Steinberger XL-2

My bass is a black XL-2 'transitional' (cricket bat shape) made in 1984. The transitional model has feature of the L and XL series. It was made in the Newburgh factory. The frets are in good condition for an old instrument. The neck is perfectly balanced. It is all graphite. I thought this would mean it would be light but it is quite the opposite! It has one volume and two tone selectors. It has the EMG SS pickups! It takes double ball strings. I use flatwounds. I have a remanufactured legrest for mine as the original was missing.

In my opinion, this bass is built for Dub / Reggae. It has a round warm fat tone that I haven't been able to find in any other instrument. Some describe the sound as a dark pure tone and I guess I can kind understand that. Presently, I mostly use the bass for a recording project: "DUB INVESTIGATION". I do not use an amp. I plug it directly into an audio interface or sometimes mixer. I intend to buy an ampeg stack at some stage to play through. I look forward to playing live with this bass.

Bass had a service before i got it. Action was perfect. All I needed to to was change the strings (which i must say is extremely quick and easy on a Steinberger). The tuning system allows micro tuning and rarely ever goes out of tune!

This bass will withstand anything. You could beat someone to a pulp with it and it would still be in tune :-) But seriously, I have seen people bounce these off the ground and they still stay perfectly in tune. The finish is good enough to last. In fact, the instrument ages very well. Rugged i think is the word.

The pivot plate which you attach the strap to takes a bit of getting used to but once you find the right spot, it fits grand.

There is no truss rod as the instrument is graphite not wood. It will not alter with room temperature.

Forget backup basses when you use a Steiny - completely dependable!

The original Steinberger are no longer (unfortunately). They were bought by gibson at the end of the 80's i believe. Ned Steinberger still builds great instruments under NS designs though.

I have been playing bass properly for about 4 years. I am also a guitar player for over 13 years. I also own a Fender Jazz which I do like put cant really be compared to the steinberger in terms of feel.

If buying one of these, shop around - do your research. There are a lot of people trying to make a quick buck on them (i.e. on ebay). A Private seller is probably your best bet if you can find one. Play it first of course!

If it were stolen, I would be very sad as I have begun to depend on it for a certain sound.

What i most love about this bass is how it resonates - it shakes you to the core !

I have no dislikes except perhaps the weight but hey I can deal with that.

Would be nice if the legrest was permanently attached like the later model.

There is nothing like a steinberger. The more you play one, the more you will love it. That is a promise!

It's from 1986 and originally was a 4-string fretless w/the standard active EMGs and a 24 fret-less, no marker neck. I traded up from a Pedulla Buzz fretless and it was like going from having to carefully handle something like a fragile piece of china to an indestructible machine that sounded huge in comparison. Not having the money for a low-B bass, I eventually got a 5 string bridge/nut combo offered by Steinberger at the time. (Anyone who knows how I can get one of these, I would appreciate contact). It has been a 5 string since and though there have been times when spacing seemed an issue, I just got used to it. It has been my only bass since, along with a Chapman Stick, so I have the best of both the fretted and smooth fretless worlds.

Whenever I have recorded in really good studios where the engineer has classic preamps like Ureis, this bass can be made to sound so big, warm and fluid, it is truly amazing. Steinbergers have that tendency to honk out their graphite-ness once in a while when played hard, but with adaptable technique, these basses can cover alot of territory. In general, this thing sounds as good today as the first day I got it - completely trustworthy. There never has been and I suspect, never will be, a dead note coming out of this instrument. Awesome sustain, even with the GHS pressurewounds I use 95% of the time in order to save the fretboard, rarely switching out with roundwounds.

Aside from getting used to the uniqueness of design, the instrument just sits so naturally with the pivot - it is a part of me that I will never give up. I have never adjusted pickup height except for string-type changes and going from 4 to 5 string was a DIY breeze. As a fretless, it could not be any easier to play.

This bass has been (accidently) knocked from it's stand and literally bounced outside the club door in New England January weather and picked up to play the next song without going out of tune. No back up needed. I have read the suggestions about lubricating the tuners with 'white lightning' and will look into that as that is the only thing that has become more difficult with age is tuning.

Early on, no issues with getting this thing converted to a 5 string. I never dealt with Steinberger in the Gibson era, so cannot really comment. I do hope there is support out there when I need it for the unique version of this bass I have.

I have been playing for 27 years and have always embraced new instruments that add to the bass vernacular. I picked up the Chapman Stick at roughly the same time in the 80's and have been grateful that both the Steinberger and Stick have helped me develop a vocabulary on the low end that I am proud of and happy to share with in others' their music. After playing other basses, I always come back to this one for some reason and will never sell this thing. It is a mighty good sounding instrument in so many situations, from reggae to experimental to fluid fretless, it just sings. It reminds me that music is a gift and others, musicians much more accomplished than I and non-musicians alike react with enough curiosity to throw out comments like, 'can I hear you play that alone?'. What more could you ask?

