The Soda Stereo bassist reflects on how a Steinberger L2 shaped the sound of one of Latin rock’s most iconic albums, Nada Personal
Zeta Bosio returns as a guest on Gibson TV en Español, and in this brand-new clip, he recalls the moment he discovered the Steinberger L2 bass—thanks to a magazine cover featuring Sting with the futuristic new instrument. “I thought the world was changing,” Bosio says. “This bass was something brand new—I had never seen anything like it before and immediately wanted one.”
Back in 1985, Soda Stereo was one of Argentina’s most exciting new pop-rock acts. But while their debut album had gained attention, it was their sophomore release, Nada Personal, that would position them as pioneers of a new sound—one that stood apart from anything else in Latin America at the time.
Bosio recounts how Nada Personal almost had a different producer: “Cachorro López was going to produce the album. Andrés Calamaro introduced us, and we really liked him. But we already had a clear vision for the sound we wanted, so we ended up producing it ourselves—and that turned out to be the best decision.”
Still, López played a crucial role. At the time, he owned one of the only Steinberger L2 basses in Argentina and graciously lent it to Bosio for the recording sessions. “It was the only one I knew of,” Bosio recalls. “He let me use it for the album, and it made a huge difference.”
The Steinberger L2 went on to define the sonic identity of tracks like “Imágenes Retro,” “Si No Fuera Por,” “Satélites,” and “Nada Personal.” Shortly after, Bosio managed to buy one of his own—no easy feat in 1980s Argentina, where importing musical instruments was notoriously difficult, as he recounts in his autobiography, Yo Conozco Ese Lugar.
Soda Stereo would go on to achieve massive success throughout Latin America, becoming the first Argentine band to tour the entire continent to both critical and commercial acclaim. They disbanded in 1997 but reunited in 2007 for a historic stadium tour. While the original Steinberger L2 is no longer in production, the Spirit line offers a faithful tribute to those groundbreaking, space-age designs.
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