Active Band Man Chats - Common Minority Struggles

So, what’s the topic this time?

Let’s get along well, okay?

Huh?

Let’s stay friends forever!

Um... sure...?

I’m begging you!

What’s going on? You’re being weird...

But we’re in the minority, right?

What do you mean?

Come on, you know what I mean!

No, I don’t...

Our taste in gear is a bit unusual, isn’t it?

Ah, I see what you mean.

Like a taste for rare delicacies.

Rare delicacies..., I get it.

For instance, when you think of you, it has to be this one, right?

Yes... I’ve always loved headless guitars.

Not many people around you use them, right?

I suppose... there are a few, but we are definitely a minority.

No comrades, right!?

Hearing that makes me feel a bit lonely, but yeah, it’s true. Speaking of which, you have your own unique piece too!

The epitome of bizarre—my Teisco Spectrum 5!

Any comrades...?

Hardly any!

Let’s get to today’s theme.

Okay! We want to share the struggles and pains of being in the minority!

Share... or just vent!?

That’s not what I’m saying! But we do face challenges, don’t we?

Well, yes, to some extent.

For example, replacement parts are hard to come by!

Oh yes, because of the unique designs...

My Teisco was probably designed with a lot of effort from the manufacturer, so it has many custom parts!

Indeed.

The pickups, the tremolo arm, the bridge—everything!

Exactly. You can tell just by looking.

So, when I see Fender’s lineup of replacement parts at Sound House, I get so envious!

I see. Why not just play a Strat then?

(Ignoring that) I’d love to swap out the bridge saddles for brass ones!

That’s impossible!

Or switch out to the Duncan pickups!

Also impossible! Well, technically not impossible, but it would require a major overhaul.

Exactly! That’s one of the downsides—limited fun with part swaps.

The parts for Steinberger guitars are also quite unique. Even the strings are special—you need double ball-end strings...

Ah, double ball-end strings.

Yes. Nowadays, you can use regular strings with an adapter, but back in the day, you had no choice but to use double ball-end strings... and they were expensive!

That sounds tough.

And then there was the time my bridge parts broke. Since tuning is done at the bridge on a Steinberger, it’s quite unique. The part that holds the string’s ball-end—


It’s called a jaw—broke on the day of a live show.

That’s terrible...

Luckily, I had time to go home, swap the part from another Steinberger, and made it in time for the show. But it was nerve-wracking.

Good thing you had a second Steinberger.

Yes. Later, I searched online for a replacement jaw... but finding an original part was impossible.

Isn’t Steinberger still around?

Not anymore, I think. Even if they were, there seems to be no compatibility between the newer and older models from the ’80s and ’90s. In the end, I found someone who crafts these parts individually and bought one.

Here’s the damaged one on the right and the new one on the left.

Ah, it’s chipped.

Yes... No matter how durable the part, wear and tear over time is inevitable. I’d like to eventually replace all the jaws, but since they’re niche parts, they’re pricey...

Mass production isn’t feasible either.

Right. It’s either time-consuming or costly...

Next struggle—finding people to refer to or consult is rare!

Oh, that’s a real issue.

Whether it’s other bands or magazines, there are hardly any users...

It’s niche...

Exactly... If I were a Strat player, conversations like, “Nice tone! What distortion are you using?” “Distortion’s important, but the secret to my sound is the type and tension of the springs!” “Wow, thanks Bro!” would be so engaging, right?

Why do you sound a bit like bros?

Just for fun.

But when I encounter another Steinberger user at a gig, we usually acknowledge each other and start chatting.

Because we’re a minority group.

A minority group! Can’t deny that.

My usual icebreaker is, “It’s hard to use, isn’t it?” and they respond, “Yeah, it is!” But we both agree, “It’s cute, though!”

Haha, true, finding information was tough back when I started using Steinberger. There used to be a social media called mixi... is it still around? There was a community for headless bass enthusiasts where I got most of my information.

That’s touching!

I also have a Philip Kubicki Factor Bass, another headless instrument with a unique bridge. I remember scouring the internet to figure out how to change the strings...

That sounds like a hassle... And another issue—buying a backup guitar is hard!

Is that really a common struggle?

Absolutely! Fewer users mean fewer second-hand options on the market.

I see. Plus, they can become rare collectibles, making them even more expensive.

Exactly. While there are various reissues, there aren’t many affordable ones.

That’s true. But affordable models might compromise on quality...

I get that. So, when the latest reissue came out, I bought two—one for the main and one for backup.

Makes sense. Having the same model is reassuring, even with individual differences.

The backup can also be used for parts. Plus, specs change with each reissue.

Very true. I just settle for a different headless model as my backup... as long as it’s headless, it’s fine!

Right!

This topic surprisingly sparked quite a discussion.

I told you!

What else?

Recently, I’ve been struggling with the urge to get a different guitar!

What now?

What now?

Is this a soap opera? Isn’t that kind of self-contradictory?

You know when you try out a new pedal at a music store?

Yeah.

They hand you a test guitar, right?

Right.

After testing the pedal, suddenly...

Suddenly?

Somehow, you end up wanting the guitar!

I can see that happening...

It makes me think, “Non-rare delicacy guitars are pretty nice, too.”

You said “rare delicacy” again!

But seriously! A Strat is just so well-made!

True. I sometimes think Jazz Basses are awesome when I test them.

Despite knowing how challenging this life is, we still choose these rare delicacies...!

You’re being dramatic!

Let’s stay friends...

There it is again...

Forever...

Okay, okay.

As the Rare Delicacies!

Stop giving us a weird group name.

Would it look better as Chinmii-zu in hiragana?

No, it’s not about the spelling.

If we fall along the way, pick up our bones...

That we will.

Let’s stay like this forever...

Well, although I am a headless bass enthusiast, I do use standard Jazz Bass types depending on the setting. I try to stay adaptable!

Traitor!

I’m not betraying anyone!

I know! In the end, despite all the challenges, we love these instruments because they’re a labor of love.

Oh, wrapping it up nicely?

Exactly, because everything is?

For love!