-Ritter Owners Club-

[Basdyret]

The white half of the "White Fire Burl" Roya 5 is swamp ash under a pearlescent white lacquer finish. As someone suggested, Jens didn't have enough of that amazing maple burl for another complete bass, so he let creativity take over and this is the happy result. The black strip separating the two halves is ebony, as is the fingerboard. The neck is black limba under the pearl white finish. With respect to tone, this bass is incredible resonant and punchy with absolute clarity throughout its range.

Thanks for the info!

It is then as everybody assumed - myself included - but it's nice to have it confirmed...!
Jens is truly creative, and it's great to see that beautiful "fire burl" not going to waste. I guess I'm just not a sucker for white on basses, but this one IS starting to grow on me...

 

[Basdyret]

Why should anybody sell an Okon?!

Now that's funny!!

 

[Kenny Allyn]

Here is a close up of the burl on that Ritter ...

And the one that lights up

Jens with Bud LeCompte last week at Summer NAMM

... Met him at the show, a very high energy guy with stunning basses.

 

[S_Okon]

Stefan, any insights on the design of the Ritter Okon? Inquiring minds want to know.

what exactly do you want to know?
How I got to the design, what was the inspiration, or what?

If that's what you want to know, I can tell you that I always was and still am a huge PRIMUS fan.

In 1997 I saw a Ritter Classic in a german magazine and was so overwhelmed, that i wanted to buy a bass from Jens.

Then i thought: Why not design my own body shape.
So i took the Claypool Thompson 6 string as inspiration for the 3D kind of upper scroll and drew the body shape i wnated to have for my bass (i didn't want the scroll to be as round as the CT).

Then in my holidays i went to work in a factory for car supply for 7 weeks to have the money to pay what i had ordered.

My 4 string bass with Tremolo is called "Mackerel"
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My 5-string is called "Nature Boy" and has a Bass Synth built in.
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If you have further questions, let me know!

 

[bassjigga]

Here is a close up of the burl on that Ritter ...

I want to see a full picture of the one to the right...

 

[Thunderitter]

Here is a picture link from [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

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[FrayG]

Hi all, for those interessted, we visited Jens Ritters beautifull workshop a couple off weeks ago.
See a small impression here: Link Removed

cheers Frederic

 

[Basdyret]

^^Thanks for the pics...! Never had a chance to visit Jens myself, it's fun to have a look inside

You didn't happen to catch a picture of an almost finished Roya 5 with purpleheart body and birds eye maple top there...? It should be almost done by now, and I have - again - had no luck getting a hold of Jens in the last couple of weeks.

 

[FrayG]

I spoke to him yesterday by phone and he told me he was just back from a trip to the states, so that's probable the reason.
I would try calling him weekdays at around 15:00 europe time.
As for your bass... sorry i might have seen it but my attention got major grabbed by a Roya Concept in stained silver. (which we might be getting for the store in a little while)

 

[oversoul]

I spoke to him yesterday by phone and he told me he was just back from a trip to the states, so that's probable the reason.
I would try calling him weekdays at around 15:00 europe time.
As for your bass... sorry i might have seen it but my attention got major grabbed by a Roya Concept in stained silver. (which we might be getting for the store in a little while)

Fray, what about this Okon??

seems prety cool.

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[S_Okon]

Fray, what about this Okon??

seems prety cool.

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you mean this one:

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btw: Have you ever seen an uncool OKON?

 

[oversoul]

yup that's the one!

insane bass! yet i can't figure out the string configuration.

and yeah what was I thinking...Okon= coolness itself

 

[FrayG]

yeah that's a cool bass right there.... if i'm not mistaken it is a 12string but the strings get paired up like you see on guitars sometimes.

 

[BigRedX]

yeah that's a cool bass right there.... if i'm not mistaken it is a 12string but the strings get paired up like you see on guitars sometimes.

6x2 or 4x3?

 

[4Slater]

I discovered Ritter a few years ago when searching custom luthiers.

These basses are works of art..

They are possibly the most beautiful instruments I've ever seen.

You can't possibly play these things live. [unless it's at the Grammy's]

Otherwise, it's like taking a Ferrari to a Hyundai lot and showing off.

very pretentious.

but I guess that's the point.

I think one day there will be a museum filled with these super basses.

 

[S_Okon]

of course you can play them life.

that's what they are built for!

 

[FrayG]

Actually there is a gallery that exibited Ritter basses in Toronto, they are without a doubt true works of art BUT..... these are instruments that in the first place should be played!!

I can see where you are coming from comparing them to Ferrari, but this manufactor will tell you the same as Jens they are ment to be used in a live situation.

They both represent the highest form of construction and design and it would be disrespectfull to the artist to hide them away and just show them off on occasion.

 

[hasadari]

Agreed. They are spectacular and need to be let loose in live settings.

 

[atrapp]

I play my Roya at all kinds of gigs, from worship to rock shows - of course it's insured for 8K!

 

[oversoul]

I've been playing mine a lot too, it's gonna make it's first gig this weekend, and I've also recently recorded an album for a goth rock project with it.