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Topic: Rittenberry built Nashville LTD |
Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2008 6:41 pm |
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How many Ritt LTD owners out there? If everything goes well I'll be getting a Doug Jernigan D10 model soon. It's like Christmas all over.
Tony |
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Stan Paxton
From:
1/2 & 1/2 Florida and Tenn, USA (old Missouri boy gone South)
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Posted 22 Jun 2008 8:36 pm
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Tony, or anybody else what knows: is there ways to tell for sure if one is getting the Ritt built LDT as opposed to the "other" built LTD? I was a little familiar with the original Ritt built LTDs a number of years ago before the change in ownership, but had no opportunity see them after, so don't know what to look for.
Thanks 
_________________
Mullen Lacquer SD 10, 3 & 5; Mullen Mica S 10 1/2 pad, 3 & 5; BJS Bars; LTD400, Nashville 112, DD-3, RV-3, Hilton VP . -- Gold Tone PBS sq neck; Wechter Scheerhorn sq neck. -- "Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone." -anon.- |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 4:31 am
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The one I'm getting is from a friend and he bought it from Gary.
Tony |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 7:34 am
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Nashville LTD built by Mr. Rittenbery owner here! 
I love the guitar. I dont have alot of experience with other guitars, but most people that sit down at mine comment that they like it and that it has good sound. It certainly is solidly built with no tuning or other mechanical issues at all. Broke my first string just last week (had the guitar for 2.5 years now).
As for telling a Rittenbery build from the others, there are serial numbers on the bottom and my teacher who sold me the guitar was able to contact Mr. Rittenbery and get confrimation from him that he had built the guitar. From what I hear of the other guitars, you might be able to spot some funky mechanics on the underside. The Ritt has nicely machined parts, all nicely and neatly assembled...no cobbling, no weird looking welds etc. |
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Billy Henderson
From:
Portland, AR, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 9:09 am Rittenberry Rebuild
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| Mine was an original 3 x 5 LTD but totally rebuilt by Gary. Weighs in at 40 pounds in the case. A real looker and BALLS bigger than any Tennessee Stud out there. Try one, see for your self. |
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Ron !
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 2:20 pm
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My wife owns a 3x4 build by my ole pal Gary.
Gary builds the best sounding,playing guitars I have ever heard.I am playing that little LTD more then my own guitar.
The sound in it is just unique and one of a kind.You Cannot go wrong with a Rittenberry.Once you have one you will never get "Rid" of it.
Ron |
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Tony Dingus
From:
Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 3:26 pm
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What pickups do you guys have on yours? The one I'm getting has GL E66.
Thanks for the coments.
Tony |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 3:44 pm
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| Tony Dingus wrote: |
What pickups do you guys have on yours? The one I'm getting has GL E66.
Thanks for the coments.
Tony |
that would be the same as mine Tony.
I've had a couple pros compliment the tone of my guitar ...while they were playing it, not while I was 
I hear Gary is a real nice guy and provides excellent customer service as well. |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 4:08 pm
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What does "LTD" stand for?
Wally |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 4:55 pm
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| I'd just be guessin Wally, but my guess would be that it stands for Limited. This is a commonly used abbreviation after a company name...something about limiting the liability of the company...I got no legal or business smarts so I dunno. |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2008 6:06 pm
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Hey Ben,
That was my guess also, but with initials like MCI, JHS, MSA, BMI, etc., I was not sure. And if it is "limited", what was the limiting factor?
Wally |
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Larry Moore
From:
Hampton, Ga. USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 6:26 am L T D
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How do you tell if it is a Rittenbery model?
I know where one is that has Doug's name on it.
Also has a tuner in between the necks.
