• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Are Steinbergers still sought after?

#61
I would say that Steinbergers are still sought after and that there is a small number of them in existence, growing population, diminishing number of Steinbergers due to fire, theft, breakage, abuse. The number of people that are interested is greater than the number of Steinbergers in existence so the price remains fairly high. In general, are Steinbergers in demand? No. The company is gone and n one basses are being made. Are vintage Steinbergers in demand by a small slice of the population? Yes.
 
#62
I got my XL-2 slightly used in '86 and it was my main bass for about 20 years. There are no dead spots, the sound is clean, sustains forever, it's awesome to play... not to mention unique and collectible. Some don't like the look, but that never bothered me.

The only reason I've relegated it to my second bass is that it just doesn't fill a room like wood does. The sound is very 80's. My wife describes it as "plucky". A lot of reggae guys seem to like them. Another draw back is that strings are way more expensive.

It makes a great second, tho'. It doesn't take up much room on stage. I still gig it once in a while, just to change things up.

muttleyscream.jpg
 
#68
The first bass I played was a Hohner Steinberger clone, and I later owned an XQ. If I ever came across an XL5W for under $1k, I'd buy it quickly, but that's probably not going to happen.
 
#73
20db pad said:
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.
Click to expand...

Exactly how I feel. They were kind of a fad but I don't think they were really sought after except by people playing in "New Wave" bands. Interesting part of bass history none the less.
 
#74
Kmonk said:
Exactly how I feel. They were kind of a fad but I don't think they were really sought after except by people playing in "New Wave" bands. Interesting part of bass history none the less.
Click to expand...

There was a brief slice of time when they were pretty popular when they first came out. Back when I was 20 or so, there were maybe 8-10 guys older than me who were playing a lot in town and making good money doing it - you could do that back then:D- and about half of them played Steinbergers. They dropped them in short order later, but it was odd to see so many of them playing a certain new bass that wasn't a Fender.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kmonk
#76
Chrisk-K said:
Sting, Geddy & Ross Valory made the Steinberger bass super visible throughout the world in the 80's, and none of them were playing in New Wave bands.
Click to expand...

That's true but the majority of people who used them were in New Wave bands. Geddy and Ross only played them for a short time. My point was that most of the people who wanted to buy them were in New Wave bands.
 
#77
Kmonk said:
Exactly how I feel. They were kind of a fad but I don't think they were really sought after except by people playing in "New Wave" bands. Interesting part of bass history none the less.
Click to expand...
I bought an L2 in the early 80's mostly after hearing the 'Escape" album by Journey & loving the bass sound.
That bass was a work horse for over 20 years & could cover any genre, only downside was getting replacement parts though I had it refurbed at Peekamoose NYC in 2003.
Sold it to a reggae player in Hong Kong a couple years ago on E Bay for a tidy profit, I had an incredible number of hits on that auction.
 
#79
FishDub said:
Particularly the L/XL...or have they gone by the wayside? Thing of the past?
Click to expand...

They were VERY popular in the '80s when they were 'different' - now, they really only appeal to those who just want one.

I worked at a store that sold them in the '80s - and I REALLY wanted to like them - so light, so modern... but I hated the necks, hated the tone. So - yeah.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back