• 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 freeLog in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Steinberger Club

Do you know if the passive XPs were routed for the battery compartment area, i.e. is pickguard change enough?

The main point of the whole XP/GP series was being less expensive. Having differently routed bodies for active and passive electronics would be the opposite of that concept. They never did that, for any model, all bodies were "universal" bodies.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Markosan
The main point of the whole XP/GP series was being less expensive. Having differently routed bodies for active and passive electronics would be the opposite of that concept. They never did that, for any model, all bodies were "universal" bodies.
That's what I suspected. Thanks for the confirmation. Is there a source for XP pickguards (Steinbergerworld lists Warmoth and Chandler Guitars, but CG link is outdated and the Chandler Guitars site that google finds does not list any parts, so uncertain about that info)?
 
Just made a deal on XP-2 to have a backup for my L2 (planning on making/modifying a semi-hardshell case for the two of them, should still be smaller than one e-guit case). Because of it becoming a backup to L2 I'm wondering whether it would be feasible to drop in active EMGs to have the input as close to that of the L2 as possible.

Anyone done this?

Still mulling this over (and probably will for next 6 months :D ): IF we'll leave the need to have as identical an output as possible aside for a minute, which option do you guys feel would be a better value upgrade for an XP2:

1) active EMG pickups
2) an 3-knob onboard preamp

If your answer is "2", I'd also be interested to hear your preamp recommendations and the reasoning behind that recommendation.
 
Haz lab EQ kit from Headless USA designed to drop in our basses. Stacked bass and treble with pan and one volume. I'm playing an XM2 (body) and when I dated the serial on the neck it is actually from an XP. The bolt ons are also amazing, exact same neck feel to XLs.
 
The jury seems rather unanimous. And I guess this is not a bad outcome from my perspective either: I get to make the XP2 as much like my L2 as I reasonably can :) Now I just need the budget for the pickups and a new pickguard...
 
I think I'll check the price at Pickguard Planet (linked by Be_eM) as well, altho NOS certainly has a stupid, expensive allure. But I'm also toying with the idea of getting something silly & colorful, as my XP is a white one...
 
Some more questions:

* I had the slot in the headpiece on my L2 filed to fit a LaBella B string, and now the grub screw doesn't really have enough metal to grip the threads + the slot is almost big enough for the small ball end to slip through, so I'd like to try and get a spare headpiece to futureproof.
* all bridge jaws on my basses still seem intact. However, it would be nice to have a spare or two...

The places I'm aware of to try and get the hardware are Headless USA (website seems sort of abandoned, but they seem to be active on FB), Ed Roman and possibly BG Stainless, although their site looks like they just forgot to turn down the lights...

So the questions are: which of the three mentioned would be the best bet? And are there other possibilities?

(I know I can contact the busdinesses mentioned and I will when I have funds available to actually buy something, just doing some preliminary research :) )
 
The jury seems rather unanimous. And I guess this is not a bad outcome from my perspective either: I get to make the XP2 as much like my L2 as I reasonably can :) Now I just need the budget for the pickups and a new pickguard...

Rootzilla, the stock one-piece pickguard can be easily modified to create the removable section for the battery compartment. I did it with great success to an XP many years ago…it only takes one strategic cut in the right place.
 
In other news, repaired the gigbag for my L2 over the weekend. There was a neck-sized hole where the piece of new nylon can be seen.
 

Attachments

  • IMG20230501114229.jpg
    IMG20230501114229.jpg
    1.3 MB · Views: 34