Steinberger Club

[Rozeg]

Hi,

looks like a nice place for a first posting. Although mainly being a guitarist, I've bought my 4th Steinberger bass (well, 3 + one NS Design Radius) yesterday

Welcome to the club!
Some folks here would really appreciate it if you share your experience with the Radius bass in as much detail as possible, as it's a very new model, and apparently no one here has tried it yet.

Oh, do I get a number? And if so, what do I do with it?

The last time a number was taken here in post #334. You can copy that list and choose the next available number you like best
The numbers are good to represent what the club looks like as a whole. They also make your profile more personalized, I use them in my signature for headless folks to see that I share their interest, if that makes sense to you.

 

[Be_eM]

The last time a number was taken here in post #334. You can copy that list and choose the next available number you like best

0001...Number 11
0002...AphekGreg
0003...WalterBush
0004...Palmann
0005...Gleneg61
0006...bungalowbill
0007...Deepwoods
0008...Bornagnhooligan
0009...pacojas
0010...Rozeg
0011...Stacker
0012...pkstone
0013...Sid fang
0014...rd2rk
0015...ThaRoadWarrior
0016...80jazz
0017...jphovercraft
0018.. Neo Land
0019....Macrocosmcwh
0020....ChoppyJalepeno
0021...76harvester
0022...dsinvitis
0023...DrDAV14
0024...zulufumk
0025...Be_eM

Correct?

Some folks here would really appreciate it if you share your experience with the Radius bass in as much detail as possible, as it's a very new model, and apparently no one here has tried it yet.

Right now that bass is out of my hands, but I hope it'll be back soon. The story behind it: last year I've written several articles about Steinberger guitars in a German guitar magazine (together with another Steinie addicted friend), and he also wrote similar articles for the related bass magazine. So, knowing these guys from the magazines, I thought it might be a good idea to have a Radius bass review as soon as possible. Knowing the right people helped me to get a CR5 Radius bass right out of the second production run, and right now (after staying here over a weekend) it's in the hands of the reviewer. The review will be published in the September/October edition of the BassQuarterly magazine.

My first impressions: a really beautiful instrument, lightweight, and very comfortable and easy to play (even for me as a guitarist). The tonal flexibility is fantastic, with the active EQ and the magnetic/piezo blend option. Right now everything else I can offer is some pics:

Invalid Link Removed

Enjoy

Bernd

 

[Flux Jetson]

.......
My first impressions: a really beautiful instrument, lightweight, and very comfortable and easy to play (even for me as a guitarist). The tonal flexibility is fantastic, with the active EQ and the magnetic/piezo blend option. Right now everything else I can offer is some pics:

Enjoy

Bernd

Holy CATS! That bass is friggin beautiful! When did Ned redesign the headless bridge to that setup that does not require the rear of the body to be reshaped to accomodate the tuning knobs? At face value I really like the ~front facing~ tuning knobs a lot! However I don't know if that design is better/worse than the old original headless bass bridge style with the tuning knobs sticking out the end of the body.

Really a fine looking piece of work! The only thing I'm ~iffy~ on is the knurled screw on the back of the body that secures that control cavity cover. And until I get more educated or some positive information on the bridge setup (lack of per-string intonation adjusment) I'm a little "Hmmm.." about that as well.

But, knowing Ned to be the innovator that he is, I can't imagine that whole setup being crappy. It will be good to learn more about that entire setup!

Also, does it require double ball strings? And what is the nut and bridge made of? It looks like either stainless steel or aluminum.

 

[Be_eM]

Holy CATS! That bass is friggin beautiful! When did Ned redesign the headless bridge to that setup that does not require the rear of the body to be reshaped to accomodate the tuning knobs? At face value I really like the ~front facing~ tuning knobs a lot! However I don't know if that design is better/worse than the old original headless bass bridge style with the tuning knobs sticking out the end of the body.

It's a completely different principle. There are no jaws pulling the string longitudinally back, so tuning knobs at the rear end aren't of any advantage (technically).

You can read more about the bass on Link Removed or here, on our Invalid Link Removed page of April 2012.

Really a fine looking piece of work! The only thing I'm ~iffy~ on is the knurled screw on the back of the body that secures that control cavity cover.

That screw only holds the small cover for battery access.

And until I get more educated or some positive information on the bridge setup (lack of per-string intonation adjusment) I'm a little "Hmmm.." about that as well.

But, knowing Ned to be the innovator that he is, I can't imagine that whole setup being crappy. It will be good to learn more about that entire setup!

Well, the Ned's upright basses don't have that either. You can adjust intonation by moving the bridge back or forth separately on each side.

Also, does it require double ball strings? And what is the nut and bridge made of? It looks like either stainless steel or aluminum.

No double ball strings, any standard string will work. And the nut is made of aluminum (by Hipshot). Not sure about the bridge without the bass at hand.

