Both
Greg Howard and
Sean Malone recordings are in the upper echelon of Chapman Stickists, both coming from very different areas of music. Howard is based in "jazz fusion" and "jam band" styles - he's friends/recorded/toured with Dave Matthews Band both as an opener and a sub when Stefan Lessard had to bow out for a tour.
Malone's based more in the harder-edged "progressive rock/metal" genre, having recorded with Bill Buford, Steve Hackett, Trey Gunn, John Myung, Jim Matheos, and other high-profile "progressive" musicians on his "Gordian Knot" and "Cortlandt" albums. He's also a
killer fretless bassist and gifted with all-around musical brilliance - he's currently teaching at the University of Oregon while finishing up his doctorate in Music Theory.
...and not to bring up the tired "Chapman Stick vs. Warr Guitar" debate, but realize that there
is a sound difference, with the Warr having much more of a guitar-shaped and wood-influenced sound and the Stick based on a more minimalist design with a much smaller body and now
carbon graphite and
BassLab composite resonant beam models which does come out in it's sound - to my ears, slightly more percussive and sharper, whereas a
Warr is a bit rounder, owing to it's larger body, exotic wood options, and Bartolini pickups vs. the Stick's Stickup/EMG/Villex pickups.
Neither one is better or worse, simply different. Some people like Breyers, some like Ben & Jerry's.
