Can someone simplify the Steinberger, Hohner, Newburgh, Pre-Gibson, ..... thing

#21
I have an original early nineties xl2 and is the only bass that will never be seen in the classified ads. That being said, try going to headlessusa.com and you may even want to call Don Greenwald to get some info. He is very professional and helpful and I have had several deals with him. He will also suggest an instrument based on budget and specs etc. Steinberger made the L2 and Xl2 in addition to other models from the very late seventies until Gibson sold in about the late 90s. The first shop was Brooklyn followed by Newburgh and then into Nashville. Simply put, they are incredible in every way possible in my opinion. You just have to play and or purchase one to understand. My advice would be to save up for an L2 or XL and I guarantee you won't regret it. The tone, ergonomics, playability and simplicity cannot be described in words. Ok enough-- time to go play mine for a few hours, which is impossible not to do every night
 
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#23
I can sort this rather easily for you; there's the L/XL series and then there's everything else with the name "Steinberger" on it. The L/XL basses are the best basses made on the planet. Period.

The others range from the inexpensive Spirits (which are quite good on their own merits) to the wood bodied/carbon necked instruments, which are better. And yes, a Q4 is a real Steinberger. To make it more confusing, there's two versions, V1 and V2. I had a V1 for a while. I just didn't use it enough to justify keeping it.

But yeah, the all-Kevlar Steinbergers. Only way to go. I've had mine now for 31 years.
 
#24
noagreement said:
2. Is Hohner a "decent" copy? Specifically, anyone, ever try the headless B2A model?? Used ones seem fairly inexpensive, and they all appear to contain some sort of "Steinberger" bridge system and EMG pick-ups. There is a fretless model B2A-FL that is listed at ~$400.
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I played a Hohner B2A DB in the late eighties during jams and while practicing.
The owner told me that he had the original pickups replaced by EMG's, that were also on Steinbergers.

That bass, and my fretless PJ FL Hohner that got stolen, were the reason behind my recently acquired B2A-FL.
I can't make a comparison between Hohners and Steinbergers, because I haven't played the originals.
But the Hohners are practical basses that can perform without hassle.
$ 400,- for the B2A fretless is a bit expensive, I bought mine with case for € 375,-.
I've seen them go for around € 325,- without case.
 
#25
noagreement said:
confused by the countless variations, manufacturers, and models of the various Steinberger basses (and subsequent manufacturers). The company history seems overly complicated.
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I tried to create a graphical display of the various Steinberger USA instruments and their place in the Steinberger timeline. Maybe it helps a little bit: Steinberger Instruments Timeline
Does not cover Spirit or Hohner instruments, though.
 
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#27
I'll give you a quick rundown of your actual question. This is all off the top of my head and may not be 100% accurate.

After designing the "NS" bass for Stuart Spector, Ned decided to build his own. There were a few awkward-looking prototypes.

The first "real" Steinberger basses were made in his Brooklyn workshop. Then the design was updated to the the most familiar version (the "L" series) and production moved to Newburgh, NY.

In Newburgh, the product line was expanded to include "M" (double-cutaway) and "P" (mini Flying V shape) series basses, and a full range of guitars including Trans Trem and 12-string models. The company was sold to Gibson, but production continued in Newburgh for a while.

Eventually, Gibson moved production to Nashville and started cutting corners. They got rid of body binding, for example. The "Q" series of basses came out around this time. They started building a line of all-wood "Spirit" guitars/basses made in Korea (probably identical to the Hohner). They started outsourcing production of bolt-on necks to Moses Graphite. Then Gibson basically shut down the company.

Meanwhile, Ned started another company called NS Design.

Hohner had nothing to do with Steinberger, other than making a lookalike guitar and bass under license. Ned didn't want to license his design, but copies were already being made in the Far East, so he figured he had no choice.
 
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#29
To add to LanEvo's post, the Nashville models with the binding removed also had fully contoured bodies (earlier wood bodies had slab tops).

I have a Newburgh L2 and previously owned a Newburgh L2 fretless and a Nashville XM2 with the contoured body. The wood bodied basses (XM, XP, XQ) sound very close to the all carbon L/XL models.

The all wood Spirits don't have the sound...no CF, passive electronics...and the XL models lack the boomerang strap attachment so the ergonomics are weird. All Spirits and Synapse models are made in Asia.

I have an NS CR4 Radius and it's akin to the Synapse design in being wood with a CF neck core and active electronics with both mag and piezo pickups but it's built to a much higher standard (and price) in the Czech Republic where NS makes most of their DB/cello/violin line. It doesn't sound like an L/XL or an XM/XP/XQ, but the CF neck core does give it a similar clarity of tone and even response across the fingerboard.

There is also a NS WAV Radius version made in Asia that has no CF neck core, simplified electronics and priced similar to the Synapse.

Gibson still maintains a Steinberger website and online delaers show Synpases as being available.
 
#30
Dangit. Brings back memories. I can't believe how many Stein's I've owned. The best one by far was the 5 String Q5. Fantastic sound and perfect feel. It was a Gibson era bass and was built like crap. Looked like somebody routed the pickup routes by hand, but I wasn't about to return it and risk losing what that bass had. It was special. Wish I had that one back. Of course the original XL's are fantastic as well, but I'm just too fat to play one :)

Makes me want to go order a headless Roscoe. Like, today!



Steinbergers I owned back in the 90's:

xm2t1.jpg
xm4.jpg
steinq4.jpg

stein3.jpg

steinl21.jpg

steinberger-xq-2-574011.jpg
 
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#31
If you want that Steinberger sound there is no substitute for the original L2; its all in the composite material, the EMG´s and all. If you just want the looks, anything will do.
I bought my L2 in 1981 and played and toured it exclusively for 30 years.
It is a rock solid bass that will keep its tuning from arctic freezing temps in the truck direct to stage in sweaty heat.
It has that killer clean sound that will place itself with authority in the mix.
It takes BEAD tuning; no stress.
There are 5´s out there; but very narrow; so only if you play with a pick I guess.
I´ve moved on to fretless and a woody/acoustic sound with my music now, but I miss that Steinberger sometimes.....nothing compares!
 
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#33
FishDub said:
The first shop was Brooklyn followed by Newburgh and then into Nashville.
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I'm probably misremembering, but for some reason I've got it in my head that Ned Steinberger was manufacturing instruments somewhere in Staten Island in between the Brooklyn and Newburgh periods. Am I crazy?
 
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#36
bgmww said:
i have a Hohner The Jack Bass Custom V.. i love it. I get nothing but compliments about it's sound.
Somebody said it is a POS ? well.. no. it's not. It's an absolutely underrated bass.
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I agree, but don't worry, no-one said it was POS. :) Hohner probably produced some of the best basses for the money-very often overlooked. They had other models which I guarantee if you try, you'll see what I mean, they're terrific- I had a Hohner Phoenix bass which I absolutely regret trading a while back, that thing had tremendous sound, the quality of manufacture is great. I'm glad it's one of those brands that are often overlooked or disregarded because then I can buy them cheap. :) Most of their active basses have that active/passive switch and the circuitry works in such a way that even if the battery is drained, it will revert to passive automatically. How many basses even have this feature?
Totally underrated brand imo. I had forgotten to mention The Jack in my previous posts- I don't have one (I have the B2ADB), but it's one of the basses if I saw anywhere, I'd automatically buy it if I had the funds.

Here's a pic of the "other" Hohner headless bass, the Jack.
Screen shot 2016-08-19 at 12.52.41 PM.png
 
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