J o e y | ||
| hifiguy
Advanced Member Username: hifiguy Post Number: 312 Registered: 10-2006 |
Some Ritters are weird, others are quite beautiful but they all look, to me, like they were designed by advanced students at Hogwarts for their wizarding bands. I'll take Alembic, thank you.  | ||
| dnburgess
Senior Member Username: dnburgess Post Number: 655 Registered: 1-2003 |
In this day and age it is instructive to look to what we have in common rather than what divides us. I have the privilege of representing both Ritter and Alembic in Australia. Jens is very respectful of and gives a lot of credit to Alembic. What Jens and the Wickershams have in common is passion, creativity, integrity and pursuit of the same muse. | ||
| terryc
Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1663 Registered: 11-2004 |
Call me a traditionalist but those basses are just too extrovert for me.. Apart from Strats I prefer the look of unpainted wood | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 496 Registered: 5-2007 |
My Ritter #99-02, is unpainted.   | ||
| rockandrowe
Junior Username: rockandrowe Post Number: 20 Registered: 4-2006 |
I love my Ritter!  | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 499 Registered: 5-2007 |
Yow! That is eye-poppin'! | ||
| tubeperson
Intermediate Member Username: tubeperson Post Number: 188 Registered: 5-2005 |
The eyes are not the only "poppin' parts" as far as I can see it! Jens is creative in a similar way to the artists at Alembic. That does not invalidate Alembic or Ritter, its great to have more choices and variety. My Ritter 5 string bass is a beautiful Asian Ebony, with an awesome flame maple neck and back, with Katalox strips in the neck. Each Ritter is unique, just like Alembic! | ||
| hb3
Senior Member Username: hb3 Post Number: 639 Registered: 2-2005 |
How do they sound/play? | ||
| benson_murrensun
Senior Member Username: benson_murrensun Post Number: 500 Registered: 5-2007 |
Mine sounds bright and snappy, which should be no surprise since it is all birds-eye maple. Too bad I don't slap-and-pop, because my Ritter would probably excel at that style. It plays great, each session is a very rewarding experience. It's got 5 knobs, and I still don't know what one of them does (other than change the tone). |
