THE XP2 is a "low-priced" addition to the Steinberger range costing a mere $995 (about £800 at current exchange rates) compared with the full-priced model at $1995 (about £1600). Obviously this price reduction has been achieved by cutting costs and I'll consider the effect of this later.

The shape is "Son of Steinberger meets the Flying V" and only you can decide whether or not that appeals. A shaped gig bag is supplied which looks sturdy enough to give adequate protection. The bag has a large pouch which contained a lead, a strap and a useful screwdriver with an Allen key head for making all the bridge adjustments.

The bass is fitted with a pair of EMG pickups and the usual Steinberger controls — two volumes and a tone. The volume controls work smoothly and evenly, but with the tone control most of the effect is concentrated in the last bit of the turn. The leg-rest has been redesigned and shouldn't be as prone to breakage as the original type. When not in use it's unobtrusive, laying flat against the lower side of the body, and when required it is simply flipped into place.

My first test was to listen to the unamplified sound — it wasn't inspiring, but I suspect that the strings were partly to blame. The sound was nasal (perhaps it needed a tune) and lacked character. I have found that the acoustic sound of a bass is a reliable indication of its potential, but in this case the amplified sound was better than the acoustic test had led me to expect. Presumably the EMG pickups have been designed to complement the instrument — even so, a livelier and possibly lighter set of strings would have improved matters considerably.

Although the neck is marked 'Steinberger USA" the body carries a "Made in Japan" sticker. It seems that the neck, pickups and bridge are manufactured in the US and then shipped to Japan where the bodies are made (to Steinberger specification) and the basses assembled. The completed instruments are then shipped back to America for international distribution (including Japan, no doubt). Apparently this reduces costs.

Aside from trans-Pacific commuting, costs have been cut in two ways:

1 Whereas the original Steinberger bass is a one-piece graphite moulding, the XP2 consists of a graphite neck bolted to a rock maple body. Musimex (the UK distributors) stress that it is bolted and not just screwed, and that therefore it is the next-best-thing to a one-piece design in achieving stability and sustain.

2 The pickups are passive/high impedance as opposed to active/low impedance. Consequently no battery is required but the sound is not quite as good. Compared with my own basses (which have the active EMG J pickups) the output was similar but the tone wasn't as clear and "open".

As the pickups are the same size as the active type these could be substituted (£175 a pair). Unfortunately, although there is room for a battery, access would be awkward — it would involve removal of the strings and scratchplate. Perhaps active pickups could be offered as an optional extra and a separate battery chamber included since, apart from tonal improvements, active EMG's low noise means that you're not tempted to earth the bridge — a potentially dangerous action.

Any review of this type of bass inevitably involves considering the pros and cons of the body shape compared with more traditional designs. I feel that the need for a leg-rest (which looks like an after-thought) is an admission that the design is not practical. The reason the Precision bass is still with us 35 years on and why most basses still resemble it to some degree is that Leo Fender got it more or less right — the shape is functional and is determined by the requirements of the musician. So this XP2 bass will only appeal to you if you find the design attractive and if this is more important than more practical considerations.

In a previous review I mentioned my enthusiasm for the headless idea which Steinberger originated. An effect of this design is to shift everything to your left when playing. This takes some getting used to and has advantages and disadvantages — playing in higher positions is easier (especially when sitting) because the left arm is not cramped, but in low positions it is necessary to reach out and this can be tiring. Also, slapping is uncomfortable — partly because the right hand position is also different and, partly because 24 frets means moving nearer the bridge and so the strings have less "give". And slapping's also trickier because the strings are too close together.

I asked several bassists for their comments on the XP2. Their unanimous verdict was:

1 It isn't worth £800.
2 Even if they could afford it they'd buy a different bass.

$o my conclusion has to be that only a player who specifically wants a Steinberger will be interested in the XP2, and for that person it is certainly worth considering since it is £800 cheaper than the standard model. However, anyone else with £800 to spend will almost certainly be able to find something better and probably more individual.

STEINBERGER XP2 bass $995