Steinberger Bass M series(help)

[Ali Jabakhanji]

Hello! Someone in my area put up his Steinberger M series 4 string bass for sale,he got it for ~$800 dollars on ebay and because he's in urgent need for money he is willing to sell it for 650-700 dollars..it's in mint condition and it's a 1991 model. I still did not see or try it but is there anyway to know if it's the real deal? I really dig the look and it's a light weight bass with a grand sound,also it's uncommon to find one nowadays.

So my question: is there a way to know if it is legit?

And is it a good deal?

 

[Gilmourisgod]

The photo is a little blurry, but it looks legit. Should have a serial number etched into the neck on the G string side right up near the neck heel joint. I have an 86' XP-2 with the flying vee body shape, same bolt on carbon graphite neck as the M series, i think. If its legit and all original, definitely work the $650.

 

[Nev375]

I've never seen a fake Steinberger. At least not a convincing one. Kinda hard to replicate the feel of a graphite neck without the real thing. And if you got the time and patience to mess with that then you might as well crank out your own legit instruments. There's definitely a market.

If you get it, play it like you stole it. Cause you practically would be! You might wanna make double sure it wasn't stolen before you though.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Unfortunately, there are Chinese knockoffs on Aliexpress, but the proportions are a little off, and the wood fingerboard and neck are the instant give-away. A real carbon graphite neck is pretty unmistakable.
IN STOCK!!!Steinberger style white colour headless.4 string bass guitar free shipping-in Guitar from Sports & Entertainment on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

 

[Temcat]

In the local classifieds (St. Petersburg, Russia), a very similar bass is listed as a "Chinese replica of Steinberger XM-2" at an equivalent of slightly more than $200:
Invalid Link Removed

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Hmmmm.....
Looking at that photo again, is the fingerboard a brown color? Can't tell on my crappy little tablet. The carbon graphite necks have jet black phenolic fretboards. If that one has any hint of wood fingerboard, its a fake. Ask for more photos of the neck and board, including the serial number.

 

[Ali Jabakhanji]

I asked for more clear pictures,will keep you guys updated thanks for the info!

 

[Paulabass]

I've seen a ton of knock-offs, but never one with a carbon fiber neck.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I've seen a ton of knock-offs, but never one with a carbon fiber neck.

There's the rub, does that look like a dark rosewood fingerboard in the OP's photo? I still can't tell, even on my 17" computer screen. That would be an immediate fakery tell. Here's a link to the serial number database from Steinberger World, if the seller can provide a photo of the #, you can check it out.
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Serial Database Template

Here's a video, identical to my XP-2. The serial number location shown at 00:30. As far as I know, should be the same location on the M Series basses, since the necks are identical.


One other fishy sign on that bass, the Steinbegrer logo is up near the strings. All the M series basses I'm seeing on Youtube have the logo down low.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Things don't look right along any number of avenues...better pics will tell the tale. Real M's had a tighter body waist...this one looks more like the alibaba offerings.

Ask him if the truss rod is functional.

Riis

 

[SactoBass]

The bass in the original post looks fake to me. Below is a pic of a real one (albeit in red instead of white) for comparison. I'm seeing *LOTS* of differences between the real one (below) and the one posted in the original post.

 

[SactoBass]

Here's a real one for sale on the bay. Note the neck stamp in the last pic.

Steinberger XM-2 XM2 Bass, Black, Made in Newburgh NY Factory, Original Owner | eBay

 

[Tim de Martino]

Sorry but its a fake. As well as that, it would likely be a nightmare to keep it functioning properly due to it's low quality.

Cheers

 

[arbiterusa]

Poorly done fake. Sorry. Not even close.

 

[acroce]

The twin dots on the 24th fret make me think it's a fake, Steinberger don't have them

 

[bubba-b]

1. different bridge.
2. lower cutaway doesn't match other xm pics.
3. logo placed adjacent to logo in other xm pics.
4. 'e' and 'a' strings at the zero fret look 'exposed'; as if the string retainer doesn't go all the way left-to-right.
5. fret dots at 24th fret not something that steinberger's are known to have.
6. was assuming it could be a moses replacement neck but with the laundry list that everyone's pointed out, could be a spirit-type wood neck.

sorry, but looks like it's a 'fakeburger' or 'fraudberger'.

if it was me, if i could buy this really cheap, i'd use it at a gig and at the end of the show, go 'pete townshend' on it. all the musicians in the audience would freak out and think i'm rich and crazy bashing a perfectly good 'steinberger'.

 

[mysteryclock]

Yeah, even the headpiece looks wonky from what I can tell.

 

[m2k2p]

at least it is not a Spaceberger....