Smithsonian Institution Acquires the Eye of Horus Bass Guitar Made by Jens Ritter

Jens Ritter next to Stradivari & Amati… The Smithsonian Institution acquires “The Eye of Horus” bass guitar made by German master instrument builder Jens Ritter.

The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. – administered and funded by the government of the United States of America – is the world’s largest museum and research complex. It has a very famous collection of musical instruments containing legendary violins like the Stradivari “Greffuhle” or the Amati “King Louis XIV”.

For the instrument species “electric bass guitar” the museum owns the well-known first instrument of its kind – the so-called “Precision Bass”, designed by Leo Fender (August 10, 1909 â•„ March 21, 1991), the inventor of electric basses himself.

Now – in July 2011 – the Smithsonian Institution has officially acquired a second object of the instrument species “electric bass guitar”: The â• ?Eye of Horusâ•? bass – made by the German master instrument builder Jens Ritter (born July 11, 1972). From now on, his instrument is part of the museum’s permanent collection.

The “Eye of Horus” bass was custom-designed for the celebrated bass player Phil Lesh – a founding member of the legendary “Grateful Dead”. The instrument is a Jupiter-style six-string bass guitar with a black Piano Finish. The neck features a silver Egyptian-inlay design and blue LED lights.

Dr. Jonathan Singer
Consultant Smithsonian Institution

Visit online at www.ritter-instruments.com