Steinberger Spirit XT-2 Standard Bass Black Original

A Modern Icon Born from the Steinberger Revolution

When Ned Steinberger introduced his instruments in the late 1970s, their headless silhouette and "engineering-first" approach sharply contrasted with traditional formats. The XT-2 Standard is directly part of this heritage: a bass designed for reliability, tuning consistency, and everyday practicality. Its minimalist design is not just an aesthetic choice: it serves stability, portability, and efficiency while retaining the feel of a true 4-string with a long scale length.

Who Is the Steinberger XT-2 For and Which Styles?

The Steinberger XT-2 Standard Outfit is aimed at the beginner to intermediate bassist who wants a serious instrument, as well as the experienced musician looking for a reliable secondary bass (rehearsals, home studio, travel, dressing room, touring). Its 34" / 864 mm scale length maintains classic reference points and familiar string tension, while the headless design limits detuning caused by shocks and temperature changes. Regarding styles, the pair of humbuckers makes it comfortable in rock, pop, funk, metal, and electro: you can switch from a warm neck-side tone to a sharper bridge-side sound and precisely blend them thanks to separate volume controls.

Sound and Character: Powerful Humbuckers, Clear Response, and Controlled Sustain

The XT-2 combines a basswood body with a 3-piece hard maple neck: basswood provides overall balance, with present mids and clear lows, while maple tends to enhance attack, definition, and stability. The result is a bass that responds quickly under the fingers, particularly enjoyable for pick playing as well as clear finger attacks.
The electronics feature two humbuckers: the Steinberger Bass HB-2 (neck) and HB-1 (bridge). The dual coils deliver a generous output level, natural noise reduction, and a dense texture, ideal for holding your place in the mix within a band. The controls are intentionally straightforward: neck pickup volume, bridge pickup volume, and master tone allow you to quickly shape your sound (warmth, bite, or a blend of both). Combined with the 40:1 ratio Direct-Pull tuning system, tuning gains finesse: you can adjust to the hundredth without struggle, which is especially appreciated in recording or when switching between multiple tunings.
Finally, the craftsmanship and headless hardware contribute to a feeling of "solidity": the XT-2 maintains stable intonation across the entire neck and a very practical register coherence for lines that climb into the treble. With 24 Medium-Jumbo frets and a 14" / 356 mm radius, it also facilitates modern playing styles (fast shifts, melodic playing, light tapping) while remaining comfortable for rhythm parts.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To stay in the "travel bass" spirit without surprises, plan a set of Steinberger DoubleBall strings in gauge 45-65-85-105 (same reference as original) to ensure compatibility with the DoubleBall bridge. A good quality 6.35 mm (1/4") instrument jack cable is also recommended to fully exploit the Premium Barrel-Style output and reduce false contacts when on the move.

Technical specifications

Type	4-string electric bass, headless design	Width at 12th fret	2.156" / 54.8 mm
Finish	gloss	Bridge	patented DoubleBall Bass Bridge
Body material	basswood	Nut material	steel
Weight	3.4 kg	String spacing at bridge	0.70" / 17.8 mm
Length	38.5" / 978 mm	Tuners	patented 40:1 Ratio Direct-Pull tuning system
Other	foldable and liftable leg rest	Hardware finish	black
Neck material	3-piece hard maple	Output jack	1/4" / 6.35 mm Premium Barrel-Style
Neck shape	1960's SlimTaper; D profile	Strings	Steinberger DoubleBall 45-65-85-105
Fingerboard material	engineered hardwood	Neck pickup	Steinberger Bass HB-2
Radius	14" / 356 mm	Bridge pickup	Steinberger Bass HB-1
Frets	24; Medium-Jumbo	Controls	neck pickup volume, bridge pickup volume, master tone
Scale length	34" / 864 mm	Included	Deluxe gigbag
Nut width	1.50" / 38.1 mm