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Steinberger Spirits

#522
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I used the original strap button for the first hole and drilled a small second hole. Eventually, I'd like to put slip washers under the strap hole and figure out some sort of pin for the second so I can rotate it to put it away.
 
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#523
Michael Vee said:
I will say that I've tried to call Gibson customer service in Nashville on a couple of occasions in the last several years to ask about parts and service for Spirits and Synapses, and got nowhere with it. They refer you to "your nearest dealer", and when I've called a couple of those, they say they don't know anything about Steinberger parts and service. So don't rely on that.. we're on our own.

No OEM parts are available for the things that are unique to the Spirits, but otherwise they are regular electric basses, and obviously any guitar tech can work on them.
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UPDATE: I did receive a couple of emails from their european customer care after a couple of weeks wait. They are now sending me a replacement truss rod barrel nut. As for the spex all I got was this:

"These are a 4mm wrench size, but these are not just an off the shelf part. If you need a wrench, 4mm, but if you need the nut, we will probably need to pull one off of a scrap to hook you up."

If and when I receive the part I will make sure to update the details such as size and threading to add to that little nugget of information.

Let's see how this progresses.
 
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#525
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Here are my two steiny's. A Spirit XT-25 and an NS Design Wav4. Honestly, I hate the spirit. I can't just play it comfortably. The NS is a bit better, but I can't seem to dial in the neck where I want it. I also have an Ibanez EHB1005MS and I prefer the Ibby to both of the Steinbergers.
 
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#527
LowEndLobster said:
View attachment 3737646

Here are my two steiny's. A Spirit XT-25 and an NS Design Wav4. Honestly, I hate the spirit. I can't just play it comfortably. The NS is a bit better, but I can't seem to dial in the neck where I want it. I also have an Ibanez EHB1005MS and I prefer the Ibby to both of the Steinbergers.
Click to expand...
On the Spirit I had (identical to yours) I mounted recessed strap locks in the back to get the positioning correct but I wasn't enamored with the tone. What about it is giving you grief?

The Radius is an excellent sounding bass IMO but I don't need a four or another five string. A six string headless bass would be sweet but options are limited and more than what I can afford right now.

Raz
 
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#528
Razman said:
On the Spirit I had (identical to yours) I mounted recessed strap locks in the back to get the positioning correct but I wasn't enamored with the tone. What about it is giving you grief?

The Radius is an excellent sounding bass IMO but I don't need a four or another five string. A six string headless bass would be sweet but options are limited and more than what I can afford right now.

Raz
Click to expand...

The playing position both seated and with a strap bothers me a LOT. Seated, I feel like I have to extend my arm an extra 6 inches to get to the first fret. Also, the spot where my right forearm rests on the body of the bass is super uncomfortable on the steiny. Tone is kind of bland too. It plays well, but the position of the neck throws me off.

The Radius is solid, but the neck is very touchy and I'm having some trouble dialing it in. Will keep working on it before giving both instruments a full review (and a comparison video coming soon).
 
#529
LowEndLobster said:
View attachment 3737646

Here are my two steiny's. A Spirit XT-25 and an NS Design Wav4. Honestly, I hate the spirit. I can't just play it comfortably. The NS is a bit better, but I can't seem to dial in the neck where I want it. I also have an Ibanez EHB1005MS and I prefer the Ibby to both of the Steinbergers.
Click to expand...
A strap hook will fix that. Had the same issue, after I finally found a strap hook (which are impossible to get these days) all of a sudden it was comfortable and fun to play.

If anyone is interested I found someone with a computerized plasma cutter to make me some strap hook copies. I have a few spares I'd part with if anyone's interested. PM me for more info.
 
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#535
KaiHern - Excellent idea! The string ends can cut you if you pick up the instrument from the neck end, also pose a problem with snagging insides of gig bags.

I love the solutions you guys are coming up with!
 
#536
EdO. said:
I can have more made no problem. He has it scanned into his computer, they're just a phone call away. They're powder coated too.
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Hey EdO, I have a crazy idea, hear me out!
Been trying to source for strap hooks, but to no avail. Purchased a thin 1mm carbon fiber plate which can be cut by scissors. I aim to cut and then sand to shape, while layering a few pieces to get it to the desired thickness.
Would like to have a schematic or something of the hook, anything like a simple trace of the shape will do!

It might end up stronger and lighter than the original aluminium one
 
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#538
KaiHern said:
Hey EdO, I have a crazy idea, hear me out!
Been trying to source for strap hooks, but to no avail. Purchased a thin 1mm carbon fiber plate which can be cut by scissors. I aim to cut and then sand to shape, while layering a few pieces to get it to the desired thickness.
Would like to have a schematic or something of the hook, anything like a simple trace of the shape will do!

It might end up stronger and lighter than the original aluminium one
Click to expand...

Great idea, Kai!
 
#539
LowEndLobster said:
Realized my video wasn't in this thread :p
Click to expand...

Good review, Lobster. I think it's good for everyone to realize this was one instrument. Some of the quality control issues mentioned probably could be found on other recently manufactured XT's. I don't have any experience with this most recent run of XT's after Gibson started production back up.

I don't think anybody here has reported neck stability problems, so maybe it was just the one you got.

I would like you (Lobster) to have a chance to review the earlier, Korean-made Spirits, particularly the XZ models. That's not really what you are doing with your headless reviews- you're looking a current off-the-shelf basses, but I think you'd enjoy the older ones more.

The Korean basses obviously share some of the design elements that you did not like, but they were excellent instruments at the original price points in the MusicYou era. I think quite a few of the owners who've posted in this thread either purchased them from MusicYo or have bought used ones. At the lower price points, it's more conceivable to upgrade the electronics and pickups, and to buy the string adapters.

The XT's are not for everyone. If one agrees with Ned's designs and ergonomic philosopies, some at least, you can see them as a terrific travel bass. A little EQ fixes the sound of many passive basses.
 
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#540
Michael Vee said:
Good review, Lobster. I think it's good for everyone to realize this was one instrument. Some of the quality control issues mentioned probably could be found on other recently manufactured XT's. I don't have any experience with this most recent run of XT's after Gibson started production back up.

I don't think anybody here has reported neck stability problems, so maybe it was just the one you got.

I would like you (Lobster) to have a chance to review the earlier, Korean-made Spirits, particularly the XZ models. That's not really what you are doing with your headless reviews- you're looking a current off-the-shelf basses, but I think you'd enjoy the older ones more.

The Korean basses obviously share some of the design elements that you did not like, but they were excellent instruments at the original price points in the MusicYou era. I think quite a few of the owners who've posted in this thread either purchased them from MusicYo or have bought used ones. At the lower price points, it's more conceivable to upgrade the electronics and pickups, and to buy the string adapters.

The XT's are not for everyone. If one agrees with Ned's designs and ergonomic philosopies, some at least, you can see them as a terrific travel bass. A little EQ fixes the sound of many passive basses.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the view and reply! Though I do mostly test off the shelf basses, I do test some that are out of production or a little bit older. I mainly try to focus on ones that don't have a lot of info online or any in depth videos. If there's a market for em and the quality is better, I'd definitely love to get my claws on one :). I also have been tempted to try that other spirit model with the full body, I forget what it's called. Any suggestions on models you'd like to see in a future video are very much welcome!
 

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