Don't know about S/N
Larry |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 7:52 am
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well Wally, I dont know much about the Nashville LTD. company, but I think at one point it was a partnership between Mr. Rittenbery and a now deceased fellow named Ed Naylor (forgive me please if I have the name wrong). I think "limited" somehow relates to a partnership and limits the libailty of the partners ( I am not sure what Liability is involved with a steel guitar). I suspect the reality is they just chose to add "LTD." cause it sounded fancy
maybe someone with a lick of business savy could set us straight? |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 12:48 pm
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Ben, NO! Gary Rittenberry and Naylor were NEVER in biz together, Naylor bought the rights to Gary's company and never paid him the full amount, there was a lawsuit, Gary won but Ed Naylor still never paid him.
Ed owed me several thousand also but took all the procedes from both companys and moved to Ohio, This was after he served time in the Gallatin city Jail in Sumner co. TN. jail. I got Ed out several times, then his lawyer advised him to leave the state, which he soon did.
I restarted the "Steel Guitar World" retail company I had after Ed left Nashville and changed the name to Steel Guitar Nashville.
Ed was never in busniss with anyone but he caused many folks a lot of heartache in Tenn. and several other parts of the world.
The two "Nashville LTD" guitars that Ed Naylor finally built were so horrible that he got in another world of trouble in Ohio.
Ed was a WALKING DISASTER. He caused Gary R. many sleepless nights, over a year of lawsuits and after this mess, Gary built a few guitars under the "LeGarrett" name. (The cover of my new CD,"Nashville Country" is a picture of me playing a LeGarrett on the Grand Ole' Opry with Jean Sheppard in '89. A great guitar).
The fastest way to get on the wrong of Gary is to mention Ed. (Me too! Along with getting on the wrong side of forum member Charles Davidson and many others).
When Gary decided to actually go back into production years later, he, at my prodding along with several others, to use his own name. "Rittenberry".
The "LTD" in the original steel guitar name meant nothing, just like the Peavey LTD 400 amp of the era. Ben, you guessed correctly!  (LTD meant nothing)
Bobbe
Bobbe |
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Lyndel Anderson
From:
Bloomington, Indiana, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 3:20 pm
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| Bobbe, Did Ed Naylor only build 2 Nash LTDs? I own an SD10 3+5, built by Gary and it is a great steel. How much difference is it from the new Ritts? It has a Geo L PF1 now. Would you recommend a Lawrence 705 like the new Ritts have? I would like a little less harsh sound. Sorry about all the questions, but you are the MAN! Thanks, Lyndel |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 3:42 pm
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| Bobbe, thanks for setting me straight. I only had a very vague notion of Ed's involvement or lack thereof with the Nashville LTD brand and had caught wind of some vague implications regarding his unfortunate reputation. When i asked a very well respected steel guitar repairman about this brand of guitar online before purchasing it, he told me to run away from it as fast as i could because he had the unpleasant experience of working on some of the Naylor guitars i guess. I am glad I trusted my teacher and my own beginners assesment of the instrument and purchased it anyway , because I truly believe it is a great guitar..at least i feel very fortunate to own it. I am sorry to have brought up Mr Naylor as i dont want this to be a rehashing of his shortcomings and misdeeds, or cause Mr. Rittenberry any distress...I am glad Mr. Rittenberry has his own brand now and is getting the respect he surely deserves for his fine craftmanship. i wish him all the success in the world with it and if your reading Gary, thanks for making an awesome guitar..Im loving it. |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 5:06 pm
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Bobbe, You da man. You don't know how many times I've wanted to tell that story, but would never do anything to hurt Gary. Yes Gary went through some very painful times because of Ed and you just touched the surfice, as both of us know. I've came to Gary's defense many times here on the forum and I'm sorry if I hurt someone fellings, but I love Gary Like a Brother. Gary is one fine person.
_________________
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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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 5:20 pm
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Well, I would have to venture to say, after all the revelations here, that perhaps and fittingly, LTD stands for........dare I say it, LONG TERM DEBT! 
Wally |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 25 Jun 2008 5:47 pm
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Wally, you have a way with words!
Mr. Dobkins, YES! 
Lyndel, a lot of difference, but the basic measurments are the same, the angels are in the details, BIG TIME! But then, Gary never did build a bad guitar.
