Welp, I think we have a happy new Stambaugh owner, guys! Hopefully, he will come along soon to announce himself to the group.
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Has anyone talked to Chris lately? Maybe I'm in the market for another guitar. Have been meaning to order a Les Strat similar to the PRS 594.
Just sent in my deposit for a neck thru 32” offset. I hear he isn’t taking new commissions until mine is done though!
(Wink)
- Apr 30, 2008
- 17
- 15
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Aguilar, Magnusguitars
Hello,
This one was sitting in a shop in Germany for a long time.
I bought it online because of the specs and the look of it.
It arrived and was exactly what I was looking for. Lightweight, great sound and easy playability.
Too easy. The neck is so slim, that it feels like a Hofner with a 34” scale.
Perfect for small and for fast fingers. But not for me.
Chris Stambaughs great instruments seem to be completely unknown in Germany. It´s impossible to sell over here. Anybody wants to buy it? I´d send it anywhere
Here´s a video:
(first 40 seconds only)
Chris Stambaugh 4
Aguilar Noiseless JJ, Aguilar Onboard Preamp.
3,6 Kg. Super slim neck. 3,5 cm at the nut, 5,2 cm at the 12. fret.
Swamp Ash body, Top could be cherry? Perfect straight neck. Trussrod works.
The Ebony ramp and the 23. fret are removable.
This one was sitting in a shop in Germany for a long time.
I bought it online because of the specs and the look of it.
It arrived and was exactly what I was looking for. Lightweight, great sound and easy playability.
Too easy. The neck is so slim, that it feels like a Hofner with a 34” scale.
Perfect for small and for fast fingers. But not for me.
Chris Stambaughs great instruments seem to be completely unknown in Germany. It´s impossible to sell over here. Anybody wants to buy it? I´d send it anywhere
Here´s a video:
(first 40 seconds only)
Chris Stambaugh 4
Aguilar Noiseless JJ, Aguilar Onboard Preamp.
3,6 Kg. Super slim neck. 3,5 cm at the nut, 5,2 cm at the 12. fret.
Swamp Ash body, Top could be cherry? Perfect straight neck. Trussrod works.
The Ebony ramp and the 23. fret are removable.
Cherry top for sure...depending on the age I may even know how he got it from (extra from an old bass of mine)....great looking and sounding bass!
I just got word that Chris has started on my short-scale 5-string and he'll send top wood photos soon. I'm so excited!!
Decided to reach out and possibly start a guitar that nails the Les Paul tone, but shaped like a Strat. I previously sent in a deposit for a semi-hollow with "kitchen sink" electronics. I already have 2 semi-hollows, so probably don't need a 3rd.
I tried a Suhr Pete Thorn signature and was really impressed. The Thornbucker pickups are available separately and have a lot of clarity for humbuckers.
They do the PAF thing well but are moderate output. They'd probably be my choice for a strat/LP hybrid.
Good guitar overall. My goal is to 100% nail the Les Paul tone while "fixing" the body shape for my needs. Teles and Les Pauls don't work for me ergonomically. I like to pick at about belly button level and with the neck at about a 45 degree angle, which Les Pauls and Teles don't do.
Other than this Giffin, most "Les Strats" share a few similarities with the Les Paul design. The Suhr is a bolt-on, 25.5" scale with a trem. IMO, I need 24.75" scale, a Tune-O-Matic or bridge like this, PAFs, 22 frets, neck through or set neck mahogany, maple cap, and rosewood or ebony fretboard. If I didn't have a deposit with Chris, I'd probably order a Giffin like this. I'll probably add jumbo stainless steel frets and see if I can get a wiring similar to the Pete Thorn Suhr, or at least some sort of series/parallel option, maybe a split coil sound for position 2.
It's interesting to see more companies lately using the African mahogany that Chris has used forever.
Right? EBMM has been using it on a few guitars for a while (Stingray RS, Albert Lee HH) and it sounds like they'll use it on more in the future, especially with swamp ash now so scarce.
They (and a number of other builders) also are using okoume more and more though sometimes that also gets called "African mahogany". The stuff Chris has always used is khaya.
I've had a couple basses from him with it as the body wood. They were both lightweight and resonant/great sounding.
My upcoming build with him will use it too, for the body wings and as part of the neck laminate (along with walnut)
Got a reply from Chris. Should be an easy build for him and there's a guy who basically ordered the same guitar concept. I'm glad I'm not the only one who loves the Les Paul tone and hates the ergonomics and detachable headstock. 
I sent my deposit in late last year, November or December, and his estimate was that he'd get mine started somewhere around February. I think he actually started on it in March, so I'd guess he might be a little behind his initial plan but not totally backed up.
I don't know yet what the timeline is for the build but I'm not in a rush. If he wants to take his time to make it perfect that's fine with me!
He just recently sent a picture of the spalted maple he picked up for the top, it's so gorgeous, I can't wait to have some real build pics to share!
Nice!
I sent in my deposit at the end of January and Chris said the build would start in May so I'm guessing it will actually start in late June/early July.
