Steinberger Spirits

[Michael Vee]

Thanks for sharing, Junior57. That's stock all the way, those are the EMG Select humbuckers that were standard. $130 was a terrific price. If you like the way it sounds, keep it stock! But at that price, you could do the pickups and electronics and go for a strap hook if you don't like the way it hangs on a strap. You probably would have $400 in it at that point. Again, though, some owners like 'em the way they are.

 

[KaiHern]

Did the hook using 3d printing instead of carbon fibre. Was too difficult in cutting that kind of material. Balances so much better and now it plays in the same position, both standing and sitting. Highly recommends the hook mod, be it using plastic or a piece of metal like the other members have done here

 

[Michael Vee]

Very nice, Kai!

 

[KaiHern]

Hi friends, during lockdown I butchered my steinberger spirit. The amount of modifications I did probably removes me from the 'club' but feel free to take a look My best efforts on my first time with woodworking tools hahaha
Bass build/bass mod - Lockdown Edition!

 

[Razman]

Hi friends, during lockdown I butchered my steinberger spirit. The amount of modifications I did probably removes me from the 'club' but feel free to take a look My best efforts on my first time with woodworking tools hahaha
Bass build/bass mod - Lockdown Edition!

I don't even know what to say. You should be excommunicated or something, possibly beaten with pool noodles for good measure.

 

[SlickaBass]

I made a straphook for my XT25 - see

Just in middle of messing with pickups having fret levelled.

QUOTE="Michael Vee, post: 23577842, member: 38783"]For $5? Make the bid and let us know how it works out!

There have been other improvised strap hooks, and some have machined them from a metal blank, but probably no one has tried a motorcycle spanner wrench!

As I said, as long as you could figure out how to keep it from rotating on the strap post with the weight of the bass on the (wrench), you'd be good. Maybe lock nuts and washers? Exceot those would not work on a standard strap post screw.. you'd have to use something like a bolt. Ideas, anybody?[/QUOTE]

 

[SlickaBass]

I ordered a set of Ken Smith double ball strings to try on the spirit
The price was good at 23.99 so I’ll see how the fit is

Was tight on my XT25 but they sure sound good. I got the 6 string set and the E to C is better fit that B to G

 

[lug]

There have been other improvised strap hooks, and some have machined them from a metal blank, but probably no one has tried a motorcycle spanner wrench!

See post 520

I used a 10" spanner so I could put the strap above the 12th fret (got the idea form lesfunk in a post above that). Mod turns the bass from a novelty to a useful instrument!

 

[Michael Vee]

There was a post in another old thread where someone was asking about EMG replacement pickups that are humbucker-size. I thought I'd post some of the same links here that I did there:

Peekamoose is still in business! Peekamoose Custom Guitars and Guitar Repair NYC

Steinbergerworld can be found now at Steinberger World Their Yahoo Groups pages have been gone for a while now.`

 

[KaiHern]

Btw, would like to ask what kind of truss rod the spirit has. Is it a double action or single action?

 

[Michael Vee]

Kai, my guess is that it's a single action truss rod. Sorry for taking so long to reply!

 

[rpmedia]

Hi! Beginner bassist here. I picked up a new Spirit XT2-DB a few months ago to add bass playing to keys and guitar - the bassist in my band way back had a Hohner B2A and I've always liked the headless look and it sounded pretty good as I remember it!

I find it fine to play but the tone poor/dull/lifeless - boomy lows, a lot of mid and no highs - adjusting the pickup balance and tone controls (and finger position on strings) doesn't really help and I replaced stock strings also - steel 105s. I don't use a plectrum. Annoying that the current versions don't seem to have as good pickups as the earlier models from what I've read.

Am considering two options:

1. Put in a pair of EMG HB Steinberger actives - or maybe just better passives? Something easy to fit (no routing) - suggestions?
2. Get something like a Fender Downtown Express and hope that gives enough control over the sound to fix it.

I'm basically DI'ing all the time and not playing live. Just looking for any tips as to whether it's worth the hassle of changing pickups, or whether a DI/pre-amp box would be enough to get life into the sound - the Fender seems a pretty useful box for that. Looking to play funky/pop/fusion (I wish) style bass, nothing heavy.

 

[A9X]

Try the DI first.
I'm just about to put a set of HBs into my Hohner B2 so I can leave my XL2 at home next time I gig out. The XL2 has way too much sentimental value. I don't mind the PUs in my Spirit XT2, so they're staying.
Apparently the EMG35 size will fit with a tiny amount of woodwork; remove the rings and just square up the cavities and they slip in. This was widely reported way back in the thread, and I have 2 more basses to do it to (pickups on hand), but haven't had time yet, and have been having too much fun with my new 6.
Just to clarify, I have 2 B2 and an XT2.

 

[Michael Vee]

1. Put in a pair of EMG HB Steinberger actives - or maybe just better passives? Something easy to fit (no routing) - suggestions?
2. Get something like a Fender Downtown Express and hope that gives enough control over the sound to fix it.

