LowEndLobster Review: Steinberger XT-25
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Hey everyone! Today we're taking a look at the Steinberger XT-25. Is this bass the retro bassist's dream?
Edit: Fingerboard material is listed as 'engineered hardwood', not sure what that means... but it is not rosewood.
I've hit over 50 subs and nearly 1000 total views! I really appreciate the support. Enjoy the video! Don't forget to like and subscribe!
Thanks again to Dom @ Third Floor Guiltars- www.thirdfloorguitars.com
Facebook: LowEndLobster
Twitter: @LowEndLobster
Instagram: LowEndLobster
I bought one because I love how bad they look. It's now covered in stickers and has a seymour duncan SMB-4A in the bridge and a STC-2P pre-amp. Still plays like shit but I absolutely love it.
You win, comment pinned. ROCK ON!
@@LowEndLobster
But ... the comment _isn't_ pinned.
Today we have fixed a grave injustice
@@LowEndLobster
My heart runneth over!
@@LowEndLobster It's meant to be played classical sitting style that's why you're having to stretch your arm out.
It sounds more like you are just used to a typical bass so the perks of the shape size and action. You can't adjust to. I honestly like mine better than the typical size and body style of a bass. I think the sound on this is actually good for the price range. It fits on my leg better when sitting and playing also. This bass isn't for you it's for somebody else. That doesn't make it bad. It just makes it different.
I personally hate headless basses and guitars....My arms are just too long I guess, because you have to become adjusted to almost falling off the earth...but I can see it being great for short people or a kid I guess...
It took a long hot minute to download this video using dialup and my windows 95 pc, but thankfully I was patient and waited and waited. You talked me out of this bass, thanks!
Thanks Jak! Check out my geocities page for some neat screen savers and gifs ;P
@@LowEndLobster yes thanks. I was looking for a screensaver to replace my after dark flying toaster. Since I hate pics I was thinking of one where pics are being pitched into a trash bin by the bassist flea (who also hates pics). What’s your geocities neighborhood?
I never rest my arm on the bass. I did so for years prior, leading to massive problems with pinched nerves and whatnot. Since then I adopted a style that keeps my arm off the body at all times, while also enabling me to more effectively mute the strings (i.e. floating thumb). I can recommend this to any bassist out there.
I watched this 144p for principle.
LOL
And now I have too.
Thank you.
He rickrolled us and we loved it
Never gonna give you up
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I own a 4 string version of this bass and use it strictly for learning new songs and practice (without an amp). I can stow it behind a sofa in my family room and grab it whenever I want to do some woodshedding between band rehearsals. Serves me quite well for this purpose.
Have had mine for almost 3 years - it's one of my favourites. This includes that it fits into the overhead lockers so far without any complaints from airlines and/or fellow travellers. Thus it is with me almost always every time I travel. Have never had problems with it not staying in tune or the trus rod - I agree that the distance to the 1st fret is unusual but it's ok - one gets used to it. 👍👍👍👍👍
I paid $130 for my 5 string. I like it a lot because I do a lot of traveling and it fits well on airplanes. Never had any issues with the neck moving around. In fact, it stays in tune like a mofo. Yes, the proprietary strings are a bit of a compromise, but they don't cost much and I buy them 4 or 5 packs at a time.
Sometimes you just don't vibe with a certain guitar. I had a badass Schecter that was near perfect in construction, playability, and tone- but I just didn't connect with it. I didn't like it and didn't play it much at all, but the guy I sold it to never puts it down.
To each his own.
Want a Steinberger style and some of the sound for a fraction of a cost of the original? Try to hunt down a 2nd hand Hohner B2A. Those things were made in Korea and are WAY better than Chinese Steinberger Spirits. Such a shame they don't make them anymore. I had a full-bodied version called The Jack (pretty much the same specs as the B2A but with a comfortably shaped full sized body) and it was great. I still regret having to let it go. But hey, I'm a bassist and bills won't pay themselves so... Yeah.
Thanks Bassdriver! I've wanted to check out those old Hohners (and some of their other non headless models). I appreciate the suggestion!
@@LowEndLobster there's a test of The Jack on my channel - it's in Polish but you can always skip to soundclips ;-) I'll try to make an English version for my other channel (Bassdriver Rambles) that's been abandoned for about half a year but it's gonna be tricky as I don't have that bass anymore.
@@LowEndLobster Hi, this is still me but logged into my another channel (the one with bass covers ;-)). Here are 2 covers where I used The Jack:
Rush - The Body Electric ua-cam.com/video/1Cx7Dk3iTQk/v-deo.html
Level 42 - Love Games ua-cam.com/video/QRk-PYhbmew/v-deo.html
Damn, I miss that bass.
