Steinberger Spirit GT Pro - Demo and Review - And A String Break!!!

[@Bigbuddyandblue]

I have two. I keep one in my car with a small, battery powered multi effects amp. Whenever I end up at a party or open jam location, I’m ready to jam. They are bulletproof, travel well. They fit in overhead airline compartments, so little chance savage baggage handlers will be flinging your guitar into the baggage bay. Camping, backpacking, hiking, road-trip, you always have a inexpensive on-the-go simple rig. Love ‘em. Before I retired, I would smuggle it into the office at work, keep it stored under my desk, so I could practice during “slow” 😏 days

[@dancingtrout6719]

nice thanks...

[@ShamonRocky]

My girlfriend asked "where's the rest of it" when I pulled out the black GT. You have a dreamy sounding Amp set up for real!!!

[@scottpeters4401]

One of the most idiotic things I have ever done was sell my original Steinberger from the 80’s…the one with the Trans Trem…..I sold it for nearly nothing…now the Trem alone is worth crazy money..

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Oh man!! Who would have known man??? I hate that though. I’ve got gear selling regrets too. 😝

[@scottpeters4401]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker hindsight is 20/20 right?

[@markszostak5808]

I know tbe feeling of those regrets. I had to pawn an Ibanez EX360 signed by Blues Saraceno for $60 bucks for gas money but things went sour and I never was able to recover it. 21 years later it still burns my heart if I think about it too much.

[@MrSeeker42]

Same here. I had the flame maple one with all the trimmings. There is nothing smoother than playing on a graphite neck the originals had. I also played my friend’s Vito Bratta model. Like butter. He regretfully sold it back in the 90’s. We now suffer together. Sigh.

[@texasflood3165]

Feel your pain..i sold a pre-cbs strat for chump change back in late 70’s…still in therapy over that one…..

[@benburnett8109]

I had one of these. I loaded it with EMGs, took the paint off the back of the neck and spent a bunch of time making it play incredible. That being said, I could never play it for any length of time because it wouldn't "sit" right on the strap or when I was sitting down. Thanks for the upload.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You’re welcome! It’s hard for me cause I can’t rest my arm and hand in it properly. Makes it so hard for me. 👍

[@DukeHard]

I was thinking of buying one and adding EMGs. Where did you put the battery box?

[@stevewang2012]

I have the same guitar. The neck-dive issue from the original strap lock makes it painful to play in standing position, so I cut a piece of craft-plywood to simulate the length and position of a double-cut guitar. That makes the guitar perfectly balanced and easy to play.

[@BillyE5150]

Very cool. It sounds great on this side of the speakers. I saw Eddie play his on the Monsters of Rock Tour ‘88 in Memphis… I think he played it on “Summer Nights”… he seemed to be having some trouble with his wireless rig...it kept cutting out. It was a GREAT DAY!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks bro. These are cool little guitars. Correct Eddie used it on summer nights and get up!😎🤟🏻

[@johncecilia4517]

That was a great lineup with Van Halen, Dokken, and of course Metallica. I didn't get to go but I saw Metallica on the black album tour, Dokken in 99. And closest I got Van Halen was Hagar and Michael Anthony a couple of years ago. Was still fun to see. They did about 5 Van Halen songs. Funny thing about that was they were doing mainly keyboard driven songs with no keyboard player. Took some of the 80's fun out of it.

[@romaneberle]

it can also be seen in the "live without a net" (1986 i think) video, after one of the strings on his Kramer breaks, iirc.

[@yalcy.mailliw]

Would love to hear this with clean settings instead of distortion

[@cliffordhritz5215]

Ordered one of these a couple of weeks ago. Can't wait! Thanks for this video, Marty.🎸

[@KitBasher1]

I have the Spirit 5, I just popped the B string and I was only in it for a song and a half on a fresh set of XLs!

