Steinberger
L-2 Headless Bass®
Function
before tradition...
That was probably what Ned
Steinberger thought to himself when he
set out to design a new guitar that could produce
the greatest sounds without conforming to traditional
shapes.
In 1981, the Steinberger guitar
rocked the guitar world, for it was different
in many ways, firstly because it was "headless".
Besides that, the
guitar is made from a mixture of carbon graphite,
glass
fiber, and epoxy resin. It also featured a tiny
hollow body, and its tuners were in the bridge!
The Steinberger Headless Bass, as it is
known, is strung with novel
strings (each
end has a metal ball).
Unlike what many
people think, the Steinberger produces a clear,
distinct sound. The feared "dead spots"
on the conventional bass was eliminated, thanks
to it's synthetic body. Compared to the Steinberger,
any conventional bass has clear disadvantages.
A bass guitar's long and bulky neck causes it
to go off tune easily, and makes it heavier. The
Steinberger guitar, however, was lighter, perfectly
balanced, and always in tune.
This radical looking
guitar doesn't suit many guitarist: some prefer
the traditional looks, while others prefer the
sound of a wooden guitar. Some are put off by
it's big price tag (around $2000!). Among those
who can be seen with this wonder is Sting
and reggae master Robbie
Shakespeare.