Been watching some of your old reviews since I found your channel. I have an old original graphite neck Steinberger 4 strings that I've had since around 1985. The graphite ones are great when standing, sitting isn't to bad but I rarely sit and play. The neck has never moved since I bought it new (glad cause the graphite ones ain't got no stinkin' truss rod). It's a great bass. As for the wood Cort, Hohner, Steinberger Spirits and countless other copies, they all feel like cheap toys to me. The minimal body and ergonomics are different feeling and not for everyone. I wish they brought back the all graphite and the graphite neck/wood XP and M series. Great review.
Thank you! Man this one is an oldie hahaha. I've heard great things about the 'real' Steinbergers with the composite construction. Hoping to check one out one day!
LowEndLobser, you never let us down. Priceless episode!!!
Thanks Phil! This was fun to make
Just bought it. Love the four string too. Worth the money. Beats Squier.
I love mine, too. I'm not understanding the complaints.
Thanks for that great review, you picked great points to highlight, very helpful..
Thank you! Glad you found this helpful
I find this review diametrically opposed to my experience with the Steinberger. While I agree that the playing position is pushed to the left (for a right handed bass), it is something that you pretty quickly get used.
Mine is Indonesian, not Chinese. The tone is great, versatile and I have dialled sounds from heavy blues to trippy Prince, via Motown. In terms of build quality, mine is fine and the neck is very stable. In fact the tuning is also very stable, requiring only a little tweak every now and then.
If you are used to a more traditional bass form-factor, then the Steinberger will feel a little odd at first, but persist with it and it is a great instrument. I play mine as much as I do, my significantly more expensive, Dingwall.
Gibson just doesn’t get how to do 80s guitars/basses. That’s why Kramer and steinberger brand are sub par compared to their original counterparts.
Yup! These are clearly a nostalgic money grab. Would love to see the aluminum neck Kramers make a return :)
@@LowEndLobster You should get a Kramer Duke. It looks like a Steinberger but it has an aluminium neck and regular tuners. Used, I've seen them around $400 - $700ish online.
Where has this gem of a video been hiding?
:)
Darn I loved the way that thing looked
Thanks Detlef!
Back in 2001 I considered this Steinberger but opted for a Cort Curbow 5. It's also very compact and lightweight, but for $450 new I got a Carved top body, a 27-fret Ebonol fretboard, active 3-band Bartolini electronics with a mid range switch, a massive Brass bridge and graphite nut. It still kicks ass.
I have a Steinberger Spirit 4-string bass and I love it. Of course, I bought mine in '96 before they were a part of Gibson and still had the phenolic fretboard.
Nice ! Same here except I have a 5 string I bought in '96. Just threw the Ellefson EMG set in it.
Your right LowEndLobster I used to have the all original, I'm talking about the real deal here, the Steinberger XL-2 (composite material) and there's nothing to compare with this Spirit line (wood) but I paid $2000 back in the day... I miss that bass and it still my favorite bass of all time!
Thanks Guy! Yeah those composite ones were NUTS and way ahead of their time. This is the equivalent of someone putting delorean doors on their 98 Kia XD
i remember seeing geddy lee playing the steinberger x-2 i believe, i thought “damn that bass looks and sounds fucking great.” then i saw the price tag for an original and then saw the $450 price tag on this and legitimately thought about getting it. this vid definitely turned off of it.
Thanks TanMann! Yep, these are nothing like the all-composite Steinbergers that Geddy wielded.
It sounded pretty good to me in both your slap and plucked examples...its odd because another Steinberger owner says he never has to tune his bass. I guess i will just have to rent one and try it for myself..thanks for the vid.
Thanks King! Keep in mind that this is the Spirit line. The 'real' steinbergers are much better.
Your videos are coming out awesome!
Thanks!
LOL, I was actually looking for a review by you of the Steinberger Spirit on my phone, and blew by it several times because of the wig and glasses! 😂
Hahaha this is an ooooooooooold one
I have this but fretless. It was given to me basically as a gift. For the price range I got it for, I really enjoy it.
Cool! Thanks Andre :)
I totally wouldn't ever consider or recommend paying 400 bucks for one though
I had an XT-25 and I agree that it sucked a bit - the worst thing was the string spacing. But recently I got a real Steinberger XL2 and its awesome - better quality, better ergonomics due to the unique strap mount, and it sounds like the 80s! Totally rad.
So a bass that cost a few grand, was better than a 399.99 version?
@@peterallen1041 yes - i think it is worth making the comment that the original Steinberger is worthy of the title of Modern classic - the cheap copies are not in the same league.
@@peterallen1041 yes - very much so
I actually use this bass day-to-day and I love lit. The neck problems are not something that happened to me. I love the low action. The fret feel is good. The criticism about the electronics is fair. Some active pickups would be better. I have owned two XT-25's and maybe I got lucky with the particular construction from the factory. I would not prefer to bring this into the studio, but it is solid for rehearsal and small clubs.
