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GMC Forum _ CHILL OUT _ Steinberger Guitars

Posted by: mroberts70 Jun 19 2013, 12:21 AM

I was just curious if anyone else in our ranks plays any variety of Steinberger guitar or any other headless type guitar?

OR

if you've given one a serious chance to play before....

What do you think?

The little boat oar style or "original" design is actually extremely comfortable to play with the kickstand. It has been the best guitar when recording and sitting near a desk. No head stock or large body to bang around, plus while on your leg using the kickstand, it puts the guitar in kinda a "classical guitar style" position when playing and you can take your hands off of it to use your mouse and keyboard if you are using your computer to record and it just basically sits there. No head stock to weigh it down and make it fall over.

Anyone...?

Posted by: sammetal92 Jun 19 2013, 04:33 AM

I'm sorry, but I hate headless guitars... they just seem to get their essence away. Of course, how they can be played, their tone etc. all of that is just like regular guitars.

Though I have to say, my friend has steinberger spirit, and I've played it, and they stay in tune pretty much, though not as much as a Floyd Rose.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 19 2013, 09:20 AM

Mate, I don't like'em one bit biggrin.gif I have a friend who owns 3 or 4 and I played on them quite a bit. Dunno, they feel pretty artificial to me..

Posted by: sammetal92 Jun 19 2013, 09:26 AM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jun 19 2013, 08:20 AM) *
Mate, I don't like'em one bit biggrin.gif I have a friend who owns 3 or 4 and I played on them quite a bit. Dunno, they feel pretty artificial to me..


+1 to that

Posted by: mroberts70 Jun 20 2013, 02:35 AM

That's cool, I don't like your ESP Sam, or your Ibanez Jem either Cos... How's that taste?

LOL, kidding of course, who the hell doesn't love a Ibby Jem or an ESP? Yea, the headless guitars definitely aren't for everyone... but once I got the trem setup a bit better on mine I tend to play it more, however I cycle through all my guitars pretty regular as anyone who has seen me in a VChat may have noticed.... so I'm not stuck on any one guitar in particular, cept the ones I like to play. However, they are handy for travel. I'm just curious if anyone has any of the old school Steinbergers with the composite necks. I've heard that those do lose some of their tonal essence. Mine are all wood so I can't tell any difference.

Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 20 2013, 02:58 AM

Good one smile.gif Got a big giggle on that reply!

Anyhoo, being that I dig all sorts of whacky stuff, I like em just fine smile.gif But yeah, they are not for everyone to be sure. I had a Headless bass when I was gigging with a blues band and loved it. The HUGE head on the P-Bass just seemed annoying IMHO which is what all the other bass players in other blues bands seemed to be playing, and mine had active pickups with active EQ which sounded killer and the P-Bass was passive with no E.Q. I put them side by side before purchase and it was not even close.

This is one of many experiences that has let me to believe that at least part of what is called "tone" is actually a perceptual quality infused in to a given instrument by the person who adores it. We all do it, but it's tough to hear someone else's love for an instrument objectively. Given that I'm a guitar player, I just wanted a bass that sounded good.

But WOW, did I ever take crap for carrying that HEADLESS, ACTIVE PICKUP, BRIGHT RED, bass guitar around to blues gigs!!!

Here is a pic.


Recently, the entire world seems to have developed an obsession with the OLA STRANDBERG HEADLESS guitars. Some of the best players around swear by them. They look truly odd but in a unique way smile.gif I'd love to try one to be honest, but again not everyone's cup of tea!!!





QUOTE (mroberts70 @ Jun 19 2013, 09:35 PM) *
That's cool, I don't like your ESP Sam, or your Ibanez Jem either Cos... How's that taste?

LOL, kidding of course, who the hell doesn't love a Ibby Jem or an ESP? Yea, the headless guitars definitely aren't for everyone... but once I got the trem setup a bit better on mine I tend to play it more, however I cycle through all my guitars pretty regular as anyone who has seen me in a VChat may have noticed.... so I'm not stuck on any one guitar in particular, cept the ones I like to play. However, they are handy for travel. I'm just curious if anyone has any of the old school Steinbergers with the composite necks. I've heard that those do lose some of their tonal essence. Mine are all wood so I can't tell any difference.


