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Are Steinbergers still sought after?
- Thread starter FishDub
- Start date
They're prized by a certain select clientele that seeks them out. The examples out there aren't always cheap and the fact that a unpopular/unscrupulous dealer owns a lot of the remaining parts and tooling from the old Steinberger factory isn't a plus either.
They were a big thing around 30 years ago. I haven't seen or heard anyone use one on a local, national, or worldwide stage in many, many years. I think Justin Meldal-Johnsen pulled one out a while back, but other than that, they seem to have fallen by the wayside and are more or less a part of 80's kitsch.
I had the XL model when I was younger and still would like to replace it. Great design and a functional piece of art in my eyes.
They were a big thing around 30 years ago. I haven't seen or heard anyone use one on a local, national, or worldwide stage in many, many years. I think Justin Meldal-Johnsen pulled one out a while back, but other than that, they seem to have fallen by the wayside and are more or less a part of 80's kitsch.
I had the XL model when I was younger and still would like to replace it. Great design and a functional piece of art in my eyes.
I kinda want one! It's going to annoy the sh$t out of my drummer.
It's amazing to me that all of the bands I have been around and played with, nobody plays one except me! It's the best gigging bass and the tone effortlessly cuts through anything. But I guess so do hundreds of other popular basses
They were a decade ahead of their time, but unfortunately got lumped in with 80's musical fashions, and a lot of cheap knockoffs diluted the appeal. I own an XP2, which had the graphite composite neck bolted onto a "V" shaped rock maple body. The tuning stability and sustain on these basses is amazing. The screw based tuners are far superior to traditional key tuners IMO, because they pull in a direct straight line with no twisting of the string, so they don't "creep" out of tune. The tuning system has been copied and adapted by others now, and you can buy individual screw tuners. I have since made a mahogany body in a more traditional shape with some body contours, and it plays and sounds better than when it was first built in 1986. Status Graphite makes really nice but expensive modern headless basses. The original Steinbergers have become collectors items now, and the parts are outrageously expensive. (And yes, I did keep all original parts, including the original nomex bag).
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I had one when I was a kid, #554. Sold everything I had and bought it new. Don't really miss it but if I happened to find it I'd probably buy it back.
I guess it surprises me that since I have never been able to replicate my xl's tone, even though I have played and owned hundreds of basses High and low end, why change it? But I also play reggae so that may be why it's my ultimate weapon
Well, they were always kind of a specialized item that some of us loved but most folks never really "got", except as 20db pad said, during a certain period. And of course, the fact that they're fairly rare and have been out of production for decades doesn't really give too many new players that opportunity to try one out. Even if they did, though, the L/XL series are definitely not for everyone.
I've owned several over the years, and I'd pick up another one if the opportunity came to get one for a decent price, but I wouldn't spend $6k on one...
I've owned several over the years, and I'd pick up another one if the opportunity came to get one for a decent price, but I wouldn't spend $6k on one...
Played one for a tour in the late 80s, loved it. Not sure which model, the more triangular body shape.
At the airport customs in London, the customs guy insisted I play it to illustrate that it wasn't a weapon and that I really played bass. The gig bag did look like it was a rifle, and the little metal pop out leg rest and no headstock didn't help either. Too funny, balancing on one leg - plucking and popping as the guy gave long-haired-hippy-freak me the hairy eyeball - lol
ADDENDUM: Great sound, not sterile, focused, punchy, super sustain, even tone, nice EMGs, musical EQ, excellent build quality, light and fun to play, although the no-headstock thing - at the time - was initially disorienting - but that's more the fault of my own hollow headstock taking time to adapt to something very out of the ordinary to me at the time.
Final analysis : loved it
NOTE : wearing camos not recommended during play, though a bullet proof vest might prove handy these days
At the airport customs in London, the customs guy insisted I play it to illustrate that it wasn't a weapon and that I really played bass. The gig bag did look like it was a rifle, and the little metal pop out leg rest and no headstock didn't help either. Too funny, balancing on one leg - plucking and popping as the guy gave long-haired-hippy-freak me the hairy eyeball - lol
ADDENDUM: Great sound, not sterile, focused, punchy, super sustain, even tone, nice EMGs, musical EQ, excellent build quality, light and fun to play, although the no-headstock thing - at the time - was initially disorienting - but that's more the fault of my own hollow headstock taking time to adapt to something very out of the ordinary to me at the time.
Final analysis : loved it
NOTE : wearing camos not recommended during play, though a bullet proof vest might prove handy these days
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I think the Steinberger gig bags actually were repurposed, Steinberger-labeled rifle bags !
C'monnnnn!! =) I think they get the rap that they are too "80's", or some people think they are "sterile" sounding, but Ive received nothing but compliments when playing mine.
Yeah i was looking for a headless four string when i first got into electric basses
Their value seems to remain very consistent, and fairly high. Tim Commerford is using them now, and Cliff Williams mentioned how great they sound in the latest issue of Bass Player. So probably never going to be as high-visibility as they once were, but still going strong behind the scenes.
It just works for my influences.. Some of them are:
Sting, fully fullwood, Robbie Shakespeare, Robert kool bell..of many
Sting, fully fullwood, Robbie Shakespeare, Robert kool bell..of many
