Steinberger GL2T

The Steinberger GL2T (or GL-2T/GR with guitar synthesizer function) is an electric guitar. It was used by Daryl Stuermer and Mike Rutherford.

Mike Rutherford's Steinberger GL2T
Mike Rutherford's interest in Steinberger instruments began with the L2 bass in 1983. By the time of Invisible Touch in 1985/86, this progressed to the new Steinberger guitars, including the GL2T model 6-string guitar with tremolo arm. It was his main guitar on the album and its subsequent tour in 1986-87.

Although Mike liked it, he felt at odds with the Steinberger's small size that he even branded it as his 'George Formby guitar'. So he asked Steinberger to custom-build him one which didn’t happen. Mike, in collaboration with luthier Roger Giffin and roadie Geoff Banks developed a guitar that inspired the Steinberger M series.

In the late 1980s, Mike used to write with the Steinberger MIDI'd to a couple of Yamaha DX7 keyboards. And he also played the Steinberger live as a member of Mike + The Mechanics on the Living Years tour in 1989...

Quotes on the Steinberger GL2T
"'Basically, I did [Genesis’s 1986 album] Invisible Touch and the corresponding tour with Steinberger guitars. I kept saying ‘It’s so small, can I have a bigger one?’ I asked them to build a bass with more of a body on it, but nothing happened, so I got some cardboard and drew out a shape and I got [luthier] Roger Giffen to build me one, which sounded pretty good.'"

"(from roadie Geoff Banks) 'The Steinberger hadn't been used much on [We Can't Dance] except for the synth which he's got fitted to it 'cause it has no dead spots, and I think live the Strats will feature as the dominant instruments. Steinbergers are very versatile but I think the classic sound and look appealed. Besides, Mike's so tall that the Steinberger looks like a toothpick on him. Strats at least make him look less awkward.' (Guitar Magazine, February 1992)"

Daryl Stuermer's Steinberger GL2T/GR
Alongside Mike Rutherford, Daryl Stuermer used a Steinberger GL2T/GR on the Invisible Touch tour from 1986 to 1987. It was also played on Stuermer's solo album Steppin' Out.

The guitar was sold over three decades later, auctioned on Reverb. Serial #3760. Description is as follows: "This guitar is in pretty great cosmetic shape. There are some scratches here and there. There is a bit of tape residue by the battery compartment. It appears that the pickup that is for the synth controller aspect of the guitar has been removed so that function has been rendered non functioning. The guitar functions properly other than that. Ships with soft shell case as well as road case. Comes with several packs of extra strings."

Stuermer also had the Steinberger XL2 black bass, which too was auctioned off on Reverb.

Further information

 * Steinberger GL2T and GL2T/GR advert