• 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.

OFFICIAL Steinberger Synapse club

PDavyduck

PDavyduck

Apr 9, 2009
398
25
52
Sylvan Lake, AB, Canada
peterdavyduck.bandcamp.com
#1
Awwwwwwwwww Yeah!!

I did the search, couldn't find it so here we go,
a place for all of us lovers of Ned, appreciators of efficiency, fetishists of the fastigium of form & function....

the OFFICIAL Steinberger Synapse Clubb!!!!!!! (and yes, the double 'b' to be the different bunch we are)

:p



anywho, I can not get over the tone/playability of mine and as a recording is upcoming I've been test driving a few preamps and such and all I gotta say is that it's looking more and more like the 'Berger straight into a Radial JDV ...... the pth of least resistance/colouration :bassist::bassist:


l_b4affb636ba444a189b36481476ced7f.png
 
#2
Ok,, count me in for the Synapse club.

My story (and Im stickin to it).

Back in the 80's when I was a young pup I bought a Steinberger copy/knock off,,, as I could not afford a "real" Steiny,,, I forget what brand the copy was.

Many years later, late 90's I revisit the Steinbergers but to be honest did not like the way they felt, played or looked.

About 4 or 5 months ago I discover the Synapse online, I had no idea it even exisited until then.

The Synapse looked way cooler to me than the old school style Steinbergers and now the back of the body has the conture so its not like wearing a block of wood.

After drooling for a few months over the Synapse I ordered one online from MF as no one in Vegas sells or stocks them,,,, so I made the purchase sight unseen and had never even played one.

Got the Synapse a few days later from MF, pulled it out of the box and fell in love with it, plays great, looks AMAZING (I got the black one, a 4 banger), the tone is pretty darn good and I just love everything about it,, but then a problem,, first night of band rehearsal I notice some distortion at a higher volume, but not a big deal, it was hardly noticeable,,,, but then a second problem,,, the Synapse is eating batteries like crazy,, 3 sets of 9 volts in about 30 days,,,,, long story short, the bass had an electrical short so I reluctantly send it back 2 days ago to MF for an exchange.

I am exchanging the Synapse for a much needed MarkBass 115 extension cab to go with my MarkBass Berlin combo,,, have some gigs coming up that I need the extra headroom for.

Sadly the first Synapse I got was not working 100% (it was used when I bought it),, but I loved the Synapse so much I will be ordering another in the next few weeks,,, this time Im just guna order a brand new one.

Getting as defective Syanpse did not put me off getting another one,, I really do think the Synapse is a GREAT bass,,,, one of the best bass's I have ever owned,, and I have owned more bass's than I can even remember.

Anyhow,, even though I do not own a Synapse at this exact moment do include me in the Synapse club as I am mearly in-between Synapse's ;).

On a side note,, I tune/string ALL my bass's BEAD and throw the G string in the garbage,,, the Synapse was one of the few bass's I have ever owned that needed no modification to fit the BEAD strings,,, I just took off the stock EADG strings and put on the BEAD strings and everything fit perfectly ( I used the Steinberger double balls) another thing I like,, the Steinberger strings sound killer and have great tone.

So if all goes according to plan I will be ordering my next/new Synapse in 3 to 4 weeks,,,,,, I iz really missing my Synapse.

Cheers
Davyo
 
#3
Davyo, I hear ya. I got my Synapse completely out of the blue and on a whim but from the moment I saw it and then played it, it was game over. Now the battles begin to gig it!! ;) I'll still have to bring my P-Bass along to 'visually' satisfy some band leaders/engineers, but good lordy barry gordy, the Synapse has opened up a whole new level of creativity for me.

So definitely brother, OFFICIAL Steinberger Synapse Clubb member #2 is you!! :bassist:

cheers,
pd
 
#4
Hey Pd,,,,, and other Synapse Club members ;)

Ordered my new Synapse today to replace the b-stock defective one I had to return,,, so the good news is I got to order it sooner than the 3 or 4 weeks I thought I might have to wait,,,,, and the other good news is it's being over-night shipped,,,,, I was missing the Synapse.

Cheers
Davyo
 
#5
Duuuuudes!!!

It was a total financial stretch when I picked up my XS 4 custom but from the moment I played her, I knew it had to be.

anywho, fast forward a month, I'm gearing up to do a new release with one of my main gigs and heading into rehearsals I was sure to bring along my trusty PBass and.... the 'Berger!!! BigGrin to which I've been getting nothing but the initial smirks, laughs, "80's" comments, and general flak from all of my musical compatriots.

well, after massaging with my Tech21 VT Bass pedal (a new must have for me) the 'Berger has not only been accepted into the fold but is a very welcomed member with comments by the 3rd day of rehearsals being "wow, that thing has such great presence" and "the feel of that [with piezo heavily favoured] is incredible"

so yes, it will be on at least a third if not half of the DVD!!! :d/

and I really do think, that although I absolutely love my PBass and where and how it sits in a mix, you watch, the next few years will see the resurgence of wonderful underestimated gems like our beloved 'Bergers!!
 
