Steinbergers = yummy

revsharp777 · #1 01-04-2003, 10:39 PM

Here's my story:
Kirk, the other guitarist for my band Byaxis, had one of these laying around his apartment. So, he let me borrow it for a while to give it a shot. My reaction? This is one of the best, if not, THE best playing guitar I've ever come across. The one I'm messing with is the Steinberger GU-7R (see below). The design is simply amazing. I never seen a guitar with so many options. From the PERFECT stable tuning to the amazing versatility of the R-Trem (yeah, I know the TransTrem is better). I highly recommend checking one out. I think I'm gonna buy this sucker. Even my $2000 modified Ibanez Universe doesn't play this good. I just wish Steinberger would make a 7-string model. The only thing I'd have to do to this guitar is put active EMGs in there. So, have you played one of these before?

Check out Steinbergers at:
http://www.musicyo.com/brandland.asp?dept_id=3

Zeek · #2 01-04-2003, 11:43 PM

I wondered how the guitars played. I have a 5 string Spirit bass that i really like. Plays better than most basses i've had my hands on.

BeastofLove · #3 01-04-2003, 11:55 PM

Glad to hear someone likes them... I really didn't like the Spirit series; really pale in comparison to the real Steinberger instruments. Guess I'm an Ibanez man (or Parker for that matter).

-Ben

Zeek · #4 01-04-2003, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeastofLove

Glad to hear someone likes them... I really didn't like the Spirit series; really pale in comparison to the real Steinberger instruments. Guess I'm an Ibanez man (or Parker for that matter).

-Ben

I always have to settle for the poor man's models... Steinberger Spirits and Parker P Series.

Both are pretty good deals, tho.

BeastofLove · #5 01-05-2003, 10:37 AM

You can get good deals on Parker Niteflys on eBay, though- for the same price you'd buy a P model for new. Much better than a Steinberger Spirit IMO. Then again, I wouldn't mind a Spirit just for kicks.

-Ben

mercjoe · #6 01-13-2003, 05:32 AM

yes my friend........they play well. I bought two of them and will eventually buy the American model just because I love the graphite necks. Lotta bang for the buck...................it was like $289 for the strat bodied one and $320 for the bodyless.

babahi · #7 01-30-2003, 01:37 PM

Ok my turn:

I am a Steinberger convert. I still like Ibanez guitars, but I wonder how much of it is nostalgia, since I've only been buying Steinbergers for the last two years. I've bought up 12 original USA ones, with the graphite necks, and one Klein. And they all kick a$$. The first one I picked up on a whim, just like revsharp777, and I couldn't believe how it simply blew every other guitar away -- even my band members noticed it after the first song and just stared in disbelief! None of my JEM or JS guitars can touch them...

I think these guitars are branded as 80's relics and therefore not given any more notice. But they are far superior to any other guitars I have ever played, bar none.

Here are the ones I have right now, two are missing, in my other place:

darren wilson · #8 01-30-2003, 01:42 PM

Wow. Nice.

I've often had a craving for a black M-series (with the white binding) with white EMGs.

kabuki · #9 01-30-2003, 04:30 PM

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought *I* was the world's biggest Berger freak. Nice collection, really nice!

cusplaya · #10 01-30-2003, 05:02 PM

I just got into Ibanez. Now I keep seeing this picture poppin up and reading all these wonderful things about bergers......I'm gettin GAS here. You Know, if you're havin troble storing all those, I'd be willin' to help out!!!

babahi · #11 01-30-2003, 09:08 PM

I can't say enough about Steinbergers... It's just something you have to feel to believe. I know I would not have believed it, had someone told me the same thing.

It is truly the way a guitar should be. Basically, Ned Steinberger looked at a guitar and tried to figure out what was necessary and what was only tradition. He redesigned the guitar for what it needs to do: have strings that vibrate and can be played comfortably. He eliminated all the elements that were only present for the sake of tradition, focusing rather on the necessary elements of the guitar. You therefore have a perfect guitar, redesinged from the ground up. Perfect balance, perfect sound, perfect playability. No tuning problems, no dead spots, no neck warping.

