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Topic: Rittnebury Steels, Awesome guitar |
Albert Svenddal
From:
Minneapolis, MN
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Posted 25 Jul 2011 11:07 am |
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I had the great opportunity to visit Gary Rittenbury at his shop near Cookeville, TN and to play one of his new steel. I must say I was extremely impressed with his guitars.
It has awesome and firm pedal stops, which I really liked and the action is so easy and no string buzz at all on the first fret. But the thing that impressed me the most was the tone versatility. You could go from an Emmons to a Sho-Bud sound by flipping a switch.
There is also little to none cabinet drop. I know because we measured it with my Peterson Strobe tuner. Also, the E strings return perfect every time. Something else that is cool, there is a separate tuning device for the half-stops so they can be tuned independently.
Gary is a great guy to talk to and visit with.
Overall, I give it an A+ in my book.
Sorry, I didn't take photos. Forgot to bring my camera.
Albert
_________________
Williams D-12 9x7, Emmons PP D-10, 8X5, Quilter SteeAire amp. |
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Jody Cameron
From:
Angleton, TX,, USA
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Posted 25 Jul 2011 11:40 am
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| Albert I agree with all you said. I'll give Gary an A+ as well. So far, he has a 4.0 GPA! Jody |
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George Seymour
From:
Notown, Vermont, USA
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Posted 25 Jul 2011 1:27 pm
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And in a few short weeks I'll have one in my posession  Driving straight to the source in TN.
Really looking forward to it!! |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 25 Jul 2011 1:51 pm
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I picked up a guitar from Gary at Dallas in March of this year.
This guitar is absolutely perfect.It is everything one would want from a guitar.
Gary is an extremely nice man and an awesome builder.
Best regards
Billy |
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Mike Archer
From:
church hill tn
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Posted 25 Jul 2011 3:45 pm Ritts
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yeap Gary builds a great steel guitar
and is a first class guy too
I plan to have a new one next year
myself right now I have 2 of the older ones that are tone machines
RITTs are #1 to me!!
Mike |
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Jim Hollingsworth
From:
Way out West
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Posted 25 Jul 2011 4:55 pm
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Amen! They are the BEST!
Jim |
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Dennis Lee
From:
Forest Grove, Oregon, USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2011 6:11 am Rittenberry.......................yes!
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Another Amen to Gary Rittenberry and his guitars. I first purchased the teal green one from a photo on Bobbe's website. I was not disappointed! The most beautiful tone I had heard to date. I should have kept that one, but went on to have Gary build me a new "black" SD-10 in 2008. There is no other guitar for me. I'm also planning another guitar in the future too, either a U12, but more likely, and extended E9th.
Love ya Gary! |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Roger Crawford
From:
Griffin, GA USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2011 8:51 am
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| Albert, now you know what we're talking about! |
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Jody Cameron
From:
Angleton, TX,, USA
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Posted 26 Jul 2011 10:10 am
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| Billy, I had the pleasure of sitting down to your guitar in Gary's booth in Dallas. It plays great, and really has something special tone-wise, IMO. Hope you enjoy it! Jody |
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Billy Murdoch
From:
Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.
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Posted 26 Jul 2011 11:40 am
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[/b]Jody,
thanks for leaving a few good licks on My guitar.
When I got home I wondered how I managed to play so well.
I probably would have got there eventually with such a good guitar.
Best regards
Billy |
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Ivan Posa
From:
Hamilton, New Zealand
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Posted 26 Jul 2011 12:59 pm
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| Hey you Billy,I see in the post under this one that you can get a Denim leg bag for your Ritt. A perfect fit dont you think. |
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Paddy Long
From:
Christchurch, New Zealand
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Posted 26 Jul 2011 3:17 pm
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Ivan - Billy told me he was just going to stitch up the sleeves of his denim jacket and use that
_________________
14'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
08'Zumsteel Hybrid D10 9+9
94' Franklin Stereo D10 9+8
Telonics, Peterson, Steelers Choice, Benado, Lexicon, Red Dirt Cases. |
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Jim Hollingsworth
From:
Way out West
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Posted 26 Jul 2011 9:50 pm
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Larry Bell wrote: I wasn't aware Gary would build a 12-string.
