Steinberger Spirit Bass
From WikiMusician
Upgrading Tone on a Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Bass
Bass players who like the design of a Steinberger headless bass often pay thousands of dollars for the original graphite L-2 and XL-2 models made in New York during the 1980s and early 1990s. Many feel the graphite version offers the best tone and playability compared to newer models, which include the composite wood-graphite Synapse and all-wood Spirit models – both manufactured in Korea. Depending on your goals, however, upgrading a Spirit XT-2 can offer superior value compared to buying a vintage Steinberger.
 Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Bass – front view |
 Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Bass – back view shows location of three strap knobs |
 Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Bass – dot markers are on fretboard face and along side of neck |
Why Upgrade a Spirit XT-2 Instead of Buying a Vintage L-2 or XL-2?
The answer to this question depends on personal requirements of each musician, but here are a few ideas in favor of upgrading a Spirit bass:
- Less expensive – about $750 for cost of the bass, upgrade parts and installation versus $2,000 or more, on average
- Tone quality provided by upgraded pickups and control pots that is similar to a classic Steinberger, providing powerful tone and clear sustain.
- Less weight – an upgraded four-string Spirit XT-2 weighs just 6.6 lbs. versus 8 lbs. for an XL-2, which makes the Spirit easier to haul around town or an airport, or hang on your neck for a four-hour gig.
- Replaceable with less risk compared to an XL-2 that is lost by an airline, or stolen from a lockout rehearsal room or lifted while on break during a gig.
- More familiar to a bassist’s muscle memory if the musician’s main instrument is a Fender bass or an upright. The string spacing on an XL-2 is 0.666" per string – OK if you’re a guitar player used to narrow string spacing, but tight compared to the Spirit’s string spacing of 0.708” per string. Spacing on a Spirit XT-2 is about the same as a Fender bass and closer to an upright than an L-2 or XL-2.
- Similar tactile feel – the Spirit uses a hard maple neck and a rosewood fingerboard, which is the same as a standard Fender bass. The feel is much different for an XL-2 or Synapse.
- More flexible due to the Spirit’s three strap knobs that facilitate flipping the instrument upside down if required for a left-handed player.
What to Upgrade in the Spirit XT-2
Simply replacing the stock pots can help improve sound somewhat, but if you want to create tone more like an L-2 or XL-2, you will also need to upgrade the passive EMG Select pickups that are stock equipment on a Spirit XT-2. Based on advice from users on the Steinberger World forum, and from Peekamoose Custom Guitars, a well-known luthier for Steinberger guitars in New York City, here are the components for an ideal upgrade to a Steinberger Spirit XT-2 bass:
EMG-HB for the Neck Pickup
The EMG-HB is a staggered P-Style pickup in a guitar humbucking housing that was originally developed for Steinberger Sound as the EMG-SS. The modern version of this dual-coil pickup uses an alnico magnet. The EMG-HB package includes EMG's Quik-Connect™ cable, prewired solid shaft volume/tone control set, output jack, battery clip set and adjustment screws, according to the EMG website. It is optionally available in black, white or an ivory cover cap.
EMG-HBCS for the Bridge Pickup
The EMG-HBCS is a custom version of the EMG-HB, which uses a ceramic and steel design under the magnet to boost inductance – i.e. it throws the magnetic field up higher than the brighter-sounding EMG-HB. The ceramic and steel design is actually closer to the original EMG-SS design, which is one reason why mid tones on the L-2 basses and earlier XL-2s sound fatter, slightly sweeter and with less shrilly highs than later models. The HBCS is a little hotter than the HB, which adds punch in the bridge position but can make the neck sound murky. Running a pair of the HBCS makes the bridge pickup output seem weak compared to the neck pickup. The output of both pickups and resonant response is more balanced by running an HB at the neck and an HBCS at the bridge.
EMG BTC System for the Control Pots
The EMG BTC System provides a prewired balance control (blend) and master volume controls. Bass and treble are controlled on a single concentric pot. These EQ controls allow a bassist to cut or boost bass and treble up to 12db. All controls are center detented for accurate placement of tone. The BTC System also provides two dip switches to pre-set center frequency at 2.1 kHz, 3.5 kHz, 4.5 kHz or 7.0 kHz (see photo, right).
Battery Power for the Active Pickups
The BTC System may be wired with one 9 volt battery, or in a series of two batteries for 18 volts to increase headroom and enhance performance. It requires very little current to operate so 9v is usually adequate. Players who apply aggressive string plucking such as in slap bass may want 18v for extra headroom. Note that the Spirit XT-2's electronics cavity will accept a single 9v battery without extra routing. If you must install two batteries, you will need to route extra space and possibly devise a new way to cover the resulting larger electronics cavity. It is preferable to wrap a battery with foam or a rubber material to prevent movement within the cavity, which could otherwise trigger static output from the amp.