I had the same problem with having to constantly adjust the truss rod
Bummer, Snake! Yeah these things were built on the cheap
Always thought these were wack. One of my favorite bassists, Jerry casale from DEVO has played an L-2 since 1981 and he gets some big tones, but I prefer the HEAVILY modded ripper he played on their earlier stuff
These are the wackest of the wack, a cheap knockoff holding the brand name.
Just saw this "tape" for the first time in Sept. '22. I was able to pick up a mid 80's Cort Headless (fretless) iteration of the Steinberger bass. Cort called it the SB-4, I believe It has a Steinberger tuning system (all nice and lawsuit free) and PJ configuration. decent tone and construction is a solid "B". These were of Korean manufacture. It's a novelty bass for me and at $150 the price was right.
You crack me up. Awesome
Thanks Dan! :)
This bass is a great value for this price. It is small, very easy to carry and also perfect for London's small venues. I have replaced the strings with a regular string adapter (for non double ball-end strings) and it sounds amazing for the price. Don't mix it with Hohner's terrible 4 string Steinberger models. And you can easily get used to the holding position. I am playing for more than 20 years and my main bass was Marleaux Consat Custom 5. But now I am not even taking out Marleaux from its flight case. This bass has everything I need, a balanced pull and slap sound. A decently balanced finger sound. Enough passive output for my amplifier or pedal setup. The stock strings were not too bad at all but the Ernie Ball Nickel Wound will make this bass shine. For this price I am amazed with the results. However, the body craftmanship is not perfect, looks like handcrafted by some cheap labour. I can see the scraper marks beneath the paint on some edges but it still is a very good value for the price.
Thank you! I disagree. Though the compactness is convenient, these things have doubled in price from their original release with no real improvements to quality. It's 2020, and I think it's the only headless bass out there that you need to mod to take normal strings... at $400+ new, I would not recommend these at all. I appreciate the comment though! Thanks for watching :)
@@LowEndLobster yes but considering the hardware on this bass the price seems reasonable to me. I paid £299 so maybe 400+ dollars may sound more pricey in the USA. Please check the bridge prices below. let's say I am up for a new headless build, I would definitely buy a second hand Steinberger Spirit and disassemble it to use the hardware. So I am saying it is a very good value for the price. And that attachment for non-ball strings is not bothering... cheers.
hipshotproducts.com/collections/bass-headless/products/5-string-headless-bass-system
www.thomann.de/gb/abm_3901c_single_headless_bridge.htm
I bought mine used, and I love it for some reason I can explain. I use it in hollydays or when i'm working far from home. It takes almost no space, with my zoom b1 it's a great travel instrument imo. But it could never be my main bass.
A cooler cover would’ve been“Subterranean” by The Fixx given that Dan K.Brown wielded an XL2 on that track-
To be fair to this product, I bought one after back issues and after a few small upgrades (ball bearing washers on the tuners, and a Artec Preamp) it is a well giggable Bass - and I've gigged with it and it's paid for itself, without the upgrades it's a OK bass but with the inexpensive upgrades it's a perfectly giggable Bass. I've enjoyed playing it so much, I've sourced a Steinberger Synapse for purchase and these 2 will be my gigging and backup Basses going forward. And if you have a 59 yr old back like me, and only play 5 strings then your back will thank you for it :)
Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I should revisit this one. Funny enough my band played that intro song at our last gig. Never gonna give youuu upppp
I bought one of these because I play from a wheelchair and I figured it'd be easy to carry/transport etc etc. You're right, the neck is just awful. I hope you'll do the Gretsch Jet Junior one day!!!
Thanks Andy! I definitely plan on it, I've heard good things about those
I bought a Spirit Second Hand off Ebay, a four string, Made in Korea, I love it, very difficult to find one Domestically in Australia.
I was considering a Steinberger bass to learn with at one point. I have a joint condition that makes playing music real hard, can't deal with too much weight and movement, plus precision is pretty much not possible. In the end I've opted to just learn music via a low resistance midi keyboard and software but boy it looks like a dodged a bullet.
Hey Harry! Yes, yes you did dodge a bullet here. These things are such a letdown.
@@LowEndLobster A true shame! Pursuit of nostalgia without accounting for the changes over the years just repeats old mistakes too often. Truly it would be cool to see well executed unique instruments more often. For me personally I'm excited to finally play music in the best way for me, via midi - though I'll always admire those who can physically perform and play instruments haha
Great summary review !!! Thanks
Fantastic review!
Thank you!
