Posted 2015-03-13 9:42 PM (#507673 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4044
Location: Utah
Either a Steinberger or a Hohner copy. I've got one of the Hohner copies, which uses much of the Steinberger hardware. The Hohner is a G3T, I don't know what the Steinberger model is called.
The strings have a ball at each end, with the tuners at the tailpiece. The tuners are not posts which wind the string around them, but a sliding carrier which the ball end hooks into. Turning the tuners turns a screw which pulls the sliding carrier to tune higher, or lets it slide looser to tune lower. The entire tailpiece is a locking trem plus the tuner mechanism. The tip of the neck has slots for the ball ends of the strings, which wrap over a zero fret.
The dang thing stays in tune for ever. It is my travel guitar and I can tune it once and not have to adjust it for a month.
Posted 2015-03-13 10:18 PM (#507675 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
That is a real Steinberger, not a Spirit or Music Yo.
According to Mark Kofner's page it is a GL2
It would actually be a GL2T because it has a tremolo.
Meanwhile... I got a coupla those.
(Spirit and Demon... both Asian-made)
Posted 2015-03-14 11:10 AM (#507697 - in reply to #507659) Subject: RE: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan
i am curious as to how they play . i am looking for a guitar to carry with me on some of my travels and this looks kinda cool. would they be geared more for a lead guitar or a rhythm or both. they look incredibly awkward to hold if you were sitting down , but most people think round backs are weird to hold onto and play.any thoughts would help because like flysig says they are great to travel with and that is what i am looking for.GWB
Posted 2015-03-14 2:46 PM (#507706 - in reply to #507697) Subject: RE: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
guitarwannabee - 2015-03-14 9:10 AM
i am curious as to how they play . i am looking for a guitar to carry with me on some of my travels and this looks kinda cool. would they be geared more for a lead guitar or a rhythm or both. they look incredibly awkward to hold if you were sitting down...
As to rhythm or lead... That would depend on the pickup configuration. I like the Two humbuckers. I had a GT-Pro which had a HSH configuration with a 5-way switch, but I didn't like it. I would like three toggle switches with coil taps like some Hohner GT3 models... that would be nice.
As to playing seated... Most have a leg rest lever that flips-out.
Posted 2015-03-14 8:46 PM (#507719 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4044
Location: Utah
My Hohner has the flip out leg rest. It is a very capable guitar, and excellent for travel. The pickups are average passive HSH, though I've replaced them with ones I like better. The neck and middle pickup switches are on/off, while the bridge pickup has a coil tap so it can be used as either a humbucker or a single coil.
The neck is a bit thicker and C shaped than an Ovation solid body, similar to my Adamas 2080 neck. Quite comfortable, but not what I'd call slim. Fine for all styles except classical fingerstyle if you'd want a wide nut for that.
There is a soft sided case which gives ok protection, though I keep the guitar up front next to me and don't put it in the overhead bins. If you'll be traveling by air, splurge for the hard sided case.
Posted 2015-03-15 2:21 PM (#507743 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4044
Location: Utah
I've never played a Steinberger. They are known for excellent design and workmanship. The Hohner is a very good instrument. I have no complaints at all about the quality of the build or the playability. The original EMG pickups are neutral in tone, neither unique nor deficient. Mine has held up just fine for the 8 yrs or so I've had it.
Check out www.headlessusa.com for used Steinbergers, parts, and accessories.
Posted 2015-03-19 10:53 PM (#507878 - in reply to #507659) Subject: RE: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan
today i ended up going to an independent music store that sells steinberger guitars
( not allot of dealers out there ) and walked away with a spirit gt-pro deluxe in the color white.these are really cool playing guitars that are very compact to travel with so now i will just have to figure out what i need electronic wise ( portable to carry on a plane ) to purchase to play it through headphones. i will also need a new stand that fits the guitar and a hard shell case that is on a back order with gibson for at least 90 days
i also went out yesterday and ordered up a martin backpacker , the sound that came out of that little acoustic shocked me .
i still have a bunch of g.a.s. that has not subsided as of yet.
thanks for all your suggestions and input on this thread and i am open on what electronics i need to get that are very portable so i can play the stienberger thru some headphones when i am traveling.GWB
Posted 2015-03-19 11:29 PM (#507879 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: September 2006 Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR
GWB-- On the subject of stands...
There are some off-the-wall expensive stands for Steinbergers... BUT.
Personal experience tells me that if you get a "Stagg" $14 metal guitar stand (or similar), and bend the lower "yoke" in a bit it will work just fine.
Meanwhile, congratulations on the purchase.
As to getting a headphone amp for traveling, there are a bunch of threads if you look.