New Strings
Stock strings provided with the Spirit XT-2 are lower-grade quality so upgrading the strings is mandatory to improve the instrument's tone. Musicians' preferences for string types and manufacturers vary, but the Steinberger's double-ball system limits choices to that that kind of string. Strings used in the sound demos above are ground wound (also called halfwound or pressure wound strings). This string is a cross between roundwound and flatwound, providing both the tonal characteristics of roundwound and the lack of squeaking and the playing feel of flatwound.
Strings used for the sound files above are half wound Hot Wires from Status Graphite. The string gauges used are 45-65-85-105.
Instrument Setup
The Spirit XT-2 will not play well unless the neck is true and the bridge is adjusted for appropriate string height above the frets and pickups, and tension between the nut and the bridge. Certain minimum levels are necessary, but anything beyond that is a matter of player preference. Reliable setup instructions are available in Guitar Player Repair Guide: How to Set Up, Maintain, and Repair Electrics and Acoustics by Dan Erlewine (San Francisco: Backbeat Books). Consider having your luthier perform a setup if he or she is also installing upgrade equipment described above.
How to Upgrade the Spirit XT-2
You may upgrade the Spirit XT-2 yourself if you have experience with electrical wiring and a soldering iron. Otherwise, you should have a luthier perform the upgrade. EMG pickups and control systems are among the most popular in the world, so your luthier will not require Steinberger-specific experience to perform this upgrade.
The pickups and control system must be ordered through a dealer as EMG does not sell directly to end users. Dealers will need to make a special request to order the EMG-HBCS because it is a custom product and not on the standard parts list. For this reason, you should consider using a Steinberger-familiar luthier or dealer to order parts for the upgrade. I bought mine through Peekamoose Custom Guitars, which graciously handled the transaction and provided useful advice. A local luthier performed the upgrade.
 Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Bass – front bottom-up view |
 Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Bass – front view of new pickups; note the EMG BTC System split-tone control knob for bass and treble near cable jack |
What the Upgrade Sounds Like
Tone controls were set as follows for all sound demos: Bass tone knob is set ON THREE-FOURTHS and treble tone knob is set OFF THREE-FOURTHS. Mid-sonics are centered at 2.1 kHz. Recording input levels were unchanged for each demo, so playback levels vary depending on how much volume was applied to each pickup. Music played is an interpretation of a bassline complimenting the 8 bar guitar solo section from Nowhere Man by The Beatles (Copyright © 1965 Sony/ATV Songs LLC, Copyright renewed). Tempo: 100bpm.
Sound Demo – Steinberger Spirit XT-2 with active EMG pickups. Pickup balance knob is turned 100% to right with neck pickup on full and bridge pickup off. Musician: DaveB
Sound Demo – Steinberger Spirit XT-2 with active EMG pickups. Pickup balance knob is turned 75% to right with neck pickup mostly on and bridge pickup mostly off. Musician: DaveB
Sound Demo – Steinberger Spirit XT-2 with active EMG pickups. Pickup balance knob is turned at midpoint – balanced between bridge and neck pickups. Musician: DaveB
Sound Demo – Steinberger Spirit XT-2 with active EMG pickups. Pickup balance knob is turned 25% on, with bridge pickup mostly on and neck pickup mostly off. Musician: DaveB
Sound Demo – Steinberger Spirit XT-2 with active EMG pickups. Pickup balance knob is turned full left with bridge pickup on full and neck pickup off. Musician: DaveB
Video Demonstration of Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Bass
- 0:00 Funk Bass Improv
- 2:31 End
Technical Specifications of Steinberger Spirit XT-2
| Item | Data |
|---|---|
| Number of Strings | 4 |
| Body Wing Material | Maple |
| Neck Joint | Thru-Neck |
| Fingerboard | Rosewood |
| Fingerboard Radius | 14 inches |
| Scale Length | 34 inches |
| Frets | 24 |
| Neck Width at Zero Fret | 1.50 inches |
| Pickups (passive) | Bridge – EMG Select Humbucker Neck – EMG Select Humbucker |
| Control Pots | 1 – Neck Pickup Volume 1 – Bridge Pickup Volume |
| Bridge | Patented Steinberger Bass Bridge with direct-pull 40:1 fine tuners |
| Tuning System | Patented, Steinberger Double-Ball System |
| Additional Strings | Light |
| Overall Length | 38.50 inches |
| Finishes | Black, White |
| Accessories | Deluxe Gigbag included |
Manufacturer Information
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