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-Ritter Owners Club-

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Hey fellas, I just read in another thread here that a TB'er considers Ritter basses to be "lawyers basses", in the sense that they're bought by people with too much money and not really played (as lawyers are supposedly rich and don't have time for much outside of work).

Now, I don't want to stir anything up here, as I'm sure some will have some strong sentiments when being presented with a statement like that - and some of the last posts here also have many of you saying that you gig your Ritters and that they should be played as much as any other bass. I couldn't agree more, and I wish I had some chances to gig mine, but I'm in between things a the moment - I wouldn't hesitate for a second to play any of my basses in most settings, though.

So, what's my point? I guess... are any of you guys lawyers? And would any of you hang your Ritter on the wall and not play it...?
I guess if you are and would, you probably wouldn't feel comfortable revealing it in this thread, eh...? :p

(Come to think of it, I think a view like that could only be thought of in a country with 1 lawyer per 226 people - just read some scaring statistics :D)
 
Personally I couldn't give a s-h-1-t about what someone else thinks. I love my Ritter and P-ness envy won't get your anywhere!:D

I may only be a humble engineer, but my Ritter is definitely a first class gigging bass - come and see me in my band and you'll see my Ritter!

In saying that, anyone who is fortunate enough to have played (or owned) one of Jens' 'creations' will testify to how great his basses are; from construction, fit, sound, playability, etc., etc. etc.!

(reminds me of a joke by Billy Connolly: two women looking at a gent in a Lamborghini: first one says: "That guy must have a really small P-ness!" The second ones says: "With a Lamborghini, who needs a P-ness!")
 
Personally I couldn't give a s-h-1-t about what someone else thinks. I love my Ritter and P-ness envy won't get your anywhere!:D

I may only be a humble engineer, but my Ritter is definitely a first class gigging bass - come and see me in my band and you'll see my Ritter!

In saying that, anyone who is fortunate enough to have played (or owned) one of Jens' 'creations' will testify to how great his basses are; from construction, fit, sound, playability, etc., etc. etc.!

(reminds me of a joke by Billy Connolly: two women looking at a gent in a Lamborghini: first one says: "That guy must have a really small P-ness!" The second ones says: "With a Lamborghini, who needs a P-ness!")

well put,
having said that... I love my Ritter!
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In all fairness, you could say the same thing about a TON of other exotic (and not so exotic) custom basses. Plenty of other great basses in the same price range, and even higher, as Ritter basses. Doesn't matter what your profession, or income is either. If you're a truly dedicated bassist, then you'll be able to budget whatever you've got and save up for a super nice bass :)
 
Well said, Thunderitter...! I think you express what most of the owners here think, but of course that's just my impression.

And good to see that live pic, Knarleybass! Would anybody in their right mind say that your Ritter looks "misplaced" or whatever in that picture? No way, right?

I also completely agree with Lokire's statement above, I just took it up here as the TB'er specifically stated Ritters as being "lawyers' basses". I can for sure as much as the next guy testify to your point about being dedicated enough to buy your dream bass(es) without the income - I'm paying off a bank loan that equals the total cost of my two most expensive basses, but I'm making it work :)

Now, where are those Ritter-owning lawyers...? :hiding:
 
Well it's sort of the same as guys with average jobs and families buying and modifying cars that might add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars. It doesn't mean they're rich and doing it for the hell of it, it means they're doing something they enjoy and working and budgetting in order to let them do so.
 
To the "lawyers basses" guy, I'm just a working stiff, making no where NEAR what an attorney can pull in, unfortunately, and never dreamed I'd be able to afford a Ritter. Thanks to TB, and an unexpected cash windfall, I'm now an owner of a gorgeous, if somewhat less than mint Ritter classic. There is NO WAY I would let this beauty not accompany me to a gig, no matter where I'm playing! It's a gorgeous creature without a doubt, but first and foremost,... it's an incredible instrument that had one purpose in it's creation,.... to be played!!! Do I love the attention it gets,... of course!! Do I delight in telling the story of how she came to be mine...??? damn skippy I do!!! But most of all,... I love the sound and feel of her,...that's what she was made for and that's what she'll continue to do,.. whether it's in front of thousands of people,...not something that happens very often anymore I'm afraid,..or in a low rent bar,....she'll sing for whoever cares to listen,...and that's the most you can hope for from any instrument. I think I'll go play her for a bit now,.....:hyper:
 
