PARTS ARE IN!! Faster than we anticipated, MusicYo has just released the first wave of new bridges & parts from the old Steinberger trailer. Fully assembled TransTrems, S-Trems, standard 4 string bass bridges and even a very limited quantity of 12 string TracTuners are now available. Plus many selected bridge parts. Go to MusicYo to see their entire inventory and prices.
Posted by andyyak 2/22/2002 09:57:10 PM
Made some additions to the 'TransTrem Tips' page. Ned was kind enough to send us some pics of that special calibrating headpeice, along with close-up pics of a correctly set up TT for reference.
On that note, we've also got our next installment of 'Ask Ned' posted. It's an interesting insight into how Ned gets designs from his head into production.
Posted by andyyak 2/21/2002 12:50:02 PM
Brief update from MusicYo - they are fast-tracking those 60 some NOS bodies for reissue, adding on the new Moses necks. The staff is also quickly cataloguing, photographing and organizing some of those trailer parts for sale on their website as well. Both could be up in as little as 30 days. No word on specifically what parts will be avialable just yet.
On a side note, they will not be updating the main Steinberger website for info/specs/details/etc any time in the near future. Both it and the links through the main Gibson website will forward visitors directly to the MusicYo site. So all Steinberger info will be delivered directly through MusicYo. We've obviously got a wealth of information archived here (espeically info on the TransTrem) so you'll be in good hands.
Posted by andyyak 2/15/2002 11:52:11 PM
I've had some confusion lately regarding the new necks Moses Graphite will be supplying for the reissued Steinbergers. I was under the impression that Moses incorporated some of the ideas from the new line into their current offerings. MusicYo recently stated that the necks being made for them were exclusive. I talked to Steve Mosher (founder and owner of Moses) today to clarify. Technically both statements are indeed true. Here's the deal:
MusicYo and Moses enlisted Ned's help a while back (well over a year ago) when putting technical details together on the new reissues. Ned personally tested their necks and made several recommendations.
The first of these was stiffness. This is especially needed to counteract the force from the TransTrems, so the action doesn't raise when tuned up or bottom out when tuned down. Moses found that by making the necks stiffer they could also make them lighter. This improvement was incorporated into all of their line last summer. So a neck bought today is different from one bought say, two years ago.
The other notable difference is tone. Moses likes their necks to sound more like wood ones, which naturally have an up curve in the midrange frequencies. They then designed their necks to mimic this frequency response - to make them sound "woody". On the other hand the original "Steinberger blend" necks produce a very flat frequency response. This is why they sound noticeably different to our ears: the low's and high's are at the same relative level as the mid's. This is something that is (or at least was) foreign to traditionalists ears.
To get the new necks sounding closer to the originals, Moses made some design modifications to flatten the mids on their stock neck - or boost the highs and lows – same difference. This will make them sound more like the originals though they will still have a "warmth" to them as Mosher puts it. But they will produce much of that low and high end "bite" that we attribute to "the Steinberger sound". It is these new blend necks that are contractually exclusive to MusicYo and the new line – they cannot be ordered directly from Moses.
The good news for purists is that even though they have Moses necks, they still will sound more like the original `bergers – more so that one with a replacement Moses neck would. They will still feature the slimmer Moses profile, and will also sport a truss rod with Spirit-like access through a headpiece in the headless end. Good to know.
Posted by andyyak 2/8/2002 09:33:58 PM
Here's the latest from our friends at MusicYo, the exclusive authorized source for new Steinberger instruments and parts:
** Seems they've finally physically inventoried all of the items in the venerable Steinberger trailer in Nashville. They did find a large quantity of fully assembled TransTrems and S-Trems, a moderate amount other bass & guitar bridges and a large assortment of parts/unassembled pieces. Plus other production related stuff. Some of the misc. parts are useable; others are not (either incomplete, unfinished or damaged).
They will be putting some (including possibly TransTrems) up for sale in the next couple of months. No firm parts list, timeframe or $ figures yet. Chances are good the prices will be comparable to what Gibson was charging in the final year(s) before production ended. If anyone has a contact with the '97 and/or '98 Steinberger parts price list, please email me offline.
** It seems they also found about 60 fully assembled NOS bodies, mostly guitars. No break down of the type & quantity yet. Plan is to assemble them with the new, stiffer blend Moses Graphite necks (one batch of which has already been shipped to Nashville) and sell them shortly. Could happen in the next 30 days. I expect initial pricing to be the figures shared earlier on the Yahoo! Groups site.
** On that note, I've shared our Yahoo! Groups pricing poll results but don't expect that alone to change their mind. My guess is that they'll use this to gauge reception to new line, especially at those price points. I'll try to give as much warning as I can for those ready to buy a new 'berger. Don't know how much warning I can muster. No guarantees.
** There were absolutely no L's in the trailer. I specifically asked.
** The "new" 'bergers are probably now set to appear in the May/June 2002 timeframe. I think the NOS bodies have given them some breathing room, so they're not inclined to hurry things up. If they sell quickly it's possible they'll sell out of the NOS ones, and then there will be a lag on the resissues hitting the streets. Remember this is for guitars only; basses are several months after that.
If you're really jonesing for one get your money ready now. This timeframe has continued to slip so even May/June is just an estimation. Since they already have some Moses neck, assembling these 60 or so would be a relatively easy thing to do.
** The MusicYo website now lists "out of stock" parts. This was done specifically per this group's input. I've even gotten several emails lately from guys looking for jaws and cases. The website does not show when they expect replenishment, but you can sign up to get an email when the item arrives. As another heads-up. . .
** New hardshell cases are in. Bass jaws and new gigbags are at least 2 months out. Zen-On and TKL are notorious for shipping late (MY didn't state this; I just know from previous experience).
** I'm sure many have seen this "mr.twistyneck" guy selling mostly damaged and/or used items on eBay. Asked them if this was one of "their guys" and they were unaware of the auctions.
They said when items are damaged in transit they strip the undamaged/working parts off, and then use those to assemble/replace damage on other items. The "junk" is then supposed to be trashed. They are looking into it. I wasn't necessarily surprised to see broken bodies (I guess everything has some value to someone), but the new 5 string bass bridge and headpiece caught me off guard.
More news here as it unfolds . . .
Posted by andyyak 2/7/2002 09:27:54 PM
We're saddened to report that Steinberger Sound co-founder P. Robert (Bob) Young died this evening. He was 85.
Bob was a major contributor in the development and refinement of these innovative instruments. His personality was such that he preferred to work behind the scenes, but he was a steady, guiding hand during the company's infancy and throughout it's growth during the Newburgh years. Please click here to read more.
Posted by andyyak 2/4/2002 10:31:05 PM
Click here to view the News Archive