NBD - A pair of Stambaughs

[warwick.hoy]

5 way with single coils makes me think of how much I love the sound of a Strat with the Middle and Neck pickups selected.

Is that an apples and oranges comparison (color humor) or fuji apples and granny smith apples comparison?

 

[madbassplaya]

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.



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.

Off topic:

Seems you're a stainless guy? Try the balanced Nickel XL's if you get a chance. I am really digging those.

 

[madbassplaya]

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.

I bet they do!

 

[TimBosby]

Those basses are stunning, but those of us who know Stambaugh would expect nothing less than the best.

I like that inlay too. It's a cool design, and meaningful, but small enough to not get in the way of the design/features. Nicely done.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY...

Chris includes homebrew with basses now?!

*tries to think of a really good reason not to sell 2-3 basses so he can afford another Stambaugh*

 

[P. Aaron]

The silver one is most awesome! Congrats!

 

[jordanm]

Awesome, almost look like they came off a high quality prouction line, but so far from it. Great build ideas and it looks like Chris nailed it as always.

 

[Jared Lash]

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

Yeah, if that whole "money" thing weren't an issue I think I'd always have something in the hopper from Chris. It's an addictive thing to have a quality builder with very reasonable prices who will build pretty much anything you want.

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.

I definitely know (and have used) Bass Strings Online and will give Jason business again. But I wasn't expecting to dig the Mangans as much as I have. So until he carries them or I get the urge to try something new (which I'm sure I will) I'll have to order strings from the Stambaugh or Mangan shop.

That inlay of your wife's ring is really touching

I thought it was a nice touch. And I'm glad it ended up where it did, on the back of the headstock. Nice little reminder for me when I play.

5 way with single coils makes me think of how much I love the sound of a Strat with the Middle and Neck pickups selected.

Is that an apples and oranges comparison (color humor) or fuji apples and granny smith apples comparison?

Let's call it oranges to tangerines. Pretty close in terms of how the tone is affected. The soloed single coils are bright, clean and deep with the two humbucking pairs giving very noticeable warmth and compression to the sound. Just like with a Strat, I like the neck/middle pair more than the middle/neck set.

Neck pickup soloed is single coil P like. Middle soloed is very Ric-ish. Bridge soloed is like a clearer jazz bridge. The neck/middle combo is much more modern sounding. The middle/bridge combo is my favorite for slap.

Those basses are stunning, but those of us who know Stambaugh would expect nothing less than the best.

I like that inlay too. It's a cool design, and meaningful, but small enough to not get in the way of the design/features. Nicely done.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY...

Chris includes homebrew with basses now?!

*tries to think of a really good reason not to sell 2-3 basses so he can afford another Stambaugh*

Thanks!

Well,anyone looking for me to dissuade them from getting a Stambaugh is going to find an enabler instead. Love his work.

And yeah, I think if you twisted Chris' arm he might send out more homebrew. Strangely enough he shipped the box with the beer and glasses at the exact same time as the orange bass and yet the boozy box showed up Saturday and the bass yesterday. Weird.

As a side note, I tried the belgian tripel he sent last night - really tasty. I'm saving the dopplebock which has a handwritten label note that reads, "Dopplebock Delight. My most precious-est of creations"

 

[Jared Lash]

The silver one is most awesome! Congrats!

Thanks. I'm still torn on which I like more, which is a very good thing.

Awesome, almost look like they came off a high quality production line, but so far from it. Great build ideas and it looks like Chris nailed it as always.

Thanks

That was exactly the vibe I wanted to get. Sort of modern/vintage and able to fit in anywhere but with Chris' shapes and build quality.

And for anyone that doesn't know, jordanm owns one of the baddest and distinctive Stambaughs around. Here's his flying V:

 

[SirMjac28]

Two of the best looking basses I have seen all year.

 

[placedesjardins]

Well, they seem to hit on opposite spectrums of my subjective opinion. I love the orange one. I hate the silver one.

 

[Jared Lash]

Two of the best looking basses I have seen all year.

Thanks!

Well, they seem to hit on opposite spectrums of my subjective opinion. I love the orange one. I hate the silver one.

Interesting, I wonder why that is?

 

[smperry]

Wow, these both came out great!

 

[Jared Lash]

Wow, these both came out great!

Thanks.

I was anxious to see how they'd turn out since I only really had my sketches and ideas in my head but Chris really exceeded my expectations.

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

Just got an answer from the man himself. Curt Mangan said, "We are firm believers that hex core offers superior intonation and use it on all our strings"

 

[Orangeclawhammr]

Both are beauties, but I'm a sucker for anything orange.

 

[madbassplaya]

D@mn I love those headstocks!

 

[Thomas Kievit]

Beautiful basses mate!! I wish you all the best and a lot of fun with them!

 

[jasonbraatz]

Yeah, if that whole "money" thing weren't an issue I think I'd always have something in the hopper from Chris. It's an addictive thing to have a quality builder with very reasonable prices who will build pretty much anything you want.

Yuuuuup. Seeing great basses like yours come out doesn't help, either.

I'd love to get another one in the chute but I need to get my amplification situation situated first.

 

[TapyTap]

Seems you're a stainless guy?

You are correct.

Try the balanced Nickel XL's if you get a chance. I am really digging those.

Thanks. I might just do that.

 

[TapyTap]

I definitely know (and have used) Bass Strings Online and will give Jason business again. But I wasn't expecting to dig the Mangans as much as I have. So until he carries them or I get the urge to try something new (which I'm sure I will) I'll have to order strings from the Stambaugh or Mangan shop.

Wow, this makes the Mangans even more intriguing now...

Just got an answer from the man himself. Curt Mangan said, "We are firm believers that hex core offers superior intonation and use it on all our strings"

Thank you for asking him the question. It looks like I'll be adding the Mangan's to my list of strings to try. How do you think the Mangan stainless steel round wounds compare to D'Addario ProSteels both in timbre and feel?

D@mn I love those headstocks!

Chris makes the best headstocks!

 

[Jared Lash]

Both are beauties, but I'm a sucker for anything orange.

Me too. And it's a very cool orange in person.

D@mn I love those headstocks!

I'm biased, but I love Chris' headstock shape. Cool and functional. And I think it looks even better painted.

Beautiful basses mate!! I wish you all the best and a lot of fun with them!

Thanks, and I'm definitely having fun with them so far.

Yuuuuup. Seeing great basses like yours come out doesn't help, either.

I'd love to get another one in the chute but I need to get my amplification situation situated first.

The wait for the Baer Valkryie shouldn't be too much longer! I definitely want one too, though the new Mesa tube amps are calling my name as well.

Wow, this makes the Mangans even more intriguing now...

Thank you for asking him the question. It looks like I'll be adding the Mangan's to my list of strings to try. How do you think the Mangan stainless steel round wounds compare to D'Addario ProSteels both in timbre and feel?

Chris makes the best headstocks!

Again, I agree on the headstocks. As for how Mangans compare to the ProSteels it's been long enough since I tried them AND obviously I haven't used them on these basses that I don't think I could really give an opinion other than that I like both strings.

Eventually I'm sure I'll try other strings with these basses and have a better idea. But I'm very much of the mind that while there are a lot of good strings, some just flat out sound better with some basses than others.