Honest opinions on my basses?

[coronado3]

I tend to be a "Vintage looking" - fenders, Ric, MM, etc. Probably because early in my playing I saw Jaco, T-Bone Wolk, and Will Lee playing those fantasticly beat up old Fender basses ...But these look great! Plus, it's all in the way the neck feels and how the tone fits into our perception of the "perfect" bass sound.

What's not to like!!

 

[Pilgrim]

And as I said I am debating on whether my third Stambaugh should follow the first two or be very different so it is nice to hear some input one way or another. So thanks for the posts and please keep them coming.

I don't see any reason to buy another instrument similar to what I already have. I'd get something quite different.

If you have those two, what about a Casady bass?

Or a Danelectro re-issue?

Or an early 60's EB-0 with a real mudbucker?

Change it up, don't just buy the same bass over and over. (Sez the guy with a very polyglot collection.)

 

[Bass4LifeRS]

Nice!

 

[dalkowski]

My first was a Guild B-301A. I like how you've taken that body style (which I love) and improved it ergonomically. Aesthetically, too, although I could do with less angular.

 

[RaginRog]

I love the look of the fretless...but prefer fretted basses. Beautiful basses though.

 

[Ed Goode]

The basses both look very nice .... they were built by Stambaugh, so everyone knows the quality is there. They don't knock me out for a variety of reasons, including the "only four strings" thing and the pickguard (I always have found PG's to look quite out of place on beautiful wood basses). But that's just me .... I play some of the strangest looking basses known to man, and honestly, I really don't care what anyone thinks of them

Not surprising that you get so much positive feedback on Nino's bass, they are beautifully built and fantastic players. And the large majority of TBers are basic "fender-esque style" fans ...

 

[audiophile21]

i dig them both, they kinda remind me of what would happen if bc rich and warwick had a kid

 

[NecroticImbecil]

Based solely on the pic, my worhtless thoughts:

Overall I like hem, but the upper horn looks a bit odd. I'd prefer it to look more like the Guild's upper horn, perhaps longer for better balance. I can't stand fretboard dots, so I wouldn't have those.

 

[OtterOnBass]

Thoughts?

That Valenti is one of the most beautiful basses I've ever seen. It looks modern, could fit into a pop/rock/country show anywhere and drop jaws.

Your Stambaugh's are a mystery. Modern shape with old materials? I don't know what aesthetic genre (rock/punk/bluegrass) they are going for. There's not a strong contrast between colors to give them a visual punch. The shape is amazing, but it's lost with the wood grain. I don't know where I would see someone use these basses.

 

[Jared Lash]

I dig them, but probably wouldn't order one exactly like them. Personally I'm in the camp that doesn't care what others think of my gear. I order my gear tailored exactly to my needs. However, these are yours and your style. A lot of musicians lack their own style. I still think your next Stambaugh should continue with your current style.

The bottom line is no matter how much the TB audience loves or hates your basses, it's not really about them. Sure it's nice to hear/read "That bass is awesome!", but you already know they are, otherwise you would not have bought a second one and there's no way would you be designing a third if they weren't killer basses. Your basses are amazing for YOU, and that's all you need to know.

Just to reiterate I'm not looking for validation or praise or acceptance. The basses are exactly what I asked Chris for aesthetically, tonewise and the best playing basses I've owned. I know they'll get a mixed reaction, but I just found it incredibly odd that as different looking as they are I got virtually no responses in all the times I've posted pictures of them. Just curious what people think, that's all.

Well, only because you asked, I don't like them. To me they have that 70's west coast organic hemp buckminster fuller vibe. I think of redwood bowls and walnut vases. They're not poorly designed, they're good examples of that. I just don't like that. And personally, for 90% of the music I play, that vibe would send the wrong message. But for an oregon-based jam band, they'd rule.
Just being honest.

Right on, I see where you're coming from. They are NOT typical and in cases where people want a more traditional look I can provide that with my other basses, especially the Valenti which is pretty much always accepted. The odd part is that I had one band say that the fretted Stammy sounded too "modern". It's got Nordy Fat Stacks and an Audere pre. With the mahogany body it has a very smooth and organic jazz bass flavor. So I brought my Fender American Deluxe Jazz V the next time and even though it sounds much more like the active bass it is, they dug it. Eh, do what works for the gig.