I own one from 2004. I got it new for around 250€ at the time, which not only is a better price, the bass itself seems better made. Never had any problem with the neck, and the fretboard looks great. It sounds great too ! Quite a growly rock sound. I don't find it uncomfortable to play, although I wouldn't give it any award either.
I love it, I play it and I won't get rid of it. But if I had to buy a new bass now for 400€, I would choose something else. There's just better stuff for that budget nowadays.
If its worth anything I have 2 of these spirit models lol a 4 and 5 string and I absolutely love them but this review was great
Thanks Kreaper!
I have two of these, one is converted to fretless - I added the horn/arm extensions and it makes them much more playable in standing positions.... the pickups suck! I’d like to try some thunderbuckers in the fretted one, I already put some weird silver plastic Artech pickups in the fretless one, and it sounds wicked. I’ve gigged with them both and it’s not terrible but I really don’t like the sound of the pick ups on the Spirit!
Hi,what is the total length of the guitar
Have a Korean-made XT-2 - same color - got mine in 2003. Never have had any problems with it and the fretboard on it doesn't look sloppy like that. I dunno - seems they built these better in those days.
I put some EMG actives in mine. It sounded amazing. The stock P/Us blow.
Fully agree with you. I thought to buy one of these as “travel” bass but it’s too long for traveling. Moreover, not a great tone and building features.
Defined not a great “value for money”.
Great Reviews and Channel.
Support from Italy! :-)
Thank you Alberto! :) Ciao my friend!
IMO a pretty accurate and honest review. I really wanted to like the spirit but it was deficient in too many categories for me to keep .
Gibson brands needs to up their quality for this to be considered a viable option.
Unless one needs the portability of a compact instrument, there’s no real reason to consider the spirit.
They have done the Steinberger name a disservice
Thanks for the reply! I agree, it's almost comical how all over the map their products are.
And is the guitar balanced, is the neck heavier than the body?
Such a shame these are so bad now. I have one from the early 2000's which has been my daily practice bass when travelling or at work. Was about £300 new. Solid as a brick and neck never goes out. I hate the pickups, electronics and the fat neck - but it's just so rugged and convenient! I throw it in cargo holds and kick it around the office and it never complains.
You can get adapters for standard strings, though I made my own out of a block of brass.
Thanks Joe!
Thanks for the review.
I have a 1979 music man stingray,
That being said, I also have. 1980’s Honer “Jack” bass that I love, headless and Steinberger electronics. Light and great shape for sitting or standing and light! Looking for a 5 or … 6 string?
I’m really a guitar player ( 55 ) years but am playing bass (cause I love bass ) in a band at this time and don’t want to be a root note groove guitar player bass player… ya know?
You sounded good on that thing but I’m not gonna even consider buying one. Playing lots of bass arpeggios and melodic runs from recordings and love the tower of power grooves so I’m practicing that and simple stuff day by day. Just learning, but the music I love and the bass music I didn’t even know I loved. It’s a really beautiful voice.
So,
Any recommendations for a 5 or 6 string bass? I like to flam a cord every once in a while 🤣
Great review!
Thanks again.
In thought this bass was cool... when I was 14!!
LOL! Me too.
As a 14 yr old who thinks this is the shit... I feel attacked😂
Bought one of these because of Daft Punk, and I like how it plays, it's a goofy bass and it feels nice to me. I'd say if you just want an eye catching bass with decent tone, go for it, I got mine for like $250 so all depends on your price you can get it for
Thanks Bunny! Indeed these used to be way cheaper, however the price has nearly doubled since their launch and things have gone quite downhill
@@LowEndLobster I agree it's not the best bass ever made, for sure it isn't as good as even a Squier but like I said, it's eye catching and plays fairly decent, definitely just one for my collection lol
Thanks for this release, my friend! On the first day of the war, on the 24th, my bass 5-string fell from the operation of our air defense systems! Thanks to a friend, he gave me a tree for the body and I will finally make a 5-string bass (using Steinberger technology with Sensors from Seymour Duncan New York Humbuckers)!!!! Hello from Kiev :Дякую тобі друже за інтересні Басові Теми !
Cool shades, dude! Keep singing. You were on the note the whole time. You'll get better the more you sing.
I’ve figured out that the only way to make one of these play fairly well is with an adapter for single ball end strings and Daddario tapewounds. I’ve had two of these XT-25s and neither played well at all until the tapewounds were put on.
I was interested in one as a travel bass and because well, Geddy Lee.
I just got the 4 string. It is light. Fun.
Rick-rolled becomes a lobster-roll just like the sushi bar
LOL Thanks Gary!
my review of your review:
your first issues have to do with your personal preference for the balance and form. While I do think I'd have an issue with the balance and form factor as well, these are not "quality" issues. I also think you should basically always play these with a strap and ignore the knee rest. While they may dive a bit, if you hold it 45 degrees from your body and use a strap, you won't have to stretch your arm like that.
