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Steinberger Spirits

#261
Question for those who are using Status Graphite strings, especially those of you with low Bs - how is your string length? My new set is considerably shorter than what I remember for the ones I had before.

How much do your ball ends retract under the bridgeplate?
 
#263
rogerbmiller said:
I had no idea that Spirits are becoming "collectible."
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No one said they are becoming collectable. The only fact here is that they are no longer being built. I believe the sentiment earlier in the thread was actually that they are not worth the price some of these racketeers are asking on eBay.

Just because something can't be bought new anymore does not mean that someone can reasonably except to sell it for multiples of its original price. That is, unless that seller finds a dupe. Roger, I would suggest you keep your Spirit because you like the bass, not because there is a likelihood of making a lot of money on it.

I like my Spirits, and I have no expectation of being able to get a thousand dollars out of one of them were I to sell it.
 
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#265
HeavyDuty said:
Question for those who are using Status Graphite strings, especially those of you with low Bs - how is your string length? My new set is considerably shorter than what I remember for the ones I had before.

How much do your ball ends retract under the bridgeplate?
Click to expand...

I saw this earlier, and I now realize I can answer the question.. duh!

I found my SG strings to be short on the B-string, a very tight stretch to get it into the jaw. I had to run the jaw all the way out, to the point where it nearly came off the tuning screw, and then did not get much tightening before it came to pitch. The ball end is exposed, where the other four are up under the plate.

I wrote to Status and reported the problem, but did not get a reply. I haven't bought a 5-string set from them in several years, so I don't personally know if that was addressed. From your post, apparently it wasn't.

I had the same problem with a couple of other manufacturers' strings, but don't remember at this sitting which ones they were.
 
#267
MichaelVee said:
No one said they are becoming collectable. The only fact here is that they are no longer being built. I believe the sentiment earlier in the thread was actually that they are not worth the price some of these racketeers are asking on eBay.

Just because something can't be bought new anymore does not mean that someone can reasonably except to sell it for multiples of its original price. That is, unless that seller finds a dupe. Roger, I would suggest you keep your Spirit because you like the bass, not because there is a likelihood of making a lot of money on it.

I like my Spirits, and I have no expectation of being able to get a thousand dollars out of one of them were I to sell it.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah sure. I just meant they could become harder to replace over time. I often churn gear and if I miss something I can always buy another here or on ebay. But certain things folks just hold on to after they stop being produce. Know what I mean?
 
#269
Traded a bass I never used for this and a bunch of store credit. Cheapest XT 25 I've seen, due to the stripped finish. Everything worked and I was looking for a portable 5 string for backup.

It didn't sound so hot when tuned down a step; pretty mid-focused and a bit honky. I wouldn't have minded that tone in a 4 string, but for a 5 that's the opposite of what I need. Balance was also terrible. Sat too far to the left and the body wanted to roll over towards the floor. This shape was not meant to just have a strap buttoned onto it. Here's what I came up with from parts I had on hand, having $0.00 to spend. I do not like drilling holes in instruments but had to add 1 small screw on the back. Aesthetes had best not look. Bass is resting on its gig bag, a Plano "Bone Collector" gun case. $20 - something at Wal Mart.
tgAuw6H.jpg


EMG BTC I had on hand. Had to remove other pots to fit 2 9V batteries. Surprised to find the factory jack is stereo, was able to properly wire battery to disconnect when cord unplugged. Pickups wired series to maximize output which was too low. Looking for something to cover the holes. Upper strap button position is occupied by rubber "foot." Lower strap button is Schaller straplock. I use this one and position the strap over the body behind the bridge. This angles the facing of the bass slightly "up" or "back." If I look at the fretboard I can see it.

5xbbS77.jpg


Metal "strap" from home improvement store. Pivots to parallel with neck for storage. Schaller Straplock button attached to the other side.

TwLAurh.jpg


When worn, metal strap pivots to this angle, held in place by stop screw.

It sounds better, and is much more comfortable. IMO not a whole lot uglier than before, but it was pretty ugly to begin with.
 
