Steinberger

Overview

Steinberger produces distinctive headless electric guitars and basses, originally designed by Ned Steinberger with minimalist carbon graphite construction. The brand is known for innovative designs like the L-series 'boat oar' style and is currently focused on the all-wood Spirit Collection, positioned as affordable, portable instruments for guitarists and bassists.¹²

History

Steinberger Sound Corporation was founded in 1980 by Ned Steinberger, who patented the L2 bass design that year. The company relocated to Newburgh, NY in 1983 amid growing demand exceeding supply by 300% in 1982. In 1987, it was acquired by Gibson, after which production shifted and models like the Spirit line were introduced in 1992.¹⁴⁵

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Current Spirit guitars and basses feature all-wood construction, with manufacturing details not specified on the official site; historical models used molded carbon graphite and fiberglass in single-piece designs, produced in the US originally.¹²⁸

Notable Products

• L2 Bass - Original molded carbon graphite headless bass, patented in 1980, known as the 'boat oar' design.
• XL Bass - Revised version of the L-series bass with graphite construction.
• GL Series - Graphite neck-through models, iconic for indestructibility and environmental resilience.
• Spirit Guitar - Reintroduced all-wood headless guitar with high-performance pickups.
• Spirit Bass - Current production all-wood headless bass, in production longer than other models.

Reputation

Enthusiasts praise Steinberger for revolutionary headless designs, durability from graphite composites, and portability fitting airline travel. Professionals value the consistent tone and playability of models like the GL series. Criticisms include high prices of original models and short-lived production of some Pro series due to cost issues.¹³⁸