Steinberger Megathread

[HeavyDuty]

I've been Steinberger free for over a year now but I'm seriously considering looking for a fretted Synapse 5. I prefer single pickup basses, and I have a suspicion it would be tonally at least within shouting distance of my old XM2A.

Either that, or the old headless custom build I dreamed about doing a few years ago - swamp ash body with a wenge/wenge neck. I'd probably need to knock over a gas station to afford that one, though.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Overlooked this thread somehow:
My 86 XP-2 with a ho-made mahogany body, all other parts original (original body and gig-bag in storage in case I ever decide to sell it.

 

[gleneg61]

Sweet build

 

[foal30]

L2 Steinberger

I bought this in 1990, it was my first 'major' musical purchase.

 

[gleneg61]

Original bolts on top; brilliant! Being a lefty, no such thing exists but I love my now fret less 1992 XL2AL Elite n my 1996 XL25WL, along with my Spirit XZ5L, headless 1990 Hohner guitar so I guess I’m hooked...

 

[Marzuk]

I Have 8 basses and My XL2 (1984 transition model with plug-in leg rest and SS pick-ups) Is the best sounding and best playing bass that I own. i use it in the studio all the time and the tone is always killer. I just about never use it live because I would hate to ever lose it and you always get a jackass in the audience making a crack about the look...

My one beef: the pickups always seem loose and move easily in the body. they also seem to lower themslves. it's become ritual for me to give the pickup screws a few turns every time i pick it up. has anyone found a good solution to keep the pickups held in place more solidly? I was thinking rubber bushings might help. (anyone have pics)

but this is a very minor issue... The XL2 is still the most perfect bass I've ever played and beats my 8 others hands down.

Ciao!
i have the same bass (1984 Transitional SS emg) and i had the same issues...
I opened the face plate and i put some foam under pickups...now they are stiff enough to play on!