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Steinberger Spirits

#361
New to this thread and will have some serious catching up to do.

Don’t think I ever posted on here but would love to weigh in on having the pleasure of owning a Spirit XQ Bass for over 5 years now and lately it’s been thinning out in sound over time. So I’ve recently purchased a Synapse until shortly after to my dismay have came across the unfortunate issue of their headpiece that takes single strings. Those cheap ass clamps broke on me and was very upset on their workmanship (too much to rant about on that for its own thread).

Now that I’ve discovered this thread, my initial response is to ask how anyone here has went about upgrading pickups on their Spirit basses and what the outcome was like.

Thank you for your time everyone.
 
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#363
sonojono said:
New to this thread and will have some serious catching up to do...having the pleasure of owning a Spirit XQ Bass for over 5 years now and lately it’s been thinning out in sound over time...ask how anyone here has went about upgrading pickups on their Spirit basses and what the outcome was like.
Click to expand...

Your first sentence hits it on the head. This thread is now eleven years old and we've had some good discussion. Do some catching up, search the thread, if not read all the posts, and you'll see posts about pickup and electronics upgrades. There are also a couple of separate threads in Basses about this as well.

To summarize, probably the best pickup upgrade is Invalid Link Removed sets, which are designed to sound like the original 80's Steinberger EMGs. They are active and they are terrific, but pricey. The bass will not sound quite like an 80's full graphite instrument, but pretty darn close, and in my opinion, I like the tonality that the wood neck and body bring to the sound.

You could also try any number of standard-sized humbucker pickups that are out there, and the selection of those for bass is way better now than in 2007.

Any sort of electronics upgrade will make at least a small improvement in sound with the stock passive EMGs, ranging from a standard VVT set of CTS pots with an Orange Drop capacitor, to a full-blown active control set.
 
#368
I'm glad this thread shows signs of life, makes me feel less awkward asking what will likely amount to a silly question.
Which would be, what strings actually fit a Spirit XV-25? I picked up several years ago in attempt to fill the gap left by my Hohner The Jack's demise, but ultimately ended up mothballing it because I had trouble finding strings. I believe the D'Addario's I had used on my Jack were slightly too short, so I think this poor thing has had the stock strings on it for, uhh, a long time.
As I attempt to shop, I notice a lot of warnings that the strings are scaled for original Steinbergers, and don't fit the modern reboots. I'm leaning towards the Ken Smiths from JustStrings, as my previous experience with D'As was fruitless, and I recall not caring for the LaBellas. I am aware of Status Graphite, but hedging on an international order for the moment. Any advice would be well appreciated. :)
 
#369
You mean XT-25?
Get a string adapter (about $45). I did for my XT-25.
All my basses wear NYXL strings.

Invalid Link Removed

Tip: If you do get a string adapter, be careful on the G, while cranking the grub down. You will cut the string if you get too happy with it... When you get a string adapter, anchor all your strings at the bridge first, and crank just enough to get enough of 'ball' edge under lip to hold. Run your A up through the adapter first. It will hold it centered to run the rest. After you do it once, you will be amazed at how quickly you can change strings even with the adapter... String tension holds the adapter in place. There is no modification to the guitar...

My XT-25 with adapter...

Stein_String_Adapter.jpg

Stein_String_Adapter_2.jpg
 
#374
Michael Vee said:
AstralBirth, did you get the EMGs?
Click to expand...

Still haven’t cause I’ve been pretty busy and lost track of time with gigs. Because of my issue with the spirit bass, I ended up buying a B-Stock NS Design WAV Bass (which costed less than the total amount of parts for the spirit bass) that’s been my current replacement and am loving it. Although, I’d still would love to bring back my Spirit to life!
 
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#375
I hadn't thought about HeadlessUSA in a while, it's good to see that Don and Jeff are still actively doing their thing. They provide a lot of services and are a great resource for original Steinberger owners.

In the past, I communicated with Don regarding what services they offer for Spirits. Being former Steinberger employees back in the 1980's, they are not particularly excited about Spirits, but will discuss working on them. And they do continue to manufacture the string adapters, increasingly important as the options for new double-ball strings diminish.

www.headlessusa.com
www.facebook.com/HeadlessUSAcom

A few years back, I was carrying my XZ-25 to the car for a rehearsal, when the zipper on the cheap supplied gig bag gave way. The bass fell out of the bag and hit my concrete garage floor on the lower body edge below the controls. It cracked the finish but did not dent the body. (!) I've always thought about getting it stripped and repainted, so it's something I will ask HeadlessUSA about, as they are now doing custom refinishing. I'm sure it will be pricey, though!
 
#377
sonojono said:
Still haven’t cause I’ve been pretty busy and lost track of time with gigs. Because of my issue with the spirit bass, I ended up buying a B-Stock NS Design WAV Bass (which costed less than the total amount of parts for the spirit bass) that’s been my current replacement and am loving it. Although, I’d still would love to bring back my Spirit to life!
Click to expand...

Astral, glad to hear you're enjoying the WAV bass and got it at B-stock pricing. They are essentially the same as the Synapses in pickups and electronics. Yeah, you should still work on the Spirit!

Modding the Spirits was much like buying a cheap Fender Squire and replacing all the hardware and pickups and electronics. It is/was very easy to spend more on the parts than one did on the bass, particularly when MusicYo marked them down. I bought my XZ-2 in 2000 as a B-stock for $225. I paid more than that for the EMG HBCS pickups and the EMG BTC controls.

I have used the XZ-2 out several times lately for performances. It had been put up for a number of years, but I got it out the first time and it was still in tune! It was nice to rediscover that tone.. the EMG upgrade is pretty phenomenal, and the bass played beautifully. Very comfortable. Like going home again!
 

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#378
I got an XT25, and gave it a real try. I couldn't get a usable gigging tone that wasn't lost in the mix. Plus the body shift to the left was ridiculous. Returned it, but really hoped it would work. I'd owned a Cort Steinberger 4 string in the 90s, and that one sounded and played great. Wish that I'd never sold it.

Just my 2 cents.
 

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