Stambaugh Designs still in business?

[Bassworship1]

With many reported incidents like this I would have to say if someone knowingly went into a build with him after reading these negative reviews then they are asking for trouble.

 

[rockosocko]

You make a good point Jason, but I gave Chris my deposit in 2015. You sent yours two years later, yet you got your bass in August while I'm still waiting for mine. There is no proper explanation for that.

 

[Bikeguy57]

Every one of these threads has the same excuses. "He sucks at email","Sometimes he takes a month to return his emails". What? Work on your guitars during the day, come home, pop a cold one and spend a half an hour answering emails. This is how it's done in the 21st century. No excuse.

 

[rockosocko]

And that is a great point. I am a business owner and I receive a great many emails, to which i make it a point to respond to each and every one of them within 24 hours. It is the right thing to do and let's my customers know that I appreciate their business and they made the right choice in doing business with me.

 

[ENDEENDEA]

I Totally Love Mine ,,,A Very Rare Lefty 8'er But I Bought It Used On ''Reverb''.
That's The Way I Prefer It.
Good Luck To Those Out There That Are Waiting,!!

 

[ENDEENDEA]

The Back,,,,,,Neck Through.!!

 

[dylanjohnson]

The trade off here is that Chris is perhaps the only luthier I know who seems to literally make ANYTHING for people. The instruments I've seen here over the years are at times ridiculously wild and ultra detailed for every one of the client's whims. Is there any other luthier who does this?

 

[spade2you]

The trade off here is that Chris is perhaps the only luthier I know who seems to literally make ANYTHING for people. The instruments I've seen here over the years are at times ridiculously wild and ultra detailed for every one of the client's whims. Is there any other luthier who does this?

Without paying 2-3x as much? Probably not.

 

[Spencer Rayner]

The trade off here is that Chris is perhaps the only luthier I know who seems to literally make ANYTHING for people. The instruments I've seen here over the years are at times ridiculously wild and ultra detailed for every one of the client's whims. Is there any other luthier who does this?

Every other luthier I contacted wouldn't budge on some of my specs, other than ordering a $15k Fodera, I'm kinda eff'd. The biggest problem was they wouldn't change their stock ugly headstock design; some wouldn't respond at all, or ghost after the first reply; some refused to use the mike pope preamp. I guess I gotta wait.

Price, Time, Quality. You only ever get two. You get an absolutely great price for a killing instrument. You just gotta wait.

 

[Marcus Willett]

...The biggest problem was they wouldn't change their stock ugly headstock design...

I had a headstock design (kind of a mashup of a couple different existing ones) that I used for my Stambaugh builds. Even Chris was a bit reluctant, stating he preferred to use his own original design but we talked a while and he basically said “...well if you feel that strongly about it, I’m not gonna argue with you: I’ll build it”

I did and he did.

To the OP, I really hope Chris makes this right for you, or at least as much as is possible at this point. He is slow, and doesn’t communicate with his customers well but your situation is indefensible.

 

[Snaxster]

To the OP, I really hope Chris makes this right for you, or at least as much as is possible at this point. He is slow, and doesn’t communicate with his customers well but your situation is indefensible.

indefensible | ˌindəˈfensəb(ə)l |
adjective
1 not justifiable by argument: the policy of apartheid was morally indefensible.
2 not able to be protected against attack: the towns were tactically indefensible.

 

[Marcus Willett]

indefensible | ˌindəˈfensəb(ə)l |
adjective
1 not justifiable by argument: the policy of apartheid was morally indefensible.
2 not able to be protected against attack: the towns were tactically indefensible.

I understand what the word means, and you obviously know what I meant but let’s try it this way:


His excuses are indefensible.

 

[Snaxster]

I understand what the word means, and you obviously know what I meant but let’s try it this way:


His excuses are indefensible.

Hello. Actually, no, I didn't understand that you meant that, based on the wording alone. But I am sorry for the interruption. Please carry on...

 

[Marcus Willett]

Hello. Actually, no, I didn't understand that you meant that, based on the wording alone. But I am sorry for the interruption. Please carry on...

Not to be argumentative (and no bad feelings intended really, just having fun) but c’mon...you REALLY couldn’t figure out what the gist of that statement was from the context? The use of that word made it completely indecipherable to you?

 

[Snaxster]

Not to be argumentative (and no bad feelings intended really, just having fun) but c’mon...you REALLY couldn’t figure out what the gist of that statement was from the context? The use of that word made it completely indecipherable to you?

Thank you, Marcus. I meant my first post only in good fun. But, yes, that's correct. As I read it context, "your situation is indefensible" has "indefensible" refer to situation, but places the onus on the subject of "your", the OP. So the usage seemed to be either joking or in error. Sorry, man... that's how I read it.

 

[Marcus Willett]

Thank you, Marcus. I meant my first post only in good fun. But, yes, that's correct. As I read it context, "your situation is indefensible" has "indefensible" refer to situation, but places the onus on the subject of "your", the OP. So the usage seemed to be either joking or in error. Sorry, man... that's how I read it.

No worries. I’m a big fan of Chris’ work but he REALLY needs to communicate better with buyers. I’m sure the OP will never buy from him again and will tell anyone who asks him the same, and I can’t blame him and that’s a shame all around.

 

[blowinblue]

I had a headstock design (kind of a mashup of a couple different existing ones) that I used for my Stambaugh builds. Even Chris was a bit reluctant, stating he preferred to use his own original design but we talked a while and he basically said “...well if you feel that strongly about it, I’m not gonna argue with you: I’ll build it”

Interesting that you brought up headstock design. I have long been of the opinion that Chris' headstock shape is one of the all-time best. It looks good whether it's attached to a 4, 5, 6, or 7 string bass. It looks cool and puts a straight pull on the strings. A simple stroke of genius. I never felt like it could be improved upon. Here's a pic of mine. Built in 2004.



M. M.

 

[bluesblaster]

One of the better looking headstocks in the business IMO

 

[Spencer Rayner]

Interesting that you brought up headstock design. I have long been of the opinion that Chris' headstock shape is one of the all-time best. It looks good whether it's attached to a 4, 5, 6, or 7 string bass. It looks cool and puts a straight pull on the strings. A simple stroke of genius. I never felt like it could be improved upon. Here's a pic of mine. Built in 2004.

View attachment 3610277

M. M.

Yeah I like his headstock design, but I want a 6 string p bass essentially, and I want the headstock to look so.

 

[blowinblue]

Yeah I like his headstock design, but I want a 6 string p bass essentially, and I want the headstock to look so.

He made a P-bass headstock for me, too. Because it was going on a P-bass. I totally understand. This one was a 2005 build. I still own both basses that Chris built for me.



M. M.