In terms of neck stability, this is a laminated maple neck, so it shouldn't be unstable. Did you keep the factory recommended strings? No reason not to just use light gauge on 5 strings. Are you humidity regulating your space? Maintaining 45%-55% humidity all year round day and night? If you don't do that, your necks will move. If you don't do that, your other necks are moving too I promise, you just may not notice because you're not looking as hard.
If you have very good humidity regulation, using light strings, and the neck is STILL failing, then maybe you have a faulty neck but again, a 3 piece laminate maple neck should hold tension just fine, all else being equal.
Thanks! This was a veeeeerrrrrrryyyyyyy early video in the channel. Was still getting my form down ;). We'll be checking out another brand of headless that's less known but looks to be a little more ergonomically sound from a strapless perspective.
@@LowEndLobster lookin forward to it!
just for information: the fretboard used to be rosewood, but in the last years (when they switched to "steinberger pickups" from the awful Select by EMG) it was changed to hardwood, so it's not "painted".
the design doesn't have anything to do with the quality and price range, it's a rendition of the original L2 by Steinberger, and it's obviously not only the "headless" feature that makes this bass what it is.
Ibanez and other headless basses still have a standard body design, so it's not the same ballpark; it would be like comparing a Fender to a Gibson, saying that the Gibson its not worth the money because your arm doesn't sit well.
a Thunderbird is a difficult design, but playable, as it was and is the Steinberger (just think about how many bass players used it in the 80's and early 90's).
so this isn't a review, it's just a chat about the fact that you don't like this design.
I was about to buy one - small size and the drop D option, but after watching your video I agree - 450 is better spent on a quality instrument. 70s MIJ Greco in this case.
I saw the thumbnail, the vid preview, and had to click it lol
XD Thank you!
@@LowEndLobster you bet! Good review btw. I agree these wooden Steins are not very good guitars. I bought one in 2019 and returned it quickly. Better to save up for the real carbon one or get something else.
Yay got two now thanks
thanks for the info
I have the spirit get pro guitar and love it.but I could see the bass version being a little less desirable and it does look like the neck on these bass versions stick way out.
Yeah man, these are basically unchanged from when Gibson bought em. The Steinberger name carries a lot of weight, especially looking at the original composite models. However, these spirits are just that... a spirit of whatever they used to be.
you don't mentioned the biggest pro of these basses : small and light. And you didn't mention the 20 something string adaptor to use every kind of strings. I started with an Hohner B2 in the mid 80ies and never had a problem with the position being to far left. And there are extensions to put on the strap pin that solves this problem. I consider to get a 5 string now and I love the sound of my Hohner with new strings.
The trouble with the Spirits is that they took the original Steinberger design and removed ALL the good stuff: wood instead of carbon fiber, cheap pickups vs. EMGs that sound great, traditional strap buttons vs. the "boomerang" strap mount that balances the bass perfectly at any playing angle. Of course, a real Steinberger XL25 cost about $3000 when the Spirits first came out. Back then the Spirits were much cheaper...closer to $200...but prices have risen making them a poor value, as noted in the video. Glad you mentioned the NS Radius because it is Ned's second try, 35 years later. The biggest change in the Radius is a normal size body that still has great balance and the ability to take normal strings (Steinberger/Gibson did sell a string adapter that mounted at the end of the neck, but it was clumsy at best). Of course, a Radius CR is almost $3000 and the import WAV version (which ditches the carbon fiber neck core for 100% wood along with one pickup and active EQ) is over $1000 but you DO get what you're paying for. The only real reason to buy a Spirit today is the classic look.
Thanks for the comment! You're absolutely right, and the market for the originals with the "good stuff" is only getting pricier and pricier. I remember when the spirits came out and were a lot cheaper too. Time and rising costs have not been kind to the Steinberger line. I have a Radius vs EHB1005MS headless head-to-head coming up later this month, stay tuned!
@@LowEndLobster but if you want this 80's machine for cheap thats the only option a real one is too expensive for what it is in my opinion
I’m glad I bought two spirit lines before the price jacked up in the market. I own a different model than the one that’s videos (Spirit XZ-2) and for the pickups issues, what I did was swap them out for actual EMG’s and it’s been the best decision (and money) I’ve ever made. Sounds a whole lot better, I really love the Spirit lines but to each their own. Glad to see videos like this though!
