Steinberger headless basses.

[honeyiscool]

How do you like them? I really like Steinbergers from the specs sheet, but never really had a chance to play them. And they look very utilitarian and therefore pretty cool to me.

Do they, for the most part, deliver on the performance that the specs sheet promises? How sturdy are they?

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by honeyiscool

How sturdy are they?

lol!!



I remember when I had mine, I bridged the arms of a chair with it and sat on it. Didn't even budge.

[Tommygunn]

I dug mine. I'm really sorry I got rid of it.

[honeyiscool]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

I remember when I had mine, I bridged the arms of a chair with it and sat on it. Didn't even budge.

D:

Well, I watched a video demo of the Transcale baritone guitar where Ned Steinberger said, if you ever break one of my headstocks, I will buy you a new guitar and send you $1000 cash.

I didn't know if he was joking... since you know, it doesn't really have a headstock... but the dude looks like he has no sense of humor, so.

[NecroticImbecil]

Which era of Steinbergers are we talking about?

I have an L2, and its appeal cannot be grokked from a spec sheet. The specs may seem good, but the bass blows just about anything else away. Every note on every string is strong and clear. The sound is very "warm" and even "woody" if you didn't know better. Sounds closest to my Tobias of all my other basses.

[GM60466]

I owned a L2 back when they were still made one at a time. I paid $1900 for it. I kept it 20 years and sold it for $1500. I purchased a Spirit model a few years ago. Noting like the original.

[rob72]

I've loved the L2 shape ever since I first saw one in the '80s. Have serious GAS for a black 4 string tuned BEAD (if possible), but being in Australia I'd probably have to import and take the risk I like playing it.

[maguire]

I have a 5 string Synapse. As far as the utilitarian nature goes it lives up to the promise 100%. I take it to lessons in NYC winters and it does not detune. That's out of a warm apartment into the cold for a 15 minute walk, into a subway into the cold again (sometimes under 20 degrees) > office > cold > teachers place > cold > subway > home - STILL IN TUNE. It did a belly flop onto the thin carpet on a hard wood floor - no damage - still in tune. The matte finish gets blotchy from hands pretty quickly though.

I started with a Spirit as a beginner and stepped up to the proper synapse 3 months later - sold the spirit and never looked back. I will never need another bass. I love it. The synapse is worth the extra $.

The pickup system is simple and responsive.

[WalterBush]

Originally Posted by honeyiscool

D:

Well, I watched a video demo of the Transcale baritone guitar where Ned Steinberger said, if you ever break one of my headstocks, I will buy you a new guitar and send you $1000 cash.

I didn't know if he was joking... since you know, it doesn't really have a headstock... but the dude looks like he has no sense of humor, so.

He has a sense of humor, I met him when he signed my XM-2A (obviously).

Steinbergers rock. My only complaint is the dirth of wide-spaced 5 strings on the market, and that Gibson hasn't seen fit to reissue a real L2, and replacement parts for original Steinbergers are expensive and hard to come by.

It's bassy, feels great at both extremely low and high action, is simple to use despite some complex stuff going on tonally in the preamp, and if you've got a good right hand it's capable of a large array of tones that all sound good.

They're also built like tanks. Even the wood body on my XM-2A is rock maple and refuses to dent despite being bashed around before I owned it. The bass stays in tune for months on end while seeing very regular use with my '80s band. If it had more than 4 strings, it'd be my main axe.

Oh yeah, they also fit in airplane overhead compartments and travel on busses and light rail easily.

[honeyiscool]

I actually was considering a 5-string Steinberger for the very reason that it seems to have very narrow spacing.

So it seems only one person here likes the new Synapse line.

Has anyone tried the Hohner copies?

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by honeyiscool

Has anyone tried the Hohner copies?

They have nothing in common with a Steinberger.

[iamthebassman]

Originally Posted by NecroticImbecil

Which era of Steinbergers are we talking about?

I have an L2, and its appeal cannot be grokked from a spec sheet. The specs may seem good, but the bass blows just about anything else away. Every note on every string is strong and clear. The sound is very "warm" and even "woody" if you didn't know better.

+1(except I have no idea what "grokked" means).
I own an early L2(see signature) and it is unlike any other bass I've played, and yeah, they're pretty sturdy.

[dje31]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

They (Hohner) have nothing in common with a Steinberger.

Well, the shape is identical, so I wouldn't say they have nothing in common with the real McCoy...

...and I'm not sure if the bridge is genuine Steinberger, or a licensed replica. Function is the same, and tuning didn't drift.