[@dpajc056]

Wow. I was looking for a travel guitar just to noodle at work on lunch break but I'm so impressed with the tone I just ordered one! Love the concept of this

[@ce152capt100]

Nice review, and thanks for playing rock riffs. That’s what I was hoping to hear out of this guitar. Everyone else features blues.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

You're welcome man! Thanks for watching. 😎🤟🏻

[@gman402]

I would kill for your tone!! Great playing!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks so much man 🙏🎸🎵

[@booshting3520]

I had a full fret level, crown and polish done on mine so it has super low action. Installed Seymour Duncan JB and 59 pickups. Plays great now, I just couldn't deal with the stock pickups

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

They sound pretty cool I think. But they are weird too! Lol

[@raulconve6841]

Great review! Just a question, on 6:45 Where did you buy the replacement nut you mention, in order to use standard strings? There are several models on Ebay but not sure which one to use, considering the dimentions. Kind regards from Mexico!😊

[@tedharrison4109]

It's great to see the Steinberger back. The original did sound a little better but this model is good. Ned was a true visionary!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Totally agree

[@zyxwfish]

I want one real bad! Shawn Whittaker used one with Viral Load and Allan Holdsworth used the real steinberger version. The stock pickups sound good to me, I see mixed reviews on them.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I like it, it's just a little weird to play. I'm gonna out the stock nut back on it and just order some double ball strings. The action is not quite as good with the Chinese replacement.

[@petaralargic]

Greatvdemo.. Trem seems tonwork great? Does the arm stays tight for flutter effect.. It can be tightened i believe? Had one of these long ago but arm was not original so never tried ita true potential.. Main thing is to keep this high on your strap.. It gives unprecended reach to your left hand

[@davidjeffers68]

I was always curious how those thing kept tune... Now I know. Thanks Marty! The more you know... :)

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Sure thing bro! Weird little axes!! 😁

[@TaxPayingContributor]

..by Gibson is new to me also. Unique affordable travel headless. Size affects playability. Our bassist has the 4 string.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It does effect playability for sure. Having nothing to rest your arm on is very weird!

[@johnnymcribblestonebreaker5910]

Great demo, and killer tone. Are you recording direct with modeling software or the amp in the room?

[@johncecilia4517]

Love the 5150 Album riffs. Does the tremolo go up, like a floating one, and is it easy to play for Van Halen type solos? Great channel

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I don’t have it set to lift but you can! Thanks man!!

[@kennethhoneycutt4513]

Man that is a wild looking guitar that's my first time ever getting to see one up close without having it in my hands it's definitely a conversation piece I know Eddie was known to play one off and on I think

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It’s crazy man! It is really weird to play because you can’t rest your arm on it.

[@ColtraneTaylor]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker Oh oh ... that's what I was fearing. Have that trouble with the Hofner Shorty.

[@mikezip9423]

Keep the original nut and use the double ball strings, indulge a bit. Replace a broken string on the fly takes about 45 seconds, no tools. Full string change 4 to 5 minutes.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I put the original nut back on 😎👍

[@powerswish]

Man, I keep GASsing for the Steinberger GU similar to Vito Bratta's. But the price of one of the real old ones is unattainable.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Those things are cool, but yes…. $$$$$$$ 😔

[@prema9878]

Thanks for the video. I’m still looking fir reviews on the tremolo, how does it hold tune?

[@williammolina9792]

Hello. Im having problem keeping the tremolo arm locked, with the Allen key. It locks the tremolo arm to a certain point. The the Allen key just goes around and around..Is this natural. ?? Would appreciate some help.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I've never looked at it in depth but it sounds like there is a tightening nut on the other side that is spinning and has come loose. I'd suggest removing the string and taking the tremelo off. Reverse engineer the thing and look at it to see what is causing that rotation. If that doesn't help, then sadly I'd take it to a tech at GC or local shop. But I bet taking it off and looking at it will reveal the reason. And give you access to the fix.

[@cobyup10]

Test drove one of these several years ago. The tremolo was barely usable. Doesn't return to pitch...definitely no divebombing. The strings slide and scratch across the zero fret (acts as the nut on steinbergers) when you bend strings, which also means that they don't always return to their original positions resting on the zero fret (change in tension =change in tuning pitch)

[@jimmyz2098]

Cool guitar, Marty and man you were ripping that thing up! Is it just me, or is that thing really producing some super clear sounds, with incredible note definition? Hard to say from here too.... b'c of the amps and gear you use. But man it sounded great from here. Sorry about the high E breaking on you! Been there a couple times LOL Good Enough was sounding sweet!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh man! Thanks! I think these Steinberger pickups have a cool sound for sure. I added a little taste of chorus. Just a smidge. 😎🤟🏻

[@rickyricardo9917]

I just got a hot red spirit, two things that are driving me nuts is the position of the volume knob and that middle pick up, it’s set too high and gets in the way of my picking.

