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Steinberger L2

murph7489

murph7489

Nov 9, 2017
1,216
1,932
Hornell NY / myrtle beach SC
#1
Sigh...this is the bass that I have wanted since the 80s...don't have one, but I would love to get one. They are expensive now..and rare. the spirit and others just don't sound the same..they are not the same..I have a 5 string but I do want a 4 string and I want it to be the Steinberger L2...I'm thinking I should really start saving money for one, because they are getting rare and harder to find..

In the end I may never get one...but I always think about it..and when I read about someone on here having one, I'm always jealous..lol...
 
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#5
murph7489 said:
...I'm thinking I should really start saving money for one, because they are getting rare and harder to find..

In the end I may never get one...but I always think about it..and when I read about someone on here having one, I'm always jealous..lol...
Click to expand...

Just save your money for one. the longer you wait, the more they're going to cost.
About a year ago an L2 popped up on my local craigs for $1800. I himmed and hawed for a day because I was not planning to buy one but he price was killer, by the time I responded back it was sold.
 
#6
I owned one back in the mid/late 80s, sold it very quickly and never regretted it. Could not get used to its ergonomics, at all.

Unique instruments these are by all means, exceptionally well-made IMO and may very well be an "end all" piece for some people. And yes, they will keep on getting more expensive as the time goes by, or that's the way I see it anyway..
 
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#7
ajkula66 said:
may very well be an "end all" piece for some people
Click to expand...

It's funny: On paper a Steinberger L-2 pretty much comes across as the Bass To End All Basses.
And then when you actually get your hands on one and play it/hear it for the first time, you're pretty much convinced that it is the Bass To End All Basses.
But then you play it for a few years, and you come to realize...you don't want to End All Basses; you want All Basses.

:)


Seriously, I got my L-2 new in 1982 and it's one of those You Can Have It When You Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands instruments. Absolutely fabulous instrument. It was my main gigging bass for a decade, and it's been all over the world with me in studios, stages, buses & trucks & planes...it's never let me down. It is, both theoretically and in execution, the perfect bass.

But I like variety. And I believe there is aesthetic value in imperfection. So I own seven other basses that are completely unlike a Steinberger L-2.
It's all good.
 
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#8
Imperfections...

What might have been a downfall intrinsic to the core design of L2 was the fact - IME, I don't know whether long-time owners like @Bob_Ross would agree - that its hi-fi nature brings out the imperfections in one's playing style like no bass that I've ever recorded and I've recorded many...there's literally nowhere to hide. Sure, one can "mask" certain aspects, but the positioning in the mix that these basses simply "grab" makes it a *lot* more difficult when compared to most - if not all - other pieces.

My $0.02 only...
 
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#9
Bob_Ross said:
It's funny: On paper a Steinberger L-2 pretty much comes across as the Bass To End All Basses.
And then when you actually get your hands on one and play it/hear it for the first time, you're pretty much convinced that it is the Bass To End All Basses.
But then you play it for a few years, and you come to realize...you don't want to End All Basses; you want All Basses.

:)


Seriously, I got my L-2 new in 1982 and it's one of those You Can Have It When You Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands instruments. Absolutely fabulous instrument. It was my main gigging bass for a decade, and it's been all over the world with me in studios, stages, buses & trucks & planes...it's never let me down. It is, both theoretically and in execution, the perfect bass.

But I like variety. And I believe there is aesthetic value in imperfection. So I own seven other basses that are completely unlike a Steinberger L-2.
It's all good.
Click to expand...

Bob sums it up perfectly here. When I got my L-2 in '82, I could not imagine ever using anything else once I got used to the unique ergonomic challenges. I used that bass for over ten years doing everything from miscellaneous dates in Washington DC to roadhouse gigs in Florida. But, in time, I moved on to other things.

Sad that the design gets lumped in with 80's fashion. It was so much more than that. It was very difficult to manufacture and none of the larger companies of the day wanted to touch it. It is a miracle that Ned Steinberger even managed to get it out there at all. I doubt we will see anything quite like it again. A truly wonderful piece of engineering and artistry.

I still get my L-2 out from time to time and am always knocked out by how great it sounds and plays. Neither it or my L-2(5) are going anywhere.
 

