Steinberger Club

[Rootzilla]

Gibson went with the Gene Simmons signature instead

 

[FishDub]

Hey all just some advice needed:
I have a 95 Nashville made XL2 which i love and has been with me since 2013. The action, feel and tone are just awesome as is the super skinny neck-my first Steinberger.
I also acquired an 83 L2 last year and noticed the differences such as the fatter neck, EMG SS pickups/warmer sound. I dont play out anymore and wont be. I dont need both and if I sell one it will pay off my daughter's car balance. I am really torn because one part of me keeps the XL because I love everything about it and another says keep the L because its more sought after and rare, even though I marginally prefer the XL. If I sell the XL I think it would kill me but if I sell the L then would I totally regret unloading that because of what it is. Any advice would be great, especially if you have had this dilemma in the past When you think of Gibson/Nashville era XL2 do you think any less of it?

 

[syntap]

You can't take anything with you, I say keep what you enjoy playing the most.

 

[Snert]

Initial thought: don't sell either as you'll regret it.
Practical thought: keep the XL2 and if you want the warmer tone, but some HBCS and install them. $200 and a half hour's work if you can solder.

 

[hihat]

Yeah, these are so rare and expensive now, keep both.

If you order the HBCS pickups contact EMG directly because you need 'COB' (cable out bottom) connectors, otherwise they won't completely fit. I learned the hard way.

 

[Snert]

If you order the HBCS pickups contact EMG directly because you need 'COB' (cable out bottom) connectors, otherwise they won't completely fit.

Yes, I meant to point this out too.

 

[Bob_Ross]

When you think of Gibson/Nashville era XL2 do you think any less of it?

Yes

 

[FishDub]

Yes

Interesting.. is it because it wasn’t made in Brooklyn?

 

[Bob_Ross]

Interesting.. is it because it wasn’t made in Brooklyn?

No, location per se isn't an issue; I don't view Newburgh 'bergers as being any less desireable than Brooklyn 'bergers.

It's just that when a large corporate entity takes over a small independent manufacturer, some of the romance or spirit of innovation that pervaded the original product seems invariably lost. And Gibson's track record of putting out increasingly crappy product over their lengthy history doesn't help.

 

[foal30]

I didn’t know Gibson made any graphite Steinberger so there you go

I’m not sure how replaceable a L2 is. Even if you found one I imagine it’s a fir chunk of change.

 

[foal30]

The LaBella double ball end flatwounds are amazing on the L2
Smooth as, a great buy

Highly recommend

 

[FishDub]

The LaBella double ball end flatwounds are amazing on the L2
Smooth as, a great buy
Yes they are. I have them on my L2 as we speak. Love em
Highly recommend

 

[FishDub]

No, location per se isn't an issue; I don't view Newburgh 'bergers as being any less desireable than Brooklyn 'bergers.

It's just that when a large corporate entity takes over a small independent manufacturer, some of the romance or spirit of innovation that pervaded the original product seems invariably lost. And Gibson's track record of putting out increasingly crappy product over their lengthy history doesn't help.

I see your point. I can tell you that even though it is Gibson made, it’s one hell of a bass.

 

[foal30]

I see your point. I can tell you that even though it is Gibson made, it’s one hell of a bass.

I’ve owned and or played 4 different Gibson era Tobias basses and they were all excellent instruments

still have a Nashville Growler. The Bartolini electronics are world class

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Hey , what double ball string brands are people using these days that FIT? For years I bought a super light set (.030-.090) from GHS, but the last set I bought, the lengths were just off enough I didn’t have enough travel in the bridge claws to tune to pitch, a couple of the strings ( I think it was E and A) were just a little too long. I have a 1986 XP-2, 34” scale. Didn’t Mark King use a really light set on his basses, I think they were called Funkmasters?

 

[Sid Fang]

Hey , what double ball string brands are people using these days that FIT? For years I bought a super light set (.030-.090) from GHS, but the last set I bought, the lengths were just off enough I didn’t have enough travel in the bridge claws to tune to pitch, a couple of the strings ( I think it was E and A) were just a little too long. I have a 1986 XP-2, 34” scale.

I have had problems with some brands’ double ball sets on my 80s XL-2A. The Steinberger branded LaBellas have been consistantly serviceable but sometimes borderline short. I’ve been using nothing but Status Graphite strings for all my headlesses for a few years now, since I bought my first Status bass. They have to be shipped from the UK, so I always order multiple sets at once to amortize the cost.

 

[Bergerman]

Hey , what double ball string brands are people using these days that FIT? For years I bought a super light set (.030-.090) from GHS, but the last set I bought, the lengths were just off enough I didn’t have enough travel in the bridge claws to tune to pitch, a couple of the strings ( I think it was E and A) were just a little too long. I have a 1986 XP-2, 34” scale. Didn’t Mark King use a really light set on his basses, I think they were called Funkmasters?

I have been using D’Addario double balls exclusively on both an XP and an XL and they always seem to be spot-on as far as length goes…

 

[jglunt]

Hey , what double ball string brands are people using these days that FIT? For years I bought a super light set (.030-.090) from GHS, but the last set I bought, the lengths were just off enough I didn’t have enough travel in the bridge claws to tune to pitch, a couple of the strings ( I think it was E and A) were just a little too long. I have a 1986 XP-2, 34” scale. Didn’t Mark King use a really light set on his basses, I think they were called Funkmasters?

I've found D'Addario double ball ends fit well and sound good...like nickel roundwounds are supposed to sound. I tried Rotosounds and the E string was almost too short to work. To make it worse, Rotosound actually argued with me, telling me that's how they were supposed to fit. So my recommendation is the D'Addarios. I buy them from Just Strings.,com (no affiliation).

 

[Bob_Ross]

I've been using Ken Smith double ballend strings on my L-2 for almost 40 years.

 

[Sid Fang]

I am unable to find the reference, but a few years back, in one of these discussions, it came up that the original original Steinberger double ball bass string sets actually had strings of slightly different lengths. There was a scan of an old spec somewhere on-line. IIRC it was the E that was a couple of mm longer. But I don’t think anyone, not even LaBella, does that anymore.