Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
- Status
You had a thing for the shiny stuff, huh...?
I think they're a pain to keep clean, I'd get fingerprints all over a bass like that in no time.How's the Copper Jupiter doing...?
Brian Barrett
Commercial User
- Nov 25, 2001
- 2,799
- 40
- Disclosures
- Dealer LowEndBassShop.com, Builder LowEndBasses.com
You had a thing for the shiny stuff, huh...?
How's the Copper Jupiter doing...?
Its hanging on the wall behind me right now at home in my office
scott petito
Supporting Member
Brian Barrett
Commercial User
- Nov 25, 2001
- 2,799
- 40
- Disclosures
- Dealer LowEndBassShop.com, Builder LowEndBasses.com
Heck know, I hope the person that wins this doesn't plan to actually play it out live. Things weighs probably 20 lbs. Its not a chrome paint, its actually Chrome!!!!! Its is a show piece or Art pc, its not to really be played unless sitting down. I hope the winning bid knows this.
Hi Guys, I'm considering to make a trade for a Ritter bass.
Now my question is if there's someone among you who can compare a Ken Smith BSR5EG with a Ritter Roya 5-string (2 tripple buckers). I mean someone who played both basses and can compare the sound, playability, balance, soundflexibility... I really would appriciate an objective comparisation since I can't try out the Ritter (distance...) and never played one before!
Thanks,
Dirk
Now my question is if there's someone among you who can compare a Ken Smith BSR5EG with a Ritter Roya 5-string (2 tripple buckers). I mean someone who played both basses and can compare the sound, playability, balance, soundflexibility... I really would appriciate an objective comparisation since I can't try out the Ritter (distance...) and never played one before!
Thanks,
Dirk
Hey guys,
I just played a couple of Ritter's at The Atlanta Bass Gallery. Jim (the owner) has always told me to check 'em out but I just never had. Long story short, I was blown away. Way more than I was expecting. It was amazing, very easy to play & superb quality.
I even called LaMarquis on my home to talk with him about Ritter's. I knew he owned a couple of them. He confirmed everything & told me how wonderful Jens is to work with.
I was looking at getting a Ken Smith Black Tiger but my opinion has now changed.
These basses are amazing.
I just played a couple of Ritter's at The Atlanta Bass Gallery. Jim (the owner) has always told me to check 'em out but I just never had. Long story short, I was blown away. Way more than I was expecting. It was amazing, very easy to play & superb quality.
I even called LaMarquis on my home to talk with him about Ritter's. I knew he owned a couple of them. He confirmed everything & told me how wonderful Jens is to work with.
I was looking at getting a Ken Smith Black Tiger but my opinion has now changed.
These basses are amazing.
Just in case you don't get a really useful reply, I'll chime in on the sound differences. I haven't played a Ken Smith, but I've listened to them plenty, and I think you could expect more focus on the crystal clear highs with the Smith and more crystal clear midrange with the Ritter. My 5-string Roya with Triplebuckers has a massive punch and extreme tonal definition, but somehow it still strangely warm and rich. And you have so many tonal options with the Master electronics and Triplebuckers, it's unbelieable - and they ALL sound good ! I can't find a single useless setting on my bass.
Hmm, did I just turn this into a blatant advertisement for Ritters... ?
I think that's excusable in this thread.
I own both and they both have unique characteristics and qualities that make them stand apart for each other.
SLAP: The Smith has what I call a very unique percussive tone for slap/pluck which you can immediately identify like when you hear a Music Man and the Ritter has a nice well defined bite/growl on the B string that just kills when I slap it but blends in well live and on record. You could go either way here
FINGER SLYLE For my taste the Smith has only a small edge. Personally I prefer extremely low action on my basses. The Smith allows me to have this with little to no string buzz.
The Ritter allows for low action too but not as low as I would like without giving me a little string buzz. If low action is not a major concern of yours than the Ritter is still the winner because of the string spacing which is perfect.