That Valenti is one of the most beautiful basses I've ever seen. It looks modern, could fit into a pop/rock/country show anywhere and drop jaws.

Your Stambaugh's are a mystery. Modern shape with old materials? I don't know what aesthetic genre (rock/punk/bluegrass) they are going for. There's not a strong contrast between colors to give them a visual punch. The shape is amazing, but it's lost with the wood grain. I don't know where I would see someone use these basses.

I've used them pretty much anywhere other than when people balk at the look (only twice ever) or a different tone has worked better (Musicman with a pick for a hard rock band, the Valenti with flats for old school R&B and funk) and they've fit fine. With the fretless I find that most people that are okay with me playing fretless to begin with aren't going to be hung up on a particular looks. And of course it helps that given my druthers I gravitate towards unusual music (ambient dub, acid-jazz, live electronica) where the different looking basses aren't an issue.

But you're absolutely right that they aren't universal like Fenders (or Fender shaped basses) or as immediately recognizeable for a particular genre but I knew that when I ordered them and it hasn't been too much of an issue so far.

From a purely 'looks' perspective I prefer this one myself.

I do like your basses, and I think it's pretty cool you've got 4 string twins, fretted and fretless. With a 6 coming I think you've got a great opportunity to close the Guild/'Guild based' chapter and try something new and be a little different here.

Thanks. And I am leaning toward going a different route with this bass. A chance to do something different.

I don't see any reason to buy another instrument similar to what I already have. I'd get something quite different.

If you have those two, what about a Casady bass?

Or a Danelectro re-issue?

Or an early 60's EB-0 with a real mudbucker?

Change it up, don't just buy the same bass over and over. (Sez the guy with a very polyglot collection.)

That's sort of where my mind is now. And that's not due to any good or bad reaction from this thread. Just a desire to do something new. But the next bass will be from Chris Stambaugh. A sixer with fan frets for sure. But aesthetically very different. But I also may be picking up a Guild Starfire that needs some TLC for a bargain basement price. Nice to have different tools for different jobs.

Well, they don't do it for me and here's why:
1- I don't like wood pickup covers.
2- wood pickguard looks odd to me
3- not big on the headstocks, seem a little large compared to body
4- body shape is ok but doesn't grab me

All that matters is that you dig them and I do appreciate wanting something different. I do really like unusual designs (MVP/BUZZ, Alembic Dragon's Wing, Warwick Buzzard, ect.) but these just don't do it for me.

Rock on!

Personally I love Chris' headstock and wooden pickup covers always seem classy to me, but just another example of how different everyone's tastes are. The inlayed wood "pickguards" were always going to be a love/hate thing. I dig them but I can totally see how others wouldnt.

I tend to be a "Vintage looking" - fenders, Ric, MM, etc. Probably because early in my playing I saw Jaco, T-Bone Wolk, and Will Lee playing those fantasticly beat up old Fender basses ...But these look great! Plus, it's all in the way the neck feels and how the tone fits into our perception of the "perfect" bass sound.

What's not to like!!

Thanks!

These basses play like butter. Stambaugh necks are my favorites of any I've tried. Just unbelievably comfortable for me. And he nailed the tones I wanted both times. But I absolutely dig vintage looking basses too and I would never criticize anybody for preferring a classic looking instrument.

 

[Jared Lash]

I think we might have discussed this a long time ago, but I love the Stammies you have. I played a Guild B301 for 22 years as my only bass so they look like home to me.

Yep, interestingly most of the few comments I've received have been from B301 or B302 owners who generally dug my basses. Those old Guilds were unbalanced with massive neck dive but man did they play and sound great. My Guild (my first electric bass) is completely trashed at this point (warped neck, dinged and scratched to hell, severely cracked around the input jack and needing a full refretting) but my wife still wants to hang it in our house. Gotta love that woman.

My first was a Guild B-301A. I like how you've taken that body style (which I love) and improved it ergonomically. Aesthetically, too, although I could do with less angular.