I'm basically DI'ing all the time and not playing live. Just looking for any tips as to whether it's worth the hassle of changing pickups, or whether a DI/pre-amp box would be enough to get life into the sound - the Fender seems a pretty useful box for that. Looking to play funky/pop/fusion (I wish) style bass, nothing heavy.

You can do a lot with the Downtown Express. Compression for what you are doing would sound great and even out the tone a lot. Plus I've heard the DE compressor has good tone color. Throw in a little EQ to your taste and then sometimes some overdrive, and you should be pretty happy!

Like all two pickup basses, start with the neck pickup volume all the way up and then dial in bridge pickup to taste. On all my two pickup basses, I used to run both pickups wide-open all the time, but realized the tone I want is usually the neck pickup flavored with varying amounts of bridge. Moving your right hand position where you're hitting the strings changes the sound up quite a bit also.

I would not go to the expense of the EMG HBCS right away, especially if you drop the $250 or so on the Downtown Express. The EMGs drop in to the stock routing, but you need to know what you're doing to do the control wiring. The HBCS come with one volume control and one tone each, and you'll have to take the two sets apart and wire them together to have standard VVT controls. I did mine with an EMG blend pot, which is an extra expense. This is a job best given to a guitar tech.

EMG pickups *might* add to the resale value of a Spirit, but I wouldn't count on recuping what you would have into it. If you leave the bass stock, if you decide to resell it, it won't be quite as much of a loss as if you'd put the EMGs in. The Downtown Express is not highly in demand, but you could resell it as well if you sell the bass.

My 2 cents: Since you're new to bass, give yourself some time to get into playing and listening to what the bass sounds like. Don't spend a lot of money until you get yourself going and have been playing for some time.

Don't let our posts in this thread make you think that Spirits have to be modded.. they sound pretty good stock! But they were cheap, had some of the Steinberger design advantages, and made good platforms to tinker with - they are solid basses.

 

[sonojono]

My 2 cents. Since you're new to bass, give yourself some time to get into playing and listening to what the bass sounds like. Don't spend a lot of money until you get yourself going. Don't let our posts in this thread make you think that Spirits have to be modded to sound good.. they don't. But they were cheap and made good platforms to tinker with.

^ This. And sadly they aren’t cheap anymore like they used to be in the used market. Especially the XZ models.

 

[Michael Vee]

Sonojono, I haven't priced XZ's on the used market lately - what kind of prices are you seeing?

 

[sonojono]

Sonojono, I haven't priced XZ's on the used market lately - what kind of prices are you seeing?

$600+ I got lucky and sold my Sunburst XZ with full Bartolinis for $800 last year

 

[rpmedia]

Thanks for the tips everyone - @A9X is it one of the older Spirits that you have or one of the 2017 versions? I've heard the older ones have better stock PUs. How do the B2s compare with the Spirit?

@Michael Vee - likewise was yours an older Spirit? Did changing to EMGs make a big difference in tone?

I'll be practicing in the meantime...

 

[Michael Vee]

Michael Vee - likewise was yours an older Spirit? Did changing to EMGs make a big difference in tone?

My three Spirits XZs are in my current profile picture to the left, at least until I change the picture in the future. L-R, the XZ-25 and XZ-25 are about the same age, 2000-01, and the XZ-25F I bought used around 2004, so it's early 00's also. The XZ-2 is the only one I put the HBCS into. The 5-strings have the factory selects still.

The HBCS are "hi-fi" sounding. They are active pickups, much brighter and with more dynamic range than the stock Selects. It's a big difference, but it all depends on what one wants to hear from their bass. The Selects are passive EMG pickups, and they were built to the price point, but they really are good pickups in their own right.

 

[lug]

Hi! Beginner bassist here. I picked up a new Spirit XT2-DB a few months ago to add bass playing to keys and guitar - the bassist in my band way back had a Hohner B2A and I've always liked the headless look and it sounded pretty good as I remember it!

I find it fine to play but the tone poor/dull/lifeless - boomy lows, a lot of mid and no highs - adjusting the pickup balance and tone controls (and finger position on strings) doesn't really help and I replaced stock strings also - steel 105s. I don't use a plectrum. Annoying that the current versions don't seem to have as good pickups as the earlier models from what I've read.

Am considering two options:

1. Put in a pair of EMG HB Steinberger actives - or maybe just better passives? Something easy to fit (no routing) - suggestions?
2. Get something like a Fender Downtown Express and hope that gives enough control over the sound to fix it.

I'm basically DI'ing all the time and not playing live. Just looking for any tips as to whether it's worth the hassle of changing pickups, or whether a DI/pre-amp box would be enough to get life into the sound - the Fender seems a pretty useful box for that. Looking to play funky/pop/fusion (I wish) style bass, nothing heavy.

I found adjusting pup height really effected the sound. give that a try, it's free!