Left Handed Steinberger Guitars & Basses 2023 – Super Compact & Lightweight

by Chris

December 15, 2022

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Last Updated on December 28, 2023 by Chris

Table of Contents

Does Steinberger make left handed guitars & basses?

Yes, they do! In fact, at the time of writing, there are three left handed Steinberger guitars & basses! One electric guitar, and two electric basses.

Click here to go straight to the lefty Steinberger guitars and basses.

Who is Steinberger?

Steinberger’s founder, Ned Steinberger, was a former furniture maker and son of a Nobel Prize-winning particle physicist.

Ned Steinberger standing with a white Steinberger XT-2DB Bass — Ned Steinberger

After meeting bass luthier Stuart Spector around 1975, they collaborated and designed, among others, the Spector NS2 bass guitar.

Ned Steinberger later introduced his own designs, and in 1979, the first Steinberger bass guitar, the L2, was produced. It was made of a blend of graphite and carbon fiber, dubbed the “Steinberger Blend“.

These instruments were very solid, almost indestructible, and fared very well with sudden temperature and humidity changes, enabling them to stay in tune very well.

Ned Steinberger later set up a company in 1980, Steinberger Sound Corporation, to manufacture basses and then later guitars.

The L2 went on to win numerous awards and was named one of the Five Best Designs of 1981 by Time Magazine.

By 1983, demand for Steinberger instruments was so great that the company moved to a larger facility in Newburgh, New York, and increased their production.

Steinberger Sound was bought by Gibson in 1987, who manufactured the instruments from then on, and the company remains part of the Gibson Brands Family to this day.

The following year, Ned Steinberger agreed to design a left handed version of the TransTrem at the request of Elliot Easton (The Cars).

Ned Steinberger stayed on at Steinberger for several years, but also started a new company called NS Design in 1990.

In 1992, the “Spirit by Steinberger” series was launched, and the company also relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where they remain to this day.

The “Spirit by Steinberger” line was reissued in 2018, which represents their current instrument lineup.

Famous musicians who’ve played Steinbergers include Eddie Van Halen, Lou Reed, Mark Knopfler, David Bowie, and Sting. Some absolute legends there!

What Do I Think of Steinberger?

I first became aware of Steinberger guitars in the early ’90s. I remember seeing an ad in a guitar magazine and thought that they looked so different from pretty much any other guitar I’d seen before.

I have to say, I wasn’t particularly keen on the shape, and not a fan of the headless design!

I’d still rather have a guitar with a headstock, but I do think these guitars look strangely appealing these days… I think my tastes were pretty conventional back then.

I’ve grown to like the compact body and minimalist design; they’re really portable and unlike anything else.

Different Types of Steinberger Guitars

Steinberger GT-PRO Deluxe (Hot Rod Yellow)

Steinberger makes one type of electric guitar, available in several colors, and three bass guitars; two 4-string basses and a 5-string bass.

GT-PRO Deluxe Guitar
GT-PRO “Quilt Top” Deluxe Guitar
XT-2 Standard Bass
XT-2DB Bass with DB-Tuner
XT-25 Standard Bass
XT-25 “Quilt Top” Bass

Chek below to see which are available in left handed orientation.