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Steinberger Spirits

#281
ewarren88 said:
I've got some setup work to do before making any lasting judgment about its playability...!Eric
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Just found this thread. I'd been interested in a Steiney for some time, in November 2014 I finally decided to take the plunge and bought a new Spirit 4 string from Sam Ash, $399. Figured for the money I'd take a chance, if it didn't work out I'm not out that much. Figured with neck through construction it couldn't be too bad eh?

I've been really surprised and really quite impressed with what a nice playing and nice sounding instrument this thing actually is. Set up out of the box wasn't too great but took it to my guitar tech and had it properly set up. Took awhile to adjust to not having anywhere to rest my right arm but once I got comfortable I just love playing this thing.

So IMO playability is quite good but you have to get used to the body shape and get the neck into a comfortable position for you. I added the strap hook ($25) and mounted a couple of strap knobs on the back (yes I drilled some holes in it - hey, it's a $400 guitar) to get the neck shifted back to the right more. Once I found the correct position (three holes later...) it's way comfortable and a breeze to play. No issue getting a nice punchy sound from the passive pups, I just roll most of the treble off and boost the low end. All in all money very well spent IMO and you can find these used on Ebay, CL etc for less than a new one if you look. Very underrated bass and IMO a great value.
 
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#282
EdO. said:
Just found this thread. I'd been interested in a Steiney for some time, in November 2014 I finally decided to take the plunge and bought a new Spirit 4 string from Sam Ash, $399. Figured for the money I'd take a chance, if it didn't work out I'm not out that much. Figured with neck through construction it couldn't be too bad eh?

I've been really surprised and really quite impressed with what a nice playing and nice sounding instrument this thing actually is. Set up out of the box wasn't too great but took it to my guitar tech and had it properly set up. Took awhile to adjust to not having anywhere to rest my right arm but once I got comfortable I just love playing this thing.

So IMO playability is quite good but you have to get used to the body shape and get the neck into a comfortable position for you. I added the strap hook ($25) and mounted a couple of strap knobs on the back (yes I drilled some holes in it - hey, it's a $400 guitar) to get the neck shifted back to the right more. Once I found the correct position (three holes later...) it's way comfortable and a breeze to play. No issue getting a nice punchy sound from the passive pups, I just roll most of the treble off and boost the low end. All in all money very well spent IMO and you can find these used on Ebay, CL etc for less than a new one if you look. Very underrated bass and IMO a great value.
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It would be cool to see some pics of your strap hook and the knobs' location
 
#283
Here you go Rozeg. Not the greatest photos but should give you a good idea of what I've done. Right now I'm switching back and forth between the two mounted strap knobs on the back. To use the farthest right hole in the body I just unscrew one of the knobs and move it. Full disclosure - I'm still rehabbing from rotor cuff surgery on my left shoulder (Nov. 17th) so I can't reach out with my left hand as much as I'd like without discomfort. So by installing strap knobs on the back I'm able to crowd the body of the bass back to the left to get it into a more comfortable playing position for my left arm. Before surgery and once I'm fully functional again I'll hook to the rear of the bass, front on the strap hook, it's comfortable there and no issues.

This bass was almost unplayable without the addition ot the strap hook. That Gibson/Steinberger don't at least offer it as an option when they sell the instrument is IMO completely wrong and stupid. Once I put the strap hook on it it became playable and comfortable, really makes all the difference. FWIW. To mount the strap hook I removed the existing strap knob, put the rear screw in it there, set the angle I thought would work, drilled the 2nd hole and installed the screw. Simple and effective. Who do I talk to here about joining the Steinberger Club? SAM_2303.JPG SAM_2302.JPG
 
#284
EdO. said:
Here you go Rozeg. Not the greatest photos but should give you a good idea of what I've done. Right now I'm switching back and forth between the two mounted strap knobs on the back. To use the farthest right hole in the body I just unscrew one of the knobs and move it. Full disclosure - I'm still rehabbing from rotor cuff surgery on my left shoulder (Nov. 17th) so I can't reach out with my left hand as much as I'd like without discomfort. So by installing strap knobs on the back I'm able to crowd the body of the bass back to the left to get it into a more comfortable playing position for my left arm. Before surgery and once I'm fully functional again I'll hook to the rear of the bass, front on the strap hook, it's comfortable there and no issues.

