hen barn Posted January 14 Posted January 14 (edited) Steinberger XL2 1987 A rare opportunity to buy a 80s iconic bass. I’ve have been asked to sell this on behalf of a friend. I was playing at my local pub just before Xmas and the landlord said to me that he had a Steinberger upstairs. I asked him how /why and he said that he bought back in 80s just to collect . I took it home and since had it all checked out by a local collector expert. So based on the serial number it was made end of April, beginning of May 1987. It’s not been played in years but I just put a new battery in it and it played (still in tune!) The only problem is it didn’t come with the backplate. But has got 2 metal aftermarket bars that I believe to be a replacement. I have since found a guy on BC from Finland that can make them from a mould he has but he said he needs the weather to warm up before he can make one. (120euros + shipping) So I’m putting the feelers out there. A chance to own a rear 80s iconic bass. He is looking for offers around the £3k price and includes hard case and gigbag. If you are interested I have the bass in Hove Sussex if you want to come and try it . Edited 9 hours ago by hen barn Add post it 9
PaulThePlug Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Very Nice... But i'll have to stick with my Hohner B2, and Myopia 🤣 3
three Posted January 14 Posted January 14 This looks like a lovely example. Has the EMG logo simply worn-off the pickups? I was fortunate enough to own a transitional XL2 for a while. They sound like nothing else, in the best possible way, for me. The downside was ergonomics - a personal issue, but I simply couldn't find a way to make the bass easily/comfortably playable either sitting or standing (using the plug-in hardware seen on some transitionals). Plenty of others had no problem throughout the '80s and beyond. Rare and desirable - the first serious and successful iteration of bass guitar design IMO
hen barn Posted January 14 Author Posted January 14 17 minutes ago, three said: This looks like a lovely example. Has the EMG logo simply worn-off the pickups? I was fortunate enough to own a transitional XL2 for a while. They sound like nothing else, in the best possible way, for me. The downside was ergonomics - a personal issue, but I simply couldn't find a way to make the bass easily/comfortably playable either sitting or standing (using the plug-in hardware seen on some transitionals). Plenty of others had no problem throughout the '80s and beyond. Rare and desirable - the first serious and successful iteration of bass guitar design IMO The EMG logo still there just faded abit 1
cloudburst Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Great basses. I traded my black XL2A a while back to a fellow basschatter in return for a Yamaha BB5000. I still have my white XL2 and will never part with it. Great travel bass too, not just because of size, but because they just stay in tune. CB 1
Burns-bass Posted January 14 Posted January 14 11 minutes ago, Hellzero said: It's always a pleasure when people are grateful... ?
fabbabass Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Nice bass and very good nick! If you can find someone who can 3D print, that may be an option. I still have the backplate on mine and we could maybe work something out to use it as a pattern. You can also check out the Steinberger info on the web, I found the very day mine was made with the serial number. walk the dinosaur bass! Tone monsters GLWTS 1
diddywah Posted January 14 Posted January 14 Really nice bass, but those strap buttons shouldn't be there....not original. The original "Boomerang" shaped backplate with strap buttons each end of it is essential for the ergonomics of this bass. With it the bass balanced perfectly on that screw point on the back. You can tighten the screw and have the bass in a fixed position, or you can loosen it and swing around that point. Absolutely no neck dive or rising... You can even swing it from a right-hand to a leftie😅 But that's fixable on this one of course 1
cloudburst Posted January 15 Posted January 15 (edited) Yep - the boomerang makes such a difference. I’d just add that XL2s are much heavier than they look and the boomerang’s mount point being right on the CoG of the bass made the instrument feel “weightless”, even during lengthy gigs. Here’s something crying out for a 3D print pattern. CB Edited January 15 by cloudburst 2
roger Posted January 15 Posted January 15 I had an L2 but it was basically a piece of 'art' i occasionally looked at and didn't really play, an absolute classic in my mind and i'd love to see this produced again in resin/graphite (can't be that hard can it)??? just with a flatter (front to back) neck profile and a 42mm nut (IMHO), apparently Ned took advice from Stanley Clarke for the neck profile of the L2!, shame about the drill holes though but easily filled i guess, whatever you may read its still just a lump of resin easily filled with yacht epoxy🤷♂️ 2
roger Posted January 15 Posted January 15 16 hours ago, Hellzero said: It's always a pleasure when people are grateful... 🤣🤷🏼 bizarre!
diddywah Posted January 15 Posted January 15 My L2 was my one and only bass for 25 years. Studio and touring. Summer and winter. Great bass. Great tone. Great performance overall and super stable. I had to get used to wooden basses and their quirks again when I eventually started acquiring more basses. (Thanks to communities like this😅)
Misdee Posted January 15 Posted January 15 (edited) 14 hours ago, fabbabass said: Nice bass and very good nick! If you can find someone who can 3D print, that may be an option. I still have the backplate on mine and we could maybe work something out to use it as a pattern. You can also check out the Steinberger info on the web, I found the very day mine was made with the serial number. walk the dinosaur bass! Tone monsters GLWTS I'm going to be annoying and point out that Walk The Dinosaur was actually played by John Patitucci on his French-made Lag bass (with a fresh set of strings and loads of compression on it.) I can hear why you might think it was a Steinberger, though. Edited January 15 by Misdee 1
mep Posted January 15 Posted January 15 Very nice bass. You don't see many for sale, and a great story. BTW, you'd be advised to follow the forum recommendation about proof of ownership at the top of the thread.
hen barn Posted January 15 Author Posted January 15 5 hours ago, mep said: Very nice bass. You don't see many for sale, and a great story. BTW, you'd be advised to follow the forum recommendation about proof of ownership at the top of the thread. If someone is interested then they will deal with Greg the owner.
mep Posted January 15 Posted January 15 24 minutes ago, hen barn said: If someone is interested then they will deal with Greg the owner. Apologies for any confusion. If you read the forum recommendations they suggest some sort of identification the item is being advertised here to avoid the photos being used elsewhere for a bogus sale. Click the Proof of ownership in the red banner at the top of the thread.
overdriver Posted Thursday at 23:06 Posted Thursday at 23:06 Long time Steinberger user here. The issue with the strap pivot plate is no so much the “boomerang” (plate) itself, but the furniture. The thrust washer and strap buttons. Theres a guy here in Ireland can make both for you. That Finnish chap mentioned made me a plate years ago. Grand job, still have it. Filling the strap button holes is simple enough. You just need a can of gel coat and some fine sand paper. that’s a nice bass for someone.
Recommended Posts