Playing a Steinberger is simply playing the most perfect guitar. It's basically that incredible guitar you tried sometime and could never forget, but x1000 better! I am not exaggerating...

kabuki · #12 01-30-2003, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babahi

I can't say enough about Steinbergers... It's just something you have to feel to believe. I know I would not have believed it, had someone told me the same thing.

It is truly the way a guitar should be. Basically, Ned Steinberger looked at a guitar and tried to figure out what was necessary and what was only tradition. He redesigned the guitar for what it needs to do: have strings that vibrate and can be played comfortably. He eliminated all the elements that were only present for the sake of tradition, focusing rather on the necessary elements of the guitar. You therefore have a perfect guitar, redesinged from the ground up. Perfect balance, perfect sound, perfect playability. No tuning problems, no dead spots, no neck warping.

Playing a Steinberger is simply playing the most perfect guitar. It's basically that incredible guitar you tried sometime and could never forget, but x1000 better! I am not exaggerating...

This is what I have been saying since I got my first GL2T in 1986. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, has ever been as comfortable to me as my GL/GMs, although I prefer the GMs. I just got back a refinished GM body from Kirk (remember the "free refinish" contest?) and I'm back in Berger heaven. Not everybody's cup of tea, but certainly mine.

Care to part with one of the red GMs???

babahi · #13 01-30-2003, 09:32 PM

Uh... That a difficult one! But considering that I have nearly no more room and I have a few guitars in double... drop me an email offline if you're serious: babahi@hotmail.com

Nice to hear that someone on this board also appreciates Steinbergers... I just can't say enough about them, you really don't know what you're missing until you've played one.

For those who don't know, check out www.steinbergerworld.com

monkeyboy · #14 01-31-2003, 07:34 PM

Bahahi,

Very nice collection - what's the Klein like in comparison to the Steinbergers?
That looks like a serious Logic control surface you've got there (or is it the new Mackie 'generic' one.

I've got a US original GM4T which I picked up a couple of years ago. Best playing guitar I own - great guitar and very stable. Is it just mine or is everyone elses the heaviest (weight) guitars around? Mine's the smallest guitar I own and gives my friend's les Pauls a run for their money on weight - very heavy wooden body.

I take it with all those you've got a few with the Transtrem on it - what's you're opinion next to the 'traditional' ones? I was reading an article from Reeves Gabrells where he said he was going through about 3 a tour - do they fall apart?

babahi · #15 02-02-2003, 08:36 AM

Hi Monkeyboy!

Congrats on your own GM4T, you know what I'm talking about.

The Klein is an unbelievably fine guitar. Standing up, sitting down, there's nothing like it. Also, the design that went into it is obvious the momemt you pick it up. Because of the price tag, I never imagined I'd bother picking one up. But a friend of a friend had some connection somewhere and... To compare the Klein to the Steinberger, I'd have to say that the Steinberger is perfection in playing. But the Klein is perfection in playing and everything connected to it -- it goes further than only your arms and fingers being in playing heaven, your entire body just fits right into the playing experience. Definitely worth the cash.

Regarding the TransTrems, they are actually quite stable. Nothing quite like a Floyd or an Edge for great dive bombing, but the TT's can be locked to be played in tune. That was always my biggest beef with Floyd's, the tuning is impossible. Bend a string and everything else goes flat. Break a string and the guitar is not playable anymore. So it's just not practical for me to play Floyd's at all anymore. On the TT's I just lock the bridge with the bar in one small motion before I let go of the bar and resume picking. If I break a string live -- who cares? The bridge is locked anyhow.

I also read what Reeves wrote. Apparently he was really, really rough with them and the problem lay in the bearings. Changing the bearings on the TT is essential every few years for the transposing feature. But I haven't had a problem yet; of my 13 Steinies, 11 have TT's and the other two are GR models with R-Trems.

As for the weight, I don't find them too heavy. I have heard that it depends on the specific body you have. I have a JEM GMC which is unbelievably light, feels like it must be made of balsa wood, especially when I compare its weight to my other JEMs.

Oh, and nice eye on the control surface! It is indeed a Logic Control setup. Since that picture was taken, I have expanded to 48 channels, which is unreal. I've been thinking of adding on an Emagic Phat Control to it as well, but haven't been able to test drive one yet. I have no kids, so I compensate with toys...