This is a 1985 bass. Newburgh New York made. The standard 2 octave fretboard. Composite construction. XL-2 "backloaded" with EMG soapbars and passive electronics. Steinberger tuner/bridge, the XL2 headpiece/nut that requires an adapter for non-double-ball strings.
The Steinberger strap pivot plate.

It's a Steinberger...

I've owned four of these basses now. An original L-2, and XL-2T transtrem bass (boy do I wish I had kept that one..rare!) a Spirit (nice little bass..great bang for the buck) and now this "girl"...(she stays)

I double with this bass and an Azola Bug bass (EUB) in a jazz/GB 5-piece band. Material can be anything from Count Basie and Glen Miller to Robben Ford. The bass has enough tonal variety...how your play/how hard you dig in...to cover anything I need to do. Can sound very "modern"..or "woody"...the only control I ever touch is the tone...roll it off about 1/2 at times for the older material.

The compactness of the bas makes it a god-send when I have to switch quickly from electric to EUB...just swing it around to my back and
grab the other bass.

It's a Steinberger. They're about as bulletproof as a musical instrument can get. I've left these bases in the trunk of my car on a hot summer day. Taken the bass out...so hot you can barely touch it...yet it's still in tune/

Like I said. Bulletproof. These days though, make sure you hunt down and grab some spare tuner jaws..they can strip. It's never happened to me...still I carry a spare. I little trick I;ve foudn it to lube the tuners every now and then. If you're a cyclist..or know one...grab some "white lightning". It's a wax-based lube that's very clean and works like a charm on 'berger tuners. When I got mine the tuners were super-stiff. This stuff made them work like new.

The original Steinberger is no more. Go to steinbergerworld.com and you'll get the closest thing. Advise from longtime fan/owners .. it's a great community of like-minded players and absolute 'berger "geeks" (it's a good thing!)

I've had a few of these basses and always come back to them.
The old ad-campaigns said "nothing plays like a Steinberger"...That pretty much says it all. From the shape of the neck to the intelligence of the award-winning design it still amazes me that the instruments ended up being largely an 80's "fashion statement".
Bottom line..they're not for everyone sonicly or visually. However if you get it...nothing compares.

1986 "steinie" probably produced in their n.y. plant. 24 completely usable frets with classic black finish. This is the XL2A active e.q.,control closest to neck: pickup volume, middle control: balance between pickups, and last control: an unbelievably wide range tone control. The rear pickup is original emg-ss, just replaced front with emg-hb, ss is no longer produced. Tuning is great great on ax 40-1 ratio tuning, very precise and easy to turn.

Its great for the type of music I play: rush, elp, yes. I am currently playing it through an swr 750x with 2 david eden 410 xlt cabs, wall of sound. I particularly like the high end capabilities of this guitar because like others that I've read in this column I also have an 88 ric 4001 bartolini loaded, they seem to compliment each other well.studio is outstanding, smooth even tone but, in live applications I only use it in indoor venues, my ric for outside.

don't know about factory setup, I purchased it about 5 years ago. As for condition at time of purchase action was too high, previous owner was a jazz player, and strings were slightly heavier guage that I prefer, but, neck, body and hardware were and still are all in excellent shape, unbelievable for a 19 year old anything.

Bass have never let me down, strings very easy to change on the "fly". I believe that the finish is extremely durable and has withstood sweat, beer and blood. stock strap buttons are a little cheesy, I retro-fitted with straplocks and inverted them, and talking about the straping system, the pivot plate is a gas. well balanced and with the strap locks inverted you can spin the XL 360 degrees. It is an extremely durable and dependable ax but, I never play without a backup, how embarassing to break a string and have to stop between songs to restring.

Only dealt with steinbergerworld for reference material and info, purchased hard shell case from musicyo both were professional and prompt.

I been playing in working bands since the age of 16, so that would be 29 years of experience. I wished I'd gotten more background info from the previous owner because back in the day you didn't see just any barroom "hack" playing one of these especially since this guitar retailed for $2400.00 in 1986 I don't know what that equates to in todays money but, I bet it's alot more. When I purcashed it I somewhat concerned about the pivot plate since I play a right-handed upside down strung right-handed but guess what, the pivot plate works in both directions. I'm sorry if this offends anyone but but as far as comparisons go you can't compare it to a fender p-bass or music man or any of those other oversized, god-awful monstrasities that I despise.

Mid 80's, I bought it new in 1986, I think. Active EMG pickups, passive controls. This is the gloss black, all composite, small bodied, "original" Steinberger look. It came with a gig bag, the first instrument I can ever remember not having a case for, other than the Teisco ET-440 I started on in the late 60's.