[@gtrpls7300]

Tremolo seems hard compare to a Floyd. Or is it just the size of the body that makes it seem that way? How would you compare their feel to each other?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It's a bit bulkier than a Floyd but really very similar in feel. The weirdest thing about this guitar is not being able to rest your arm on it. It's so tiny! Lol

[@sixstringer3783]

What no Summer Nights Marty WTF ha ha nah it oddly sounds pretty good broke a high E this morning too first time in I can't remember more than 10 years cool vid 👏👍🤘🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

lol! Nah, I figured I did that already! Shocked me when that string broke. I rarely ever break strings!

[@jimmykonsta]

Just ordered one! Your tone is incredible, can you please share the signal chain? Thanks!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Awesome, I hope you love it! I record with a. Fractal AX8 in stereo. Using a Friedman BE patch and Friedman IR's. I add reverb and delay later in pro tools. (Just for mixing)

[@jimmykonsta]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker thanks a lot man! Cheers!

[@wildizer]

Nice video. Which solution did you use for the nut in order to use single ball strings? I would also like to change mine so I can use regular strings. What is the brand / model item of the nut you used please? Thank you

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Man, I can't recall.... I found this nut on eBay for like $15 or so. I searched Steinberger spirit nut. Single ball string on google. And it lead me there. I then looked at some reviews.

[@hermanodejesus7264]

Got one of these and broke the high e string right away 😆. Trying it once more tuned half a step down. Wish me luck.

[@jray5363]

They’re great little guitars! I’ve got 2! Great playability and comfort! Change the pickups! You won’t regret it!

[@bryandarcheville1102]

hey marty I would love to know the string adapter I've been shopping for and bought a couple that doesn't work

[@timm9243]

I have a question....can the guitar be tuned down a half step to be able to play in E flat? I play a lot in E flat and just want know if the guitar is capable of doing this...please let me know....thanks

[@HEZ63]

The guitar itself is wonderful, I'm playing it since years, also the bridge has no sharp screws or any other "problem" zones and if from time to time cleaned, the strings last very long, plus the guitar keeps - if properly adjusted - and at least with double ball end strings perfectly well the tune. Also had a string adapter, but soon removed it again. Double ball end strings hardly are more expensive meanwhile, but do a much better job and last almost forever (I usually replace them after 2 or 3 years, which hardly worked with any other guitar and this only, because I want to clean the fretboard.) Despite of the longer (Fender) scale I would define the sound as some nice mix between an SG and a Les Paul, not as thin sounding as the SG, but also with a little more bite and freshness than a Les Paul, at least with PAF's or comparable pickups and with more than enough sustain, but still a good, vivid dynamic reaction to attack. Also had a Hohner headless once, but this one disappointed me completely, as it did not react to attack in any way. The Spirit - at least mine - reacts like a Porsche, the Hohner did like an oversized, overweighted truck, so to say. Nothing for me. One weak point for me are the - for my ears - lousy ceramic pickups. Especially the neck pickup sounds too loud in comparison with the bridge pickup. So I replaced them with a pair of alnico PAF's, covered the single coil hole - never been a HSH fan and regular single coils do not match without any additional routing work, only an EMG, OBL or Ultrasonic would match, but they sonically are not really, what I am looking for - and replaced the 5-way switch with a 3-way one. Also added an adjustable bass-cut for the neck pickup with a trimmer inside, which improved the neck pickup sound a lot but also the combined neck-bridge pickup sound, which sounds more transparent and fresher and with 3 good sounds, which work for everything between clean and high-gain I have all I need, although I anyway mostly am only using the bridge pickup. Also added a Styroflex capacitor to the Tone control instead of the awful Greenie. In my opinion still much better working than all these modern Chinese Strandberg - or whatever else - copies, also intonation is perfectly well adjustable. I mostly use it sitting in front of my computer, but never ever needed the leg rest. (Of course a real Strandberg might be a different game but also a different price level.) I still have the old all maple version, but slowly I need a new one, or I at least have to refret my old one, so I am curious, how much the newer ones with the basswood wings will differ. I also have a two-piece ash-body Tele with alnico III pickups and a semi-solid Les Paul, also with PAF's and bass-cut for the neck pickup, but these I hardly use, although they sound really good. But for me my Steinberger gives me exactly the sounds, I am looking for and it feels and plays well with almost no weight. So my band washers also are happy! (I'm not the youngest guy anmore...)

