Steinberger Spirits

[rpmedia]

Thanks Michael. The PUs are now Steinberger badged, so I'm guessing they're no longer EMG Selects and maybe aren't as good.

 

[rpmedia]

Yes I tried adjusting the pickup height before without much success. However I think I’ll try again to see if I can get things better - thanks.

 

[EdO.]

Thanks Michael. The PUs are now Steinberger badged, so I'm guessing they're no longer EMG Selects and maybe aren't as good.

Don't assume that until you've played/listened to them for awhile. Way too many people assume that just because an instrument is relatively inexpensive that it means the pickups/tuners/electronics are junk, that's very often not the case in my experience. I have the Steinberger badged pickups on mine and IMO they sound just fine. give it a chance before you start just throwing money at it for some undefined reasoning.

 

[Be_eM]

Thanks Michael. The PUs are now Steinberger badged, so I'm guessing they're no longer EMG Selects and maybe aren't as good.

The Steinberger branded pickups are made by Epiphone, not EMG.

 

[edro]

Odd. My '16 XT-25 V sounded righteous out of the box in any of my rigs. It hangs with all my basses, single coils and buckers... Great thru diff rigs with no knobdicking... MB, MiniMaxx, 1001R, Bassman, Nemesis, even my Spark, etc.. The Spirit IVs I've played sounded great too.... Rig settings/EQ maybe contributing?

 

[rpmedia]

Thanks @edo - well I don't like the sound which is why I would change them or do something else, not on the principle that they are not EMG, but see below!

Thanks for info @Be_eM good to know.

I did some digging today and realised the problem could be the input impedance on my audio system - which claims to be Hi-Z, but after some googling I found it likely to be only around 220k ohms (the figure isn't published but seems to be standard across their gear). As I understand it passive bass input should be around 1M ohm?

So, I dug out an old Peavey Rage 108 combo amp which has an intermittent fault on the speaker but the amp still works, so I put the Spirit through that and into a line in - what a difference! So much better - actually sounds usable now. Will still play with pup heights to see what tone I can get, but now it is at least enjoyable! Still might get the Downtown to use instead of the Rage (which is pretty crappy), but at least it seems the bass itself is fine.

Thanks for all suggestions - and @edro you were right, the problem not the bass, but at the other end of the cable!

 

[edro]

Thanks @edo - well I don't like the sound which is why I would change them or do something else, not on the principle that they are not EMG, but see below!

Thanks for info @Be_eM good to know.

I did some digging today and realised the problem could be the input impedance on my audio system - which claims to be Hi-Z, but after some googling I found it likely to be only around 220k ohms (the figure isn't published but seems to be standard across their gear). As I understand it passive bass input should be around 1M ohm?

So, I dug out an old Peavey Rage 108 combo amp which has an intermittent fault on the speaker but the amp still works, so I put the Spirit through that and into a line in - what a difference! So much better - actually sounds usable now. Will still play with pup heights to see what tone I can get, but now it is at least enjoyable! Still might get the Downtown to use instead of the Rage (which is pretty crappy), but at least it seems the bass itself is fine.

Thanks for all suggestions - and @edro you were right, the problem not the bass, but at the other end of the cable!

Cool beans! I meant nothing in post other than what I posted. It puzzled me as those pickups do sound very good. I found them surprisingly full range... I prefer passive too...

To be honest, when the composite stick basses/guitars came out waaaay back, I didn't much like em... Played great but I was not fond of the tone colors, whether perceived or imagined.... Just never could bond with em... Worked at a musico, could buy anything I wanted at net... Still passed on em... Played in a band as KB player with a bass player with a composite stick, never liked it... Thuddy to me....

After the (Epi) Spirit sticks showed up, I heard an XT-25 V and ordered one about the same day... Mine, according to specs was all maple neck through, maple wings on body, passive pickups.... The only thing I did to it was add a string adapter so I could use regular strings (NYXL)... It is a perfect build with zero negatives anywhere on it... I've got Fenders and such.... Love the Spirit... Unreal bass for under 500 chippies... I am semi retired, can buy pretty much what I want, and partner in a small company that one side is musico, so I did not 'settle' for the Spirit. I bought it because I was blown away hearing one just like it...

Good luck with your bass!

 

[rpmedia]

I was surprised too by the sound being so off when trying here, as demos sounded really good to me - although often they’re through expensive amps.

