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Steinberger Spirits

#321
Hey guys! I just added this XT-2DB to my collection...


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Have always been intrigued by the Steinbergers, but never had a chance to even play one. I had $250 trying to burn a hole in my pocket, so I picked this baby up a few days ago. Saw it on GC's used bass listing for some town clear across the country - they shipped it for $20, so it wasn't too bad. I figured if I hated it, I could probably at least break even by selling it. It's either not been played much at all or very well taken care of. I tend to like how it feels and plays so far, so I'll probably keep her.

So, here's the $64k question: Does anyone happen to have one of the Synapse strap hooks laying around that they would just love to sell to me? I found some on eBay for about $70 and from the way the eBay listings are thrown together, they just seem a bit fishy to me - several of the same item and photo, but claim they are from different basses. May be legit, but for that price, I'll look elsewhere first. Weren't they about $25 when sold new by MusicYo? I did skim this entire thread, as well as others, and I see that perhaps Sam Ash may be able to get them special order? I just called them and the sales guy was reluctant to place an order without knowing if Steinberger (Gibson) had the parts in stock - he wanted me to call them. Interesting. Well, I'll call them tomorrow - then if they have them in stock, perhaps find another retailer to purchase them from.

At any rate, I have it, it plays well, I'll figure something out somehow to extend the strap button.
 
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#322
Seems that Gibson (who bought out Steinberger several years ago as I understand it) has all but shut down production of anything Steinberger. I got one strap hook through Sam Ash back in late 2013 when I bought my Spirit from them, took about 5 weeks to arrive. I've had two more strap hooks on order through Sam Ash for about 7 months now, have checked in on them a couple of time, seems for whatever reason Gibson won't get off their asses and ship them. My assumption, and the assumption of the guy I deal with as SA, is that they're just plain not making any.

The all wood later model Spirits are IMO really underrated instruments. I'm sure they sound nothing like the classic Steinies but on their own merit they produce a good sound and play nicely when properly setup. Having the strap hook extension thingie totally transforms them into very comfortably playable basses, somewhat awkward without. I'm about to the point of taking mine to a machine shop to see if I could get some made. Work great to help out neck divers too.
 
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#323
Chicken Dog said:
So, here's the $64k question: Does anyone happen to have one of the Synapse strap hooks laying around that they would just love to sell to me? I found some on eBay for about $70 and from the way the eBay listings are thrown together, they just seem a bit fishy to me - several of the same item and photo, but claim they are from different basses. May be legit, but for that price, I'll look elsewhere first. Weren't they about $25 when sold new by MusicYo?
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You can buy these strap hooks from authorized Gibson service. Invalid Link Removed and tell it to whoever your trusted Gibson dealer/service is. They often don't know about Steinbergers in general, but they definitely are able to get and provide these parts. A price of about $25 sounds correct, I've been able to buy one here in Germany for around the same price. You just need to find the right dealer, and you need to be patient. This is not something that will happen instantly… ;)
 
#324
I believe I have the right dealer (Sam Ash is a rather large music gear retailer here in the US), we ahve the correct part number, and I've been quite patient (7+ months now). They're just not freaking available apparently. $25 is the correct price, I'd buy 4 of them if I could get Gibson to ship anything. Their famous and well earned reputation for poor customer service certainly seems to be in full operation. If you could find a couple in Germany I'd pay you to ship them to me. Deal?
 
#329
They suck without the strap hook. I've done it both ways.

As luck may have it, I got a call from Sam Ash yesterday. I've had two strap hooks on order for almost a year now. Said they'd finally gotten some in (never expected to see them again so really stoked!) and were shipping mine! Don't know how many they're getting but if anyone wants one I'd give them a call. Model # is SSH-101. If memory serves anyway...

