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Ritter 6 vs Roscoe 6 - Opinions?
- Thread starter hasadari
- Start date
My first thought is that the price difference between the two should be considerable...? Even if you're looking at used basses, I think.
I've seen some nice pics of Roscoe's here on TB, but I've never seen one in real life, so I can't comment on them, really.
What is it you're looking for in a 6? Elaborate a bit, and then the comments and thoughts you receive will be more useful - otherwise you just get owners/lovers of both basses shouting out what they like
(That would be Ritter for me
)
I've seen some nice pics of Roscoe's here on TB, but I've never seen one in real life, so I can't comment on them, really.
What is it you're looking for in a 6? Elaborate a bit, and then the comments and thoughts you receive will be more useful - otherwise you just get owners/lovers of both basses shouting out what they like
(That would be Ritter for me
)
- Jun 25, 2006
- 3,226
- 341
- Disclosures
- Owner, Pike Amplification & 3Leaf Audio
I have a Ritter 5 and love it. I have been looking for a six and thought I should go with something that I already know that I like. Then I was told by a friend about how awesome the Roscoe 6's were and that I should ask around a bit prior to moving forward.
I am a finger style player generally with very little slap (and not particularly good slap).
Any thoughts?
I am a finger style player generally with very little slap (and not particularly good slap).
Any thoughts?
Well, then I guess the question is really if you just want an extention of what you have and know that you love, or if you at the same time want something very different regarding tone/playability/looks.
I'd probably go for the Ritter, and then have one made in a finish or perhaps even a design that's very different from the 5 you have, but then again - I'm very biased towards Ritters models and designs!
Perhaps this thread should really only be eliciting opinions from Roscoe 6-string owners...?
I'd probably go for the Ritter, and then have one made in a finish or perhaps even a design that's very different from the 5 you have, but then again - I'm very biased towards Ritters models and designs!
Perhaps this thread should really only be eliciting opinions from Roscoe 6-string owners...?
Cliff Bordwell
Commercial User
I think you would be happy either way but since you know you like Ritter's basses that would be the safe way to go.
maybe it will be better to start with a different kind(price) of 6, just in case you don't get used to one. And when you know you will stay with a 6er you buy a ritter
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
Ritters are amazing, but I'd be willing to bet that with the money for a 6 string ritter you could buy 2 top of the line roscoes....the euro is really high priced right now. Don't forget that roscoe makes a lot more basses per year than Ritter, who has a small team.
they are also buil very differently, I never tried a Roscoe, but from pictures I can see that they have the amount of detail that one easily gets from machine assisted cutting.
Ritter basses are hand made and you can tell, the curves and edges are pefect but rough, you can see that the thing was molded by human hand mostly, no precise blade-like cuts like the pristine shapes of other luthiers who go CNC. (I am not against the use of CNC cutting, in fact I think it allows amazing results in luthierie)
they are also buil very differently, I never tried a Roscoe, but from pictures I can see that they have the amount of detail that one easily gets from machine assisted cutting.
Ritter basses are hand made and you can tell, the curves and edges are pefect but rough, you can see that the thing was molded by human hand mostly, no precise blade-like cuts like the pristine shapes of other luthiers who go CNC. (I am not against the use of CNC cutting, in fact I think it allows amazing results in luthierie)
I can't comment on a Ritter as I've never played one but I LOVE my Roscoe LG3006. I've played numerous 6 strings but have yet to find one I like as much as my Roscoe. I bought my Ibanez as a back up and to have something different but it's not even in the same ball park as the Roscoe. That's not a diss towards Ibanez, just a praise for the Roscoe.
I suggest going and playing some 6 strings to get a feel for them as to whether or not you even want to go that route. I started playing 6 on a cheap Washburn but it got me comfortable with 6 strings, now that's all I want to play. I may not even use my high C very often but the feel of the neck and playabilty of a 6 for me just feels like home. You on the other hand may feel like a 6 is too much and decide you still prefer a 5.
I suggest going and playing some 6 strings to get a feel for them as to whether or not you even want to go that route. I started playing 6 on a cheap Washburn but it got me comfortable with 6 strings, now that's all I want to play. I may not even use my high C very often but the feel of the neck and playabilty of a 6 for me just feels like home. You on the other hand may feel like a 6 is too much and decide you still prefer a 5.
As I'm sitting in the shop where Roscoe basses are built, I can tell you that you have never seen a Roscoe that was built on a CNC router.
We own a CNC router, and are planning to make use of it for certain functions that will not have any affect on the "hand-made-ness" of the basses, but only for the less fine work. The fine work here will always be hand work.
The "pristine blade cuts" you refer to are done via pin router (for the outline), copy carver (for the rough topography of the carved top), then by the extremely capable HANDS of the guys in the shop, usually Tony Morton, sometimes either Jason Boudreaux or Sanders Trippe (when he's not on tour with Vetiver - he's their lead guitarist).
Ritter makes a wonderful bass, as well, but it is no more "hand-made" than a Roscoe (I bet Jens has a CNC router, by the way).
Another vote for Roscoe. Fantastic instruments made by great people. I'm sure the Ritters are fine instruments, but for me it would be Roscoe without a doubt.
I have played both and I must say that whereas the Ritter is a very nice high quality axe, the sound (at least to my ears) is not as nice as the looks of them (they are gorgeous tho and do not sound "bad" by any stretch).
I found the Roscoes to have a much more refined, natural and complex tone (sounds like I am describing wines huh?) and felt more "natural" in my hands. I think that you would get better cust service from Roscoe as well being that they are domestic and Gard is right here among us.
I found the Roscoes to have a much more refined, natural and complex tone (sounds like I am describing wines huh?) and felt more "natural" in my hands. I think that you would get better cust service from Roscoe as well being that they are domestic and Gard is right here among us.
CrashClint
I Play Bass therefore I Am
I have visited the shop numerous times and I can tell you first hand, these basses are hand made. These guys are amazing to watch. What else is amazing, they are built here in the US. The lower priced Century Standard basses are made by the same guys that make the Century Signature, LG and SKB. When you get a chance to meet these guys in person and get to know them more, it brings more to the meaning of owning a Roscoe. Ok, sorry for the rant. Buy a Roscoe!
If you go to the Roscoe site, under the gallery you can see pictures of some of the hand work.
You can also go to YouTube and see some of the work. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=roscoe+guitars&search_type=
Ritters are too overpriced. I've tried a couple, not bad, but way too much money for a boutique bass....you can get one nicer or just as nice for less dough. The body styles are just too crazy...but if you like them it's all good, I have my own tastes. Roscoes are more stiff, not as lively as the Ritters, but great construction. My gripe with the Roscoe is the shape. Every one I've tried feels awful because the body is just awkward, and the way the neck lines up just didn't make it better. They are really gorgeous though, and I think that they are constructed very well. I've only tried the LG Series (I think), and I'd be curious to try an SKB or Century Signature model. I just had another bass made by Canadian luthier Mike Kinal and it smokes. The price was reasonable, Mike was awesome to work with, and he did everything the way I asked to his best ability. Kinals are worth checking out. I also have a few Linc Luthier basses. They are very quirky but totally amazing once you get used to them. Another nice bass I tried was an Eshenbaugh--smoking bass IMO. Get down to the Atlanta Bass Gallery and check some stuff out. Bass Central is another option.... Good luck with the new bass!
