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Steinberger headless basses.

#21
I'm currently revisiting the idea of acquiring a Synapse 5. There has been little buzz about these on Talkbass, even after their having been available for a number of years. I've enjoyed the Spirits, particularly the XZ-2 that I upgraded with the EMG active electronics, and have been thinking it'd be nice to try a Synapse.

They are just about impossible to find used, though. Most everybody is getting them from Musicians' Friend or one of the handful of online retailers, then if they don't like them they are sending them right back on the trial period. The people who do like them are hanging on to them for dear life!

I'd like to find a used one in good shape, but failing that, may order one through Headless USA. I talked with Don, the owner, this afternoon, who can do a slightly better deal on these than most.
 
#22
Here's my XM-2. Amazing bass, sounds great, but heavy as a boat anchor!

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#24
I've had L2's , XM2's XP2s, XL2 TA ( transposing trems), trabsitional XLs, Hohners, Spirits and Synapses.

The orginal L2 machines are my personal favourites. they sound full and not at all sterile. Thats a myth.

Synapses sound very different and for me, eventually, that sound became less than what I could put up with. The mass in a graphite berger makes it sound as full as it does.

I wasn't a fan of the pickup or the electronics on a Synapse.

the only thing a Spirit or Hohner share is a rough resemblance to the L2. None of the parts are interchangeable. They are small wooden bodies and therefore lack the mass needed to really provide punch. they also hang funny due to the lack of a strap pivot.

If you get one, get used to people being blown away with the way they sound compared to how people are expectng them to.
And once you get used to the ergonomics of it, the feel of a traditional bass seems completely illogical and its very hard to go back

I love mine and currently play professionally with 2 L2s and an XL2 fretless.

One of mine has a little history to it:

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#25
MichaelVee said:
I'd like to find a used (Synapse) one in good shape, but failing that, may order one through Headless USA.
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I've had a number of exchanges with Headless USA since April, and the bottom line is they stock, repair and refurbish original Newburgh Steinbergers.

As a courtesy, Don will order new Synapse instruments through a local retailer, but he does not offer used/refurbished Synapses or carry an inventory of those. I had previously thought that he did. The price for the new ones is the same as other retailers, such as Sweetwater, can offer.
 
#27
honeyiscool said:
How do you like them? I really like Steinbergers from the specs sheet, but never really had a chance to play them. And they look very utilitarian and therefore pretty cool to me.

Do they, for the most part, deliver on the performance that the specs sheet promises? How sturdy are they?
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My 2nd Bass, the 1st I bought is a Steinberger XP-2 (Newburgh). I find the narrow neck familiar. More guitar like. The EMG pick ups suit me fine. They are hi-fi adjusted for mid's & mellow adjusted for low's. It has a distinct "voice" that sings for me.
I used to drive around New England with it making sales calls from Bangor to Buffalo, in the Winter & Summer. It tolerated the cold & the heat in the trunk during the day, adjusted quickly to a motel room & let me practice & play each night. I have only flown with it once. A smile & polite request found a space for it in the back of the hanging closet.
Steinbergers are well made, thoughtfully designed instruments. You could do a lot worse for the $$
 

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