Are Steinbergers still sought after?

[fishdreams]

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.

Don't forget Bill Wyman, also a member of an obscure new wave band.

 

[fishdreams]

I used to have a fretless L2 for a hot minute and I still remember how that bass spoke and sung all over the neck. I'd love to find one again (and have the money)

 

[buldog5151bass]

I remember walking by the storefront in Newburgh where they used to make them, thinking "this will never work".

 

[Chrisk-K]

I bought an L2 in the early 80's mostly after hearing the 'Escape" album by Journey & loving the bass sound.

I had already been into bass thanks to Paul, Edwards, Ged & Squire when the Escape album came out. I still remember the 1st time I heard "Who's Crying Now" on the radio. Although I had no idea who Journey was, I instantly fell in love with the bass tone and bought a copy of Escape.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

You mean like this:

XL2-GR & Roland GR-77B bass synth

Thanks for the link.

Or a GK-3B to VB unit or pitch-to-MIDI. A am sure a Status graphite neck might also work in terms of being free of dead spots, but might cost more. To ebay to find out...

 

[-Asdfgh-]

Don't forget Bill Wyman, also a member of an obscure new wave band.

UB40 also used one, as did Tears for Fears.

 

[klausmajor]

Yep, and Andy West from the obscure fusion combo "Dixie Dregs"!
Still have all their records and love them!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

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.

I bought mine because it sounded great, was easy to carry and move around with, was impervious to changes in temperature and humidity, and would stay in tune for months on end. All that is still true, fashion be damned. The only "New Wave" bassist I remember playing one was the bass player for INXS, not sure if that qualifies. Most of the New Wave guys played garish cartoony guitars in day-glo colors in my memory. I remember seeing Black Uhuru with Robbie Shakespeare playing an LM2, Sting, Geddy, etc. Not sure the New Wave label applies, but that's certainly part of the dated 80's image.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Remembered another one who played a Steinberger: The bassist for "The Fix" (Saved by Zero, Red sky at Night, etc.) Was that considered "New Wave"? That term always seemed meaningless to me once you got past The Cars. I saw The Fix at a bar in Northampton Mass right before they had a few hits, probably the best musicians I've ever been that close to in such a small setting, except maybe Alan Holdsworth. Next thing I knew, they were opening for the Police.

Great example of Steinberger punch. You get the cape and hat as free bonus!

 

[wraub]

Haiku?

Sometimes, I'm compelled
to write Haiku, good or bad.
I also play bass.

 

[David Vector]

Remembered another one who played a Steinberger: The bassist for "The Fix" (Saved by Zero, Red sky at Night, etc.) Was that considered "New Wave"? That term always seemed meaningless to me once you got past The Cars. I saw The Fix at a bar in Northampton Mass right before they had a few hits, probably the best musicians I've ever been that close to in such a small setting, except maybe Alan Holdsworth. Next thing I knew, they were opening for the Police.

Dan K. Brown from The Fixx still uses a Steinberger live...albeit a 5-string Synapse, not the original article.

 

[el basso]

"The FIXX"

Remembered another one who played a Steinberger: The bassist for "The Fix" (Saved by Zero, Red sky at Night, etc.) Was that considered "New Wave"? That term always seemed meaningless to me once you got past The Cars. I saw The Fix at a bar in Northampton Mass right before they had a few hits, probably the best musicians I've ever been that close to in such a small setting, except maybe Alan Holdsworth. Next thing I knew, they were opening for the Police.

Great example of Steinberger punch

 

[spectorfreak]

Thanks for the info.
How much, do you recon might one get a GOOD L1 for , these days?

That's a tough one, I've never even seen a single pickup L in the wild, most of them went to major rock stars at the time, not many of them have even been accounted for, the chances of finding one to buy are slim, but if you did they'd want astronomical money for it assuming it was restored to new like condition which it likely would be by the guys that would have one. If you're seriously shopping STEINBERGER - HeadlessUSA Guitar & Bass - Welcome to the official HeadlessUSA website! is the place. Don Greenwald ends up with a ton of them, he has Jeff Babicz refurb them and sells them for big money, usually starting at twice the original price of a late production bass. Average 4500-6500. He's trying to sell some rare color models for massive money, he has a red one he wants $15K for essentially because it's red and not black or white. Steinberger World is a good info site for details on Steinberger history and model specific info, there's a database on there of ones guys have registered, but it's only around 1000 of roughly 10,000 or so instruments that were made.

 

[spectorfreak]

JJ Burnell also played one though can't find a picture of him with it.

 

[Chrisk-K]

I love this video series.

 

[johnnyhaggis]

Remembered another one who played a Steinberger: The bassist for "The Fix" (Saved by Zero, Red sky at Night, etc.) Was that considered "New Wave"? That term always seemed meaningless to me once you got past The Cars. I saw The Fix at a bar in Northampton Mass right before they had a few hits, probably the best musicians I've ever been that close to in such a small setting, except maybe Alan Holdsworth. Next thing I knew, they were opening for the Police.

Great example of Steinberger punch. You get the cape and hat as free bonus!

Dude from the Fixx still plays a steinberger today, but a synapse. For a while he played hohner steinberger imitations. He's dedicated to the headlessness!

Jamaaladeen Tacuma also still plays his white XL2

 

[pkstone]

I love my XL fretless, and it's still my go-to travel bass. It used to be my main player, until I put a Warmoth fretless neck on my '86 MIJ Jazz -- the resulting frankenbass stole my heart. But I still enjoy playing the XL.

 

[spectorfreak]

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.

Ever considered the HAZ Labs preamp upgrade, although a bit pricey, it's $250, it's a nice upgrade. The reproduction adapters are also available so you can use any string. Don Greenwald has both.

 

[slofut]

I was a big Dregs fan since the late 70's. Andy Wests tone on that bass I thought was just killer and I had to have one. '82 I took $1600 to Atlanta to buy a Steinberger, they gave me one at the store to try and it had a neck like a baseball bat and I have small hands, I was so disappointed. Damn sure had that tone though. Second choice was a Pedulla Buzz Bass and the neck on that one was bowed and the action must've been a quarter inch! Ended up taking home a Kaman Spector NS2. Sad how many music stores back then would not set up their demo guitars! I've still always had a GAS for that first Steinberger, but it'd have to be a deal.

 

[friedlbug]

I saw a band earlier this year with a bassist on a Steinberger. The band was Water Seed, and the bassist had a crazy schtick but was very good (as is the whole band). He really got a great tone out it - thump when needed and funky, too.

*And now that I try to look him up, it seems he must have just been subbing in, so who knows who he was...