@@facedowngaming Glad you're enjoying the videos! Yeah, for the original price these aren't bad. Kind of like an SX, old Squier, or something like that. A solid foundation for some mods to make something personalized and solid sounding. However at nearly double the original price point, a $450 bass def shouldn't need a few hundred dollars more in modifications, especially since there are MUCH better basses available for the price that don't require nearly as much work. You're approaching second hand NS Radius territory at that point, and even though I think that instrument is flawed electronically, it's still much better out of the box than the current line of spirits. Thanks for the comment and stay tuned for more reviews :)
You probably wouldn't like the original carbon fiber L/XL series basses either. To be fair, I initially didn't like my XT-25 for ergonomic reasons when compared to my other basses, but I've gotten used to it. One factor you left out was portability for travel- I got mine because I live on a sailboat and got tired of pranging headstocks in relatively close quarters while practicing, and it's easier to lug up and down the companionway stairs, and getting on and off the boat (it's a hundred yard walk down the dock to the car) And I can just lay it on the floorboard of my car.. Also being relatively cheap, at least compared to my Steinberger XL25 fretless, I'm not as concerned with it incurring the rigors of living on a boat in a marine environment (condensation in the winter time), or being lost or damaged while traveling abroad. Regarding quality, the only thing I don't like is it tunes a bit hard, perhaps the tuner gears aren't as fine as the XL's or they just need to be broken in. The overall fit and finish on mine was good, as well as the action- I attribute this to my purchase from Sweetwater who put their instruments through rigorous examination. As far neck stability, I wasn't concerned given my positive experience with the Spirit guitar (but the tremolos are crap owing to light gauge metallurgy).
Please do a review of the Fender Mike Dirnt MIM P Bass. Seems like a lot of $$ for a MIM P Bass. What say you LELobster ??
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll see what I can do to make it happen :).
Running through effects (compression, filtering, etc. it will sound great! 🤔
I dunno, man. I bought an XT-2 last year when it was on sale for like $300, just for the quirky, nostalgia factor. My expectations weren't very high, but It's a better bass than I thought it would be. Definitely better than the Cort Steinberger copy that I briefly owned back in the '90s. I haven't had any problems with the neck moving (it really shouldn't. It's a 3-piece neck), and it never goes out of tune. The pickups are Steinberger branded (as opposed to the EMG Selects that used to come with this bass) and they sound pretty good. They're a little "modern" for my taste, but they really cut through the mix, and you can sweeten them up with EQ. I might swap them out for something that sounds a little warmer, but I don't think the bass sounds awful. It'll never be my go-to bass, or replace my Jazz or P basses, but it's a decent instrument.
I only have two legit gripes with the bass. One is that it does indeed hang weird on a strap, and you have to fully extend your arm to reach the lower frets, but I bought a "pivot plate" made by a TalkBass member, and that fixed that problem. The other complaint is that the tuners are pretty tight and sticky. There are fixes for that too, but it hasn't been a big enough problem for me to do anything about it yet. I don't play it all the time, and I rarely have to tune it when I do.
Is that a Status Bass on the wall?
Yes it is! It's one of my most favorite basses, it just sings! Here is my review of it, enjoy :)! ua-cam.com/video/qC8zmf1lkE4/v-deo.html
It took about 3 years for my NS wav 4's neck to finally settle. Bought it used for about $700 a few years ago and the build quality has some major issues. Used it had a sticky tone knob. The volume knob is now loose and one of the pickup knobs grinds against the body. The neck has a 1 inch crack where the neck and body meet. So to me the clear thing is the neck is not well enough selected/dried/aged/finished as a rule. All that being said the neck is near perfect straight and stable now and it punches well about its class in teams of tone. It literally drips notes everywhere save for the 4 or so frets on the E string which lack in definition. Overall it has the tone so 3/5 but the one you are playing lacks any REAL positives for 450 and I would rate 1/5.
Ha! Yeah these Spirit Steinbergers are nothing like the originals. It’s liking comparing a Porsche 911 with a 2002 KIA. I’d love to see the Lobster hitting it with an original 80s XL Steinberger.
I have one, and it’s still my number one bass today. I get that some people don’t like the look (I almost got kicked out of a band for using one - the rock guys couldn’t handle the look). I mean, people like the look of those $8,000 fugly Fedoras, so each to their own 😅
Thanks! I really want to try one of the originals. They were really ahead of their time in so many ways.
This is the absolute truth. I bought a Steinberger because I needed a travel bass and people recommended that I get a smaller one. It was the worst purchase that I have ever made. I had finish issues ever since I got it and customer service was awful. My guitar tech had to fight tooth and nail and they refused to replace the whole bass. The pickups are terrible and they need to be replaced. I only had this bass for exactly one year, and it has caused me the most grief out of all of my basses. I wish that I got the Ibanez EBH instead. Gibson needs to do better.
Great comment! Yeah I remember when these were priced around 200 bucks. At that price, the novelty is there. However at twice that, this thing is an absolute turd. Everything you said is spot on! Thanks for watching!