Sound/Tone Flexibility The Ritter clearly wins here. With the sweepable mids combined with the triple bucker/humbucker option AND passive tone control, your tone options are infinite.
One other con about the Smith that I've found is that ONLY Smith strings sound good on it. I've tried many others and they simply do not work for me on this bass the way his strings do. I've spoken to Ken personally about this and he concurs.
I'm a firm believer and endorser of DR strings so now having to pay for Smith strings is a slight drag but I can live with it.
Balance Both basses are well balanced but the Ritters is slightly better and isn't quite as heavy as the Smith.
Customer Service Jens Ritter TOTALLY stands behinds his basses! If you EVER have an issue (due to no fault of your own) just drop him an email or call him on the phone and he WILL make sure you are taken care of. He will find a repair person in the USA and will pay for shipping/repairs. If there's an issue that only he can fix he will take care of all shipping back to Germany FREE of charge. (Try getting Ken Smith to do that)
The bottom line You definitely have to play one to understand it. They're as functional as they are beautiful and you can't go wrong owning one. Its one of the few basses I'd feel comfortable saying you could buy it without trying it and not be disappointed. With Jens attention to detail, expert craftsmanship, Plek finishing and consistant sound, quality and playability from bass to bass you're are making a very sound investment. Good luck brother
thanks for the reply's guys, it gives me an idea of the differences between these two basses, however it doesn't make it any easyer because I cant play the Ritter cause it is located overseas.... What I can make up is that the Ritter is much more flexibel in dialing sounds, is lighter in weight (appr. 400gr.) BTW : its bass 0801 that I am considering to trade...
I think the value is almost the same.. For extra cost I had Martin Sims build in side and frontleds in my Smith and it has a 5grade flamed maple top and matching headstock. The Ritter has a beautifull Asian Ebony top...
I mainly play Disco, soul, pop and a little rock....
Not easy.... i'm still torturing my brains..
I think the value is almost the same.. For extra cost I had Martin Sims build in side and frontleds in my Smith and it has a 5grade flamed maple top and matching headstock. The Ritter has a beautifull Asian Ebony top...
I mainly play Disco, soul, pop and a little rock....
Not easy.... i'm still torturing my brains..
Uncle, the difference for me between a Ken Smith and a Ritter is this :-
Yes Ken Smith basses are fine instruments, but they bare more than one similarity to any one of several high end basses. To the less educated, or even from a distance, a KS could be an Alembic or a "insert name of favourite local luthier", or heaven forbid one of those tricked up basses from a cheaper brand.
No such problems with Ritter. Many people, including other musicians and even some bass players, would not have seen anything like it before. Both basses score highly in the WOW factor but the Ritters score higher IMO.
Yes Ken Smith basses are fine instruments, but they bare more than one similarity to any one of several high end basses. To the less educated, or even from a distance, a KS could be an Alembic or a "insert name of favourite local luthier", or heaven forbid one of those tricked up basses from a cheaper brand.
No such problems with Ritter. Many people, including other musicians and even some bass players, would not have seen anything like it before. Both basses score highly in the WOW factor but the Ritters score higher IMO.
thanks for the reply's guys, it gives me an idea of the differences between these two basses, however it doesn't make it any easyer because I cant play the Ritter cause it is located overseas.... What I can make up is that the Ritter is much more flexibel in dialing sounds, is lighter in weight (appr. 400gr.) BTW : its bass 0801 that I am considering to trade...
I think the value is almost the same.. For extra cost I had Martin Sims build in side and frontleds in my Smith and it has a 5grade flamed maple top and matching headstock. The Ritter has a beautifull Asian Ebony top...
I mainly play Disco, soul, pop and a little rock....
Not easy.... i'm still torturing my brains..
That one is a REALLY nice example of a Ritter bass, asian ebony is one of my favorite top woods. I'm extremely biased, of course, but if you don't want people suggesting you go for the Ritter, the maybe you should post in another thread
Smith's look nice, but somehow they're not really my thing... I don't know why, but they always make me think of John Patitucci's steam pressed pants !
- Status
