Steinberger GM4/GR4, What's It Worth?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brandon Breeze
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Brandon Breeze

Brandon Breeze

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I ran across this Steinberger at a pawn shop recently. Bolt on, EMGs, it appears to have a trans trem, no body binding, contoured body edges, etc

What should I know about this guitar? Seems like they know what they have, they say they go for $1-4k, but they don't really know which end of the spectrum this one is on, and they need to call an "expert" to find out.

I'd rather go in and know what to look for and strike a deal at that time. I'll check out the serial number when I return to check it out.


 
Since it has a transtrem I would say its worth around $1500-1800 depending on condition.
 
From what I can find it appears this is a GR4 model(no body binding) that may have been upgraded with the trans trem and EMG's
 
Is that definitely the TransTrem, or is it the other one? R series or something?
 
It's a tt or an s. It's hard to tell in the pic. I knew very little when walking into that pawn shop. I'm reading up on em quite a bit at the moment. Still a lot of details to be found when I return to the pawn shop. I'll see if I can strike a deal.
 
Not sure of the model but a pro player recently has me wanting to try one. He said they sound huge. He's had just about everything else I am sure. He gigs these all over the map. I am very curios about their tone and playability.
 
I own two GR4's. Outrageously great guitars! I bought my last one off eBay for $535.00 and sold the gig bag for $70. I did a drop-top tiger maple top and installed a Tom Anderson H3+ pick-up. I've past on a few for $700 -$800 but I'm going to snag another one and transform it into a headless explorer model. These guitars are solid and heavy like a piano and stay in tune perfect.
Here's a photo before the H3+ pick-up was installed, I tried a SD Dimebucker that didn't jive, then I tried a couple other pick-ups but the H3+ is so much fuller and balanced without any schrilly leftovers.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100168049 ... ed-public/
 
Markedman":raots372 said:
I own two GR4's. Outrageously great guitars! I bought my last one off eBay for $535.00 and sold the gig bag for $70. I did a drop-top tiger maple top and installed a Tom Anderson H3+ pick-up. I've past on a few for $700 -$800 but I'm going to snag another one and transform it into a headless explorer model. These guitars are solid and heavy like a piano and stay in tune perfect.
Here's a photo before the H3+ pick-up was installed, I tried a SD Dimebucker that didn't jive, then I tried a couple other pick-ups but the H3+ is so much fuller and balanced without any schrilly leftovers.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/100168049 ... ed-public/
Click to expand...

Definitely r trem prices right? The transtrem itself is worth 1k
 
I'll definitely be taking a much closers look next time I checked it out. The problem is all of the $3-5k steinberger all over the Internet at the moment. This shop thinks they've hit a gold mine.
 
UberKrankenschtein":tae7sgp4 said:
I'll definitely be taking a much closers look next time I checked it out. The problem is all of the $3-5k steinberger all over the Internet at the moment. This shop thinks they've hit a gold mine.
Click to expand...

Yeah the problem is those ones on eBay refurbished by Jeff babicz. They buy them cheap, set them up, and double the price. They don't sell many.
 
Actually Babicz does sell quite a few, check their sold category on their eBay store. Keep your eye out on eBay and get a Newburgh GR4 for around $700. If a GR4 is offered for more than a grand it doesn't sell, it sits, that's why there is so many GM7's out there. The GR4 model has the same neck and body as the expensive ones and the stock pick-ups sound so much better than the active EMG's it is strange they command so much more $. The whammy, the r-trem, frigging kills!!! I have custom made guitars that I can't jell with since I bought my Steinbergers.
 
Bluplirst":3es9w7lt said:
UberKrankenschtein":3es9w7lt said:
I'll definitely be taking a much closers look next time I checked it out. The problem is all of the $3-5k steinberger all over the Internet at the moment. This shop thinks they've hit a gold mine.
Click to expand...

Yeah the problem is those ones on eBay refurbished by Jeff babicz. They buy them cheap, set them up, and double the price. They don't sell many.
Click to expand...

It would be interesting to see what they pay for them. I see many stagnant GM4's that are well into the $2's and above. Seems like most folks are seeing these eBay models and pricing theirs based on the inflated prices of the refurbished models.

Can't wait until Monday to possibly go back to this shop and get more info and start working on a deal.
 
I spoke with one of the guys at Ed Roman today. Since they bought all of the stuff from Gibson they know a great deal about them.

As long as it has the trans trem, is all original, and everything is in good working order it would be a great buy around $1,500 or less depending on overall condition. If there's anything wrong or missing it sounds like the bill for repairs or missing parts starts to add up really quickly. I'm hoping a I can go back down there today and find out more, or maybe even make a deal.

If it's an S, or R trem, the value goes down significantly.
 
trans trem for sure, in pretty decent shape overall, nothing big as far as damage, frets look great
 
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