Steinberger

A Story of Creativity and Design

Jim Reilly - Foreword by Tony Levin

Steinberger: A Story of Creativity and Design tells the story of musical instrument designer Ned Steinberger. Ned’s instruments have been pushing the boundaries both sonically and aesthetically for over 40 years and been played by the very best of the best musicians around the world.

Steinberger: A Story of Creativity and Design explores Ned Steinberger’s revolutionary contributions to the world of musical instrument design. The first instrument he ever created, the Spector NS-1 bass guitar in 1977, is still Spector’s best-selling instrument design. With his next instruments, the Steinberger basses and guitars, Ned literally cut the head off the world of guitar and bass and redefined what the electric bass and guitar could be. Steinberger instruments defined a generation of musicians both sonically and visually and were played by the biggest artists of the day, including Sting, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, and Eddie Van Halen. Never one to slow down, Ned moved from electric guitars and basses to bowed electric instruments. His NS Design instruments once again set the industry standards.

Throughout his career Ned has also worked with other builders and manufacturers and created or contributed to countless projects ranging from electronic tuners and pickups to acoustic guitars and drum head tuners. Truly, anytime you see ‘NS’ in a music store it stands for Ned Steinberger.

With all those accomplishments, many say that Ned is an unlikely musical hero. Therein lies the story. He is not a musician. He comes from the world of art and design rather than the world of music, but his influence can be seen to this day and he holds a place of honor alongside other visionaries like Leo Fender, Les Paul and Ted McCarty.

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 272 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-5381-3688-1 • Paperback • April 2020 • $36.00 • (£30.00)

978-1-5381-3689-8 • eBook • April 2020 • $34.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Music / Musical Instruments / Guitar, Music / Individual Composer & Musician, Music / Musical Instruments / General

Steinberger

A Story of Creativity and Design

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Steinberger: A Story of Creativity and Design tells the story of musical instrument designer Ned Steinberger. Ned’s instruments have been pushing the boundaries both sonically and aesthetically for over 40 years and been played by the very best of the best musicians around the world.

Steinberger: A Story of Creativity and Design explores Ned Steinberger’s revolutionary contributions to the world of musical instrument design. The first instrument he ever created, the Spector NS-1 bass guitar in 1977, is still Spector’s best-selling instrument design. With his next instruments, the Steinberger basses and guitars, Ned literally cut the head off the world of guitar and bass and redefined what the electric bass and guitar could be. Steinberger instruments defined a generation of musicians both sonically and visually and were played by the biggest artists of the day, including Sting, Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, and Eddie Van Halen. Never one to slow down, Ned moved from electric guitars and basses to bowed electric instruments. His NS Design instruments once again set the industry standards.

Throughout his career Ned has also worked with other builders and manufacturers and created or contributed to countless projects ranging from electronic tuners and pickups to acoustic guitars and drum head tuners. Truly, anytime you see ‘NS’ in a music store it stands for Ned Steinberger.

With all those accomplishments, many say that Ned is an unlikely musical hero. Therein lies the story. He is not a musician. He comes from the world of art and design rather than the world of music, but his influence can be seen to this day and he holds a place of honor alongside other visionaries like Leo Fender, Les Paul and Ted McCarty.

Details

Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Pages: 272 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-5381-3688-1 • Paperback • April 2020 • $36.00 • (£30.00)

978-1-5381-3689-8 • eBook • April 2020 • $34.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Music / Musical Instruments / Guitar, Music / Individual Composer & Musician, Music / Musical Instruments / General

Author

Writer and musician, Jim Reilly, studied both jazz guitar and journalism in college and has spent the past 20 years or so combining those two loves. “I see music and writing as different expressions of the same creative impulse,” he says. “Music lives in the moment – writing captures that moment and gives it form and shape.” Currently living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, as a musician, Jim is equally at home on guitar, bass, or Chapman Stick. As a writer, he has done promotional work for other artists and music companies, written for CBC Radio One, and had features published many music magazines.

This is his third book, joining The Bass Player and StickMan: The Story of Emmett Chapman and the Instrument He Created as explorations of how the creative impulse manifests itself through unconventional heroes. For more information, please see www.jimreilly.ca.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Tony Levin

Prologue

Chapter One - Sometimes a Wanderer Finds His Way

Chapter Two – All Roads Lead to New York

Chapter Three - An Unexpected Masterpiece

Chapter Four - Try and Try and Try Again

Chapter Five - Let’s Do This

Chapter Six -The Little Black Bass that Could

Chapter Seven - I’m on my way, I’m making it…

Chapter Eight - The Years In-Between

Chapter Nine - Here We Go Again

Chapter Ten - Capturing the String

Chapter Eleven - Redefining Classic

Chapter Twelve - The Heart of the Work

Chapter Thirteen - Full Circle

Afterword: Steve Miller on Ned Steinberger

A Note from the Author (with thanks)

Appendix

Reviews

Steinberger's: A Story of Creativity and Design is an engaging account of a fascinating story: one with twists and turns and struggles with adversity. Jim Reilly's book brilliantly tells a story of where music, industrial design and musical instrument sales intersect.

— Sound On Sound

Wow, Jim Reilly does an amazing job of uncovering what makes Ned, Ned. This book is a must-read for anyone who has ever wondered what makes a true genius tick.
— Jim D'Addario, chief executive officer, D’Addario & Company Inc.

This a brilliant study of one of the major creators of musical instruments in the 21st century. It will inspire anyone who has ever dreamed of building musical instruments.
— Steve Miller, The Steve Miller Band

Hats off to Jim Reilly for his excellent biography of Ned Steinberger. This book provides a well-researched look behind the curtain at the work of a true wizard. Well done!
— Jim Roberts, founding editor, Bass Player magazine, author, American Basses: An Illustrated History & Player's Guide

This is an incredible story about a super innovative and massively influential musical instrument designer with a single-minded drive to create. I’ve known Ned for over forty years, but Jim's book illuminated for me what makes him who he really is.
— Andy West, bassist and founding member of the Dixie Dregs