STEINBERGER XL-5W ('Wide 5') RARER THAN A VERY RARE THING!

[lowregisterhead]

Sorry - all the talk about how great these basses are has made me reconsider, and I've decided to withdraw it. Thanks for all the positive comments!
------------------------------------------------------------
WITHDRAWN

Offered for sale is one of the original carbon graphite composite Steinbergers - an exceptionally rare XL-5W ('wide 5') bass. As many of you will know, you just don't see these for sale, as they only made about 50 of them. There are some 5-string versions of the X-2 and XL-2 out there, which were basically standard width 4-string necks with head and bridge conversions to somehow cram the 5th string on, resulting in a very narrow string spacing, but the XL-5W was built as a 5-string, and therefore has a very comfortable 17mm spacing.

The previous owner rescued it from a shop in the States, and had work done at the Peekamoose workshops in New York to make it beautifully playable. Cosmetically, it's in good condition, but not immaculate, and as such could be said to be primarily a player's instrument, although still extremely collectable.

Included in the sale is another completely unused bridge and tuner block, the original pickups and circuitry (a more recent EMG preamp and pickups are currently fitted), brass and aluminium string adapters for non-double ball end strings, a Packhorse flight case, a Ritter gig bag, and several sets of assorted double ball end strings. It's fitted with the NS Boomerang strap system, and the original pivoting strap plate is also included.

Price: £4,500. May p/x for a Wal 5 string.

Edited February 11, 2010 by lowregisterhead

[lowregisterhead]

Eighty-odd views and no comments? I'd welcome your observations (with the exception of "too many strings" or "too much money" obviously...) :-)

[Jesso]

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='740487' date='Feb 9 2010, 11:34 PM']Eighty-odd views and no comments? I'd welcome your observations (with the exception of "too many strings" or "too much money" obviously...) :-)[/quote]
I think it's sweet. Not what I'm looking for myself, but I'm sure someone out there will want it.

[sheepman]

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='740487' date='Feb 10 2010, 01:34 AM']Eighty-odd views and no comments? I'd welcome your observations (with the exception of "too many strings" or "too much money" obviously...) :-)[/quote]

Well, it's a spectacular bass, that's my 2 cents. I'm a happy 'bergerman myself, I LOVE my L2s and would not sell them for a great deal. They're just so reliable and sound FAT. Besides you can switch PUs easily, in minutes you get a huge variety of sounds, can't do this with other basses. So I can't praise Steinbergers enough, I still think they belong to a league with the mighty alembics. But they're not (yet?) there, in collector's heaven, for whatever reason (some might say it's the material used ... well, blame them...).

[bassaussie]

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='740487' date='Feb 10 2010, 12:34 AM']Eighty-odd views and no comments? I'd welcome your observations (with the exception of "too many strings" or "too much money" obviously...) :-)[/quote]


[quote name='sheepman' post='740681' date='Feb 10 2010, 10:54 AM']Well, it's a spectacular bass, that's my 2 cents. I'm a happy 'bergerman myself, I LOVE my L2s and would not sell them for a great deal. They're just so reliable and sound FAT. Besides you can switch PUs easily, in minutes you get a huge variety of sounds, can't do this with other basses. So I can't praise Steinbergers enough, I still think they belong to a league with the mighty alembics. But they're not (yet?) there, in collector's heaven, for whatever reason (some might say it's the material used ... well, blame them...).[/quote]

I've got an L2 as well, and feel much the same. It's a classic.

LRH - you seem confused about why there's no response, but it's been pointed out to you. Steinbergers are collectible, but like any collectible, there's a threshold to their value. I realise you feel very strongly about how nice your bass is, but just because you feel that way doesn't mean everyone else does, and regardless of some of the prices we see attached to vintage instruments these days, anyone buying a piece like this wants to believe they're paying around the market value.

I'm really curious as to how you arrived at your valuation. I believe you originally wanted £6000, you've now lowered that by 25% to £4500. Were you advised to price the bass this way, or did you come to these values yourself?