[@davidsparks6146]

That Trem bar looks like over a bit of time will just fall out... what keeps it in?

[@bryandarcheville1102]

nice to see the whammy bar in operation since i bought mine i haven't used it can you please let me know what string adapter you use i need to get one

[@JoeR203]

[@ThePreciousguitar87]

It sounds pretty good! I like the look! Also perfect as a travalling guitar!👍 Even the bar works pretty good, also it is not the Trans-Trem!

[@UGURSIMSIK]

Which top lock should we get?

[@juniorsoto7623]

You are an 80s rockstar!!😎🎸

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I'm tryin' 😀

[@leovan83]

What nut exactly did you buy to replace the original? Is it a drop-in replacement? Did you have to drill or modify anything?

[@infinityfx8234]

Can dimebag squeals be done on this trem ?

[@thomasdempsey4870]

Where did you get the locking nut that fits that guitar? Do you have a link?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It was Chinese. eBay. Can't remember. They are quite readily available. I actually Put the old nut back on it last night. I never could quite get the action right with the Chinese nut.

[@standingvertical3048]

Well that does happen Marty! I have had that happen many times. I get going and enjoying so much, then, she says What? I am like, well we have to wait a minute here. lol

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh it sucks! I’ve been meaning to out the original but back in this thing and get the double ball stings so now is my excuse! 😁

[@giantcarver]

The main thing you have to do with all these - is add a strap extender. They are not comfortable to play Standing up without it. Sitting down its comfortable to play. Great design. 80’s retro.

[@handle433]

Hi! Would strap locks move it out enough to make it comfortable?

[@jeboccuzzi10]

Great review. Thanks

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Thanks! 😎☮️

[@ercsan]

Between a Traveler Guitar and a Steinberger, which one works better for a good travel guitar small enough to bring as a airline carry on yet is playable despite the small size?

[@stevewang2012]

I have both. I prefer Steinberger, strings stay in tune all the time and better sound.

[@philipsumesgutner]

Can you dive bomb with the trem? If not, how many notes does it go down? And, it also goes up, right?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh you can set it up to do about anything.

[@daimong4553]

if a string break, will the whole guitar run out of tune like a normal guitar with a floyd rose system?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

If set up to float I do believe so. The real trans trem would just stay in tune however and go sharp. ☮️

[@daimong4553]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker so if i break a string during a song, i will be screwed? lol

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

@@daimong4553 unless it's locked.mine is locked so it's fine.

[@AGuitarNinja]

What’s a trans trem?

[@exploringoklahoma817]

Basically it’s a tremolo system that allows you to change timing by locking the bridge a notable use of a trans trem is summer nights and get up from Van Halen’s 1986 5150 album

[@jamescc4599]

En mi país Panamá los usan para tocar música típica en vivo...como Nenito Vargas, Vladimir Atencio y muchos artistas más.. suenan profesional..me gusta muchos

[@ohmtronseedling]

i can see that there was a tuning issue after a little whammy bar abuse. how would you rate the tuning stability for this guitar, overall when using the tremolo?

[@cobyup10]

They don't come back in tune like a Floyd lol

[@brylidan]

Where do you get that thing for regular strings??

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I changed the nut that fits regular strings. But then changed it back to original later.

[@brylidan]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker why you removed the adapter tho? (The black ones or the bras /aluminium one??) im about to spend my christmast gift

[@artadams1]

Replaced the bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan SH-4 JB much hotter pickup than the stock Steinberger. I play this guitar constantly now, take it with me everywhere.

[@papablue3015]

nice! good for traveling!

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Yeh it really is. Cool little funky guitar. 🙌

[@painovoimaton]

Demo at 9:30

[@ComradeTrotsky1017]

Lou Reed played one, and that's good enough for me

[@pharllslim4544]

Can it take any strings or is it a specific set?

