NBD - A pair of Stambaughs

[Jared Lash]

So last year I contacted Chris with the idea of a pair of versatile, but passive fivers using his “ODB” shape and here’s what I ended up with. The orange one started with the notion of doing a 70’s style Fender Roscoe Beck (dual jazz pickups with series/parallel/single coil options) and the silver one is a variation on Chris’ stock “Fossil” design.

The Silver one actually showed up more than a week ago but the orange one just arrived today so I figure it’s time for an official thread

Pics:

The common specs:

• 5 strings (BEADG)
• 33” Scale
• 19 mm spacing at the bridge
• 1.75” at the nut
• Brass hipshot B style bridge
• Hipshot ultralite Y key tuners
• 10”-14” compound radius
• Flattened D profile neck
• Slightly flatter/wider than normal fretwire
• Passive wiring
• Custom inlay on the back of the headstocks

And for the silver bass:

• Alder body
• Ash/walnut/maple neck
• Ebony fingerboard with MOP blocks and ivoroid binding
• 3 Aero single coils with 5 position selector
• Stellartone 16 position Tonestyler
• Pearloid pickguard
• Currently strung with Stambaugh/Mangan nickel rounds

And for the orange bass

• Northern Ash body
• Maple neck with bubinga stringers
• Maple fingerboard with ebony blocks and binding
• 2 Delano DJC 5 HE pickups in 70’s position
• Volume/Volume/Tone with series/parallel/”single coil” switches
• 3 ply Black fingerboard
• Currently strung with Stambaugh/Mangan stainless rounds

The inlay is based on a ring I gave my wife after our youngest was born:

 

[2cooltoolz]

Wow!! They're both gorgeous, but the silver one made me aroused!!!

 

[Basshappi]

I'd guess AWESOME would be an understatement.
Congrats JL!

 

[Jared Lash]

Wow!! They're both gorgeous, but the silver one made me aroused!!!

Thanks!

I'm honestly not sure which I like more. Maybe when the orange one has been around a bit longer and the strings are worn in I'll know.

I'd guess AWESOME would be an understatement.
Congrats JL!

Thank you. I'm really happy with how they came out.

And here's one more awesome picture. Some builders have hats and T-shirts but I have to say I think Chris beats them all for merchandise:

The glasses are cool enough, but all the bottles in that pic are homebrews from "Stambaugh Brewing Designs". Tried the ancho chili porter two nights ago and it was fantastic. Chris is a talented cat!

 

[warwick.hoy]

Orange is such an underrated color.

Gorgeous basses TBO.

What sort of pickups are in the Silver one?

 

[RaginRog]

My, my, my...those are very nice basses. Love the colors, shapes, pickup choices.
Congratulations.

 

[SolarMan]

That inlay of your wife's ring is really touching - not to mention beautiful.

I checked out the pictures of your children too - you are one blessed dude.

And the dog - you got it all man!

☼

 

[FretFree]

Congrats!

Can't wait to see these in person!

 

[Solarmist]

Nice basses - the silver one is really interesting - congrats man!

 

[Mr. Pickles]

Suhwheeeet! Enjoy them, my man!

 

[Draculea]

Nice basses, especially the orange one!

 

[TapyTap]

What string types/gauges are on these?

 

[Jared Lash]

Orange is such an underrated color.

Gorgeous basses TBO.

What sort of pickups are in the Silver one?

I agree. I dig the orange. Didn't intend for it to be an SF Giants scheme, but as a fan I don't mind.

The silver one has Aero AB4 single coils. Really impressive. Big, deep and clear. Tons of tonal variation with the five different positions.

My, my, my...those are very nice basses. Love the colors, shapes, pickup choices.
Congratulations.

Thanks!

That inlay of your wife's ring is really touching - not to mention beautiful.

I checked out the pictures of your children too - you are one blessed dude.

And the dog - you got it all man!

☼

The ring was a nice symbol, I wanted to use it before I'd even settled most of the other specs.