I don't mean this as a criticism, it's just that you obviously want to sell the bass, yet you're confused by something that I think appears fairly obvious to everyone else.

[ialma]

+1

[quote name='bassaussie' post='740699' date='Feb 10 2010, 11:16 AM']LRH - you seem confused about why there's no response, but it's been pointed out to you. Steinbergers are collectible, but like any collectible, there's a threshold to their value. I realise you feel very strongly about how nice your bass is, but just because you feel that way doesn't mean everyone else does, and regardless of some of the prices we see attached to vintage instruments these days, anyone buying a piece like this wants to believe they're paying around the market value.

I'm really curious as to how you arrived at your valuation. I believe you originally wanted £6000, you've now lowered that by 25% to £4500. Were you advised to price the bass this way, or did you come to these values yourself?

I don't mean this as a criticism, it's just that you obviously want to sell the bass, yet you're confused by something that I think appears fairly obvious to everyone else.[/quote]

[lowregisterhead]

[quote name='bassaussie' post='740699' date='Feb 10 2010, 10:16 AM']I've got an L2 as well, and feel much the same. It's a classic.

LRH - you seem confused about why there's no response, but it's been pointed out to you. Steinbergers are collectible, but like any collectible, there's a threshold to their value. I realise you feel very strongly about how nice your bass is, but just because you feel that way doesn't mean everyone else does, and regardless of some of the prices we see attached to vintage instruments these days, anyone buying a piece like this wants to believe they're paying around the market value.

I'm really curious as to how you arrived at your valuation. I believe you originally wanted £6000, you've now lowered that by 25% to £4500. Were you advised to price the bass this way, or did you come to these values yourself?

I don't mean this as a criticism, it's just that you obviously want to sell the bass, yet you're confused by something that I think appears fairly obvious to everyone else.[/quote]

Thanks for your thoughts, but I'm not at all confused about there being no offers, as it's a very niche instrument, and will appeal only to a small percentage of players. I did receive a fairly respectable offer the last time I posted, but I decided to turn it down. What I had expected was a bit more reaction, comment and conversation about the nature of the beast itself, where it came from, even what it cost me. It's an unusual thing, after all.

The first figure I put it up for was, you could say, speculative. Being as rare as it is, I had thought that perhaps the very fact one of these had turned up for sale would spark some serious interest, even if it was only within a small group of enthusiasts, who I know exist. The price was based on what I feel it's worth to me, although that's not to say I wouldn't consider a lower offer, but unless it was a figure I was completely happy with, I will simply keep the bass, and perhaps offer it for sale in a year or two when the economic situation improves. Thanks for your interest - y'see... this is what I meant! :-)

[greyparrot]

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='741235' date='Feb 10 2010, 05:35 PM']Thanks for your thoughts, but I'm not at all confused about there being no offers, as it's a very niche instrument, and will appeal only to a small percentage of players. I did receive a fairly respectable offer the last time I posted, but I decided to turn it down. What I had expected was a bit more reaction, comment and conversation about the nature of the beast itself, where it came from, even what it cost me. It's an unusual thing, after all.

The first figure I put it up for was, you could say, speculative. Being as rare as it is, I had thought that perhaps the very fact one of these had turned up for sale would spark some serious interest, even if it was only within a small group of enthusiasts, who I know exist. The price was based on what I feel it's worth to me, although that's not to say I wouldn't consider a lower offer, but unless it was a figure I was completely happy with, I will simply keep the bass, and perhaps offer it for sale in a year or two when the economic situation improves. Thanks for your interest - y'see... this is what I meant! :-)[/quote]

OK.
Where did you get it then? and how much for? how many have been made? I had a stunning spector redwood that was 4k only 24 ever made. Was a nightmare to sell.

[lowregisterhead]

[quote name='greyparrot' post='741237' date='Feb 10 2010, 05:40 PM']OK.
Where did you get it then? and how much for? how many have been made? I had a stunning spector redwood that was 4k only 24 ever made. Was a nightmare to sell.[/quote]

Do I detect a hint of sarcasm? Ok then... (1) America (2) More than my missus was happy with (3) About 50.

