Steinberger Club

[Rootzilla]

I’d be interested in seeing photos of your original leg rest. Specifically, does it have a friction surface, like foam or grit? The one that came with my used L2 had what looked like emery cloth to keep it from slipping, but I have no idea if it was original.

There is a thin layer of what looks like hard rubber glued/laminated/dunnohowitsfixed on the underside and it has a fabric-like pattern for better friction.

 

[bungalowbill]

There is a thin layer of what looks like hard rubber glued/laminated/dunnohowitsfixed on the underside and it has a fabric-like pattern for better friction.

Thanks very much!

 

[Richland123]

I think that problem is a true rarity. I also saw that but it seems like three degrees removed stories, wives tales of something that did happen but the fable wheel keeps turning.

IWhen talking about aberrations causing playability issues we’re talking differences of as little as a fraction of a millimeter causing issues you aren’t going to be able to see that in pictures but a fret rocker can feel it. Photos also lie. My L2, the action looked pretty junk in the photos and it did have me worried it would be a dud. But, I dropped the action to the floor and it plays great. The best question is what is your return policy. I sent an XL2 back, neck was good but frets were getting pretty bad. If you see one pop up at guitar center online soon give it a pass…

My 41 year old 1983 L2 plays just as well as when it was new and I have played it non-stop since I got it. It does not have any bowing or dead spot problems and it still stays in tune incredibly well. I have never heard of any neck issues.

 

[kofta129]

My Baby... Steinberger XL2 '84.
Got the original bridge replaced by a jcustom DB bridge. Otherwise, everything is original and in very good condition ...
.View attachment 3569478 View attachment 3569479 View attachment 3569481 View attachment 3569483 View attachment 3569486 View attachment 3569478View attachment 3569479View attachment 3569481View attachment 3569483View attachment 3569486

What is the string spacing on this Jcustom bridge?

 

[Raccoon Jack]

The first 9 numbers are also available...


Here's my very early L2, serial number 11, played at live Aid by Pete Briquette of The Boomtown Rats:

View attachment 1800638

Here are the four girls together:


View attachment 1800639

left-to- right 81 L2 sn 0011 1983 L2 sn 699, 1984 Xl2 transitional fretless sn 2157, 1997 Xl2 A DB sn 9478 (sold!)

AHA! The 1984 transitional XL2 fretless is coming to stay with me, today. I bought her from a very nice lady in Germany. Do you have any history?

 

[hihat]

Not enough pics on the interwebs of Robbie Shakespeare with his L2.

 

[neutralomen]

Hey everyone! My name is Blake and I am the arranger and music director of an 80s pop cover band, and we're shooting a video in late January. I know this is a long shot, but I'm hoping to find a good Samaritan who is willing to lend me an 80s bass to use as a prop for the shoot. Details can be found here. To anyone taking the time to take a look, I really appreciate it!

80s video shoot prop hunt!

 

[hihat]

I'm curious what settings (volume, balance, tone) people use on their Steinberger basses. I heard many years ago that the EMG's can get a P-Bass kind of tone but I've never got it. Lately I've been setting my passive eq XL2 controls to 8 (neck vol), 6 (bridge vol), 6 (tone) and the sound is pretty darn good.

 

[LM Bass]

I'm curious what settings (volume, balance, tone) people use on their Steinberger basses. I heard many years ago that the EMG's can get a P-Bass kind of tone but I've never got it. Lately I've been setting my passive eq XL2 controls to 8 (neck vol), 6 (bridge vol), 6 (tone) and the sound is pretty darn good.

I often use neck full, bridge 3/4, and tone 3/4 on my XL2. I think it’s actually quite P- like, which isn’t my go-to sound on my other basses.

 

[BGroovy]

I have the opportunity to acquire an 84/85 XL2 that is a bit of an interesting beast. It has the SS pickups but it has no serial number. It has a roughly repaired body around the output jack and the story is this was an employees bass factory second so it never got a serial number stamp for sale.

It’s very obviously a Steinberger and nothing suspicious about it.

Two things I’m considering - I’ve only played XL2s with the HB pickups so I’d love any thoughts from those of you that have spent time with both.

And I’m trying to assess value due to the body defects and no serial number. Haven’t seen many XL2s move recently.

Owner is easy to work with and it’s going to be a partial trade, just want it to be as fair as possible if I move forward with my new Steinberger day.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I'm curious what settings (volume, balance, tone) people use on their Steinberger basses.

>95% of the time my L-2 has VVT all wide open, 100% fully CW.
The only other go-to setting I use -- on very infrequent occasions -- is neck pu @ 75%, bridge pu @ 100%, and tone @ 75%. That's for either really boomy rooms where the low end can swamp out any pitch definition, or for those very rare instances where I need a "burpy" punchy Jaco/Jeff Berlin kind of sound.

 

[Bob_Ross]

Throwback Thursday reminded me that I haven't posted any old pics in this thread!

from 1983:

from 1984:

 

[pgpete]

And I’m trying to assess value due to the body defects and no serial number. Haven’t seen many XL2s move recently.

Last time I checked a good used player level XL2 fetches around $3K to 3.5K - but your example with no serial and questionable repair it would be less
I dont think the pickups make a big difference.
there's my 2 cents !

 

[BGroovy]

Last time I checked a good used player level XL2 fetches around $3K to 3.5K - but your example with no serial and questionable repair it would be less
I dont think the pickups make a big difference.
there's my 2 cents

Many thanks! No idea what happened to the body, the jack is original and the story is the employee took the reject home and it was their personal player for a few decades. I'm kind of a sucker for a cast off.

 

[BRUNO Nunes]

What is the difference between L2 and Xl2?

 

[gidbass]

What is the difference between L2 and Xl2?

Here you go... https://www.talkbass.com/threads/steinberger-l2-or-xl2-what-is-the-real-difference.293469/

 

[brianrost]

What is the difference between L2 and Xl2?

X

 

[pgpete]

I took my XL2 to band practice tonight after not playing it for a few months - and god it was Good, Phat, and Freaky.

We were doing a couple of funky songs in E which allowed me to hit that sonorous bottom E with abandon.

I'm impressed with the clarity that comes out of those EMGs. (lows AND harmonics!)

 

[Gunga Din]

I have the opportunity to acquire an 84/85 XL2 that is a bit of an interesting beast. It has the SS pickups but it has no serial number. It has a roughly repaired body around the output jack and the story is this was an employees bass factory second so it never got a serial number stamp for sale.

It’s very obviously a Steinberger and nothing suspicious about it.

Two things I’m considering - I’ve only played XL2s with the HB pickups so I’d love any thoughts from those of you that have spent time with both.

And I’m trying to assess value due to the body defects and no serial number. Haven’t seen many XL2s move recently.

Owner is easy to work with and it’s going to be a partial trade, just want it to be as fair as possible if I move forward with my new Steinberger day.

I had an L2 with SS, and two XL2s. The SS were warmer sounding.

 

[pgpete]

I had an L2 with SS, and two XL2s. The SS were warmer sounding.

so what - do you think every P bass player goes around telling Jazz bass players that their P is warmer sounding?
the great thing about my XL2 tonight was that I could make it warm or have it cut through the mix with a slight change in technique.