@@LowEndLobster No problem! You got a new sub!
Sounds familiar. I bought mine for the same reason, and it just hasn't worked out between us. It works perfectly as a novelty wall hanger though.
@@grumpyboomer61 Donny Benet uses his as a cricket bat ;P. I haven't been canoeing in a while either.... just saying.
@@grumpyboomer61 Definitely. It's a nice wall hanger for sure. It looks like Ibanez is the way to go when it comes to headless basses now.
I wish I would have watched this video before I bought one. I bought the bass for looks and for the tuners at the body, not on the neck. When I play I always go out on the dance floor and dance with the people which in turn a few bumps and my bass gets knocked out of tuning. So I thought with this that won't happen. The neck is long, longer than my other 8 basses including a ric 4001 and Alembic series I. Maybe that is why it bows so much and often. Another complaint is the top-of-the-neck fret dots can't hardly see them and with poor lighting when you have to move quickly down to the 10th fret or higher makes it tough. I enjoy your vids, keep on rolling
Thanks Andy!
i got mine for 200 now. pretty epic
I was directed here via a search for a travel bass. It looks like this clunker is not good even for that. Can you do a review of compact travel basses, such that would fit in an overhead on airplanes? Of course the Zon Vinny is out of the question due to price. But something $400. to $800. ??
Hey Doug! Welcome aboard :). Sure, are there any particular models that you're curious about? I'm personally not a fan of the rubber string uke-basses, but something along the lines of a Squier Mini-P, Jackson Minion, or some other extra short scale might tick the boxes for you (even though they're on the cheap side at sub $200). I've also been curious about the traveler instruments which are very interesting in terms of both size and layout. Stay tuned, and I'll do my best to check those out :).
@@LowEndLobster Thanks for the reply so quick! I'm thinking something with not much of a body.. like the Steinberger design, or a really small body like the Zon Vinny... headless for sure. I have a short scale bass, but it's still not super easy for stowing in the overhead... and I need it for recording demo's of my songs on the go, so I need it to actually play well..
Gotcha! Well the Ibanez EHB's are a bit higher than 800 (the 1000 starts at 1000 but can be had around 800 lightly used), but would be a solid choice as well. I haven't played the non multiscale 5 string, but those would be worth checking out. If you can think of any specific models that you're curious about feel free to send me an email (lowendlobster@gmail), leave a comment, or shoot me a message on IG.
@@LowEndLobster I hadn't seen or heard about the Squier Mini P or Jackson Minion.. I just Googled them and... maybe these could work.. I'll have to think about it. What I travel with now is an Ibanez short scale $160.00 bass from Sweetwater, but I strung it with piccolo strings so I can play chords and single note lines... I originally bought it for performing my songs solo, so that I can sing and play but I can't play 'real' guitar or chords, my excuse is that my hands are too big.. and I can easily play rock chords on my piccolo, and for recording bass idea's, I can play the piccolo... but for recording a nice low register bass and actually practicing bass... I'll need an acctual bass, ha!
I lost it after "and it shows"
:D
There’s no escaping your attempt to Rickrole everyone with a twist of Robert Smith, Dave Gahan and Bernard Summer, Lobster. What I would like to know is if your opinion of this model has shifted since you posted this review. My original idea was to purchase one for me and have it modified with one of those Ned Steinberger Synapse head pieces that allow for you to use your strings of choice if you don’t want the double-ball ones.
IDK I think your review of this bass was a little harsh and it sounds it looks way cooler than you're giving your credit for, but that's just my opinion of course!
Thanks Seth! Eh, you can do a lot better than this for $400. Gibson did a number on Steinberger, Tobias and Kramer and not in a good way :(
They're weird basses for sure, the Rick rolled section was pretty hilarious though.
BIG Will Forte vibes
Fortin' with Will ;P
I have one of these. I bought it used and I still wasn't getting my money's worth. I was also paying for other goodies: A hard shell case (might have been from a synapse), a few sets of strings, a string adapter, etc... In retrospect I can see why the guy wanted to unload all this stuff. It's not a good value bass, the double ball strings are limited choice and expensive, I find the string adapter just plain difficult (get ready to destroy strings until you get the hang of it... which I still haven't). It's just a terrible value buy no matter how you slice it. I keep thinking of selling it but then I'd feel bad trying to unload this on someone else. So I just keep it as a backup for gigs.
Surprisingly, I've had no issue with the neck. There's what sounds like some vibration in the truss rod sometimes, but it doesn't get into the pickups thankfully.
I also don't see the same quality control issues you did, but I think mine is a different year. These pickups seem to be stock, but they aren't labelled like yours are. But I'm not seeing the same sorts of defects and scuffs that you saw. Could've just been luck.
