This was when Gibson owned it. They acquired Steinberger in 1986. When Henry J, sociopathic egotist, (with no experience on guitars) bought Gibson because he could, leading them down a path they're having a tough time recovering from.
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Steinberger Club
- Thread starter king_xanadu
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And it makes a difference, why? The wood isn't structural, but a mold to form the structural parts of the bass around. These were designed and made in the very early days of CF use; does anyone think they would be made the same if the current experts in CF were to design and build them today? Look at Emerald guitars (I'm saving for one of these now), started buy a guy who used to build racing powerboats.
My XL2 sounded incredible in 1988 when I thought it contained no wood. It sounds just as incredible today when I've discovered it does indeed contain wood. I could, however, have done without that discovery.
Wood in my Steiny or Status doesn't bother me a jot because they have given me wood for many years. However, I suggest you never really delve into the ingredients list of a lot of processed foods then...
To say the Steinberger bass has been a minor obsession for me would be true. I will sometimes display my XL and just stare at it. Now we should all be doing that in an Alan Holdsworth way, patterns and shapes leaping off the fingerboard in study. I look.at it though as a work of art indeed worthy to hang as it does in MOMA (still?) This isn't a tit for tat over wood type or why it's there, it's just a big deal to some who feel it another way. Everybody's in a rush to be an expert here lol all 8 of us..
The L and XL bass is a timeless classic of design and engineering. It's almost brutal in its minimalism, a perfect example of form following function. I believe that Ned not being a musician himself allowed him to approach the instrument with a clean slate, eschewing past tradition and focusing on the design as an engineering problem. The L/XL's aesthetics may not appeal to everyone, especially traditionalists, but it's difficult to fault its design considering the tools and materials available at the time of its introduction. While there are newer carbon composite basses that may surpass the L/XL in terms of weight savings and aesthetic beauty (Status Stealth/Streamline, Basslab basses, etc.), Ned's creation was the first to challenge the status quo and find mainstream success.
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Getting the L2 made me play better. There was nowhere to hide with sloppy technique and I was a bit disappointed in how rough I was
Yes, the 'bergers are unforgiving to sloppy technique, but paradoxically they're also some of the easiest basses on which to play difficult parts.
They're custom orders, so I'd say they're only available direct as they make them to order. You also need to specify you want the COB (cable out bottom) version as the standard plug connector is too deep for at least the XL2. Other models might be different but when I asked a while back I got a very prompt response and they knew exactly what I was talking about.
Got it! Freshly arrived. Ordered through bestbassgear. It was, as it has been many times, a pleasant and successful transaction. These things are virtually impossible to get in Europe.
Will take a few weeks until I get to install the in the bridge position. There are only two soldering points, but before that I have to finish a large running project. The Steinie is over 30 years old, so it doesn't matter if it takes a month.
Will take a few weeks until I get to install the in the bridge position. There are only two soldering points, but before that I have to finish a large running project. The Steinie is over 30 years old, so it doesn't matter if it takes a month.
As you can see from the technical data, the resonance peak HB with around 3.5KHz vs HBCS with around 2.5KHz is a good bit lower with the HBCS.
And in a frequency range where this should be clearly perceptible, provided the resonance peak is pronounced enough.
I'm curious about the test with the band.
And in a frequency range where this should be clearly perceptible, provided the resonance peak is pronounced enough.
I'm curious about the test with the band.
I'm so happy to report I've just bought my 3rd Ned Steinberger bass. But this one is the real deal OG 1985 XL-2 carbon fiber made in Newburgh.
As unusual as this is, I'd like to make it a one of a kind. Anyone have a recommendation on where to send this to be painted? Preferably someone who can reapply the Steinberger logo.
As unusual as this is, I'd like to make it a one of a kind. Anyone have a recommendation on where to send this to be painted? Preferably someone who can reapply the Steinberger logo.
I used to know someone who made surfboards professionally, completely by hand. He had lightfast air brushes sealed with clear boat varnish. These were glass-hard, high-gloss surfaces. Practically indestructible.
Then you could look for people who build model airplanes professionally. If you build a DC 9 with a 3m wingspan, you want it professionally painted. So check out model building clubs.
Really, if I wanted to do something like this, I would ask one of those companies that do car wraps if they could wrap the bass in the colour of my choice. That way, it would be 100% reversible without high cost. And if it's durable enough for cars, I should think it would stand up to normal player's wear for quite some time as well. Maybe?