Posted by: mroberts70 Jun 20 2013, 04:28 AM

tongue.gif I figured someone would get a kick out of that... lol. Yea, I like headless guitars, but then again I like guitars headless or otherwise. I'd taken that big red bass to any gig proudly. Is it the head missing, or the player tearing it up that makes the difference?

I found me another Steinberger of the "mini V" variety, or sometimes called the "arrow". I'm considering picking it up... these little guitars work like a charm for me. You just have to know how to set up the tremolo.... which I claim no expertise at, but I do know how to set it up the way I like it and it works fine for me. I know you are supposed to be able to set these things up and lock them in place if you break a string and keep the strings in tune, but by trying that it made me have to tighten the trem spring up way too much which made it almost impossible to push down on the trem with out some force and I never cared for it, but when I loosened it up and just set it like any other floating trem it made it really easy to use and fun to play, so I've been using it recently....

However, it's almost time to break out the Lime Green Gunslinger soon, and I'm not typically a B.C. Rich fan, but I like those due to the 80's aura they emit by just sitting next to you just like the Steinberger's. I'm thinking Vito Bratta! I won't say they were my all time favorite, but I used to love watching him play that little Steinberger guitar cause it was the first time I'd ever seen one.

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Jun 19 2013, 09:58 PM) *
Good one smile.gif Got a big giggle on that reply!

Anyhoo, being that I dig all sorts of whacky stuff, I like em just fine smile.gif But yeah, they are not for everyone to be sure. I had a Headless bass when I was gigging with a blues band and loved it. The HUGE head on the P-Bass just seemed annoying IMHO which is what all the other bass players in other blues bands seemed to be playing, and mine had active pickups with active EQ which sounded killer and the P-Bass was passive with no E.Q. I put them side by side before purchase and it was not even close.

This is one of many experiences that has let me to believe that at least part of what is called "tone" is actually a perceptual quality infused in to a given instrument by the person who adores it. We all do it, but it's tough to hear someone else's love for an instrument objectively. Given that I'm a guitar player, I just wanted a bass that sounded good.

But WOW, did I ever take crap for carrying that HEADLESS, ACTIVE PICKUP, BRIGHT RED, bass guitar around to blues gigs!!!

Here is a pic.


Recently, the entire world seems to have developed an obsession with the OLA STRANDBERG HEADLESS guitars. Some of the best players around swear by them. They look truly odd but in a unique way smile.gif I'd love to try one to be honest, but again not everyone's cup of tea!!!



Posted by: sammetal92 Jun 20 2013, 05:55 AM

Well that bass looks pretty cool... being headless and all...

cool.gif

Posted by: Bossie Jun 20 2013, 03:35 PM

I believe Darius played a headless Hufscmidt in one of his latest lessons...

Posted by: Sensible Jones Jun 20 2013, 08:07 PM

I had 3 headless guitars and a headless bass at one point:-
2 x Hohner 'The Jack':-


A 'real' Steinberger:-

And a Hohner Bass:-

They all played brilliantly, especially 'The Jack's!!

Posted by: mroberts70 Jun 20 2013, 09:56 PM

NICE! I'll take em all!

QUOTE (Sensible Jones @ Jun 20 2013, 03:07 PM) *
I had 3 headless guitars and a headless bass at one point:-
2 x Hohner 'The Jack':-


A 'real' Steinberger:-

And a Hohner Bass:-

They all played brilliantly, especially 'The Jack's!!


Posted by: Todd Simpson Jun 20 2013, 10:23 PM

Headless fans coming out of the woodwork! smile.gif Thanks for the pics and posts guys!! As for the BCRICH GUNSLINGER, I FREAKING WANT ONE!!! I've been on the lookout for one for a while. Have yet to find that killer deal though. Gotta have the reverse headstock version and hopefully one from the wayback machine in the 80's that's survived the years of torture. Then again, I"d take a new one too if I can find the right deal smile.gif

The STRANDBERG series are sort of carrying the torch for the HEADLESS idea these days and doing a fine job smile.gif They are a tad small though so on a big fella like me they look like a childs guitar almost, but hey thems the breaks I'd still like to play one smile.gif

SENSIBLE JONES has had quite the collection!! Nice axes man!!