#6
Count me in as huge Steinberger fan. My main instrument is a 4 string custom Synapse bass. It's hard to even play another bass after picking it up - so light, so well balanced, so awesome sounding. I use it playing gigs with both my bands. It never fails to attract attention.
 
#13
I picked one up recently. It's a fretless 5-string.

I've had a couple of [ahem!] "real" Steinbergers in the past. Still not sure what I think about my Synapse. On the plus side, it's lighter and better balanced than the classic models. Overall, I would say the ergonomics are much better. And I really dig the piezo element in the bridge. Excellent playability and great mwah when set up properly.

But it has nowhere near the neck stability. I don't expect a wooden neck to be as stable as graphite, but the Synapse neck is supposed to have a graphite core. I guess I was expecting a bit better. Build quality and fit/finish don't seem to be in the same league as the classics, either.

As for tone, I find that it's overly bright, even with the treble turned all the way down. The mids aren't as sweet as I was looking for. Maybe this would be fine for a fretted, but it's a bit of a problem for a fretless.
 
#14
Hi; Been using a Synapse custom 4 string fretted (burgundy) as my 'transit' bass for a few years now and it has been a rock solid performer. Using some D'Addario Double-ball ESXL170 strings, Markbass LMiii into a Bergantino AE210 cab. A very manageable, lightweight rig... civilized for an 'old timer' like me!

I would like to become a member of the Official Steinberger Synapse Clubb, please?

cheers; Don
 
#16
Bought a Synapse 5-string about a month ago after wanting to pick up bass for way too long. So much to learn...

But I gave up making it big in music about 40 years ago so it's all about the fun. My wife rediscovered her flutes a couple of months ago so we've been working our way through the Jethro Tull songbook.

I've been a big blues, jazz, and fusion fan forever.

So - can I join the clubb ?

Thanks.
 
#17
Okay - not a lot of traffic in this thread !

I didn't start the thread but I can count, so it appears this is where we are now.
If you want to be the 'Official Issuance Office of the Numbers' - go for it!

Here's how I read it:

#1 - PDavyduck
#2 - Davyo
#3 - los100malditos
#4 - CelticWarrior72

CelticWarrior72 was the 3rd poster in the thread but Mr Maltidos was so plaintive in his request for #3 - which was granted by the previous Number Issuing Tsar - that I'm in no position to rock the boat. If either of you really cares - fight it out offline and post back a change to the roster. Moving on...

#5 - LanEvo
#6 - sputech
#7 - pacojas - the way I read it, should be pacojas jr - but oh well
#8 - ArtechnikA - me.

If you have any heartburn about the numbers - _you_ update the list for the next iteration.

---rkh
 
#18
I'm still rockin my Steinberger Synapse and my USA Fender P (my two favorites out of my collection of bass's).
The Synapse pictured is my 5 string,, I have since gotten rid if it and am using my 4 string Synapse with the B-E-A-D string set-up/tuning,,,,, ALL my bass's are BEAD, even my acoustic bass's.
Cheers
Davyo
11w361h.jpg

2d76aac.jpg

34sib75.jpg
 
#20
I always loved the Steinberger look and sound, and eventually I got a 5-string Spirit around 15 years ago. Didn't love it because of the painted neck made it feel "sticky" and having two volume knobs sucked, but at least I had a Steinberger and after installing an EMG active preamp in it sounded much better. Well, after the Synapse came out I was in love but couldn't afford 'em. I eventually lucked out one day and found a sweet deal on a dream 5-string fretless Synapse. I was in heaven and promptly sold my Spirit to pay for it.

My only complaint is the string adapters wouldn't fit most strings, and two of them broke the first time I used them. After working with several guitar shops it seems Gibson won't sell replacement parts to fix the string adapter (long story). Oh well, plenty of good double-ball strings out there. I've tried flatwounds and half-wounds (from Status Graphite) on the bass but found the sound to be lacking so I've gone back to round-wounds on it. I've also had complaints from guitarists I've played with because they have trouble seeing what notes I'm playing quickly (there are only fret dots, no lines), but I tell them that's their problem...

LanEvo said:
As for tone, I find that it's overly bright, even with the treble turned all the way down. The mids aren't as sweet as I was looking for. Maybe this would be fine for a fretted, but it's a bit of a problem for a fretless.
Click to expand...
Yea, I gotta agree with you about that...


Anyway, sign me up and give me a number please!
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back