For sale: Steinberger L2

[Plantbrain]

Very Nice shape, a ding on the corner, and a little wear on the other side(pics will show these and are forthcoming). Otherwise in excellent condition and particularly so given the age. Frets in super shape, battery cover still there, back pivot plate, leg rest(have original which broke included, also made one that is the same as original that is included). Fairly new strings. Serial number is 1966. Comes with a meaty heavy duty metal edged case(not the gig bag), could use some new foam, but works well.

Will post pics later.

2100.00 OBO + 50$ shipping(lower 48 USA)
I might trade for a nice condition flea bass or similar.

Thanks,
Tom

[TheRug]

Your bass is most likely a XL2 not an L2. The fist XL2 shipped was #1709.

[Plantbrain]

Yep, it's a newer XL-2, thanks.



Flight style case is pretty heavy duty, I'd suggest new foam or spray coating the existing foam.



You can see the only noticeable dings in this shot, some scuffing on the left, and clip on the right. Neck is nice and ding free as well as the rest of the instrument.





The newer XL design included some major changes after the L2:

* faceplate attaches from the rear
* folding leg rest
* logo engraved/embedded in gel coat finish
* serial number stamped on bridge end of body
* smaller compression fit battery cover on top corner of back w/ no printing
* true double ball headpiece (single ball strings require use of an adapter)

So this leg rest must be from an older L-2, not XL-2. It is broken anyway, but a replacement can be made pretty easily. I have one extra.

Thanks,
Tom

[hifibass]

What you have there is an XL2 "transitional", ca. 1984-85. If the middle knob is a pickup blend with a center detente it's actually an XL2A "tranny", if it has 2 separate volumes and not the blend it's a standard XL2. As memory serves, the latest known "tranny" was S/N 2432 from 1985. The only real part to transition from the L-2 was the legrest. Nice bass. Ken

[Plantbrain]

Originally Posted by hifibass

What you have there is an XL2 "transitional", ca. 1984-85. If the middle knob is a pickup blend with a center detente it's actually an XL2A "tranny", if it has 2 separate volumes and not the blend it's a standard XL2. As memory serves, the latest known "tranny" was S/N 2432 from 1985. The only real part to transition from the L-2 was the legrest. Nice bass. Ken

Tranny bass?

It is a nice bass, I have the older quarter bend leg rest, sucker broke so easily. No wonder they changed that, it's a part made to break.

I got a piece of black acrylic and made it similar to the stock piece. The bass does not look like it was was played much. Normal dings on the corner end. Sounds really good, I'm not fond of it for thumb/slapping though due to not getting the position adjustment right. So it does not get played as much, and then only without the strap(not much good for me) so off to market it goes. It is great for tapping.

Always wanted one, they do live up to all the hype, but it is time to find something I like more.

Thanks for all the background info.
Seems like it was a early model tranny bass then, 1966 S/N.

Flight case is meaty and road worthy, but a the foam is getting mealy. Be an excellent road/travel bass.

Tom

[hifibass]

Andy Yakubic, the founder of Steinbergerworld.com has re-manufactured and sold some of the plug-in Steinberger legrests. Many were lost or broken. There were at least two different versions of these so be careful if looking for a replacement. Ken

[Plantbrain]

Originally Posted by hifibass

Andy Yakubic, the founder of Steinbergerworld.com has re-manufactured and sold some of the plug-in Steinberger legrests. Many were lost or broken. There were at least two different versions of these so be careful if looking for a replacement. Ken

Thanks, I think there's a weak point where the snap pin is bolted to the leg rest. Design flaw, etc. But since it's a stick bass, having the leg rest is a huge deal for many. I saw that web site for the leg rest, the older ones, the curved versions where a lot of $$, the folding ones, much cheaper. Nice the stuff is available at least.

The folding straight versions are widely used today. For me, I do not like sitting and playing, I like holding the bass, the stick basses are very light, so that's not a big deal for me, more how the bass lays on the player and ease of various hand positions.

Getting use to different string spacings etc, I'm fine with, but not adding a 2nd elbow to my arm/hand positions to play the way I want.

My original idea was to get a status streamline, that might actually end up being what I do at some point, but it's another 1K$ in cost above the cost of an XL2 in good shape.

Bass still for sale and offered.

Tom

[Plantbrain]

PM replied

Still for sale

Tom

[Plantbrain]

PM replied,

Still fer sale.

Tom

[Plantbrain]

Bumping it up,

Tom

[Plantbrain]

PM replied

Tom

[Plantbrain]

PM's replied, still for sale

Tom

[Plantbrain]

PM replied too, thanks,

Tom

[shriekback]

Originally Posted by hifibass

What you have there is an XL2 "transitional", ca. 1984-85. If the middle knob is a pickup blend with a center detente it's actually an XL2A "tranny", if it has 2 separate volumes and not the blend it's a standard XL2. As memory serves, the latest known "tranny" was S/N 2432 from 1985. The only real part to transition from the L-2 was the legrest. Nice bass. Ken

This is indeed a very early "transition" XL2, that has several desirable features left over from the L2. One is the legrest, which in my experience is more comfortable (and cooler looking) than the folding model on later XL2s. Andy Yakubik's replacements are meant to be very nice.

Others:

In-house manufactured milled steel hardware, rather than the Korean manufactured (Zen-On) zinc hardware that came later (these do not seem to suffer the bridge string jaw breakage issues common to later Steinbergers). Some argue that the tone is better too (I'm not sure about that).

EMG "SS" pickups that most (myself included) think have a warmer sound than the later "HB" models. (One thing not commonly known is that these are essentially split coil 'P' style pickups in a soapbar housing, giving Steinbergers an unusual and very cool double-'P' pickup arrangement. Just one more thing that gives them their very distinctive tone.)

The transition era XL2s also typically have a more rounded neck profile, like the L2s.

Lastly, a really cool feature on these earlier Steinbergers is that they are wired to accept phantom power. The original phantom unit is all but impossible to find. However, I simply wired up one of the inputs on my AB switcher to carry 18v (from a Dunlop DC Brick) on the third contact of a stereo jack (I just replaced the mono jack and added a standard power jack and about 2" of wire), With a stereo cable I can now run the EMGs and HAZ preamp at 18v. (mine is an XL2A) with no mods whatever to my bass. I can run it without a battery now or keep one in as instantaneous emergency backup. Many on the Steinberger forums have wired in a second 9v. battery into their basses, convinced that the extra headroom is worth the trouble. I'm not sure about that, but it sure doesn't hurt anything, and I now don't need to worry about dying batteries.

Additionally, the new features introduced in the transition models all seem to me to be clear improvements upon the L2--rear-mounted faceplate for a cleaner look, a proper double-ball end headpiece (double ball strings did not exist when the L2 was designed), and an engraved logo rather than a sticker.

If you ask me, this is THE Steinberger bass to have as it has all of the best features. I know that I will never part with mine.

By the way, the only difference between the XL2 and XL2A is that the latter has an active tone circuit (boost bass and treble cut counter clockwise, bass flat and treble boost clockwise), whereas the former has a standard treble cut passive tone pot. Otherwise both are Volume-Pan-Tone. The center detent on the tone is the sure giveaway.

Best of luck with the sale. I hope this helps any prospective buyers.