Now it’s clear that my interface has a not very high impedance input, hopefully with a decent DI it will start to shine - it’s already much nicer with the Rage. Glad your experience is so positive with the Spirit!

 

[sonojono]

Spirits are indeed nice Basses. I’ve owned this exact bass for 9 years!!!

I ended up replacing the original pickups as the neck pickup went out so all the reasons for me to upgrade the Spirit with fully loaded EMGs three years ago!

I ended up stringing em with DR LoRiders

 

[Michael Vee]

The only thing I did to it was add a string adapter so I could use regular strings (NYXL).

I would recommend that to rpmedia as well but he's not played long enough to have string preferences. However! edro, would you recommend those to him? Sounds like you would. Strings also make a big difference on a Spirit- who knows what rpm has on his currently.

Rpm could also go the sono route and try those LaBella double ball rounds before dropping the $60+ on the adapter + single-ball rounds. I've played the LaBellas before, and they are nice and crisp with the stock pickups, but not overly so. It's a pretty balanced sound.

 

[Michael Vee]

Spirits are indeed nice Basses. I’ve owned this exact bass for 9 years!!!

I still like the black XZ's!

 

[sonojono]

Rpm could also go the sono route and try those LaBella double ball rounds before dropping the $60+ on the adapter + single-ball rounds. I've played the LaBellas before, and they are nice and crisp with the stock pickups, but not overly so. It's a pretty balanced sound.

If @rpmedia is down, I have a spare adapter that’s not going on any other headless Basses and would be happy to sell with pre-cut DR Pure Blues!!

 

[Michael Vee]

Go for it, rpmedia!

 

[rpmedia]

Thanks @sonojono and @Michael Vee.

Am in UK so might not make sense to ship from US delivery cost wise? Not sure about an adapter - I love how quick it is to change double-ball strings! Are there just not enough variety of db strings? Or is the price much higher?

Strings - yes a whole new ball game! I've got the stock round strings and some Rotosound 105 steels, the stock seem to be heavier gauge but I've not measured them. I haven't swapped them back since working out the impedance problem, so I'm not sure which I prefer sound wise. I quite like the feel of the Rotos being lighter, but that's probably as my hands aren't as used to bass. I don't have large hands for a bass player, and would like to play quite fast fingered bass, so I'm guessing lighter will in general be better for me? I was wondering what flats are like to play in comparison and what the main difference in tone is?

btw a friend of a friend has agreed to lend me their B2A to try so I'll be able to compare it with the Spirit - should be fun!

 

[A9X]

For strings Ken Smith or even better for you Status. Both are excellent and all I buy. Except for some La Bella flats that are going on the XL2.

 

[sonojono]

Thanks @sonojono and @Michael Vee.

Am in UK so might not make sense to ship from US delivery cost wise? Not sure about an adapter - I love how quick it is to change double-ball strings! Are there just not enough variety of db strings? Or is the price much higher?

Not a whole lot of DB strings out there other than Ken Smith and Status. I have great relations shipping to the UK and isn’t a problem to ship from the U.S. PM me for details!

 

[edro]

I prefer bright rounds.

One can attenuate the too much but one cannot create the ain't there...
tao of edro

Mine is a V, Dunlop B was too floppy and NYXL, though not quite as bright, has a nice B...

String adapter string change, though not as quick as double ball, is far quicker than 'normal' gears...

 

[A9X]

I saw this post on another thread today and wondered if a Spirit owner could answer a question for me please. It's asking about narrowest string spacing 5ers and Ric5 mentioned the XT25 and I was hoping someone would please tell me the spacing at the bridge.

I have a Hohner B2V which is basically the 80's version and it's 16.5mm, which is fine with me as my long scale 6ers are all 16.5 so I'm used to it. I'd planned on getting an XT25 later to maybe string E-C and I wondered if it were the same as the B2V or different.

 

[Lesfunk]

Heads up for those looking for a strap extender for your steinberger spirit
Rick turner guitars sells the “dingus” strap extender on reverb.
$35
Another option Is from bootlegger guitars. They’re offering a liscenced version of the Warwick “chest bow” extender, originally for the Nobby Meidel bass
Also available directly from bootlegger guitars.
The Warwick is more expensive but includes Schaller type strap lock system
I have both coming and will see which one I like most.

 

[Michael Vee]

Referenced this thread in a current thread on TB: Travel Bass: 30” or a Bass Uke?