Search for Korg Pandora PX4. And the Pocket Rock-it.
Also, I know that you can plug a guitar into a Zoom effects pedal and plug a 1/4" headphone into the output...
And that works. I don't know how long it would run of 4 AA Batteries, but I know that it works.
I have never played a Martin Backpacker, give us a review when you get it.
Posted 2015-03-20 8:40 AM (#507881 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: January 2006 Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains
Years ago I was i in a similar boat and looked seriously at the Traveler. I looked for months and finally found a Traveler Deluxe, Ltd, all rock maple with gold hardware, dual pickups (piezo and single coil), soft but firm carrying case with a pocket for strap, earbuds and a small Vox earphone miniamp. It has a lower arm attachment for seated playing. In the case, it looks like a telescopic fishing pole. Very small and compact. Now that I am retired, it doesn't get used much anymore.
Posted 2015-03-20 10:37 AM (#507882 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12755
Location: Boise, Idaho
I wasn't impressed with the Martin backpackers I played several years ago. I was looking for a backpack/camping guitar for my daughter at the time. I ended up getting a used Applause, I think it was the AA13. It had decent sound for a little guitar, seemed sturdier, and fit in a case about the size of a tennis racket case. The Traveler is probably a better option, but it was much more expensive and the Applause could be used as a campfire guitar without an amp. My travel guitar lately has been one of my Ultra GSs with a mini amp I got for $20.
Posted 2015-03-21 10:31 AM (#507908 - in reply to #507659) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: October 2005 Posts: 4044
Location: Utah
The Pandora PX4 is a nice little unit. Lots of amp emulations, effects, etc. Uses 4 AAA batteries which last a decent long time. I use rechargeable alkalines for travel, and get at least 6 hrs use out of them. Keep the back lighting off for better battery life.
The one downside to the PX4 is the aux input is not great with an iPod. The impedance is mismatched, so there is some hiss in the MP3 through the PX4. My old LG phone works perfectly with it. The iPod is usable but less than stellar.
I like the ability to record and loop either from the guitar or from the aux. The loop can be slowed down to learn a difficult part of the song.
There aren't too many headphone amp options out there, none of which have the same kind of options as the PX4. I wish they'd update the technology (it is 10 yrs old now). It would be a killer unit.
Posted 2015-03-21 7:21 PM (#507916 - in reply to #507881) Subject: Re: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: December 2001 Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
boltonb - 2015-03-20 6:40 AM
Years ago I was i in a similar boat and looked seriously at the Traveler. I looked for months and finally found a Traveler Deluxe, Ltd, all rock maple with gold hardware, dual pickups (piezo and single coil), soft but firm carrying case with a pocket for strap, earbuds and a small Vox earphone miniamp. It has a lower arm attachment for seated playing. In the case, it looks like a telescopic fishing pole. Very small and compact. Now that I am retired, it doesn't get used much anymore.
I had a Traveler for many years and I really miss it. I've been meaning to upgrade to one of their newer ones. I think they blow the doors off of anything in the class. I'm not sure about the new ones but the original ones had "sound powered" headsets that were great. Of course you could hook up a pre-amp or amp or whatever and it sounded great too. They took a page from the original Ovation thought book and made the necks somewhere between popular acoustic necks and popular electric neck specs... so it was easy to practice on and not have to worry about much change when going to one of your other guitars.
Posted 2015-03-23 4:36 PM (#507955 - in reply to #507659) Subject: RE: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan
i just picked up my martin backpacker and brought it home . i resend about what i said about the backpackers having a great sound. after playing it at home for a while it does not sound nearly as good as it did in the stores acoustic room ( yes i got caught in the nice sound room ) but it will serve my purpose. the sound is o.k. for playing by yourself but it is not something you would want to join in a session with another full bodied guitar , i think you would be drowned out but i am impressed with the playability and construction of the guitar for the price of $124.00.
it will do the job for a practice guitar when i head out of town on an airplane .
just my thoughts. GWB
Posted 2015-04-05 10:04 PM (#508440 - in reply to #507659) Subject: RE: what kind of guitar is he playing
Joined: January 2006 Posts: 1478
Location: Michigan
for the steinberger i ended up purchasing a vox ap2-ac30 mini amp that plugs into the guitar jack and emulates the features of an vox ac30 amp. i use some $40.00 headphones and i am impressed with the sound that it produces and it is only 3 inches long 1 1/2 high and maybe 2 inches thick including the plug jack.
2 triple aaa batteries that are supposed to last 17 hours. very compact setup which i will try out this month.
thanks for all of the suggestions. GWB
what kind of guitar is he playing
