Steinberger ZT3

This is my main guitar when I don’t have to use any guitar synth. Instead, this guitar is the only one in the world with a TransTrem 3, which transposes all strings equally. Not only can you bend entire chords in tune, but you can lock the bridge in 5 different positions, from a whole step lower to a whole step higher, in 1/2 step increments.

I use it more for the bending of entire chords. I will play a chord 1/2 step lower or higher than I need, and bend it up (or down) to the ‘target’ chord. It works incredibly well, and once you get used to the sound of all strings moving at the same pitch rate, you get really frustrated with other vibrato bridges. It really is a  sound that no other guitar can duplicate. Even if I break a string, I can lock it in place and keep playing. This uses double-ball strings, which make string changes take about 20 seconds.

My ZT3 has a maple neck & body with a phenolic fingerboard. I use this with Julie Black’s band, which plays a sort of jazzy blues. Showing up at blues festivals with this, I get all kinds of looks and sneers because it isn’t a vintage Fender or Gibson, but it sounds and plays great. I don’t play very traditionally anyway, so it suits me.