Phil Lesh appreciation thread...

[Dan D]

Phil recently purchased one of our fretted 5-string acoustic/electric Long Trail basses and is playing it in the "acoustic set" of their current "Phil Lesh & Friends" tour. I was fortunate to spend about a half hour with him between sets at his June 22 Gilford NH show - whatta gentleman and nice guy.

Photos here: Bonnaroo 2008; June 15

Penn's Peak PA; June 19

[earth-rhythm]

I was watching Phil Lesh & Friends webcast from the Rothbury festival on Sunday night and saw (also heard) Phil playing a very radical looking black 6 string bass. Looks like something that Esh might make - somewhat akin to their Poseiden bass.

Here's a link from flickr that a phan took:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/21658136@N08/2647153028/

It's got blue led fretboard markers, looks like one massive brick of a pickup, and an interesting bit for a tailpiece, where the string seems to pass over a bridge (piezo pickup?), and extends from some distance to the tail.

My guess would be it's a fair bit lighter that his regular mammoth Q6.

Tonally, sounded less clicky with his picking and more smooth than the Q6 - almost a throwback to warmth of the 70s. Though no doubt there's some tweaking he can do with the controls on it, cause he definitely had some different things going on sound wise.

Any ideas ?

[Phantopeth]

Maybe it's a Ritter Jupiter?

[earth-rhythm]

Yes !

That is it.

[ChrisPbass]

Hmm...I thought i just replied to this thread but I don't see the post!
From Ritter's website
"Time flies with all the usual ups and downs in life. But sometimes things happen that are more outstanding than others: As a big fan of PHIL LESH - bass player of the legendary GRATEFUL DEAD - I feel very honored to have received a custom order from him a while ago. Within the next days I will publish some pictures of his recently finished Custom Jupiter 6-String "THE EYE OF HORUS"..."

[gotmule?]

I love Phil! His bass playing and tone is very unique and he is probably my biggest influence. Here's my favorite video of him w/ the Dead (my fav band btw):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5seCu...eature=related

[Bassman316]

Put me down as a big fan of Phil. What got me about his playing before I was even sure of what the heck the Grateful Dead were all about was how melodic it was, and these runs that he would do. Not to mention how he played off beat but it sounded like he was playing on beat... if that makes sense!!! Probably not, but I love me some Phil Lesh. Saw Phil Lesh & Friends open for the Allman Brothers Band back in October. Great show... plus the tickets that me and my buddy have to see the Dead in Greensboro in April.