#270
As above, anyway of finding out how many lefty XZ-25s were made? I had a superb one which I modded with 'real' EMG pups & the BTC pre, so it was basically a full-on steiny but without the graphite neck. I loved it but it was 'stolen' in that it was sold via consignment but the store went belly up in '07 before paying me my 80% share of the sale price. I'm looking to replace it n mod it again when time n $ permit so if you know of anyone wanting to part with one.....I've googled regularly n get daily eBay updates but have come up empty so far. Some might say I'm greedy but I've got a hankerin' for a bodied 'Berger n the XZ Spirit was a great bass to play, very comfy. Thnx in advance for any info! G
 
#271
gleneg61 said:
As above, anyway of finding out how many lefty XZ-25s were made?
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No chance. There are some traces of XZ basses found in the Nashville production logs, but all I can find is about 50 XZ basses in 1998, none of them a lefty. The Music Yo era (after 2002), where this bass has been available as a lefty 5- and 4-string version is not documented at all… at least not published anywhere. So Gibson might know, but Gibson won't tell…

Bernd
 
#272
My thoughts are that there were more left-handed XZs produced overseas in the MusicYo era than prior when Gibson built them. My memory is of lefties being available each year from MusicYo, at least when the shipments came in from Korea, but then they sold out well before the end of each year. I definitely would not count on getting any MusicYo era information from Gibson. It's tough to get any kind of info from them that requires lookup and return email. Just know that those are going to be hard to find in the used/eBay/other online markets, and if you see one in reasonable shape and at a sub-$500 price, jump on it right away.
 
#274
MichaelVee said:
It makes me wonder if the XT's really are still in production.
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If any, then the XT and the GT. They are sporadically available here in Germany, too. And a random selection of Synapses. So there seems to be something similar to a "production", but not as regularly delivered as before. Haven't seen a ZT3 for months, though… and Gibson/Epiphone still hasn't given any official statement other than the usual "still available and in production". They need something called "CRM", urgently…
 
#277
Well, after not getting a set of HB style pickups i ordered previously, i decided to take the plunge and pick up a couple of HBCS ones from ebay. They ship tomorrow!

I'll post pics once I have them installed.
 
#278
Not quite NBD! I just found this thread and have just joined the ranks of the headless! I bought an old spirit 5 string (paddle shape) Spirit at a guitar show for $300. Reasonably decent for the price. No big scars, frets seem not very worn, and came with nice hard case. Naturally it didn't work! Dead as a doornail! This is getting to be a big problem at guitar shows!

I poked around the cavity and got some static so I'm hoping there is a broken wire in there I can find. Pickups are NOT EMGs but some kind of brass guitar-style pickups that the previous owner had obviously stripped the black paint off down to the brass. Looked online but information seems sparse on this older stuff. Dunlop straploks were worn out, coming unlatched AND the screws were pulling out of the bass! (bass came with cheap nylon strap with locks) Trying bass I noticed minor neck dive. So I replace the dunlop buttons with new ones (strap part seemed OK after a grease job). On the neck button I added a standoff about an inch and a half long. this is shorter than the one twice as long I put on my Carlo Robelli 8 string to end dive. But in this case the bass balances quite nicely and the shorter stand-off just fits the case nicely too. Only thing I don't like is the neck being farther to the left than normal which makes you reach a bit farther. I considered one of those extender things people are talking about here but my bass has NO screw holes on the back yet so I"m reluctant to start drilling.

Anyway that's about all I know so far. I'm continuing to tear it apart for refurb. I know, no picture, no bass. Well there is no bass because it doesn't work yet! Frets seem very even though I did have to add relief to stop buzz on first couple of frets. I'm still wondering if a plek job would be worth the extra cash. That would certainly raise the price of the bass!

Anyway I'll report more as I get things working. Any comments on this bass especially the old-style pickups is welcomed. Note bass is active with 9v battery and a small circuit board with red goop all over it! I figure if it turns out a disaster I can always make it passive.
 
#280
Glad to have found this thread! I fell in love with the idea of the Steinberger's small form factor as a backup and travel bass. So I just picked up my first headless bass this week - a used Spirit XT-25. It seems pretty difficult to gauge the age of these basses, but for anyone who has an idea from serial numbers, mine has 305xx on the control cavity cover.

After taking delivery and opening the package, I can say that the size and length of the bass actually feels more compact than I anticipated (very cool). I thought an instrument this small might be low mass as well. However the weight came as a bit of a surprise. From the info I had found before buying I was thinking it would be around 8 pounds. Instead it's almost 9; our kitchen scale measured 8 lb 14-1/8 oz (8.9 lbs) with no strap and with a High-C string set on it. It's still not a heavy bass - but it's likewise not an especially light one.

I'm curious how this compares to others' experiences. Do the paddle-shaped five stringers often approach 9 lbs? (Ken's sale link from March 2015 states 7.5 lbs. :wideyed:)

I've got some setup work to do before making any lasting judgment about its playability, but so far my main impression is that the weight is a little unexpected!

Eric
 
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