I play mostly 60's, 70's and 80's rock now. When I bought it back in the 80's I was playing alternative-style originals (REM, etc.). Sound-wise, I liked it then and now. I love the compactness of it, and the fact that it is seemingly indestructible. I am not a big experimenter, tone wise, but it seems to be more bottom-endy than some others. (Of course, my other man axe is a Rick 4001, so go figure)

This this was perfect from the moment I picked it up. Nothing fazes it - it's always in perfect tune. Everything is high quality and I've put it away for over a year and hcome back to still find it in perfect tune. Amazing.

I used it as my main live bass for many years back in the 80's - now I only use it occasionally. It has always been 100% dependable, and unlike some instruments, always stays in tune regardless of temperature (outdoor gigs) stage lighting, humidity, or whatever. The strap cup/pivot system on the back makes it quite comfortable for hours.

Never have had any dealings with anyone before or after Gibson.

I retired from playing many years ago, then resumed it again in 2001. I sold a lot of gear back then, but kept this bass because it's totally unique. I doubt I'll ever sell it, but if it were stolen ... yeah, I get another one. It's not the most versitile bass I own tone-wise, but what it does well, nothing else can do AS WELL.

Made in June 1985 (probably at the Newburgh NY plant). 24 Fret (not including zero fret). Two volume controls, One tone control. 2 "EMG-SS" IV-V pickups.
Passive electronics - this is a big mistake that people seem to make. Just cause there's a battery doesn't mean that you have active electronics. The EMG's have pre-amps the require batter power but the XL basses came in with either passive OR active electronics. An "A" with the serial number indicates active electronics.
headless "Boat oar" shape made of the "Steinberger Blend". Black "gel" finish, phenolic finger board. Came with gig bag but no Strap Pivot when I bought it used in 1992. Many years later I bought the Strap Pivot from Peekamoose in NYC.

I play indie rock. I also have a RIC 4003 and a Fender American Jazz Bass standard (both early 90's). I play throught a Trace Elliot Series 6 AH-300 head and a SWR Goliath II 4x10. For effects I use a Boss TU-2 tuner, a Bass Sans Amp (Tech 21) and the Bass Compactor (also Tech 21). Steinberger's are sometimes accused of not having the bottom of other basses. I don't think this is true. This bass has really punchy mids and a lush deep bass sounds. I've played it live and used it for recording. I prefer the Ric for live playing - looks better and has a bit more rumble and growl which I think translates better for live performance. However, I think that the steinberger is great in the studio. The action, clarity and sustain are totally uniform which can make a difference when recording.

Bought the bass used so I don't know about factory set-up but it's really easy to set it up the way you like. There's no truss road so basically it's intonation and action that are easily adjusted with the bridge. Pick-up adjustment is easy too. The controls are a little loose now but hey the thing is 17 years old!

These basses are well built. I used to play out with it live for about 4 years straight. Never had a problem never needed a back. String changes are simple and really fast. I've never abused mine but it's well made. You've probably heard the stories about laying it across 2 chairs and sitting on it or having if fall off a truck. It's a very quiet bass and the fret work was great. I've had mine for 10 years now and I'm just getting ready to take it in for a refret (be careful not all guitar techs can do refrets on steinbergers due to the materials used in the neck). Hot, Cold, Humid, dry... never effects this bass.

I only dealt with Gibson once and that was to inquire about the manufacture date. They were nice enough and emailed me back pretty quick. I've also dealt with Peekamoose in NYC when I bought the Strap Pivot. They were also nice and I'll probably have them do my refret. Check out Steinbergerworld.com for info/support. Can't really give Steinberger a 10 for support since I've never dealt with Ned or anyone else that used to work there.

I've been playing bass for 13 years. If this thing were lost or stolen I would probably try to find another one. It took me months of research and calls to find this one 10 years ago. I love the sound (piano like, punchy mids, lush bass, great sustain) I once heard the sound referred to as "noble" I guess that's because of the clarity this thing has. My favorite features are all of the reasons why you get a Steinberger in the 1st place: steinberger blend - never effected by climate; double-ball tuning - super accurate and stable; unique sound. It also had narrow string spacing which I prefer because I have smaller hands. Definitely make sure that you get the strap pivot with this bass. It makes a huge difference because the bass is weighted for the Strap Pivot. If you don't have one then it is very neck heavy on the strap. The only thing I guess I don't like is that I wouldn't play this bass live mainly because of the looks you get. On the other hand I would never sell it. It's great in the studio especially when your other basses don't seem to be delivering the sound you need. Sounds great direct, through tubes, through solid state. I'd say the sound is closer to a Ric and less like a Fender. You either like the sound or you don't. I basically got it because my Fenders (an early 80's p-bass and an early 90's jazz bass special) kept having troubles with the necks. This neck on this bass is very solid. this thing never goes out of tune. It delivers on everything that Steinberger Sound promised.