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Double ball ... if you change the nut you can use regular 👍

[@BillDerBerg]

why can't they make an all carbon fiber version?

[@maistora]

Cool thing - but I haven't seen such a MASSIVE promotion campaign in the entire history of guitars 😱 Whoever owns the brand (Gibson?) must have a deep marketing budget 😉 KZbin is flooded with samples, promos, 'independent' reviews and even Ned Steinberger himself doing an 'unbiased' review. Hats off for the original idea (of decades ago) but now this comes somewhat over-the top...

[@dadudezpr]

Best intro

[@odishudson4739]

So you don't know if you had this guitar for 2 or 3 years which one

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

I don't recall. I got it from done dude if marketplace before Covid so 2-3 years tops

[@stephenpemberton85]

Make her sing sweetly ✌️💛🤘

[@xaviergough9359]

Man, that tone sounds so inescapably 80s.

[@me.roderick]

My buddy John had the original Stein it was awesome but when he was playing it looked like he was cupping his nutts.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Hahah!!! 😂😂😂😂

[@MindFullCheeseburger]

everytime i see this i just wanna play panama by van halen on it

[@jeffreyrivers1983]

People think it's the wood of the body... but it's not... it's about your pickups and the height... proof? Just listen.

[@qua7771]

Is that way they sound like ass?

[@josephsterling264]

I have the guitar,4 string band 5 string bass… great for travel travel… except when I took it to the Dominican Republic on a surf trip, they thought it was a gun!!! Security pulled me over and searched it thoroughly for drugs and bullets.

[@leokimvideo]

Be careful with double ball jokes, this is KZbin and it can be very dumb and not understanding the context of whats said. It's sort of weird how these 80's guitars are now seen as 'travel guitars' when I looked into where they are made it did make me sad.

[@fredmirandadiaz1111]

When I changed the capsules of mine I liked it better. The stock ones are toy.

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Good deal man!! 😎🙌

[@stephenpemberton85]

You could easily keep up with Harry Potter riding it or Row row row your boat with it🎃

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

Haha! 😂

[@lawrencedavis5459]

i have one of these but the pickups are terrible

[@michaelgarner4200]

Call me a fool but....if I had one of those I would build a fake broken headstock and attach it with magnets. Every April first I would arrange for someone to accidentally "break my damned guitar!!!!" 😅 Of course, I would make a big deal out of picking up my "broken guitar" and ripping into "busted"! 😂

[@ColtraneTaylor]

Damn, if this guitar won't let you rest your arm on it, I really won't be able to cope. What a shame.

[@DM-wf3rp]

I have one of these, and it's a great little guitar, EXCEPT! Put a headstock on it. The double ball string system is an absolute pain in the arse. The products they sell to use to use single ball string s do not work (the B and E strings just slip through the locking nut and a horror show to put the adapter on the neck as it is not secured and only held by string tension. If I knew I had all the hassle, not to mention the outrageous price of double ball strings, I don't think I would have bothered.

[@donbabcock6021]

$15 strings aren’t bad, under $10 you get what you pay for.

[@sid3859]

I absolutely hated this guitar that I gave it away after three months

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

😂😂😂 I understand! Lol

[@sid3859]

@@Ranch5150SkinWalker 😂

[@alvarotexful]

“…everything looks clean and nice…” … of course: it’s a Gibson anyway!

[@cliffordhritz5215]

Didn't DEVO make these famous?

[@GeorgeZimmermen]

Its just so ugly thought. Guitars are art to me. The looks are as important to me as the sound. If the guitar is ugly, i wont want to play it

[@shanemartin8904]

double balls, nuts, stroking the fret board what gives

[@supernothing77]

That looks so awkward to play

[@Ranch5150SkinWalker]

It really is man! I hate I can’t rest my arm on it! Standing up would be easier I think. But it looks weird to. 😂

[@hustlinc3540]

I had a Hohner one. Utter crap.

[@raijinrasetsuii8820]

the body immediately makes me give it an automatic thumbs down & a no go

[@nmbilly]

you mean to tell me that by this time next year i’ll be this good🥹 My journey begins tomorrow, wish me luck😂😂😂😂

[@monrominee]

I don't play it too much but it's pretty cool... What?