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#10
Not to rub salt in the wound, but the L2 was truly a masterpiece of 20th century engineering. I had the opportunity to play a few as an early 80’s college kid, and later bought an XP-2, which I could afford. The XP series has a “flying vee” rock maple body and bolt on composite neck. The pups are the same, but passive electronics. They can still be had for slightly less insane (about 1/2 an L2) prices. I made that choice in part because I couldn’t hear a difference in tone between the two, which I attribute to the composite neck and the tuning system. The micrometer screw and straight line pull on the string imparts no twisting force, and the neck is nearly impervious to ordinary changes in temp or humidity, so it will stay in tune for MONTHS in the case. I’ve since transplanted the neck, pups, and hardware to a home made body for fun, but kept all the original parts. I will never sell that bass! I tried all the wood clones like the Hohner, junk by comparison IMO. It’s too bad the Steinberger got lumped in with bad 80’s hair fashion and cheesy videos, that kind of killed the brand. Save your pennies! Check out the Headless Club here on TB, you never know when an L2 will pop up for sale.
steinberger xp-2 | eBay
 
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#11
Hi, I got my first L2 while at Berklee back in 1982. Serial 1000 and sold it 20 years later because I needed cash and had stopped playing. Since than I have owned 4, 2 of which went to friends. I tried several XL2s which were in the 1500 to 1800 range (far more made) but prefer the L2 for the way it feels and hangs. L2s are more resonant and though the decal and removable legrest improved n XL2s, I prefer the construction (top plate), and L2 nut config with the option it gives to dremel cut and use any string rather than just double ball. PM me if you might be interested in pix and more info. I always take it as my spare or main bass. Do play vintage Fender Precisions more often. Best, Todd
 
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#12
murph7489 said:
WHy did they stop making the L2 anyway? I've heard nothing but good things about them...
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I think once Gibson bought out the company and shut down the original factory they never could figure out how to make them.

I sold my L2 for $600 back in the 90's. Sure wish I would have held onto that thing! Never could play it because of the shape, but I had no idea they be worth so much these days.
 
#13
Every bass has pros and cons. For travel, weight and sound L2s are exceptionally great. Very resonant and consistent sound up and down the neck. 8lbs. Easy to pack and if you get into it with a drunk, hit em in the jaw and keep playing. Will NOT go out of tune! They do take time to get used to in that graphite feels nothing like wood. I keep one setup with flats. The tone controls and pre-amp are superb with the EMGs. Still I switch it out cuz I love my other basses, but it is always in the car on a gig just to n case. And, they will balance wherever you angle it like no other bass. So, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Most I have seen these last 3 years are priced $2200 and up depending on condition, if they have the legrest and original case.
 
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#15
RichEagle78 said:
Hi, I got my first L2 while at Berklee back in 1982. Serial 1000 and sold it 20 years later because I needed cash and had stopped playing. Since than I have owned 4, 2 of which went to friends. I tried several XL2s which were in the 1500 to 1800 range (far more made) but prefer the L2 for the way it feels and hangs. L2s are more resonant and though the decal and removable legrest improved n XL2s, I prefer the construction (top plate), and L2 nut config with the option it gives to dremel cut and use any string rather than just double ball. PM me if you might be interested in pix and more info. I always take it as my spare or main bass. Do play vintage Fender Precisions more often. Best, Todd
Click to expand...

I agree that the L-2 was somehow better than the XL-2. Hard to pin down. The only thing I did like about the XL was the bridge with the saddles attached to a screw for intonation adjustment. The original bridge could be a bear to set up. I had an XL but I never really liked as much as the L-2. They just didn't sound and feel the same. Those early ones were unique even among each other. It was a grand experiment!

The whole 80's fashion thing still exists, I suppose. But on a recent gig with my L-2 several younger people commented on that "crazy new bass". They could not believe it was 36 years old.
 
#17
Definitely different ergonomically, there is no “shelf” to rest your elbow on, but the strap pivot on the first generation L2’s was perfectly located to create a neutral balance, I think it was a mistake to delete that on later models. Those pivots are really hard to find now. The fold-out legrest on my XP-2 worked well for seated play, and was less fiddly than the original detachable legrest. It’s great to see a resurgence of interest in headless designs, and there are enough third party producers of headless parts and hardware that a determined amateur can put together a decent clone of an L2. The neck through design of the the original didn’t have a major impact on the tone IMO, when I A/B’d the XP and L2 back in the Day, I couldn’t hear enough difference to justify the $500 price difference at the time, but now I wish i’d had the coin for an L2, just for collector value. A TB guy did a full-blown L2 clone build using original materials and techniques, I’ll try to find and post a link, fascinating stuff.
 
#18
I love my XL-2 and have modded it to take single ball strings and added the NS Design boomerang strap (had to re-engineer it a bit first...). Now it's perfect for me. It is an 85 with the older L2 pickups but not sure how much real difference there is. There is nothing else like it when I crank it up on stage (leather jacket and sunglasses complete the picture!). I too play other basses but it does get regular use.

You just need to keep searching because they do still come up under the radar for a semi reasonable price.

Good luck!
 
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