Derby vs. Rittenberry

Jim Cooley · From: The 'Ville, Texas, USA

I'm thinking about buying a used Rittenberry. I have nice Derby. Both are SD-10s. I really like the way the Derby plays. The pedal and lever actions are extremely smooth. Tone is subjective. By all accounts Rittenberrys are great guitars, maybe some of the best. There's not one available for me to play. Can anybody shed some light on similarities or differences between the two? Are there significant differences in mechanics that make one stand out over the other? Design improvements in the Ritt since Derbys were made? Differences in earlier and later model Rittenberrys?

I realize it's my decision, just trying to cover the bases; looking for input, opinions and observations, especially from somebody that has experience with both.

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

I do own a late model Derby Sd-10 and also a Rittenberry Sd-10, a 2012 model. And I've also owned an earlier Derby and another Rittenberry too. The other Rittenberry was a 2010 model, pretty much the same as my current one.

I like both guitars, so it's hard to compare them. Both have very high quality construction, very precise mechanics, and sound good. I understand what you are saying about the pedals and levers on the Derby; my guitar is set up to operate very smoothly, with very little effort, and slightly longer movement of the levers. The Rittenberry is set up for slightly shorter lever movement, with just a hair more resistance. Still quite easy, but a slightly different feel to it. My Derby, and most I've seen have the ABC pedals one space toward the center of the guitar, while the Ritt starts them more the the left. So that give a slightly different feel too.

I think they're both excellent guitars. All the Derby's I've seen have been very similar in design, while there are some minor differences in the late model Ritts compared to the earlier models. I think Gary is constantly trying to improve them. So I guess I can't really offer much advice, except that they both are good, but with a little different feel, but similar quality. Hope this helps.

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

It was described to me that Rittenberry's have more of a Shobud tone whereas the Derby more of an Emmons Legrande tone. Second hand opinion is the best I can do....

Roger Francis · From: kokomo,Indiana, USA

I owned a PP emmons for 22 yrs and a shobud for couple yrs and i would have to say my Ritt doesnt sound like a shobud its more in the line with an emmons, the only guitar ive played that sounds like a shobud was a shobud, i owned a derby for about 6 yrs and its more in line with an emmons lagrande, my derby was built in 2000 and the knee levers on mine had a little to much travel for my liking but from what Bill M was explaining they must have improved that over the yrs, my Ritt has a great feel and feels very solid and great tone, i have the 2010 that Bill Moore just mentioned and by the way Bill i love the Ritt thanks for selling it to me. you cant go wrong with the rittenberry ( MPO)
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Rittenberry SD10, 2 nashville 112s with telonics speaker, behringer EPQ450 power amp, 705 pups, Telonics FP-100, live steel strings, mogami cords, wet reverb

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

I own a Derby, my buddy has two, another friend has one, and Chubby Howard, who lives close, has one. I work on mine and my buds steels. He and I think highly of them.

Since I work on my own, service is not an issue. From pictures I've seen, the Derby's and the Rittenberry's have notable differences. The Derby has a center "beam" support, that runs the length of the steel. Changing a cross shaft can be a challenge. Most people would never have to do that, but I have, to add a cross shaft. The changer on the Derby is a patented design. A little different from most I've seen, but very similar to the Le Grande. My Derby, I have a later model SD10, has 4 hole bell cranks. Timing of pulls can be a little trickier. Not a problem, if it was set up properly and not messed with or your handy.

I've been told the Derby is the "Poor Mans Emmons La Grand". Derby has a long and great history, having been played by some of the best, BE, TW and so on. If they were not good or even great steels, that would not be the case, in my opinion.

I would love to have a Rittenberry. But, can afford only one main steel, and I have a Derby. As good as most and and better then some. Highly under rated and pretty reasonably priced because of that. Again in my opinion.

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