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Ritter bass with 3 strap buttons

Discussion in 'Basses [BG]' started by TolerancEJ, Jul 15, 2013.

  1. Jul 15, 2013 #1
    TolerancEJ

    TolerancEJ

    May 27, 2010
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    I was looking through some sold items on The Low End site and noticed this Ritter Fretless 6 string. It seems to have three strap buttons: 1 on the upper horn and 2 at the end. Would there have been a special purpose for two strap buttons at the end?

    walnut61.jpg
    walnut62.jpg
     
  2. Jul 15, 2013 #2
    Ds1

    Ds1 Commercial User

    Dec 3, 2008
    Syracuse, NY
    Owner: Ish Guitars, Inc. Owner: Ish Case, Inc
    Nothing crazy, just so you can adjust the height/balance of the bass if you want. The idea has been around for a while and you can see it on a good amount of high-end basses.
     
  3. Jul 15, 2013 #3
    bassmahn

    bassmahn Supporting Member

    Mar 14, 2007
    Minneapolis MN
    I would assume that they would act like a standoff if you set the bass down.. it will rest on the strap pins instead of the body
     
  4. Jul 15, 2013 #4
    TolerancEJ

    TolerancEJ

    May 27, 2010
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    Both valid points. Adjustability and to prevent unforunate bumps when setting down the bass.
     
  5. Jul 15, 2013 #5
    bassbenj

    bassbenj

    Aug 11, 2009
    Yup. I did that to my Carlo Robelli 8 string that had serious neck dive. Moving the strap button higher helped cure the dive. Unfortunately not enough as I also had to put a button extender on the horn to actually fix the dive.
     
  6. Jul 15, 2013 #6
    smperry

    smperry Administrator Staff Member Administrator Gold Supporting Member

    Nov 3, 2003
    Bay Area, CA
    Yes, the "Classic" models typically come stock with two strap buttons at the bridge, and the player can just pick which one works best for the playing style. I can't remember which one I tended to use.
     
  7. Jul 15, 2013 #7
    J Posega

    J Posega Cat Dad and Dingwall Enthusiast Supporting Member

    Jul 16, 2005
    Los Angeles, CA
    I would punch the owner of that bass in the face if they just set it on the floor, not on a stand. Two strap buttons or not, that thing deserves at least slightly better treatment. You can afford a Ritter? You can afford a stand/ hanger.
     
  8. Jul 15, 2013 #8
    mark beem

    mark beem Wait, how does this song start again?? Supporting Member

    Jul 20, 2001
    Alabama, USA
    Man, that bass is gorgeous! Jens certainly does make functional pieces of art!
     
  9. Jul 15, 2013 #9
    TolerancEJ

    TolerancEJ

    May 27, 2010
    Vancouver, BC Canada

    Absolutely. Way beyond my reach, but marvelous nonetheless.
     
  10. Jul 15, 2013 #10
    fisticuffs

    fisticuffs Commercial User

    May 3, 2011
    Madison, WI
    All G&L ASAT's have the same thing. It's meant to give you options. I use the one closer to the bass side.
     
  11. Jul 15, 2013 #11
    harleybass47

    harleybass47

    Nov 3, 2012
    I have an G&L ASAT that has the same thing. I use the top one but still have some neck dive.
     
  12. Jul 15, 2013 #12
    mark beem

    mark beem Wait, how does this song start again?? Supporting Member

    Jul 20, 2001
    Alabama, USA
    The Ibby GWB35s have that set-up as well..

    DSCN0543.jpg
     
  13. Jul 15, 2013 #13
    TolerancEJ

    TolerancEJ

    May 27, 2010
    Vancouver, BC Canada
    I hadn't realized it's more common than I thought. Thanks, TB folks.
     
  14. Jul 15, 2013 #14
    Bruce Johnson

    Bruce Johnson Gold Supporting Member Commercial User

    Feb 4, 2011
    Fillmore, CA
    Professional Luthier
    The oldest example of the dual rear strap buttons that I know of is the Ampeg AEB-1 Scroll Basses of 1966. They have a strange tailpiece assembly that hangs off the back end of the body on a pair of steel posts. They machined the strap buttons right onto the ends of the two posts. So there were two of them. Customers liked them. So, when Ampeg came out with the AMB-1 model Scroll Bass in 1967, it didn't have the overhanging tailpiece, but they went ahead and put two conventional strap buttons on the back end of the body, spaced about 2 1/2" apart. And a tradition was born!

    I've been carrying on that tradition, putting the dual rear strap buttons on all of my new-generation Scroll Basses. They do protect the back end of the body, and help keep it from tipping over when leaned up against something. I generally put my strap on the upper button.

    Does anyone know of any earlier examples of dual rear strap buttons, prior to 1966? I don't remember any.