As fabulous a bass as a Spector is, I'm not sure it's quite as iconic as the Steinberger, but probably more generally acceptable. I've called all the Steinbergers I've owned (and I've had 5 of them over the years) my Marmite basses... you either love 'em, or you hate 'em.

And some people REALLY hate 'em! A mate who is a real vintage nut came over to have a look at one of my first Steinbergers because he'd never seen one in the flesh. I asked him what he thought. "Shouldn't be allowed" he said, slightly tongue in cheek, but added that if he turned up to do a gig with a Steinberger for any of the bands he worked with, he'd be told in no uncertain terms to f*ck off and come back with a real bass. That must be the liberal, open-minded, creative demeanour that we've all come to know and love in the music industry at work, then.

[lapolpora]

Somebody, somewhere is dying to have this and will pay your asking price for it....you just need to find 'em and best of luck with that.

Something tells me that might be a collector in Japan.

I'd consider putting it on Ebay (International) at the original asking price if only to raise awareness of it, and to direct potential buyers to make you an offer here or TB if it doesn't sell.

I bought a 4 string XL2 in December and I'm so happy with it - an absolute monster bass. However it's not my everyday bass and I haven't taken it on a jazz gig yet

If anyone told me and my 'Berg to F off they'd get the same back.

[bassaussie]

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='741235' date='Feb 10 2010, 05:35 PM']Thanks for your thoughts, but I'm not at all confused about there being no offers, as it's a very niche instrument, and will appeal only to a small percentage of players. I did receive a fairly respectable offer the last time I posted, but I decided to turn it down. What I had expected was a bit more reaction, comment and conversation about the nature of the beast itself, where it came from, even what it cost me. It's an unusual thing, after all.

The first figure I put it up for was, you could say, speculative. Being as rare as it is, I had thought that perhaps the very fact one of these had turned up for sale would spark some serious interest, even if it was only within a small group of enthusiasts, who I know exist. The price was based on what I feel it's worth to me, although that's not to say I wouldn't consider a lower offer, but unless it was a figure I was completely happy with, I will simply keep the bass, and perhaps offer it for sale in a year or two when the economic situation improves. Thanks for your interest - y'see... this is what I meant! :-)[/quote]

I'm glad you took my post as it was intended. I do appreciate what you're saying, it's a very special bass, and I guess a big part of selling an instrument like this is asking yourself how much would it cost to buy another very special bass to replace it. When you look at it from that perspective, it's easy to arrive at a fairly high figure.

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='741267' date='Feb 10 2010, 06:16 PM']I've called all the Steinbergers I've owned (and I've had 5 of them over the years) my Marmite basses... you either love 'em, or you hate 'em.[/quote]

Brilliant description. Although I think you meant to say "Vegemite"!!

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='741267' date='Feb 10 2010, 06:16 PM']And some people REALLY hate 'em! A mate who is a real vintage nut came over to have a look at one of my first Steinbergers because he'd never seen one in the flesh. I asked him what he thought. "Shouldn't be allowed" he said, slightly tongue in cheek, but added that if he turned up to do a gig with a Steinberger for any of the bands he worked with, he'd be told in no uncertain terms to f*ck off and come back with a real bass. That must be the liberal, open-minded, creative demeanour that we've all come to know and love in the music industry at work, then.[/quote]

Yeah, been there, done that. I never received any terrible reactions from bands I played with using a Steinberger, but I have had other people, usually guitarists or other bassists, make some daft comments.

You're obviously a Steinberger fan, so I guess you've already visited the Steinberger Yahoo forum, right? It's the obvious place to let the world know that this instrument is available.

[ialma]

I love my Steinberger XQ5 v2.
Previous owner sold it because his bandmates thought a headless bass was not fitting the image of the alt-rock band he plays with.
Imagewise I'm pretty sure that Steinberger has never been used in metal but can fit almos every other music genre.