And thank you. Any time I start thinking about what I don't have or ways that life could be better I remember that I have a loving family and three healthy (if nutso) children. Life is good.

Congrats!

Can't wait to see these in person!

We need to schedule something!

Nice basses - the silver one is really interesting - congrats man!

Thanks. The silver bass evolved from Chris' Link Removed. The three pickup setup works incredibly well.

Suhwheeeet! Enjoy them, my man!

Thanks, I definitely plan to.

Nice basses, especially the orange one!

The color of the orange one is amazing in person. In certain light it absolutely glows. I'm torn on which one I like better - which is a good thing.

What string types/gauges are on these?

Chris uses Curt Mangan strings. I believe they're normal Mangans with the Stambaugh logo on the package but I'll have to ask. Both are 125-45 sets, nickel on the silver, SS on the orange.

I really like them on the silver bass now that they've worn in a bit, but I liked them on the orange right away. Since Mangan is cool with doing custom sets I believe I'll order replacements to be balanced tension with a bigger low B.

I'm thinking .135, .100, .75, .55 and .40 on each.

 

[TapyTap]

Chris uses Curt Mangan strings. I believe they're normal Mangans with the Stambaugh logo on the package but I'll have to ask. Both are 125-45 sets, nickel on the silver, SS on the orange.

I really like them on the silver bass now that they've worn in a bit, but I liked them on the orange right away. Since Mangan is cool with doing custom sets I believe I'll order replacements to be balanced tension with a bigger low B.

I'm thinking .135, .100, .75, .55 and .40 on each.

Do you happen to know if the stainless steels are hex core or round core?

At the moment, I have D'Addario stainless steel round wounds on a 34" scale tuned EADG; the gauges are .100, .075, .055, and .040. The D-string has a few lbs more tension than the other strings, but it stills feels very nice...I guess I'm not the only one that thinks this way.

 

[madbassplaya]

Simply stunning my friend! Love the body style as well as the color and pickups!

 

[Jared Lash]

Do you happen to know if the stainless steels are hex core or round core?

At the moment, I have D'Addario stainless steel round wounds on a 34" scale tuned EADG; the gauges are .100, .075, .055, and .040. The D-string has a few lbs more tension than the other strings, but it stills feels very nice...I guess I'm not the only one that thinks this way.

I'm honestly not sure on the Mangans. I know their guitar strings are hex core so perhaps the bass strings are as well but I don't know. I've been talking to them about my custom sets so I'll ask next time I send an email their way.

I've been using the D'Addario BTs lately which is why I want to go that route with the Mangans.

Simply stunning my friend! Love the body style as well as the color and pickups!

Thanks man!

As I'd hoped the basses have very different voices and the Aeros & Delanos with all the switching options cover a LOT of ground.

 

[Marcus Willett]

Nice! Damn, you're making me wanna get Chris to build me another one!

 

[Hotblack]

To get the full vibe:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f8/pair-modern-vintage-customs-873206/

 

[TapyTap]

I'm honestly not sure on the Mangans. I know their guitar strings are hex core so perhaps the bass strings are as well but I don't know. I've been talking to them about my custom sets so I'll ask next time I send an email their way.

Thanks. I've been experimenting with various strings and noticed what a difference the core type makes when it comes to string elasticity. Of course, other variables are at play, but the core shape can really make a difference.

I've been using the D'Addario BTs lately which is why I want to go that route with the Mangans.

Makes sense to me. I've been using the information provided in D'Addario's string tension guide to put my own balanced tension sets together. So far I've tried D'Addario ProSteels, DR HI-BEAMs, and DR LO-RIDERs. I've heard good things about the Curt Mangans and might give those a shot in the future.

You probably know this already, but Bass Strings Online is an excellent resource to put your own string sets together...great prices and superb customer service. Plus the owner is a fellow TBer.

 

[ronnyyun]

That inlay of your wife's ring is really touchingInvalid Link Removed