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April 2002
Posts: 202
Location: Orlando, Florida | Hey guys...
I always find these things after I just finish buy something! A 1768 for $349.99 It looks good for the price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47073&item=7...
Joe |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | ...Tuners are oxidized... Hrmm, if oxidized equates to 'severely pitted' that is true, based on the pictures. Still, for the price, that's a nice guitar.
Of course, I just sent the MO out for the Steinberger. =( |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Cruster, I been thinking about adding a Steinberger to the stable. Which one did you order? |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | I bought a 'vintage' 84/85 GP from one of the guys over on the Hamer board. I've wanted one since I was in high school, and figured what the heck. I've played the GL (the all graphite jobs) and wasn't impressed with the tone. I'm hoping that the P, with the rock maple body, will sound a bit warmer/fuller.
When MusicYo started selling the Steinbergers again, I looked at them. I just can't get past the wood neck thing, though. That's not a Steinberger to me. :) OTOH, Ned has done the design work for the Synapse, and that's a wood neck with a graphite rod in it. Supposed to be a 'best of both worlds' thing, I guess. The guys on the Steinberger forum speak highly of them...except the guys who got some from the first run and the quality was 'subpar' for a Steinberger. The Synapse has that weird rolling capo thing on a baritone neck so you can virtually change the scale of the guitar/change tuning without much effort. Kind of a neat solution, but not as elegant as some of the stuff coming out of Ned Steinberg Designs, if you ask me (which nobody did). |
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Joined:
April 2002
Posts: 202
Location: Orlando, Florida | If you want to hear someone sound off about Steinberger, go to http://www.edroman.com . It seems this guy worked with or for Steinberger at sometime. He also has some great observations about MusicYo and a lot of other subjects as well. Very entertaining. Look under the "rants" section. The Steinberger you purchased, I saw it in the MF catalog. Pretty cool. It doesn't use the weird drop it cartridge strings, does it? But I love that built in capo. Great Idea. About the 1768, only the tuning keys seem to be pitted. I wonder how that could have happened. Please, someone stop me from buying it!
Joe |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | The pitting on the tuning keys could be from acidic skin oils/sweat. Or, maybe they used some strange cleaning fluid that reacted with it. Hard telling.
I have never met, nor dealt with Ed Roman. After reading every one of the rants on his site a long time ago, I vowed never to deal with him. There is an 'anti-Ed Roman' site out on the web somewhere that gives a different perspective on him. It is my understanding that Ed worked at Gibson in some capacity after the Steinberger acquisition (Steinberger Sound was purchased by Gibson).
The 'berger I bought does use the double-ball end strings. It's one of the models built in the Newburgh facility, not one of the newer Synapse. The model I bought is the P-series, here\'s a page on it at Steinbergerworld . |
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April 2002
Posts: 202
Location: Orlando, Florida | cruster...
He has some interesting things to say. Really funny, actually. I've never dealt with him, so other than what I read on his site, I really don't know about him. About those double-ball strings, are there a good selection to choose from, or do they got you locked into one brand. I never saw anything like it. Other than quick changes, are there any other benefits?
Joe |
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April 2002
Posts: 202
Location: Orlando, Florida | I was just reading the 'anti-Ed Roman' posts. A definite dealer to avoid!
Joe |
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Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | The double-ball strings are made by a number of different companies, including D'Addario (although I can't think of any others off the top of my head). The brand of choice, however, is LaBella, as they're 'calibrated' to work with the TransTrem. The point of the calibration is that they have to be a specfic length from ball to ball, the wire itself has to have a certain modulus of elasticity, etc., in order to ensure that the transposing function of the TransTrem will be able to keep the strings in relative pitch when doing it's thing. Of course, that isn't quite so critical with the S-trem (non transposing), but it seems there might be certain advantages to using the calibrated strings anyway.
The least expensive dealer, as of last week, for the LaBella strings was 'iwantguitars.com,' an Ed Roman owned/operated site. ;) If buying in onesy-twosy orders, they generally run around $9 per pack. I don't think that's too terribly bad, compared to, say, the price of the Elixir Nanowebs I put on my Elite.
I agree that some of Ed's rants are humorous. But, I think they're funny not because he intended them that way, rather because he seems to earnestly believe what he's writing. Which is cool, everyone is entitled to their opinions (otherwise we wouldn't all be here, we'd be hanging out on a MarTayGibder forum). He just comes across as a tool to me.
From reading his rants, to the posts on another forum by another dealer, to dealing with the local Mom and Pop, it's apparent to me that there is a certain overblown ego quality that some music store owners seem to possess. Luckily, our beloved Alpep seems to be able to resist the lure of 'the dark side,' and remains the best dealer/salesman I've had the pleasure of working with. Now, if he'd carry LaBella strings for cheap...S1046's, Al, in nickel. ;) |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | I emailed the seller of that Elite when it first showed up with some questions, but haven't heard back. When something looks too good to be true, it usually is.
As to Ed Roman, I have always been fascinated by the size and scope of his internet site and learned a lot about certain guitars from it. I was a big fan of Steinbergers a few years ago -- before the MusicYo reissues -- and found that Ed was one of the very few places to get parts. I spoke with him on the phone and found him to be friendly and helpful (he is a big fan of Hamers, too). But his prices were high and I got shorted on my order with no resolution. He'll not get my business again. |
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January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | The D'Addario strings are calibrated as well. They just don't advertise the fact.
Stay away from the MusicYo brand of strings; they suck. |
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February 2005
Posts: 253
Location: New Orleans | Looks like it's never seen a case. A total dustball, exposed to the elements...skeery |
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Joined:
April 2002
Posts: 202
Location: Orlando, Florida | Yeah, that is funny...
Why is the guitar so dusty if it comes with a case? Maybe Glen forgot to put it away after the concert :) Very strange, but still, HOLD ME BACK! It's very tempting. I'm a sucker for that "A" type fretboard inlay. By the way, is that a mid depth or deep bowl?
Joe |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | A #1768 is a deep bowl. |
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February 2005
Posts: 7
Location: alabama | I love ed roman's. Its one of the worlds largest guitar stores (if not still the biggest). They purchased all of the Steinberger stock when the factory was bought by gibson or somthing like that years ago. They make handmade guitars in house that are some of the best I have ever played. My sister lives in vegas not far from his store and I would rather order a guitar from him and get her to pick it up than buy anything where I live now. |
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Elite 1768 for under $400.00
