Anyone playing a Steinberger?

[guitarrob]

I was wondering who here owns and/or plays a Steinberger? I tried out a budget priced Spirit GT-pro and I liked the feel of the neck and the overall ergonomics of the guitar. I figured the Pups needed swapping as they were some cheaper units but it seemed like a decent guitar for the price.
I will probably be replacing the entire pickups and electronics system which is HSH.

Note, I would love a 80's graphite GL series but it is just not in the budget. So for now, the GT-Pro Deluxe will have to do.
Any opinions on these instruments or possible pups choices?
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

I do. I'm here, 2nd row, 3rd pic. I had a GT Pro for awhile, then upgraded to a Synapse and later a ZT3- I still have the Synapse too, which is really great. The pickups in the Spirit were swapped for some Duncans- it made it a good guitar. The Trem is a little stiff, and the neck a little chunky for me, but I'd get another as a backup. I used a Duncan Alnico Pro II in the neck, classic stack in the middle, Custom Custom in the bridge. The bodies Steinberger uses are maple, so they are kinda bright on their own. BTW, the ergonomics of any Steinberger are awesome.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

Yeah, I noticed that pic the other day.
How did you find the custom custom in the bridge?
How did you find those pickups?
I am thinking of going that route and possibly making a custom A8.
Is there a large difference in quality between the synapse and the GT-Pro Deluxe?

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

It seems on the website that none of the Synapse guitars come with a tremolo anymore.

Yeah, that is a bummer as one of the great points on the original Steins was the trans trem. Which bended chords in pitch and allowed you to change keys easily using a lock in the Trans trem. Cool features.
Maybe you can get steinberg to build you a synapse with a Trans-Trem...who knows? Their current ZT3 still uses the trans-trem.

I am not sure why they brought out a new model without offering one of the features that made their earlier guitars so unique?

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

I've always enjoyed playing on em. My buddy had a pretty sweet one for years.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

I've always enjoyed playing on em. My buddy had a pretty sweet one for years.

A GT-Pro or one of the GL, synapse or ZT3?
I am looking foward to getting one and putting in some nice new hig quality pups and switching system.

 

[TheLivingDead]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

Ya know, I'm not completely sure. I'll have to ask him the next time I see him.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

The premium ones, like the older GL's etc can run you a few grand easy.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

Yeah, that is a bummer as one of the great points on the original Steins was the trans trem. Which bended chords in pitch and allowed you to change keys easily using a lock in the Trans trem. Cool features.
Maybe you can get steinberg to build you a synapse with a Trans-Trem...who knows? Their current ZT3 still uses the trans-trem.

I am not sure why they brought out a new model without offering one of the features that made their earlier guitars so unique?

They never came with Trems, at least not the Synapses. The ZT3s have the TransTrem3, which rocks. Bending chords in tune is a pretty amazing experience.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

They never came with Trems, at least not the Synapses. The ZT3s have the TransTrem3, which rocks. Bending chords in tune is a pretty amazing experience.

I know the synapses don't have trems, I just figured maybe you could order one with a trem or possibly mod the synapse to accept a trans-trem. The TT's are pricey units though. Those new ZT3's are great looking axes and I have heard they sound really good.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

There would be no way for any current Steinberger trem (including the TT3) to fit a Synapse.

 

[Markk]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

I do. I'm here, 2nd row, 3rd pic. I had a GT Pro for awhile, then upgraded to a Synapse and later a ZT3- I still have the Synapse too, which is really great. The pickups in the Spirit were swapped for some Duncans- it made it a good guitar. The Trem is a little stiff, and the neck a little chunky for me, but I'd get another as a backup. I used a Duncan Alnico Pro II in the neck, classic stack in the middle, Custom Custom in the bridge. The bodies Steinberger uses are maple, so they are kinda bright on their own. BTW, the ergonomics of any Steinberger are awesome.

Cool.

I like how the majority of pics on the site don't how the cut off headstock look. That's what I chiefly associate with Steinberger.

 

[Bass_Medic_05]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

No but I would love to check one out, maybe take it overseas.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

I am hopefully picking one up here very soon and putting in some Seymours and customs switching system. I am excited about this guitar and the new pups and other mods that is going to be done to it.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

I had a Hohner Steinberger copy back in my college days. Ergonomically it was decent but not a particularly good guitar.

This heavily modded 'berger was my travel guitar for a few years. I passed it on to a guitar-playing buddy during his "walk the earth" phase. It was a useful enough instrument and cool to travel with but was never going to take the place of any of my "nice" guitars.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

Did you change out the pups?

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

Did you change out the pups?

The previous owner (who did the other mods) replaced the original pickups with EMGs. It's hard to tell in the photo--and even in person--but the middle pickup cavity was filled in.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

The previous owner (who did the other mods) replaced the original pickups with EMGs. It's hard to tell in the photo--and even in person--but the middle pickup cavity was filled in.

Ah I see now, I am not that familiar with the Horhner versions. Although the Steinbergers traditionally come with EMG's they are just some low end passive models on the GT/Pro called "EMG Selects". I am assuming your buddy used EMG actives?
The EMG 81/85 actives are also in the newer Steinberger synapses.
These pups are on my short list of what Pups I want for my new Steiny...SD, Dimarzios or EMGs.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

Ah I see now, I am not that familiar with the Horhner versions. Although the Steinbergers traditionally come with EMG's they are just some low end passive models on the GT/Pro called "EMG Selects". I am assuming your buddy used EMG actives?

The guitar in the pic is a GT, the Hohner ended up in the trash about 15 years ago. You're right about the pickups being EMG actives.

 

[guitarrob]

Re: Anyone playing a Steinberger?

The guitar in the pic is a GT, the Hohner ended up in the trash about 15 years ago. You're right about the pickups being EMG actives.

Ah, it is hard to tell the differences between the two models.
I figured they would be EMG's because IIRC, that is what the original GL series was using that that guitar is supposed to imitate. Many people seem to like the EMG's in the Steinys also. The new models also use EMG's... I don't think I am going to use them but you never know.

I was told they are voiced more to the high end so I have to find a good pup that is lower in tone to end up with a more balanced tone.