Here is a vendor I ran across recently, the make some spiff headless and headed guitars smile.gif This one is almost a LES PAUL STRANDBERG smile.gif

http://www.skervesen.eu


Posted by: waynedcoville Jun 20 2013, 10:41 PM

although ive never played one, from a purely esthetic viewpoint, i'd have to say i dont much care for them (except of course for my Starwars Band tee shirt i have where Darth Vader plays a Steinberger bass...thats pretty cool)


 

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 21 2013, 07:26 AM

QUOTE (mroberts70 @ Jun 20 2013, 01:35 AM) *
That's cool, I don't like your ESP Sam, or your Ibanez Jem either Cos... How's that taste?

LOL, kidding of course, who the hell doesn't love a Ibby Jem or an ESP? Yea, the headless guitars definitely aren't for everyone... but once I got the trem setup a bit better on mine I tend to play it more, however I cycle through all my guitars pretty regular as anyone who has seen me in a VChat may have noticed.... so I'm not stuck on any one guitar in particular, cept the ones I like to play. However, they are handy for travel. I'm just curious if anyone has any of the old school Steinbergers with the composite necks. I've heard that those do lose some of their tonal essence. Mine are all wood so I can't tell any difference.


I was talking about those with the composite neck mate - my friend has only those - but anyway, they feel weird because they don't have a headstock as well... For me at least, but as they say 'de gustibus non disputandum' - Latin for 'Each to his own' smile.gif So, if you like them and you feel good playing them, that's the most important thing wink.gif

Posted by: mroberts70 Jun 21 2013, 08:35 AM

Yes, I have heard that the composite necks made a difference. I suppose that would be two separate things to dislike about those guitars or at least the old school Steinbergers, one if you liked it not having a head stock and secondly the composite neck. Now that I think of it, I'm wondering how I'd like the composite???

Sensibile, if you happen to see this, what was your take on the composite neck? Could you tell any difference in feel and/or tonal quality? Thanks sir...

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jun 21 2013, 02:26 AM) *
I was talking about those with the composite neck mate - my friend has only those - but anyway, they feel weird because they don't have a headstock as well... For me at least, but as they say 'de gustibus non disputandum' - Latin for 'Each to his own' smile.gif So, if you like them and you feel good playing them, that's the most important thing wink.gif


Posted by: Sensible Jones Jun 21 2013, 04:54 PM

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Jun 20 2013, 10:23 PM) *
SENSIBLE JONES has had quite the collection!! Nice axes man!!

Thanks mate! I originally got the first one because our Bass Player had been given a Steinberger Bass (Black), so I bought the white one for an upcoming photo shoot. I borrowed one of the Hohner ones from someone and really liked the way it felt and the sound. They had EMG Select Pickups in them. Unfortunately they all were sold on to fund other instruments.

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 22 2013, 07:33 AM

QUOTE (mroberts70 @ Jun 21 2013, 07:35 AM) *
Yes, I have heard that the composite necks made a difference. I suppose that would be two separate things to dislike about those guitars or at least the old school Steinbergers, one if you liked it not having a head stock and secondly the composite neck. Now that I think of it, I'm wondering how I'd like the composite???

Sensibile, if you happen to see this, what was your take on the composite neck? Could you tell any difference in feel and/or tonal quality? Thanks sir...


There's something else you might like to know, regarding one of the Steinberger patented bridge types:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransTrem

Posted by: mroberts70 Jun 23 2013, 05:15 AM

Thanks Cos, I was aware of the TransTrem, but never seen a real one. Seems like a cool concept, I'd certainly be interested in trying one out.... but you know me, if it's a tremolo or (Whammy Bar).... I'm there!

wink.gif


QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jun 22 2013, 02:33 AM) *
There's something else you might like to know, regarding one of the Steinberger patented bridge types:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TransTrem


Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jun 23 2013, 08:41 PM

Viceversa for me biggrin.gif I tend to run away from them because of the lack of detuning possibility and bending issues when having to work with multiple strings smile.gif

Posted by: dcz702 Jun 23 2013, 10:52 PM

QUOTE (waynedcoville @ Jun 20 2013, 09:41 PM) *
although ive never played one, from a purely esthetic viewpoint, i'd have to say i dont much care for them (except of course for my Starwars Band tee shirt i have where Darth Vader plays a Steinberger bass...thats pretty cool)

This is freakin AWSOME. I want this!

 

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