molan

I have to admit that I'm firmly in the 'I'd only buy one if there wasn't something better available' camp. In the shop I help out in I often see used cabs come in with these covers and the quality and level of protection they offer compared to some of the better manufacturer covers is really not in the same league. I took a few out and put them up against Aguilar and Bergantino covers and the improvement on the original fit ones was huge. I haven't compared prices but, if I'm looking for a cover to fit on a £500 cab, then I'd want something better than a Roqsolid.

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1367189425' post='2062469'] .. Despite the headstock showing a little too much cleavage. [/quote] Lol - I have to admit the first time I saw this bass I thought I looked like the cutaway in the headstock had been modelled by Kingbollock(s) himself

[quote name='Billy Apple' timestamp='1367179598' post='2062311'] I think a mass produced object can be an object of beauty, although Fender and Gibson are also looking at volume sales so they will tone down design in a way that Jens Ritter does not have to. Looking at the Ritters I think it's fair to say he is elevating the instrument above form and function and into art. Do I think they are beautiful, yes, the most beautiful, no. In terms of design I think that Leo Fender got it right very early on. It's a criticism laid at Fenders door that they don't come out with anything new, but when you have the icon of design and function why should you? There are many identical E-Type Jags (well, perhaps not so many now-a-days) but it is a very beautiful car. There are very few Bugatti Veyrons, but they do nowt for me [/quote] I have no argument with you that a mass produced bass can be a thing of beauty - I love my 1963 Fender. However, the OP asked for "the most beautiful bass ever" and my thought was that something that's the same as something else can't the the [i]singular[/i] most beautiful bass - it can only be one of many beautiful basses. I also hear what you're saying about cars but I'm not sure the analogy works as well because there are so few genuinely individual cars out there because the simple tooling cost of making one would be immense. Whereas the cost of making a highly individual bass is far less & there are way more of them in existence

[quote name='MoJoKe' timestamp='1367146990' post='2061648'] More pics [url="http://www.ritter-basses.com/item_info.php?i=617"]here[/url] I'm not normally a fan of Singlecuts and I've while the workmanship is amazing not really wanted to own a Ritter, but got to admit this one is quite something! [/quote] I had a reserve on it for 24 hours but decided that I couldn't justify the money on a fretless

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1367146366' post='2061634'] Got to admit that is pretty radical! [/quote] It's also incredible to play! I can just imagine one with frets - maybe one day. . .

This recent creation by Jens Ritter is absolutely stunning in the flesh. Pictures really don't do it justice. . . This close-up of the headstock gives a better idea of the amazing fingerboard:

If the OP is looking for the single most beautiful bass ever doesn't it have to be a full custom build that's a 'one of a kind' - otherwise it's just a bass that's very nice indeed but looks almost identical to a lot of other basses? This would, therefore, exclude almost all Fenders, Gibsons, Rickenbackers etc. Obviously individual beauty will be in the eye I the beholder but if something looks near identical to many other basses it's not really going to be THE most beautiful bass ever

The MarkBass 1x12 is a fine combo and it works extremely well with the larger of the MB 12" extension cabs - traveller 121H I think. The advantage of the larger traveller cab is that it raises the height of the combo up to where it really works well as a personal monitor. Of course you're also opening up the full power of the head and moving a lot more air. It's a very efficient combination. Still very light weight even with the 2nd cab. You could easily have a combo/cab in each hand and a bass in a gig bag for a one trip journey from car to venue. My personal favourite small rig is an Aguilar TH500 with either one or two matching SL112 cabs. These cabs are even lighter than the MB ones and sound great with the TH500 head. A single SL112 goes deeper and louder than an MB121 combo (IMHO) and a pair of the cabs sounds huge! I know a couple of heavyweight pro players using this set up for club gigs

I saw a few of these at MusikMesse - they really stood out on the Marleaux stand. Looked very cool

The soul / jazz / funk cruises have been going for over 10 years - some pretty good people on these. Marcus Miller and George Duke areregulars, also this year there's Tower of Power, David Sanborn, Oleta Adams, Earth Wind & Fire, candy Dulfer, Gladys Knight, The Whispers, Sheila E, Ohio Players, Billy Paul, etc. etc

On the Fender front - I heard a dealer near me placed an order for no less than 6 new Custom Shop basses at the show. . .

This was the highlight for me - absolutely stunning in the flesh! So much so that I had it on 'reserve' for 24 hours but then decided I really needed a fretted one: http://www.ritter-basses.com/instruments/2012/1246-5.jpg

It's rising. . .

Depends which ones. There are some ok quality Fenders but there are also some really nasty cheap ones

[quote name='james' timestamp='1365486300' post='2040119'] Sounds like Paul Turners don't suppose you know how much it will cost? [/quote] Don't have a price on this yet [quote name='dafonky' timestamp='1366129597' post='2048742'] Ok I would like to have an LM 4-string, ASH, but with a Rosewood neck instead of the maple neck ..... did you ever see such an AC bass ? I would trade for sth else or pay cash for a second hand one..... [/quote] Jimmy will make an LM bass with a rosewood board but I've never seen one. Everyone seems to go for the 'snap' of ash / maple on the LM series.

Really good heads. Well made, reliable and, for me, a great all round tone. Pretty adaptable too and work well with quite a few different cabs

I've been to the factory where these are made - small production batches, lots of handcrafting. Everything I saw was seriously nice

I use a B15'at home and have an Aguilar TH500 for live use. It's obviously not the same but it's the closest I've found so far.

Coming to a dealer for a straight in-store head to head soon: Bergantino CN112 Bergantino CN212 Bergantino HD112 Bergantino AE210 Aguilar SL112 Aguilar DB112 Aguilar DB212 Aguilar DB210 Vanderkley 112MT MarkBass 121H MarkBass 102P Bag End D12D ATS C312X1 ATS C310X1 ATS UL210C Now that could be a fun afternoon running a string of different 10's and 12's all in one place! - hope the orders and sales don't overlap and that they all arrive for a full on session at more or less the same time!

They aren't released yet but the new Aggie P looks cool http://www.aguilaramp.com/products_pickups_AG4PHOT.htm I have their mid 60's P pickup and really like it. They seem to be really going after the pickup market now and every one of their pickups seems to get really good reviews

I have to admit that I tried a Streamliner but couldn't get on with it at all. Sounded boomy and mushy to me and not at all like a classic vintage tube head (which was vaguely what I was expecting). I'd certainly give one another go with a different cab set up though to see if it was an issue with the Genz cabs. However, I'm not sure i could ever trust a GK head as a regular gigging tool. Just too many stories of their heads having quality control issues. I have a feeling it's the Shuttles rather than the Streamliners but it's certainly enough to put me off owning one

http://www.bassgear.co.uk/product-category/accessories/t-shirts/