[greyparrot]

[quote name='ialma' post='741319' date='Feb 10 2010, 07:05 PM']I love my Steinberger XQ5 v2.
Previous owner sold it because his bandmates thought a headless bass was not fitting the image of the alt-rock band he plays with.
Imagewise I'm pretty sure that Steinberger has never been used in metal but can fit almos every other music genre.[/quote]


I did have the cheaper steinberg once. It sounded huge for its size but for me reaching the low f and that area on a strap really hurt my left shoulder blade, made it very tired, so sold it on ebay.

[lowregisterhead]

[quote name='lapolpora' post='741291' date='Feb 10 2010, 06:38 PM']Somebody, somewhere is dying to have this and will pay your asking price for it....you just need to find 'em and best of luck with that.

Something tells me that might be a collector in Japan.

I'd consider putting it on Ebay (International) at the original asking price if only to raise awareness of it, and to direct potential buyers to make you an offer here or TB if it doesn't sell.

I bought a 4 string XL2 in December and I'm so happy with it - an absolute monster bass. However it's not my everyday bass and I haven't taken it on a jazz gig yet

If anyone told me and my 'Berg to F off they'd get the same back. [/quote]

I've thought about it, and it's a bit scary - it always feels to me as if you sort of lose control of the sale once it's on eBay. If I put a high price on it, there's also the issue of the cost of listing it, with a reserve, even if it doesn't sell. If I enter into negotiation via a forum, there's a bit more room for maneuver for both parties, and the process helps to ease you gently into accepting that the bass will soon no longer be yours! Another problem is that discussing this on an open forum may result in my talking myself out of selling altogether...

[Stacker]

Ebay, for me, is getting more and more dodgy. with people breaking payment instructions, doing unwarranted chargebacks on PayPal (cos they've decided they don't like the item or had a spat with the seller) and maliciously getting auctions taken down. I'm seriosuly thinking about not using it for selling any longer. Shill bidding - as the Seppos call it - is becoming rife over here, too, and I've been on the end of that. Incidentally, when I finally got my old XL2A back in my hands via ebay, I noticed that the only guy that was bidding against me in the last few minutes turned out to be a guy would bought and sold mobile phones and software; not [i]once[/i] did he buy a guitar or bass! Go figure!

Anyway, I digress. Much better to have a forum like this to trade on. Have you also tried the Steinbgrger goup on [url="http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/steinberger_world/"]Yahoo?[/url] ?

Edited February 11, 2010 by Stacker

[Conan]

Agree with the above!

The more I look at gear on here, the more I realise that I don't like or need ebay. It is just too open to corruption and manipulation. Yes, there can be some great deals, but they are becoming increasingly rare. It seems far more common now that people end up paying over the odds for poor stuff...

Fair enough, there is less traffic on here so you might have to wait a little longer for a specific item to come up (or a buyer to show interest in your own specific item) but in the longer term its far safer and more reliable. There are also some fantastic prices available on some bloody fine gear!!

[Cairobill]

I once tried to sell my XL2 on basschat for silly low money (1200 I think?) and did not get a single breadcrumb of interest. Not one enquiry. It did surprise me as they do have such a good rep. They are amazing basses and I kick myself for finally selling mine through gumtree. Dub paradise!

They look unique but feel and sound great...killer necks, loads of sustain and a pure warm tone that isn't 'graphitey' in a sterile way.

Those fiver XL2s are also very rare indeed...

But in the end basschat is by far the best place to buy and sell good basses from good people. given time someone might pop up but pricing is always going to be difficult for Steinies.

