Steinberger Spirit XT-25 “Quilt Top” 5-String Bass Review

The Steinberger Spirit XT-25 is a classic and fun bass to play!

Steinberger basses have been used by many great bassists over the years to include Ross Valory, John Taylor, Geddy Lee, Sting, Cliff Williams Tina Weymouth, just to name a few.

The only difference I really noticed between the Steinberger Spirit XT-25 “Quilt Top” 5-String Bass and a traditional bass is that the bridge sets a few inches forward when using a strap, and I contribute that to the fact that the bass doesn’t have a standard body shape. This is also beneficial… while the Spirit XT-25 weighs in pretty close to the traditional body shape, it’s easier to transport, takes up less of a footprint, especially when traveling, and is loads of funs to play.

It is very easy to access all 24 frets with no restrictions; great for just laying down a groove and it gives you faster access to the higher range of notes

the combination of the bridge and neck pickups, you can get a wide variety of tones. I found the bass real easy for funk, especially slap style, although it will fit any genre out there. You don’t lose anything tone or sound wise with this bass, it can go from bright and funky to warm and low. It also has a folding leg that is attached to the body that can be used when playing the bass in a seated position without the use of a strap.

The Steinberger Spirit XT-25 has a 3-piece 1960’s Slim Taper maple neck with a D profile and a poplar body with a AAA quilt maple veneer top, completed with a gloss finish.  The 24 fret fingerboard is an engineered hardwood topped off with medium jumbo frets. The Bridge is a steel patented double bass bridge. While the bass does use double ball-end strings, an adapter is available to use traditional strings; I tried and tested the adapter and it works flawlessly.

The neck pickup is the Steinberger Bass BB-2 and the bridge pickup is the Steinberger HB-1.

Each pickup has it’s own volume control and there is a master tone control for both pickups combined. The Steinberger Spirit XT-25 “Quilt Top” 5 String Bass is available in Trans Black, Trans Blue, and Wine Red, and comes with a gig bag and a Steinberger limited lifetime warranty.

Check out the Steinberger Spirit XT-25 and other fine Steinberger basses and guitars at a music retailer near you!

Visit online at steinberger.com