The tone isn't terrible and isn't amazing. I use the double ball string set from Rotosound, seems to give the instrument a little more life. The strings that come stock on the instrument aren't that great at all. But the rotosounds are not cheap :(
The ergonomics are questionable, but they can be worked around. Try pointing the neck forward and away from your body, and sitting it farther to the right when standing. It's actually pretty comfortable this way. Not that it becomes incredibly comfortable or anything. Still shouldn't buy one of these.
Here's an issue you didn't touch on in your review: the bridge. The saddles are only held in place by friction between one set screw, string tension, and the other saddles, meaning there's a nonzero chance the saddles will fall out or at least get knocked out of place on a string change.
You'll probably want to put some lubricant on the tuners. They do hold tuning well, but they don't move very smoothly, and it's no fun using a ton of grip strength just trying to tune.
Now for the silver linings of this poor purchase:
Makes a good backup instrument, since it's compact, has 5 strings, and 24 frets, all of which are usable intonation-wise on the high strings, and easy to reach. It will be passable for a wide range of styles of music.
Good instrument to practice setups, IMO. Mainly because the truss rod is so easy to reach, it makes getting a good setup on your own much more attainable.
It still looks cool, if you think the classic Steinberger shape looks cool. Which I do.
But still. Don't buy it. Not worth it.
TLDR: I agree with LowEndLobster, don't buy it. I found some ways to make mine work for me, because I feel bad duping some other sucker into this problem. You can thank Gibson for taking an absolutely iconic instrument from the past and turning it into this mess. Bad value for the money no matter how you slice it. Even if you get it cheap, you'll still have to deal with strings.
Wow and you only gave the P Bass one more claw?
The MIM P was meant to be the "average" or reference point. A two claw bass is below average, and a one claw bass deserves the same fate as the printer from office space haha.
Gees I think I'll go drive my car off some cliff somewhere!
Fretboard isn't rosewood from what I know
Thanks Barry! You're right, it's 'engineered hardwood' from the official spec sheet on their site. This was a veeeery early vid. I appreciate you letting me know, I'll update the description :)
@@LowEndLobster No worries. Enjoyed the review! :)
pity... I'll keep my 90's Hohner steiny then..... Great for 80's and reggae.
Thanks Maarten!
I've got a Steinberger GT Pro Spirit guitar in Hot Rod Yellow, and even for a guitarist it sucks. Made in China = A Friday Afternoon Job. The whammy only fits in a couple of mm and cannot be locked, so it falls out; tuners are too stiff to tune accurately; action acceptable but could do better. The Steinberger pickups are anaemic and brittle sounding. It doesn't surprise me that the bass model has problems, too.
Retro '80s Cool factor (the only reason for owning one) = Off the scale
Playability = Monster Suckage
Sound = Also suck
You are right when you said it is not worth it.. .. I ended up shouting EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! When you did the slapping.. 😂 Yeah.. I am not buying that..
I’ve never liked those basses or guitars, just horrible to play and ugly. Was very disappointed when seeing one in Geddy Lee’s hands. But thank you for sharing...and agreeing. Also I really want to see a “1- claw” or even a “0-claw” if this is a 2-claw a 0 is going to be something special. Thank you
Thanks for the comment! The ones that Geddy had were VERY different. Pure carbon fiber, and much higher quality (though still would likely have the same ergonomic issues). A one claw bass will have to be spectacularly bad... there may be one in the future ;)
I seat with a strap usualy and rest my arm against the strap it work. Still not ergonomic but small as f*ck.
Yeaaah. I'm liking Ned's newer designs a lot better (NS Design Radius). Stay tuned for that review and a headless head-to-head!
Steinberger is just a name and a logo. It's gibson that needs to step up their game. They need to pay the Chinese factory (Samick/Cort?) a bit more of the $400 they are charging, and the bass would be better. But gibson is more concerned with short term money making than they are with selling quality instruments. So that ain't going to happen.
I got a pretty dope Jackson 4 string for 400 bucks…..just saying
У меня такой басс. Звучит очень даже не плохо. Особенно в миске. Струны на него не продаются. Но есть переходник. Форма на любителя. Очень удобный для выездных выступлений. Так что я не согласен с тобой. Особенно с тем, что jb mim лучше
Eh, I stick by my statements here :). One's enjoyment of an instrument is subjective, but there are a lot of glaring flaws in this instrument that go outside the realm of my nitpicks.
Agreed. The bass is good. But overpriced.
Also needs strap extender built in.
Rickrolled LOL
Hehehe, this was super fun to shoot. This was an early video when I was still feeling out the direction I wanted to take the channel and look back at this one and smile :)
I mean for 600$ cad, why not.
Mike portnoy does bass reviews now what the f...