The good news ( for 12 string players) is that Gary is now building a 12 string guitar. So I spose there is hope for Universal fans.
Gary is also working with me to develop a 10 string single neck "C6 universal" based on Paul Franklin's pedabro tuning. It'll be mostly C6 with the E9th pulls pitched to the key of C. I have those changes on my current D-10 Ritt as an experiment - it worked out quite well and I want to pursue it in an SD -10.
Anyway, Gary builds fantastic guitars & is beginning to build some far reaching models.
Jim |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 4:37 am
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TOO COOL!
Thanks for the info, Jim.
It's next on my list. The ones I've played sounded like a cross between a push-pull and a ZumSteel. That's a good combo in my book. Just never seen a 12 string and that's all I play. Good news.
BTW, Jim, I used a very similar C6 tuning on the back neck of an MSA D12 in 1975 (E to F and G to A pulls to emulate the I->IV of E9). I found the U12 (either E9/B6 or B6/E9) a much better way to get the 9th tuning sounds with chromatic strings intact. Your open tuning could be either E9 or B6.
FWIW -- thanks for the info on Rittenberry guitars -- I'll get in touch with Gary. I'll be in Nashville next week.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12 |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 27 Jul 2011 9:53 am
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Larry, I've had mine since November, I couldn't be happier with it.
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 28 Jul 2011 9:14 pm
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I have had mine a couple of years now and I really like the Rittenberry. I think the Rittenberry has it all, great price, tone, looks, plays well and stays in tune. Gary is a master builder and innovator as well.
Thanks Gary for building a work of art. |
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Tommy Alexander
From:
Friendswood, Texas 77546
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 5:33 am Rittenberry
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Well, since we talking about the Rittenberry PSG, I thought that it would be great to mention Gary's building technique.
My new all wood guitar has got to be the ultimate. This guitar has excellent tone, but has a smooth edge and has a different tone on my mica.
If you haven't seen the two guitars, then here they are. Don't pay any attention to my attire; it's not my stage clothes, but my pj's on a Sunday morning at 7am.
But to show Gary's ability, notice the stain on the front apron; it matches my pj's; is he good or what??
It's just a Sunday morning comin' down!
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Tommy Alexander
From:
Friendswood, Texas 77546
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 5:39 am Rittenberry
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I missed the other picture; it should be there.
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Tommy Alexander
From:
Friendswood, Texas 77546
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 5:41 am Rittenberry
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Well, two showed up instead of one; you get two for the price of one
Have a great day for "steelin" |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 31 Jul 2011 6:20 am My Rittenberry
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Here's my Ritt. This pix was taken at the recent Branson show. I got a lot of compliments on its looks and the sound. The more I play it the more I love it.
 [/b]
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Jim Hollingsworth
From:
Way out West
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Posted 1 Aug 2011 8:54 am
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Nice lookin' guitar Bill!
Jim |
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Dennis Lee
From:
Forest Grove, Oregon, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2011 3:44 pm Hey Bill!
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I like those loafers you're wearing, Bill. They look a little like my steel shoes. Can't wear cowboy boots, they just get the toes hung up in the pedal rods. All beautiful guitars. That new wood guitar looks to be a 12 string. Am I correct?
Hats off to Gary for being the genius he is! And below is a photo of the Rittenberry that started a landslide.
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2011 3:56 pm
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Thanks Dennis, No mine is a SD10. Those shoes have been around for a while. I only wear them when I play steel. I'm seriously thinking of polishing them before St Louis 
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Dennis Lee
From:
Forest Grove, Oregon, USA
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Posted 2 Aug 2011 5:45 am Tommy's new Rittenberry
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| Bill, I was thinking Tommy's new single is a 12, or am I incorrect. Like you, Bill, mine are also just my steelin' shoes. They do get polished once in awhile. Are we related or something? Maybe you're my long lost Brother. |
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