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Steinberger Spirits

#224
Looks like the Spirits gonna start a second life as collectibles... i luckily bought the mine at Thomann Music in Germany for 270 Euro (350$ appr.) half a year ago. And with even more luck i got the L25 so the XT is kinda obsolete to me; i'll contact my bass-doc and have a talk about fretless gear!
 
#225
Personally, in lieu of another Spirit at some inflated price, I think I'd rather consider a Synapse, of which I have two now, or one of the new Steinberger NS Radius basses. The Synapses rock and are generally available at reasonable prices.
 
#227
Despite being a paddle-maniac for years (not to say decades) i was never into getting me a Synapse... some strange kind of dislike, dunno!
In search for a bike-compatible Warwick replacement i stumbled over the XT, pimped it for fortune only to win a eBay auction for the L25 later... life's good to me!
 
#228
Synapses are quite nice, a sort of transitional design of Ned's among the basic two-pickup passive Spirits, the active Steinbergers, and the current NS Radius. And these are all at very different price points! The Synapses have a distinct flavor to the sound. It's very glossy, whether one is playing the EMG pickup or the piezo. The basses really sound different with different string choices.

I have no problem with the intonation on them. The design gets the intonation pretty damn close. There is some back and forth adjustment on each side of the saddle, as well.

Both of mine are beautiful and I'm glad I have them.
 
#229
MichaelVee said:
…Synapses are quite nice, a sort of transitional design of Ned's among the basic two-pickup passive Spirits, the active Steinbergers, and the current NS Radius.
Click to expand...

The Radius bass is a different class. A beauty, plays and sounds fantastic. I don't have a Synapse bass (just a guitar), but these instruments definitely play in different leagues. I've never had a bass in my hands that was so easy to play for me (I'm a guitarist, though).
 
#230
One possible reason for my Synapse dislike may be the following story:
Being at Frankfurt Musik Messe 2008 i asked one of the Gibson guys to hang one of the Synapses off the wall to get me an impression of the weight and feel of the axe, he rejected my wish by telling me that he won't do that for "nobodys" like me... the good side of the story is when owning a Synapse* i wouldn't have bidden on the L25, he he!

*Don"t get me wrong, i consider the Synapse as well done and riped out, only the design per se is not the mine...
 
#231
I don't know if there has been much discussion on the Radius on TB so far, I need to do a search and see. I was quite interested in them when Don Greenwald from Headless USA announced them, but knew they'd be expensive. And they are. But what a wonderful design, lovely, and it could be the fulfillment of the Steinberger design lineage.
 
#232
HomesickBob said:
One possible reason for my Synapse dislike may be the following story:
Being at Frankfurt Musik Messe 2008 i asked one of the Gibson guys to hang one of the Synapses off the wall to get me an impression of the weight and feel of the axe, he rejected my wish by telling me that he won't do that for "nobodys" like me... the good side of the story is when owning a Synapse* i wouldn't have bidden on the L25, he he!

*Don"t get me wrong, i consider the Synapse as well done and riped out, only the design per se is not the mine...
Click to expand...


Ha, similar story here. I've desperately tried to find a chance to get my hands on a ZT3. One was there in Frankfurt… mounted to the wall with cable ties. Nobody could take it off and play it. I went out … and bought a Carvin ;)

Meanwhile I also own a ZT3 and a Synapse, and I really like them both. The Synapse is a great instrument at a reasonable price.

The only problem with the Synapses: you should really try to play the instrument before buying it. From everything I've seen personally and heard from others, the Synapses have been delivered to the dealers without any inspection or setup. Being an import instrument, they come assembled from Korea, and apparently Gibson didn't even check them before sending them out. You might get a good instrument, or you might get one with flaws. And be prepared that it comes without any setup done. "Regular" music store staff doesn't even know how to handle or set up a Steinie.

Bernd
 
#237
Ok, when i bought my XT here on Talkbass, the original owner (TBér coronado3, who did a great job!) fashioned his own pivot plate using materials that anyone should be able to find at their local hardware store.

Here are pics of the front and back fully assembled.

20130812_213623_zpsa72735e2.jpg


20130812_213654_zps44cbe644.jpg


Here is a pic of the back with the pivot plate removed. There is a threaded insert in there.

20130812_213725_zps4224a7f1.jpg


Here is a picture of all the parts (which isn't much!). Two chicago style screws with washers. Actual screws are about 3/16"long. 1/4"x 1 1/4" screw with a rounded head and a metal washer which attaches the pivot plate to the actual body via the threaded insert. I bought a thick rubber washer to sit between the pivot plate and the XT body. The actual pivot plate crafted from some smoked 1/4" thick plexi glass.

20130812_214115_zpse3031c58.jpg


Here is a pic of the actual pivot plate held up to the light (yeah, the cracks look bad, but you don't see them when everything is together....;)).

20130812_214338_zpsef39bd05.jpg


I use some blue loctite to keep everything snug. The only gripe, is the rubber washer as it will squeak if i adjust the position. I am searching for a different option, or i may try some silicone spray. EDIT: Replaced the rubber washer with a nylon one, and all is good...;) no squeaks and it moves freely when i want it to.

Anyways, i think I have everything listed out there. The dimensions of my pivot plate are a bit larger than the ones found here http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/steinberger-club-476471/index20.html#post14713148 (big thanks to HomesickBob for posting these!)but if you use these measurements, and the hardware i listed, i am sure you'll be fine.

Post here, or PM me if you have any questions. I'll do my best to respond.

Good Luck!
 
#239
I looked around and these Spirit XT-25's are still available from Musician's Friend
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/bass/steinberger-spirit-xt-25-5-string-standard-bass
(the ship date on teh white is kind of suspect at 12/13/2013, but the black is 8/16)

and Sam Ash via amazon
and Music Zoo
http://www.themusiczoo.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=STNB

nobody should be looking at collector prices yet, if it does occur

I'm so used to the 'narrow' spacing I find it more difficult than I'd like to switch to standard spacing -- so have a thought to buy another.
 

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