Yep, it's funny how "out there" the Stambaughs look to most people and yet how familiar to past B301/302 owners. I debated on making the upper horn smoother (just a longer version) and Chris sent me this sketch:

Ultimately I liked the more "aggresive" and symmetrical look of the more angular top horn. The bass in the sketch looks a bit too much like the original Guild to me, and it also seems a bit too Warwick-like. Not to mention Chris emailed me soon after to say that the horn would have to likely be a an inch or two longer to balance properly and I thought that might not look right.

Based solely on the pic, my worhtless thoughts:

Overall I like hem, but the upper horn looks a bit odd. I'd prefer it to look more like the Guild's upper horn, perhaps longer for better balance. I can't stand fretboard dots, so I wouldn't have those.

Yep, as noted above I nearly did exactly that. The upper horn absolutely had to be longer though. Guild basically used an existing guitar shape for the B301/302 and that short upper horn made it unbalanced. In retrospect I would have gone without the dots as well. About my only regret with that bass.

I know I'm not helping by reiterating your point, Jared, but that Valenti is beyond beautiful. I'd say the color scheme has a HUGE hand in making it seem as special as it is.
I won't say I don't like your stambaughs, because I do. It's just that many of us don't have the acquired taste to appreciate the look of natural wood on electric instruments.

Every single time I see this, I get motivated to get a job, invest wisely, eat cheap and take the bus, just so I can own a beautiful bass like this as soon an possible.

I wish I were kidding!

Hey, no worries. I absolutely get why people dig the Valenti. It's basically a "deluxe" version of the most classic bass there is. And I'm glad people do. As I said, that bass fits in nearly anywhere. I've heard of some people getting grief for having more than four strings but I've never seen it.

In any event, the Valenti has a fairly universal appeal while the Stambaughs are different enough to not appeal to a lot of people. And that's fine by me. One more example of why it's good to have a bit of variety in your bass stable.

 

[AltGrendel]

Jared, I own a B-301 so I'm biased.

I think they look great. If the neck feels like the B-30x, then you've really have something there.

 

[Baron Von Vik]

I really like instruments that allow beautiful wood grain to glow through, and yours have that in spades.

I prefer a more fluid shape though... angular contours turn me off. Maybe that's what turns off the folks you've been talking to, but who knows

Just my opinion- they look really nice and playable though.

 

[blowinblue]

I like 'em. But you know how I feel about Stambaughs. Your Stammies are different, that's for sure. If I didn't know better they could be a regularly available body shape from Chris. They certainly express your design intent. I like the wood choices and the inset wood pickguards. Even though the upper horn looks short, the strap button lines up very close to the 12th fret. Nice. I still contend that Stambaugh's headstock shape is one of the very best (possibly the best) in the business. It looks great regardless of the number of strings. If I owned the two basses in question they'd be played with pride. Of course, they are both missing a B-string.

As for the Fender mentality around here, it is what it is. The Valenti is surely a wonderful bass, but I couldn't get past the headstock shape. It reminds me of the Callowhill J(unk) clone and those A Basses that were around for a while. In fact, that's where many of the Fender cloners fall short, IMHO. In their efforts to improve upon or be different from the Fender headstock silhouette, they end up looking a bit awkward. There, I said it. So sue me! I could name many more and offend hundreds of my fellow TBers, but that can wait for another time. It's all in the eye of the beholder, anyhow. And I would never pay boutique prices for a bass with a non-angled headstock and string retainers. Nope, wouldn't do it.

P.S. If you're ever tempted to sell these basses, don't. You will come to regret it.

M. M.

 

[Jared Lash]

Jared, I own a B-301 so I'm biased.

I think they look great. If the neck feels like the B-30x, then you've really have something there.

Thanks! And just imagine those Guild necks but with a smooth tung oiled finish rather than paint on the back of the neck. Slim, comfortable and FAST.

I really like instruments that allow beautiful wood grain to glow through, and yours have that in spades.

I prefer a more fluid shape though... angular contours turn me off. Maybe that's what turns off the folks you've been talking to, but who knows

Just my opinion- they look really nice and playable though.

Yep, I dig the contrasting woods though I know many people would probably like them more without the "pickguard" inlays. But to me they were a big part of maintaining the lines of the B301/302 that I loved.

