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Steinberger Megathread

#141
I have two, an L2 and and L2-5. Both are from the early 80's. I bought the L2 new, serial #873 and the five used, serial #435. I used them all through the 80's and into the 90's.

I played misc. gigs around D.C. in the 80's with it. How cool it was to walk in the front door of those downtown hotels with the bass in one hand and a little combo amp in the other.

Great tone as well, it never got lost in the mix. The necks are pretty radically different from my normal tastes, but once I got used to it it was very comfortable to play. The five string spacing was too narrow though. It came with a high C on it, but I always used a low B with it.

I have them both and intend to keep them. They have the original gig bags, including the canvas style that came with the five, as well as the straps etc.

When I moved to FL in the late 80's I wound up in a country band playing the typical roadhouse type bars. I took a lot of crap about my "New York bass". Until they heard it. Plus which you could swing your way out of any bar fight with it!

Great basses! My tastes are more traditional these days but with my aging back and neck acting up, I may need to revisit that little fella.
 
#144
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Hey, that's me and my trustfull L2. :)

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#145
cool old thread, with some very cool looking Steinbergers. I'm thinking of trading for one...

what's the string spacing on their 4 string basses?

I figured out that I prefer narrow spacing, even on the 34" inch scale. I also tend to favor narrow necks with a little bit of thickness in the profile. Anyone think i'd like a Steinberger bass?
 
#149
I just had my '86 XL2 out on an outdoor gig and it sounded absolutely amazing. It takes a bit to get comfortable with the narrow string spacing when I don't use it for a while, but after that it's a blast to play. I'll never part with it.
 
#156
Hey all- I recently got a Synapse on craigslist for around $600- it can be a lifesaver on tours w/ small planes involved, etc.

Because you can't play a gig anymore without it being on the internet, this clip is online and I thought people interested in synapses' might like to hear it- largely because this is the bass direct into a DI with no preamp or eq control on my end, so it's a good example of what the bass really sounds like (the amp on stage is for the upright bass they had there which most of the gig was played on).

This is w/ no tweaking to the bass (it could use some) and just the strings that were on it. I've put some flatwounds on it recently and like the darker sound more. I'm quite impressed with this bass.. thought it was just going to be a 'when necessary for the road' purchase but I've been using it on gigs in town.

 
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#159
iamthebassman said:
Here's my VERY early L2 from Brooklyn. Previous owner: Dee Murray(RIP), bassist for Elton John during the 70s and 80s. This bass was used on the "Too Low For Zero" album, and the single "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues". Came with the original strap and gigbag.
deebass2.jpg
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Dee Murray was one of the all-time greats! I used to "try" and play his stuff note for note back in the 70's, and I would find myself saying "wow" whenever I tried to learn his material. He was phenomenal!! It would actually be scary to think how good he would be today if he was still here. I know this thread is about Steinberger basses, and not about Dee Murray, but I simply could not help myself in making this comment after seeing your post.
 
#160
A Steinberger Megathread, very cool! :hyper:

Here's my little family:
XL Standard (1997 I think)
Synapse XS-15FPA

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I have to say that the Synapse sounds good, BUT the XL tone is a world apart.

In 1998 I tried to order a XL5W with no success!!! :spit: :spit: :spit:

Then I bought a XQ5 with Bartolini pickups, but (again) the XL tone was a world apart so I sold it.

I REALLY don't understand why Gibson/Steinberger put in production the Synapse with a single pickup and the piezo (that for me is USELESS on a fretted bass) and not a model with the "usual" two pickups in the same position of the L2/XL :spit:

Maybe I'll install a second pickup on the Synapse close to the bridge.
 

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