Edited February 11, 2010 by Cairobill

[lowregisterhead]

[quote name='Stacker' post='742103' date='Feb 11 2010, 02:01 PM']Ebay, for me, is getting more and more dodgy. with people breaking payment instructions, doing unwarranted chargebacks on PayPal (cos they've decided they don't like the item or had a spat with the seller) and maliciously getting auctions taken down. I'm seriosuly thinking about not using it for selling any longer. Shill bidding - as the Seppos call it - is becoming rife over here, too, and I've been on the end of that. Incidentally, when I finally got my old XL2A back in my hands via ebay, I noticed that the only guy that was bidding against me in the last few minutes turned out to be a guy would bought and sold mobile phones and software; not [i]once[/i] did he buy a guitar or bass! Go figure!

Anyway, I digress. Much better to have a forum like this to trade on. Have you also tried the Steinbgrger goup on [url="http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/steinberger_world/"]Yahoo?[/url] ?[/quote]


I did try posting on the Yahoo Steinberger group, but didn't get much of a response, and this from supposed Steinberger nuts. Perhaps I'm just destined to keep it for now...

[lowregisterhead]

[quote name='Cairobill' post='742117' date='Feb 11 2010, 02:22 PM']They look unique but feel and sound great...killer necks, loads of sustain and a pure warm tone that isn't 'graphitey' in a sterile way.[/quote]

True! I've owned a Status S2, and a couple of Stingrays with graphite necks over the years, and they all had that nasal mid-range bark that the Steinberger just doesn't suffer from. Design? Materials? Who knows - it's just a great bass. Right... that's it... withdrawn from sale! I knew this would happen once I started discussing all its good points...

[Stacker]

[quote name='lowregisterhead' post='742250' date='Feb 11 2010, 04:34 PM']I did try posting on the Yahoo Steinberger group, but didn't get much of a response, and this from supposed Steinberger nuts. Perhaps I'm just destined to keep it for now... [/quote]


Funny enough, I had the same thing with my 4001CS Yahoo group! That group started to get spammed by Russian tarts so I gave up.

[Stacker]

[quote name='Conan' post='742112' date='Feb 11 2010, 02:13 PM']Agree with the above!

The more I look at gear on here, the more I realise that I don't like or need ebay. It is just too open to corruption and manipulation. Yes, there can be some great deals, but they are becoming increasingly rare. It seems far more common now that people end up paying over the odds for poor stuff...[/quote]

And don't forget the lies and disinformation going around. Won't apologise for being so neg about ebay but it is actually getting worse, guys.

Anyway, these original XL units are pretty rare and I'm sure that if the OP sticks it out and keeps this item high profile (Talkbass, maybe?) he'll get the sale he wants.

[Stacker]

[quote name='Cairobill' post='742117' date='Feb 11 2010, 02:22 PM']I once tried to sell my XL2 on basschat for silly low money (1200 I think?) and did not get a single breadcrumb of interest. Not one enquiry. It did surprise me as they do have such a good rep. They are amazing basses and I kick myself for finally selling mine through gumtree. Dub paradise!

They look unique but feel and sound great...killer necks, loads of sustain and a pure warm tone that isn't 'graphitey' in a sterile way.

Those fiver XL2s are also very rare indeed...

But in the end basschat is by far the best place to buy and sell good basses from good people. given time someone might pop up but pricing is always going to be difficult for Steinies.[/quote]

Gumtree? Can I ask you how much you let it go for, without being nosey? Well, I AM, actually!

[Luc]

Hi,

I've just found and bought a XL2-5 wide neck from ebay ... it's an amazing bass, but less growly than my XP2-5

I just have one problem with the bridge and the tuner controll, it's quite impossible to tune it with the fingers, too hard

I don't find any information about the number of bass from this serial (wide neck) produced by Steinberger, but it was one of my bass graal, and now I have it :wub:

Edited April 7, 2010 by Luc

[Neo Land]

[quote name='ialma' post='741319' date='Feb 10 2010, 07:05 PM']I love my Steinberger XQ5 v2.
Previous owner sold it because his bandmates thought a headless bass was not fitting the image of the alt-rock band he plays with.
Imagewise I'm pretty sure that Steinberger has never been used in metal but can fit almos every other music genre.[/quote]

I must be that one exeption, CONTECHED plays metal and I play Steinberger basses.