The nice things that have been said about Gary's personality??? All very true, a great honest guy in every regard.
Bobbe |
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Ron !
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Posted 26 Jun 2008 8:11 am
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| Quote: |
| The nice things that have been said about Gary's personality??? All very true, a great honest guy in every regard. |
Amen to that.
Absolutely true.....Gary is a real gentlemen and a "Rock" to deal with.
Ron |
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Steve Hotra
From:
Camas, Washington
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Posted 26 Jun 2008 9:04 pm
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| Ron Steenwijk wrote: |
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| The nice things that have been said about Gary's personality??? All very true, a great honest guy in every regard. |
Amen to that.
Absolutely true.....Gary is a real gentlemen and a "Rock" to deal with.
Ron |
I'll be the third one to say "props" to Gary Rittenberry. I purchased a used 2007 Ritt.
Its my 1st purchase of a psg.
Being new, Gary was more than patient with me, answering questions about the guitar.
I'm glad to see that things are looking better for him and his guitars.
_________________
Guitars: Rittenberry SD S-10, Gretsch Black Falcon. Effects: Wampler Paisley, Strymon Timeline, Sarno Earth Drive.
Fractal FM9
Amps: Mesa Express 5:25, Jazzkat Tomkat & Boss Katana head / various cabs. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 26 Jun 2008 9:46 pm
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Bobbe,Glad you mentioned my name,The best thing that came from the nightmare relationship I had with Mr. Naylor was my meeting you after you took the store back over.The ONLY man in my life I had to have arrested.But that's a loooong story.DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 26 Jun 2008 10:16 pm
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Charles, there were several other steelers that also had Ed Naylor arrested. I got tired and broke trying to get him out of jail, so I stopped and he was told by the police to leave the state. He left with a great amount of debt, several customers guitars and several other things I'd better not mention that were much worse.
The thing that made me hurt was the cruelty to animals charge he managed to slip out of.
But this is over and he won't be doing these things any more but he sure left a lot of damage.
Bobbe |
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Ron !
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Posted 27 Jun 2008 6:57 pm
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| Quote: |
| The thing that made me hurt was the cruelty to animals charge he managed to slip out of. |
This is very confusing Bobbe.....I always heard that Ed was good to animals and homeless people.People told me that his door was always open for the homeless and needy.
Ed even sold a set of strings with the name "Barker".Are you telling me that this was just another scam?
Come to think of it.....Ed send me a package once(while I was still living in The Netherlands)with a set of Sho-Bud swivels and a set of these strings for free.In that package was a note in which he explained his love for animals.
Enlighten me a little here Bobbe.
Ron |
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Bobbe Seymour
From:
Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 28 Jun 2008 10:51 am
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He may have claimed to "Love" them, but the way he treated them got him in trouble with the law more than once. To me, this is horrible. His professed love for animals was a deceitful way to attempt to endure himself to others.
I always had a kitty or two in my store, Ed hated them and once before I knew Ed to well, I had him watch the store for me for a couple of hours, when I came back, the kitties were forever gone. He claimed he gave them to a little girl that came in the store, but I seriously doubt this after he told me he was going you kill his girlfriends cats somehow.
I have had no animals in my store since, but have rescued many strays and have four puppies and five kitties at home. My family! And as many of you know,
I do what I can for these helpless little crechers that have only us to look out for them.
NOW, I'd like to say something in Ed's defense, Ed was seriously a little nuts, this is a statement that was confermed by his doctor in 1987. He admitted it to me and during the time I knew him I also confermed it with his medical personal.
So this was a possible legitimate excuse for his eratic behavior. Ed was very likeable, but only if if he wanted to be, if he liked you or wanted something from you, you were his great friend. If he owed you money, a guitar, parts or what ever, good luck collecting.
I still have folks call me wanting to know if there is any way they can get there guitar or money from his estate. No chance that I know of, his parts cashe? Probably gone forever.
Remember, he probably couldn't help his actions because of his mental condition, so ,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Bobbe |
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