Stambaugh Designs

Welcome to the new Stambaugh Musical Designs website. A number of years have passed since the original site was launched. The business has grown and evolved through the years. SMD is still owned and operated by myself, Chris Stambaugh. Every instrument is still entirely handcrafted in my workshop in New Hampshire, USA.

It had been a challenging project to attempt to encapsulate the variety of instruments that are being produced on a single coherent website. Although electric bass guitars have always been the dominant focus of the business, electric guitars play an important role. In the past few years, chambered and semi-acoustic instruments have grown in popularity. The most frequent comment among customers has always been “You do so much more than what your website shows!” As one of the few makers to offer fully custom work, the variety of designs that have been made through the years has been too large to comprehensively catalog. It is important for potential clients to realize that, although they may not see their personal vision on the site, it is quite likely not a problem to achieve.

There were four goals when designing this website. The first was simply to demonstrate and display more current examples of what Stambaugh Musical Designs does on a daily basis. The second was to launch a series of “models” to help clients have a starting point for creating their own personal custom designs. The third was to introduce a line of stock instruments, available for either immediate purchase or short timeframe ordering. The fourth goal was to display the rapidly growing community of SMD players and supporters. The intent was to create a site that would allow players to feel informed and comfortable with the concept of creating a custom instrument. As with all websites, the content will continue to grow and evolve over time.

There are a lot of different sections to the website, as the Main Menu demonstrates. For new visitors, I suggest starting with either the Guitar or Bass sections for an introduction to the types of instruments that are available. Each of these is divided into a variety of models. Some of these are actual stock designs, available for purchase, while others have been created to act as templates for custom orders.

Much of the website is devoted to exploring the community of SMD owners and their creations. The Photo Gallery is simply a general selection of past instruments that help to show the immense variety of work that has been accomplished through the years. There is a separate Gallery of Inlays within the Inlay page. For a more in-depth look at some of the players and their collections, there is the Client Profile section. Many of these profiles include audio, and even video, clips of the players using their instruments. This has been a collaborative effort with players that will hopefully continue to expand.

I started making custom guitars and basses under the Stambaugh name roughly 15 years ago. It is amazing how the industry has evolved in this time. The internet has allowed for a whole new community of makers to offer themselves as professional luthiers to the world community. It is no longer necessary for a maker to distribute through retailers to sell instruments. This, inevitably, is a double-edged sword for the consumer. Good retail stores have always acted as a filter for their customers; as they rely on repeat local business to support themselves. Without this filter, it is much easier for a maker of inferior quality to continue to sell instruments to unsuspecting, first time buyers.

As an experienced maker, the most troubling aspect of this situation is the knowledge that a surprising number of so-called professionals have only made a handful of instruments. It’s fine to sell these early instruments, though a bit of a gamble. I certainly did when I was starting out. The difference is that I sold them locally, for a small amount above what they cost me in parts. If there were any problems due to my inexperience, I would know of them and deal with them personally. There is a learning curve when building a very complex piece of equipment out of wood. There are “makers” out there that have made less than 5 instruments, and are charging over $5000 for their work. This is a level of absurdity that can only exist in a world of virtual hype and promotion. Not only is there a very good chance that there will be problems with these early creations, but the lack of an established business model can mean the buyer may find the maker no longer makes instruments - or supports what he has created - five years down the road. Both the consumers and professionals suffer in this situation. The consumer can get stuck with an incredibly overpriced lemon that has no resale value, and the pool of business for professional makers is watered down by the over-eager amateurs. The expression ‘caveat emptor’ (buyer beware) has existed a long time, and remains as relevant today as it has always been.

My pricing has always been based on my awareness of my own level of experience and craftsmanship. My business is unique in a way that benefits both my customers and myself. Unlike most custom or high-end makers, I do not sell through retailers. This was not a conscious decision, but rather the result of building a large direct clientele that has keep me very busy at all times. This is an advantage in a few ways, for both me and my clients. I am able to charge what are essentially wholesale prices to my retail customers. A bass that I charge $2500 for would retail for $4000, and is comparable in quality to basses in that price range. Going direct also means the client can deal with me personally, and know they’ve communicated their needs to the right person. It also means that if there are problems, they can get me on the phone directly to deal with them. The personal connection has always been an important part of the reason that many players decide to “go custom” in the first place.