I rarely applaud Gibson, but...

jem7vwh · #1 05-04-2002, 02:18 PM

They've got Steinberger up and running again. At long last, they've reintroduced the original graphite neck and Trans Trem model

$1799 though

http://www.musicyo.com

darren wilson · #2 05-06-2002, 02:14 AM

You can get the HSS version with the TransTrem for $1499... the $1799 one has EMG 89's with coil splitting.

Great to see! Those guitars were ahead of their time, and deserve to be on the market still.

And this will very likely spell the end of a huge chunk of Ed R*man's business.

jem7vwh · #3 05-06-2002, 02:31 AM

I have to admit, I've always wanted a Trans Trem equipped guitar, but could never force myself to deal with ER, so this is nice.

BrianH · #4 05-06-2002, 02:44 AM

I took a look at them, they are pretty nice. But whats the big fuss over? Admittedly I don't know much about these particular guitars... I can see they have outstanding features... I keep seeing you say stuff about the trem... I'd like to know what the fuss is all about!

jem7vwh · #5 05-06-2002, 03:13 AM

BrianH, the Steinberger Trans Trem is unusual in that it works like a regular Floyd (you can do dive bombs, flutters etc) but you can also drop the pitch and lock it in place. So if you're tuned to E and you drop the bar, you can dive down to C, lock it in place and play there. It allows you to transpose the strings without retuning and you can go back and forth by flipping switches. To hear it in action, listen to Van Halen's "Summer Nights" or the end of "Me Wise Magic"

Kevan · #6 05-11-2002, 11:11 AM

...or most all of "Me Wise Magic". :-) It's used on the 2nd guitar part right before each chorus section.
To *see* a Steinberger in action, check out Van Halen's "Live Without A Net". EVH uses it on several songs including "Get Up", "Summer Nights", and when he breaks a string in "I Can't Drive 55", Zeke tosses him the Steinberger (right before he does than sweet legato run down the fretboard. I love that run. LOL).

darren wilson · #7 05-12-2002, 05:54 PM

Nobody's really explained it yet, so i'll just summarize here... The real trick with the TransTrem (short for Transposing Tremolo) is that unlike any other tremolo system, it retains the pitch relations between all of the strings when you pull up or push down on the trem.

So you end up getting slide-like effects with it (chords stay in tune when you work the bar), or you can lock it into different keys (B, C, D, E, F#, G). Very neat. Ned Steinberger hadn't even thought of players using it the way EVH did on "Get Up".

Mr Orange · #8 05-30-2002, 02:28 AM

David Torn uses his Klein's TransTrem a lot, too.
Check out What Means Solid, Traveller; Splattercell: Oah (Terrific! his best ever) or his Painting with the Guitar videos.