Steinberger GL7TA

This is the 2nd GL7TA Elite I own. I am a guitar freak. I love to play and experience different guitars but these GL7s are really players and keepers. I found it hard to part with them.

The only difference between this and the last one (please refer to the other review in this page) is the tone pot. This GL7 has individual pot (stacked up) for controlling the treble and bass. While the last one I own, only have 1 tone pot and could only boost either the treble or bass by twisting the tone knob to either side away from the center detent, most Elite GL7TA are like that. While those with the stack up pots are not Elite. It is the only Elite I have seen, equipped with the stacked up pot.

Sound as great as the other GL7, except the individual controls for treble and bass offer even more versatility so it deserve a 10.

Similar to the other GL7, the previous owner did not play it much, this was indicated by the minor fret wear on the original frets. The action and the transtrem were not properly set up and the TT could not rotate properly (stuck!). It rocks as great as the other one after I change the bearings and set up a low string height (0.0625???). I know this GL (actually most GL) allows me to go even further, but that???s low enough for me and I use similar setting for my other guitars.

This guitar was bought from Japan according to the previous owners. All the paper works were written in Japanese. I have heard that GL7TA were only distributed in Japan and that where I spent most of my time searching for the 2nd one. I can???t prove this but the other GL7 I bought was from Japan as well.

These guitars were built like tanks. I am still relying on the other GL7 after owning that for about 4 years. The most unreliable part, are the TT bearings but these are not difficult to replace.

Never need any support other than the tuning instruction and the TT dissembling/assembling procedure. These are readily available from www.steinbergerworld.com, the most informative website, far better than the official one.

I don???t know how to express the happiness when I discover the 2nd GL7TA, after searching and waiting for another 4 years. I can???t remember how many phone calls and emails I have sent to numerous Japanese stores to place my wanted list but they either have none in stock, not a GL7, have one but sold instantly or some stores refused to ship outside Japan. It was such a painful experience, full of obstacles but I finally rewarded with an Elite which has the stacked up pot and the whole guitar is in pristine condition. The previous owner is a nice guy to work with.

Now I have played guitar for almost 22 years. After buying, playing and selling many guitars thru the years I am more certain that I cannot part with these GL7s. Almost all the guitars I listed in my previous review were sold, except the 2 custom ordered Hesperia BC Rich (too personal and too expansive to find a buyer) and the GL7. Of course I also own several remarkable guitars now, eg. Brian Moore MC1.p.13.usb, Fender 50th anniv. masterbuilt 54 RI x 2, McNaught Tiger x 2, PRS Artist 1, PRS signature, Gibson Jimmy Page /w 4 push/pull pots???etc. l will never sell these GL7s.

Last year, Ned has launched the ZT3 loaded with the newly designed Transtrem 3. These guitars were built in S.Korea vs. the GLs which were all made in the states. I am yet to try a ZT3 but I have already seen several complaints about the difficulty of transposing, while someone has mentioned that over tightening the TT3 arm could damage the whole TT3. I am glad that the GL do not have these problems. Sound wise, I doubt that a ZT3 could sound better than the already perfectly sounding GL. Perhaps these could explain why people are still chasing after the GL to keep their price skyrocket.

This is an all Graphite Steinberger Elite GL7TA with the following pickup config:

1. EMG-89R neck
2. EMG-SA middle
3. EMG-89 bridge

3 independent push-pull pickup on/off switches
1 2-way mini-toggle for coil tapping the EMG 89s

This is a comination of all GLs in 1. It offers all the pickup configurations of GL2T, 3T and 4T. The only difference is the EMG-81s on GL2T.

Active tone with the center detent which allows you to boost the high or bass.

Type 2 trans-trem. Thru out the years, I have owned a few GLs and GMs with the type 2 TT but this one is the best sounding and offer the longest sustain, even I have set the action so low.

When I receive it, I instantly plug it in for a test run. I play rock, blues, funk and I am learning to play Jazz. This guitar can do it all. The coil tapped neck pickup provide great tone for funk riff, however, the volume on my amp needed to turn up to compensate the volume drop, more on this later.

The guitar sound dead quite no matter how much I crank up the amp. Simply the miracle of the EMGs.

The bridge pickup sound is less bright than EMG-81 on my GL2T which I prefer, especially when playing clean. All the other sounds that this guitar produces are rich and great.

My only complaint is the pickup volume will drastically drop when coil tapped. It happens to both the neck and bridge pickups. I know it is normal, but the amount of drop is more than other brand of pickups. The middle EMG-SA sound much louder by itself.

The last owner did not play it at all. The guitar was not well set up. After I have set it up it rocks! There is slight return to zero problem but this could be fixed by changing the transtrem bearing which is not expansive.

A complaint is the middle pickup is quite thick itself and does not allow me to lower it further.

I bought this used from Japan. The previous owners treated this guitar well and all the cosmetic flaw (tiny scratches, oxidation on the TT parts) are just age wears. Still has plenty of fret life left. The electronics/wiring were well soldered and nicely routed inside the body. The top plate could easily be swapped by simply unplug an internal wiring plug.

This was built in the 92-93 period and it is still solid after all these years, just like other GLs. The only thing that may be of a concern is refretting, since not ordinary luthier are trustworthy to handle the job due to the hard (brittle) phenolic fingerboard. Unless the frets were made of stainless steel but well, I used to own 2 parker supreme but I don't like their sound - too bright.

The original strap buttons has been replaced by the previous owner to the schaller locking type. This is a good feature for me. However, it does not come with the other pieces that you need to install on your strap. I just use pieces that I own myself.

I mainly gain my supports from steinberger world. There are plenty amount of useful informations available from this site. The guitar is well built and there is no need to contact Gibson at all.

I have been playing for 18 years. After buying, playing and selling many gears thru the years I knew what I am after. I have narrowed down my collection to a few - BCRich SLP and 2 Biches (Hesperia made), pre-95 PRS Custom 24, Godin LGXT, Ibanez S2120XAV and of course steinbergers. I like guitars that could generate thicker tone, so I am not quite into fender stuff. I'd rather buy guitars equipped with humbuckers and modify the circuit to add the coil splitting feature. I know this is not the same as playing a fender, but I want more versatility on 1 equipment (so lesser guitars to bring to a gig or studio).

Since I live in Hong Kong, the humidity is a great concern for me. All the above equipment that I have chosen could withstand the daily drastic change in humidity and temperature (on/off of air condition during our long summer). Of course the best is steinberger stuff, it never change.

It does not mean other brand's product aren't great. It is just a personal preference thing.

It is so difficult to see people selling GL7TA. In the past few years I only see GL4T, GL2T, GL3T, etc. GLs is halted from production in the late 199x. If someone steel this, I don't know how to get a replacement.

My fav feature is the pickup config on this guitar. Again, this is an all GL's in 1. If it has the midi and piezo as with my Godin LGXT, this will then be the only 1 guitar I need for the rest of my life. I look forward to this as Ned has added the piezo feature to their new synapse line.