Found a Ripper, decisions, decisions

[Highlander]

Get that red beauty down from her windowsill, Herr Bass-Meister... 

After Tony's (Tubehead) treat I only need another 95% and I can have one too...  YEAAAAAHHHHHH (add Fozzie Bear type sound here)

Serious question here, Uwe... how many were made and what do they go for these days...?

[Nocturnal]

How ugly you can be, Dave!

Not as ugly as that 20/20!

[uwe]

I'm currently in London and can't post pics via Blackberry.

How many were built? A few hundred according to one (unverified) source, but you really see them too seldom for that. Unless they have all ended up with Ned Steinberger fans, which is a pet theory of mine. Because paddle bass enthusiasts (yes they do exist) actually know and appreciate that bass, which balances well though it has a chunker of a neck (adding tone) and also innovative details like a nut that can raised and lowered via allen screws for optimal action around the first fret. How many other basses had that back in 1988?

[bobyoung]

There's a 20/20 ad up on eBay now, here.

One look at it and you won't be clamoring anymore. 

Somehow I think Devo could have made use of that bass.
I can't get me no, Satisfaction

[bobyoung]

innovative details like a nut that can raised and lowered via allen screws for optimal action around the first fret. How many other basses had that back in 1988?

Now that sounds like a good idea.

[uwe]

A lot of paddle basses feel like toys to me and don't hang well, buoying (spelling?) around aimlessly. Not the 20/20 though. It is not as light as you might think, szays anchored and has a its modernistic look belying fleshy neck. Once you play it standing up, you forget that it is a paddle. That said, the sound hasn't aged very well. Akin to an RD Artist it has lots of low fundamentals and gleaing highs and presence, yet nothing in between. But you will get heard with that "clank-a-woof" sound. 

[Chris P.]

I played Uwe's 20/20 (*) and I quite liked the sound!


(*) It is still strange Holland won from England last week in a game of a new sort of cricket called 20/20.... The guy inventing the game must have had a 20/20 cricket bat in mind.

[Barklessdog]

But you will get heard with that "clank-a-woof" sound.

Now that was funny!

[Dave W]

Even if you like the sound, the styling just had limited appeal. I'm surprised that the Steinbergers had as much success as they did, and not at all surprised that it didn't work as a Gibson.

[Highlander]

Would a Thunderbird (or a Ripper) still sound like a Thunderbird if you cut off all the surplus material...? (HERESY...! THROW HIM FROM THE BALUSTRADES... STONE HIM... Oh come now, offer him a nice cup of tea, I'm sure it's just a touch of sunstroke, my dear...)

All a steinberger was was an exercise in minimalism, not saying that I'd want one, and even when I went down the "headless" route in the 80's it was for one with a "body", and not a paddle-clone... there were some interesting sounds made with them...

Never having played a 20/20, nor having had the patience to "play" with a pup from one (though it definitely came in handy!) would I have dumped the actives (as I did with my RD) and try to make one "roar"... it is unlikely that I will ever get the opportunity to own one to find out... some may consider that a blessing... 

And just in case anyone was thinking it, no, I have no radical plans to do any "major" alterations to my girls...

[Dave W]

Changing the mass will have an effect. Will it still sound like a TBird? If I owned one, I wouldn't want to be the one to test it.

At least you might have better upper fret access. 

[Denis]

Okay, okay, so the 20/20 is weird looking...

[Stjofön Big]

I bought an old Ripper some years ago. It was a wreck, with P-bass pickup, plus a Jazz at the bridge. That stuff went out, and in went a black T-bird pup. I would say the sound is a lot T-birdish, though with some extra brutality on the top.  (I do not know whether it's got something to do with the body, or if it's completely a matter of PU.) The other guys in the band loves it, but as I don't want to spoil them, I've started using my new Bluebird instead. But, and on this you must believe me, they are still completely satisfied! And so am I! Can't it ever go wrong? (Here is some space left out for stories directly from the heart...)

[uwe]

[exiledarchangel]

So thats your "weirdwall" Uwe?