KVR Audio

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:40 am

You can't imagine how pleased I am. Gibson held another yardsale today and I found myself getting the bargain of the century. It's the Steinberger XQ2 (USA) with the Seymour Duncan BassLine pickups and the DB tuning system that lets you drop the E string precisely down to a low B if you want. The ones without the DB tuning system go for $1299 (and $1399 with it) and I got this one and a gig bag for $315! It has a ton of shelving and EQ on board, and after playing it for a while tonight, I can honestly say I've not heard or held a bass with more tonal variety and utter playability. It just feels like music. It's brand new and has been boxed up in a warehouse since 1997 or 1998 when they were experimenting with electronics other than EMGs. It's super warm with the Seymour Duncans in there.

In terms of action, it plays exactly like my XM2, with the same weight and perfect balance. So now I'll probably be able to sell my vintage XM2 for around $1400 or so without a twinge of regret. That or else put flatwounds on the XM2 and maybe tune it up differently.

The one pic of the neck makes it look like there's a variation in the phenolic fingerboard, but in reality it's perfectly black. I think it was the flash and some reflection that caused that anomaly.

If anyone has a desire for a Steinberger XM2, give me a shout. I'll make a special deal for a KVR member.

justin3am · Post by **justin3am** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:45 am

That's hot! Congrats.

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:51 am

is it SE?

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:58 am

ouroboros wrote:is it SE?

I'm not sure what you're asking...

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:00 am

Shane Sanders wrote:
ouroboros wrote:is it SE?
I'm not sure what you're asking...

.

-synthedit- (rimshot)

I was just funnin ya. The bass is gorgeous.

Landphil · Post by **Landphil** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:02 am

That bass looks so inviting!

Man, I love playing around on bass

Good catch!

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:03 am

ouroboros wrote:
Shane Sanders wrote:
ouroboros wrote:is it SE?
I'm not sure what you're asking...
.

-synthedit- (rimshot)

I was just funnin ya. The bass is gorgeous.

Oh! I thought you might be asking me if it was a special edition or a second. Luckily, it's not a second, though lots of seconds at a Gibson yardsale only have a tiny cosmetic flaw. One of the dudes that sits in my area got an Epi Les Paul custom today with no flaws that we could find other than a tiny sliver of discoloration at the neck/body joint. He paid $150, I think. Beautiful guitar.

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:15 am

Preliminary tests have shown these tuners to be more than excellent. I can more or less dial in 1/2 to 1/4 cent increments. It's touchy because the hand and fingers wanna keep going, but this thing tunes up precisely. Man, I'm just stoked.

shamann · Post by **shamann** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 2:28 am

Pity I missed the Gibson yard sale, I would have loved to buy the Opcode brand for a tenner.

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:52 am

shamann wrote:Pity I missed the Gibson yard sale, I would have loved to buy the Opcode brand for a tenner.

I wonder what the status of all that is. I haven't been there long enough to hear those kinds of stories.

ouroboros · Post by **ouroboros** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:05 am

whoah, when did you start working for Gibson? (are congratulations in order?)

spuddle · Post by **spuddle** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:09 am

Congrats on the new addition to the family

I'm in the market for a bass actually... pm sent..

bduffy · Post by **bduffy** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 4:27 am

Cool f@*@#% goddamn bass. Wow.

morelia · Post by **morelia** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:10 am

I started drooling. Very nice.

Shane Sanders · Post by **Shane Sanders** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:30 am

ouroboros wrote:whoah, when did you start working for Gibson? (are congratulations in order?)

It's been a while, I think I started in late January or February. Definitely enjoying it so far. I hated my last job so much that I was starting to physically and psychologically deteriorate.

It was hard to get hired, but once you're there it is very laid back in terms of personalities and dress code. I had to take an IQ test, a battery of other tests, a drug test and, of course, an interview. The whole process took a quite a while, but it was worth it. It's cool to be part of the history, ya know? Feels different than working for some widget company in that way. And they pay well, which I really appreciate. Lots of places just squeeze you for a bargain and discard you, but here it seems like retention is important right from the start.

And one of the best perqs is that after you're there for 12 months, you can buy up to three Gibson products at dealer cost per year. So at some point I'm going to have a very nice Les Paul that will only appreciate in value. I've got a killer SG bass sitting at my desk right now at work, and I was pleasantly surprised at how tonally cool they are. There are guitars all around us, and you can pick them up and play to blow off steam or just take a break. Very nice perq. Lots of great players around, too.

my new Steinberger XQ2