Wow, That's honestly the first Ritter I have not been totally in love with... I guess the body is laminated with some plain wood under the white paint, but it just torments me to imagine that the insanely beautiful burl could be under that..!! :eek:

But when that's said, what I really like about Jens' designs is that he always makes something new, and I'd rather see this than yet another Jazz clone from the countless builders following that trend ;)

I am fortunate enough to have a friend that owns more Ritter basses Than Any store in American possibly the world. So I get the chance to play many. This one in fact is owned by him. And I must tell you The bass is a slamming player. The white part is ash and the rest is burl. When the burl was picked there wasn't enough for a whole bass. So the Ash split was born. Ritter basses can take a good down home whooping and like it! P.S. He was a lawyer/gigging musician.:D
 
Man, this one deserves to be quoted again and again...! I absolutely love the Anniversary basses! :eek:

Seeing them always makes me start thinking I'd want one of those instead of the custom I have on order - but then again, mine will be absolutely AMAZING as well :p:D

I must admit, though, when I saw the Fire Burl from the latest NAMM batch, I bit my lip... hard.

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:eek::eek::eek:

That is just an incredible bass, if I had the cash I'd snap that up in a heartbeat!

Very feminine basses, aren't they? Very shapely.
 
Hey Fullrange, glad to see you here...! :)

So this one is yours, then...?

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Now, what happened to Oversoul... he was talking about selling his Ritter, but who will give out numbers, then?? :hmm:

Yes, this is mine

If Overwater has to give up giving out the numbers, I think that you (Basdyret) should be the one to give out numbers.

I highly respect Ritter (and Jens is one GREAT guy as well as an incredible luthier) and I'd love to be involved but I don't think I can manage giving out numbers in two Clubs (I am the one giving out numbers in the Dingwall Club). IMHO Jens is up there with Sheldon Dingwall, Fodera and Michael Tobias (to name a few)
 
I just got a fast snapshot of my finished bass from Jens...!!! Not the best quality, but my GOD it looks so amazing!! :eek::eek::eek:

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How about that...?? now just that small detail of transferring the balance and having it shipped... :p

And then I'll drown you all in pictures!!! :ninja::D
 
Hey everyone!

Here is mine! #0409: The "Batmobass". It got it`s name when my little brother first saw it, and promptly said that "if Batman had a bass, this would be it". Can I join the club? :)
 

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Hello Beepo!

Very nice Ritter you have there...! I really like that frosted black, it's very Batman indeed :p Does your bass have a pau ferro fretboard, or what wood is that?
Anyway, welcome to the club, you will get number 18.

I think Oversoul has left the club, as he has decided to sell his Ritter, so I will see if I can manage to take over giving out numbers here. I will edit my first post in the thread to include members/numbers, but let's take them here as well:

Oversoul: Roya 641 #1
Basdyret: Roya concept 636 #2
EBMatt: roya 614 #3
Thunderitter: Roya 347 #4
Folmeister: Roya 326 and 602 #5
Hasadari: Okon 428 and Roya 406 #6
Climb: Classic 3202 CL6 FM (older serial) #7
Fullrangebass: Roya 5 465 #8
Brian Barrett: Jupiter 5 (in progress) #9
Arbitrary: Classic 342 #10
John Turner: Roya 443 #11
Knarleybass: Classic 357 #12
Proton Lenny: Classic 4 (serial?) #13
jordanm: Classic 4 (serial?)14#
Stefan Okon: Two Okon models 15#
Atrapp: Roya 515 #16
Voodobassist: Classic 5 #17
Beepo: Roya 409 #18
Johnny O'C: Roya 5 648 #19
WalWarrior: Roya 4 503 #20

EDIT: Alright, I can't edit my first post anymore, I guess there is a time frame for that... Then the member list will just be updated once in a while :)
 
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