This guy was Ned Steinberger and the guitars he designed and produced became some of the most desirable in the world. Looked at objectively I can not really understand why? I mean there's really not much to them,  no headstock, body only just big enough to fit the hardware on, any colour you like as long as it's black (and later white).
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Who would want to buy such a guitar. ME that's who. Whilst the pro's all seem to love it for it's stability and Ned's other innovations (The 12 string track tuner, Pivot Plate, Leg Rest, Double balled & Calibrated Strings, 40 to 1 Gear less Tuners, and probably the best, the Transposing Tremolo) I just love the way it looks and it's uniqueness.

I travel around the U.K. at the moment and I'd love a guitar small enough for B.A. to allow on the aircraft. So early this year I stated trying to find a white 6 string. That's were the fun started.
 
 

First I called the importer who told me that the factory was not exporting at the moment and the last price listed was over £2000.00 but that would probably rise when more were available.

The second hand market is non existent so I started checking the Internet. The only sites I found were the Gibson Steinberger site (No I didn't realise that Gibson had taken over Steinberger either) and
World Class Guitar's Steinberger web pages.

Ed Roman who runs WCG actually worked for Steinberger from 1989 on and has so much info on Steinbergers I am not going to attempt to duplicate it here. I suggest you click on the link and get it first hand. Ed's site is by far the largest site on the Internet devoted to Guitars so give your self a couple days to view.

Anyhow what I did discover is that the factory has been closed for a few years now and while there are plans to re-open next year don't hold your breath.

So I spent a while reading through Ed Roman's (various articles) and talking to anyone who'd owned a Steinberger and I came to a couple of conclusions.
 
 

• A wooden body would probable sound better. A little warmer than the original plastic  versions.


• The LSR blend neck and carousel truss adjustment would make the set up more flexible and adaptable.
• I still wanted one and Ed Roman makes 'em.

So I ordered one, when I get it I'll publish full details.
 

I also discovered Steinberger and Gibson? produced many more designs than just the minimalist bodies, I'm not completely sure my designations are correct (Ed Roman has more on this) but as my site's are big on pictures I just have to include some.

• GL series, 6 string fully composite body / neck headless unit, with transposing tremolo.
• XL series, 4 string bass fully composite body / neck headless unit.
• GM series, 6 string larger wooden body and composite headless neck.
• GP series, 6 string small A shape wooden body and composite headless neck.
• GS series, 6 string large wooden body and composite neck with headstock?
• 12 string double neck, don't know the designation.