Bernd

 

[dje31]

^^^ the NSD Radius does not require or even use double ball end strings. I think it might even have some kubicki bridge DNA to it.

 

[Be_eM]

^^^ the NSD Radius does not require or even use double ball end strings. I think it might even have some kubicki bridge DNA to it.

If I understood Ned correctly, the bridge system was originally developed for guitar and has then be used on his violins. So it's a tested and proven system. I guess we will see it on his (yet to be finished) guitars as well.

 

[tuci77]

I have a Newburgh series and a Synapse !! Willing to sell both !!

 

[tuci77]

so why are you selling it?

~ How much and send some pics my way !!

 

[number11]

Good to see you here, Bernd!


That looks beautiful, by the way!

 

[number11]

Hi Bob


Lovely 5


I personally like when they're not too clean, it means I don't feel so bad about mistreating them.


Personally I wouldn't bother with a legrest, as the strap is the way to practise, and I never use any othe ones I have.

I certainly wouldn't put a foldoing one on, for many reasons - graphites not easy to drill, and you'd need to put in those brass retaining nut things, but also you'd be adding to the damage done


if you want one, they're not cheap, but don't lose it and it will last forever.


Best

Mick

Finally, the Steinberger arrived... a '83 Brooklyn made L2/5 narrow.
Not treated very softly but rather as a working horse, i would give her a 6/10. Some of the screws are replaced or missing, the jack-cavity has a crack, the leg-rest and logo sticker are in bass-nirvana too.
After a cleaning, restringing and a setting up the bass shows its true character: plenty of punch and a rich overtone behavior; nothing like sterile, artificial or plastic as some of the "experts" describe.
The lower B is a bit less articulated and tended to Stratits when arrived, interestingly it still occurred by lowering the bridge-pup (as i did on my '62 AVRI-Strat) but when risen up again the double tone disappeared mostly.
The narrow spacing demands a little adaption, in a couple of days i'll be into it.

 

[Be_eM]

Good to see you here, Bernd!


That looks beautiful, by the way!

Thanks, Mick. Even better: yesterday it came back from the reviewer, now it'll stay here. Looking forward to see the first draft of his review

Bernd

 

[HeavyDuty]

I've been Steinberger free since I sold my XM2A off a few years back - I was making a concerted effort to go all five string, and I couldn't justify keeping it.

Lately I've been giving serious thought to picking up a Synapse five. Consider me a club member in spirit if not currently in fact.

 

[Be_eM]

Lately I've been giving serious thought to picking up a Synapse five.

Then it would probably a good idea to get one while they're still available. Although Epiphone denies (still in production and delivered, they say), most Steinberger models on the official dealer websites are marked as "out of stock/out of production".

 

[HeavyDuty]

I'd probably be picking up a used one, so I'm not really too concerned.

 

[HeavyDuty]

This one made certain parts of my body twitch - a red Newburgh XM2 passive at BassNW:

http://bassnw.com/Used Basses/steinberger_1989_xm2_red_4_st.htm

I've always loved red on XMs but I prefer a single pickup, five strings and a wider spacing nowadays.

 

[Rozeg]

I've been Steinberger free since I sold my XM2A off a few years back - I was making a concerted effort to go all five string, and I couldn't justify keeping it.

Lately I've been giving serious thought to picking up a Synapse five. Consider me a club member in spirit if not currently in fact.

Would an XQ-5 work for you?

 

[HomesickBob]

Hi Mick,
thanks for advice, my question was kinda silly... no hole drilling on the L25 of course!
But i do all my song workout on the computer and i cannot do it standing since i have to locate and switch on passages of the songs frequently; i'm in contact with Andy Yakubik, maybe he'll get me one next week.
Thanks for compliment btw, i'm more than happy with!

 

[HeavyDuty]

Would an XQ-5 work for you?

Doubtful - from what I remember the XQ-5 spacing was tighter than I prefer, plus I really try and stick with single pickup basses these days. (Piezos don't count.) I wouldn't mind checking one out again, though - it's been years.

 

[number11]

Doubtful - from what I remember the XQ-5 spacing was tighter than I prefer, plus I really try and stick with single pickup basses these days. (Piezos don't count.) I wouldn't mind checking one out again, though - it's been years.

Synapse 5 sounds right, in that case.

 

[number11]

Ah, I see

Its different for me, I suppose, as I wear the bass high enough that it doesn't matter whether I sit or stand.


You can use the strap pivot as an ad-hoc leg rest in the interim. Some find that very useful

Hi Mick,
thanks for advice, my question was kinda silly... no hole drilling on the L25 of course!
But i do all my song workout on the computer and i cannot do it standing since i have to locate and switch on passages of the songs frequently; i'm in contact with Andy Yakubik, maybe he'll get me one next week.
Thanks for compliment btw, i'm more than happy with!