This bass was almost unplayable without the addition ot the strap hook. That Gibson/Steinberger don't at least offer it as an option when they sell the instrument is IMO completely wrong and stupid. Once I put the strap hook on it it became playable and comfortable, really makes all the difference. FWIW. To mount the strap hook I removed the existing strap knob, put the rear screw in it there, set the angle I thought would work, drilled the 2nd hole and installed the screw. Simple and effective. Who do I talk to here about joining the Steinberger Club? View attachment 784023 View attachment 784022
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That's exactly how I wanted to drill the holes - to keep the bass more upright!
Totally agree with everything you said about comfortable position.
This is the Steinberger club link: Steinberger Club
Check the latest few pages for what the latest taken number is, and take the next number. Feel free to post more pics of your beauty in that thread. And yet better, vids and sound samples whenever you have them :)
 
#287
Unless I'm missing something the date on that web page is 2005. Prices have gone up since then. I tried pulling up musicyo.com but all I got was a page that said "buy this domain", guessing they're out of business? Did a quick search and really couldn't find any new xz-25's for sale but you can get a 4 string xt-2 (the paddle shaped one) for $399 or less at a lot of places. With neck through construction and maple bodies/necks IMO it's a hell of a bargain for a really nice playing little bass.
 
#290
Medic579 said:
Also it has a number engraved in the electronics cover. 20082 I read somewhere music yo spirits started with 20000. So I guess that means it's #82. I'm guessing early 90's? Anyway it was cool so I picked it up.
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You are lucky, there is information about this serial available :)

This bass was made on November 11, 1992. So it was made in the same year as the Steinberger production has moved to Nashville. Not a Music Yo instrument (MY production started in 2002). I guess the fretboard is phenolic.
 
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#293
Medic579 said:
So does that make it American made? I'm a little confused.
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No Spirits were american made, latest genuine Sb onto 2007 were GLB, XM, XQ and the GR with wooden bodies and carbon necks. All other full wood inc. Cort, Spirit, Hohner and Synapse are Cort/Korean made.
Early XT2/XT25 and GT/GT Pro had phenolic fretboards and EMG Select* pups which lifts them up on 50-70$ over the later rosewood/no name pups types in value depending on actual condition.

*appearing in '94 Sb-catalogs/pricelists
 
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#296
Medic579 said:
Thanks for the info. Where did you find the info on my serial number?
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I'm maintaining the updated Invalid Link Removed, and one of the sources is an old copy of the "Nashville logs" which I was happy to get my hands on. It contained lots of doubles and some errors and took me weeks to clean up, but meanwhile it's a pretty usable resource of information when comparing instruments found in real world to this list. From this list I only give instruments the "confirmed" status when it matches the list entry (serial, model type) and has appeared somewhere, be it on ebay, SteinbergerWorld or elsewhere on the world, simply when it's proven that it does exist. Spirit line instruments don't appear in my published serial list (only USA made instruments), but - for a limited time - the logs contained Spirit entries, which may help with instruments like yours :)
 
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#298
image.jpeg
image.jpeg
Be_eM said:
I'm maintaining the updated Invalid Link Removed, and one of the sources is an old copy of the "Nashville logs" which I was happy to get my hands on. It contained lots of doubles and some errors and took me weeks to clean up, but meanwhile it's a pretty usable resource of information when comparing instruments found in real world to this list. From this list I only give instruments the "confirmed" status when it matches the list entry (serial, model type) and has appeared somewhere, be it on ebay, SteinbergerWorld or elsewhere on the world, simply when it's proven that it does exist. Spirit line instruments don't
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Well I paid 295 for it. It doesn't have the original gig bag but it's in a gun case lol. I'm happy with it. Just gotta clean it up a little!
 
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