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Steinberger Club

#902
Ordered some fresh strings (Rotosound Swing Bass 66) and a gig bag...I bought the instrument off the sales floor, so the strings were NOT zingy, to say the least, and no case at all.

I'll get a chance to use it at rehearsal as-is over the next few days. Plugged in through my computer and playing along with material I'm finding a lot to like about it.
 
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#903
Okay, so I've had a chance to play through both one of my rehearsal amps (Hartke Kickback 12) and my current stage amp (Mesa D-800+), and I'll say that the pickups are pretty severely lacking in any top-end brightness. The midrange and low end, though, are pretty awesome. dial up a bit of top end EQ and hit the bright switch on the D-800+ and it rocks pretty hard. "Punchy" is the word I'd have to use.

Debating putting in EMG 35TWX with VVT (coil-tap push-pull on the Vs, stacked bass/treble on the T)...but while I can fit a single 9V into the control cavity with the existing passive controls, I can't do that with the EMG controls, so that would mean routing the pickup holes AND a battery door. Not going to make an immediate decision. In the meantime I can dial in a pretty nice sound and the narrow neck at the zero fret (about 1.6") is just right for my hands.

Not bad for a cheap b*stardized Steinberger, anyway...for the money it's pretty decent.
 
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#904
Bought an 82 L2, #333 off a fellow TBer last month and I'm loving it!
So good to have a Steinberger again after almost 35 years.
When I opened it up I noticed that the pups have been swapped for newer EMG's.Theyre the split P type and sound great but don't have the metal plate like the original ones would have.Wondering if anyone had some or a line some vintage one they'd like to sell?
 
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#905
reimerbass said:
Bought an 82 L2, #333 off a fellow TBer last month and I'm loving it!
So good to have a Steinberger again after almost 35 years.
When I opened it up I noticed that the pups have been swapped for newer EMG's.Theyre the split P type and sound great but don't have the metal plate like the original ones would have.Wondering if anyone had some or a line some vintage one they'd like to sell?
Click to expand...

Have you talked to the folks at headlessusa.com ? They sell new EMG replacements, but also say they have limited quantities of NOS (New Old Stock) EMGs, which is what would have been in there originally as far as I know. I suggest calling or emailing them - they're VERY knowledgable and if it exists, they can likely find it or tell you where to find it.
 
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#906
sstillwell said:
Debating putting in EMG 35TWX with VVT (coil-tap push-pull on the Vs, stacked bass/treble on the T)...but while I can fit a single 9V into the control cavity with the existing passive controls, I can't do that with the EMG controls, so that would mean routing the pickup holes AND a battery door. Not going to make an immediate decision.
Click to expand...

reimerbass said:
When I opened it up I noticed that the pups have been swapped for newer EMG's.Theyre the split P type and sound great but don't have the metal plate like the original ones would have.
Click to expand...

Speaking of split P...I think I'll wind up putting in a pair of EMG 35P5-X in my Spirit, along with the basic active LPF tone control. Very, VERY little routing needs to be done to get it to fit (just the corners of the existing pickup cavities), and I think if I'm careful with routing/coiling wires I can get a battery into the existing control cavity without mods. After listening to clips of comparisons on youtube, the 35PX will have more of the tone I'm after, and doesn't need the deeper controls for the coil-tap switches and stacked bass/treble.
 
#908
I've posted here before several times looking for a Steinberger Strap Hook. No responses and you can't find them anywhere anymore (I've looked for over a year to no avail and believe me, I've called everywhere anyone has anything to do with Steinbergers). Was lamenting this to a coworker recently who it turns out is handy with metalworking. Showed him a picture, he told me to bring him the one I have (which I'd moved onto my Epiphone Thunderbird Pro V 5 string to offset its neck diving tendencies) and he'd make some copies.