I still intend to draw one out on graph paper and post it, wouldn't take much to make a few for anyone with any metalworking skills (which unfortunately I don't possess...). I'd have already done it but don't want to take an already mounted one off to do that. I have them on three basses currently, my one Spirit and two Thunderbirds. For anything that lacks an upper bout or neck dives a strap hook is the fix.
 
#330
EdO. said:
As luck may have it, I got a call from Sam Ash yesterday. I've had two strap hooks on order for almost a year now. Said they'd finally gotten some in (never expected to see them again so really stoked!) and were shipping mine! Don't know how many they're getting but if anyone wants one I'd give them a call.
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Any special contact number or person there, or just the general number?
Thanks.
 
#331
spaceman said:
How "bad" would an XT-25 be to play without a strap extender?
I'm trying to decide whether to buy a new one from guitarcenter (or similar place).
Thanks.
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Seated doesn't matter. But standing not having the extender is why I don't play my Spirit more. The neck ends up in the wrong relation to you and you end up playing the wrong frets. I've been considering making my own strap extender. If I can find a cheap one, though I'll go with that.

By the way back order at Sam Ash is usually a big no no. I once ordered some parts there. Waited months and kept asking every month only to get the "not in yet" story. Finally I threw a fit right in the middle of the store yelling for the manager. The manager comes out and roots around the computer trying to find my order and can't. "Oh here's the problem" he opines. It seems policy at Sam ash is to tie the back orders to the given sales associate that took the order. And that guy left Sam Ash. Hence all his back orders were canceled. Naturally nobody bothered to inform me and just kept pretending it wasn't in yet. That was the end of Sam Ash back orders for me. I'd guess EdO that it wasn't your back order that came in, but just that somehow some showed up for stock.
 
#333
I just made an impulse purchase this morning - a red fretted XP-25. I've wanted one for years because the pickguard makes pickup replacement a little easier. Plus, I like the XP body shape. I'm hoping it can become a cheap travel bass.

But... I forgot Status flats aren't available right now, so it may end up going back - I *hate* roundwounds.

I wonder if the balance is any different than on my earlier XT-2s and XT-25? If I keep it, I may need to track down a strap hook. I had one on my XT-25, and it helped tremendously.
 
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#334
The XP-25 arrived yesterday.

It seems fine - condition is good, the truss rod adjust properly and the like. One happy unexpected discovery is that it doesn't seem to have anywhere near the neck dive as my old XT Spirits - the extra mass in the body seems to balance better. I might still rig a hook just to move the zero fret to my right a little. My only complaint is the color; I would have preferred black, but the red should look good with a black pickguard - kinda the same vibe as a Ric Devil's Tuxedo.

My goal here is to lift off the complete pickguard, pickups, pots and jack assembly and have a custom PG made for a new single pickup and passive V + T - I was thinking either a Bart or SD P5, but there isn't enough width for a P pickup so I'll need to go with a soapbar. The neck position pickup is in the P position so at least I shouldn't need to do any routing. Plus, I can always restore it to original condition if I decide to sell it someday. It will probably get a set of double ball LaBella flats.

Does anyone have suggestions for a custom PG maker that is good to work with on one-off projects like this?

Seller's pic - they had it listed as an XT-25 instead of the correct XP-25:

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#338
HeavyDuty said:
Considering that Gibson has been making Steinbergers for twenty years or so, you must be right.
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Though in fairness, Gibson has ceased production of Steinbergers and then resumed numerous times over the 30 years since they bought the brand and designs.

The USA Steinbergers are no longer made, and haven't been for over 10 years. That is truly a shame!
 
#340
HeavyDuty said:
I don't think the Spirits and the guitars ever really disappear completely, they let stock run out and do another run.
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Agreed. And it is not the worst marketing if you think about how much used gear gets flooded on the market.

I will say though, that the more recent runs seem to differ. No more EMG pickups for example.

I am not in a position to say whether the new ones are of inferior quality as I have only owned the older ones, but given when they are now producing and calling Tobias, one has to wonder...
 
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