Yeah, the angular nature could be a bit much for some I'm sure, but there isn't anyone that I've been talking to that has been "turned off". Like I said to start, I've just gotten very little feedback in general. When I take them to jams or gigs I generally get comments (especially from other bassists) that are much more positive than negative, but as I said this is the first thread where I've gotten more than one or two TBer comments.

 

[WoodyG3]

I like the fretless quite a bit, the wood is beautiful. I don't like the white PG as much on the other bass for some reason. Still, it's a good looking bass. I think since they are "outside the box" designs you'll probably always get mixed reviews.

 

[Jared Lash]

I like 'em. But you know how I feel about Stambaughs. Your Stammies are different, that's for sure. If I didn't know better they could be a regularly available body shape from Chris. They certainly express your design intent. I like the wood choices and the inset wood pickguards. Even though the upper horn looks short, the strap button lines up very close to the 12th fret. Nice. I still contend that Stambaugh's headstock shape is one of the very best (possibly the best) in the business. It looks great regardless of the number of strings. If I owned the two basses in question they'd be played with pride. Of course, they are both missing a B-string.

As for the Fender mentality around here, it is what it is. The Valenti is surely a wonderful bass, but I couldn't get past the headstock shape. It reminds me of the Callowhill J(unk) clone and those A Basses that were around for a while. In fact, that's where many of the Fender cloners fall short, IMHO. In their efforts to improve upon or be different from the Fender headstock silhouette, they end up looking a bit awkward. There, I said it. So sue me! I could name many more and offend hundreds of my fellow TBers, but that can wait for another time. It's all in the eye of the beholder, anyhow. And I would never pay boutique prices for a bass with a non-angled headstock and string retainers. Nope, wouldn't do it.

P.S. If you're ever tempted to sell these basses, don't. You will come to regret it.

M. M.

Yep, I know your feelings on Chris' work. And I agree, especially about his headstock design. And I won't ever sell those two. I've gone through a lot of other basses since I've had them and while I wouldn't go so far as to say they're the best I've played (that's a tossup between a Dingwall Afterburner II and MTD 535) there are so individualized to me that I wouldn't part with them unless I absolutely had to.

I love my Valenti. It looks, sounds and plays great. I'd go back to Nino in a heartbeat for a passive or active Jazz, especially a 5 string. That said, I agree about Fenderesque headstocks. I understand that builders doing Fenderesque basses don't want something radically different from Fender's headstock but that leads to a lot of very odd little variations that never look as good (IMO) as the standard Fender.

Well, the Sadowsky headstock may actually be a slight improvement in my eyes.

I like the fretless quite a bit, the wood is beautiful. I don't like the white PG as much on the other bass for some reason. Still, it's a good looking bass. I think since they are "outside the box" designs you'll probably always get mixed reviews.

Thanks. The fretless was the second of the two and I prefer the look of it too. Of course with a wenge neck, bubinga body and zebrano top it's also MUCH heavier than the fretted (mahogany body, maple neck) which is a feather weight at a bit over 7 lbs.

And I bolded your last statement because I've always realized that would be the case. We all dig different things and that's what makes talking gear so much fun. I'm just glad to actually hear some responses to these basses whether people dig them or not.

 

[tycobb73]

The pickgaurd shape isn't my thing but I love Chris. I will have one someday.

 

[Jared Lash]

The pickgaurd shape isn't my thing but I love Chris. I will have one someday.

IMO he's a phenomenal builder. He picks fantastic woods, is great at picking the options to deliver the tone, look and feel the customer wants, is unbelievably flexible and willing to build almost anything, is a great guy to talk shop with, and even does fantastic inlay work. And his prices are unbelievable given the build quality. I really can't wait to have him start on a third bass for me.


That being said, for anyone who DOESN'T dig the look of my basses, keep in mind that while Chris put his stamp on them and help flesh out the actual shape, they are MY design (well, my take on the old Guild anyway) and what I asked him to build. He can build pretty much whatever is asked so don't view my basses as highly representative of his style.

 

[Korladis]

Immediately saw the Guild B-302 inspiration.

And, since I think those basses look cool, I really dig the look, the twins look awesome.

Visually, only a couple things would be different if those basses had been made for me, instead. That is, no pickguard, and no wooden pickup covers.