So I FINALLY have one back on my Spirit, making it much more comfortable to play (again). Shifts the neck/body to the right about 3" making the reach out to the business end of the neck much more "normal" feeling. If you have one of these and you've never played it with a strap hook installed you don't know what you're missing. Having a few more made just because, when I get them I'll copy one onto graph paper and (assuming I'm not breaking any rules) post it here so if anyone wants to make themselves one you'll have the dimensions. Looks pretty simple to make if you have the skills, which unfortunately I don't. Made from 1/8" rigid aluminum stock just FYI. I'll take it off and paint it black, left it bare for now for illustration purposes.

20170115_080848.jpg 20170115_080917.jpg
 
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#909
sstillwell said:
Speaking of split P...I think I'll wind up putting in a pair of EMG 35P5-X in my Spirit, along with the basic active LPF tone control. Very, VERY little routing needs to be done to get it to fit (just the corners of the existing pickup cavities), and I think if I'm careful with routing/coiling wires I can get a battery into the existing control cavity without mods. After listening to clips of comparisons on youtube, the 35PX will have more of the tone I'm after, and doesn't need the deeper controls for the coil-tap switches and stacked bass/treble.
Click to expand...

Please let us know how it works out. I bought a Spirit 5 as a backup/practice bass but the honky midrange tone was the opposite of what I need in a 5. I tune down a step and the low string was mush. The higher 4 were good, if honky midrange is your thing - and I can appreciate it, use that tone in places w a 4 string. Ended up replacing stock PUs with 80's Explorer bass pickups, which improved it enough to be usable.
 
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#910
So...those of you that are playing Spirits, what strings are you using? I just put a set of Rotosound Swing Bass RDB665LD on there and they just BARELY went on. The bridge-end balls are still fully exposed rather than pulled back under the shield, which makes me kinda nervous about one hopping off during a set. Sound fine, just kinda sketchy how they mounted on there. Options appreciated.
 
#913
I have an 86' version of the same bass, never seen one with a white PG. Is that original, or swapped out at some point? Either way, a great bass. I've built a new mahogany body for mine, but kept all the original parts, including the "rifle" case. Got some strange looks over the years carrying that around, including one nervous cop! Ed Roman guitars still has some parts for these, at outrageous prices, of course, though only trouble I ever had was one loose neck bolt, which I fixed myself.
 
#914
Gilmourisgod said:
I have an 86' version of the same bass, never seen one with a white PG. Is that original, or swapped out at some point? Either way, a great bass. I've built a new mahogany body for mine, but kept all the original parts, including the "rifle" case. Got some strange looks over the years carrying that around, including one nervous cop! Ed Roman guitars still has some parts for these, at outrageous prices, of course, though only trouble I ever had was one loose neck bolt, which I fixed myself.
Click to expand...
I've bought this Steinberger with this original pickguard and I like it much.
Would very much like to compare with XL2 passive.
This is my first original Steinberger. Awesome!
 
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#915
Gilmourisgod said:
I have an 86' version of the same bass, never seen one with a white PG. Is that original, or swapped out at some point? Either way, a great bass. I've built a new mahogany body for mine, but kept all the original parts, including the "rifle" case. Got some strange looks over the years carrying that around, including one nervous cop! Ed Roman guitars still has some parts for these, at outrageous prices, of course, though only trouble I ever had was one loose neck bolt, which I fixed myself.
Click to expand...

Mine's in an actual rifle case. Always a bit nervous taking it out in public.

My L2 has Rotos, no trouble getting them on but they only just intonate..no travel left at all on 1 of the saddles at the point it intonates. Don't remember what the Spirit has on it.
 
#916
NecroticImbecil said:
Mine's in an actual rifle case. Always a bit nervous taking it out in public.

My L2 has Rotos, no trouble getting them on but they only just intonate..no travel left at all on 1 of the saddles at the point it intonates. Don't remember what the Spirit has on it.
Click to expand...

My XL2 travels in a rifle bag, too. I used to worry about it, but the most I've gotten was a suspicious look from a NYC subway cop once. He looked at the bag, looked at me, looked back at the bag, looked back at me, and mentally went "Nah."
 

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