I have a Hohner B2AFL fretless. Quality-wise it's quite good, solid maple neck and body wings. It was a fraction of the price of the real thing (I think I paid $350 for mine back in '88)...but no, it ain't the same. Arguably better quality than most/many of the clones of that time, perhaps because it was an "authorized" copy.

EMG Select pickups and pre-amp, which actually had a passive bypass switch, and didn't totally suck. I always intended to upgrade it, perhaps with Barts, but haven't (yet). Mine's in my closet in pieces, waiting for me to have it refinished, and the pickup/pre-amp upgrade.

But I still pine for the real thing (L2 or XL2)...some day...some day...

[bassclef112]

Originally Posted by iamthebassman

+1(except I have no idea what "grokked" means).
I own an early L2(see signature) and it is unlike any other bass I've played, and yeah, they're pretty sturdy.

LOL! I use the term myself and don't even realize a lot of people find it unfamiliar. Robert A. Heinlein wrote a novel in 1961 called Stranger In A Strange Land and coined the term. It was a very popular read for some time ( I read it in junior high). That word was on plenty of T-Shirts back in the day. An abbreviated definiton is "understand" though it goes much deeper. Great book - give it a read, it holds up extremely well. A true classic by a Master.

Anyway, back to issues at hand. I have an '86 XL-2 (in white - it was a NAMM bass that year according to Steinberger World's serial number base). I can't say enough about it - there is absolutely nothing like it, a true innovation. It will never be reissued in composite - the process was extremely labor intensive, every one handmade around molds. That's why they were so expensive then. Too much investment required to tool up. If you want one don't wait around - you'll just have to save up your shekels and get an original L or XL.

Some people say they sound sterile - I completely disagree and find them to be amazing in sound and feel. Once you get used to it (and it takes much less time than you'd expect) you realize how forward thinking Ned was.

Not bad for an ergonomic furniture designer that didn't even play bass!

[maguire]

Hey Bassclef,

Have you ever tried the Synapse? I'd like to hear your opinion on the Synapse as compared to the L Series. I've never touched an original - I love the Synapse, but that could just be my inexperience!

[Exploiter8]

I love my 80's Lotustein! With that said, I find that my wrist hurts after playing it for an hour or so. I like resting my upper wrist/lower arm on the body of a conventional body style bass, which I can't really do on my Lotustein. I've tried adjusting my strap length, but no dice. It makes the perfect backup bass! Kind of like a temporary spare tire...doesn't take up much space, but it can be a real lifesaver!

X8

[bassclef112]

Originally Posted by maguire

Hey Bassclef,

Have you ever tried the Synapse? I'd like to hear your opinion on the Synapse as compared to the L Series. I've never touched an original - I love the Synapse, but that could just be my inexperience!

maguire - I have never tried one, though I am curious about them. I'll have to see if I can hunt one down somewhere.

The bottom line is Ned has a hand in it. He had to come up with something new (read more practical) that still had the original vibe. I understand the Synapses have tweaks that the L series might have benefitted from (like a bigger body). Bottom line = if you love the Synapse then that's all there is to it, and experience has nothing to do with it. If a bass (any bass) satisfies your needs it has fullfilled its mission! Enjoy!!

[jlepre]

I had a Cort copy back in the 90's that I picked up for $299 brand new. I LOVED it for the compact design, as I was in a Duo, and we played alot of tight spaces. No headstock saved my partner a tuner to the nose on more than one occasion. The only think I disliked was the fact that I broke about 4 strings a year on it. I NEVER break strings anymore, just on that bass.

[MichaelVee]

Every so often, someone starts another Steinberger thread. So, let's roll with this one, but as always, a note to the OP: DSR (do some research) here on TB, because there are a lot of threads on these topics.

The original all-graphite basses are wonderful, but generally are very expensive on the used market. Going that route is not what someone who isn't familiar with headless basses or Steinbergers specifically ought to do.

However, since Honeyiscool made reference to "spec sheets", he may be talking about either Synapses or Spirit XT's, which are the only models in production.

Synapses have some design innovations over the original 80's models. Some enthusiasts poo-poo them, other players love the design. They can be gotten used for 600-700 and thereabouts, and for that price are a good deal.

I have never owned a Spirit XT, but I have played several. They are solid neck-through instruments that feel very substantial.

Enthusiasts dismiss the Spirits, but I have found them to be a low-cost way to enjoy the headless design. They are well-made, and are an excellent platform for mods that kick up their sound considerably.

I still have my three Spirit XZs. The XZs are no longer in production. They are getting harder to find on the used market. You can still find them occasionally for $300-400.

[Richland123]

I can't comment on any new Steinberger models but I own a 1983 Steinberger L2 I bought new and have played for 27 years. I love it and it has delivered the goods for me for a long time.