Product: Steinberger XL-25
Price Paid: US $3450
Submitted
06/29/2005
at
03:04pm
by
Bill WA3RA
Email: wa3ra at yahoo<dot>com
Features
:
8
* Steinberger XL-25
* WHITE
* 5-string Low-B
* narrow spacing
* graphite one piece
* Volume, treble boost/cut, bass boost/cut
* active EQ
* EMG pickups
came with a gig-bag, stand, had XLR connector installed at factory
Sound
:
10
I bought this bass for its sound. Nothing else sounds like an original 'berger, and nothing probably ever will.
The 'native' sound on these basses is a snarly, trebly rip. Add the active EQ, and there are few sounds that you can't coax out of it. Sometimes, looking for that Jamerson Motown sound, I'd wedge a folded up washcloth under the strings. A chunk of foam just wouldn't kill it. These axes will sustain forever if you let them.
They will also show any flaws in your technique...the dynamic range is so wide that for years, I needed to use a compressor/limiter in line to smooth me out. The dbx 163-X was a good match.
For studio use, I had the factory put in an XLR connector that also switched the preamp on (like the 1/4" jack did). The output was 600 ohms from either connector, so you need an amp that can deal with that low of an impedance for the best sound.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
No Opinion
Set-up was immaculate, except that the bass came to me strung high-C instead of low-b. As I recall, it took all of about ten minutes to restring the guitar with the 'right' stings and reset the action.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
It is possible to hammer nails with these basses. I have literally played this guitar with ice on the neck...and it was still in tune.
As a matter of fact, put the srings on, tune them up, give them a few good tugs...and plenty of times this thing would stay in tune until the strings were changed again a few weeks (12-15 gigs) later. Unreal.
I have seen some of these with the Steinberger logo on the face worn, but in nine years of heavy gigging for me, and five for the next owner, mine looked as good as the day it left Newburgh. Mine also had the later, somwhat larger strap buttons on it, and I never did have to put locks on it.
The frets are fairly soft, and if you don't come down right on them they will wear down. I wore out one set, refret done by 'berger took four days.
Customer Support
:
8
Never a pre-gibson problem, never dealt with them after Gibson bought them.
Overall Rating
:
7
Outstanding bass, even at the price ($3600 plus with tax), and that was in '87 dollars. That's like $6K in today's dollarettes.
I sold it a few years back, and have kicked myself for it constantly. If I could ever get the buyer to sell it back, I wouldn't hesitate.
This bass also had some really neat features that a non-owner might never notice. To begin with, it is HEAVY. I haven't owned a heavier instrument before or since...
that said, it had a plate on the back that balanced the instrument perfectly. You could play this behemoth all night long, and it never even felt like you were wearing it. It also had a fold-out leg rest, as opposed to the earlier push-in leg. No fear of losing this one!
The gig bag was very well made, as well. I had an anvil case, but sold it. The 'berger was small enough to take as carry-on, and you couldn't hurt it if you tried, so the 36-pound case was absolute overkill.
Steinberger also sold an in-line power supply for the electronics...convenient if you were wired, but I used a telex wireless with an xlr-connection and a short mic cable that plugged right into the guitar, and just changed batteries every couple of weeks. By the time this piece was built (serial number in the 6 thousands), there was a battery compartment that made a change a ten-second job with no tools needed.
If you can find one of these guys, and you're looking for a wide range of highly-defined sounds, grab it...you can't go wrong!
If you really want to get retro, add a GK 200 amp and a Hartke 4x10 cabinet!
I'll rate it a 7 of ten, but only because of the ghastly original cost.
