Chapman Sticks.......anyone?

[HalfManHalfBass]

In the newest and cruellest to date attack of GAS, I’m longing to own again (having decided to sell it years ago) a Chapman Stick…..

I’ve seen the new available models like the 8 string bass that is tuned in straight 4ths and the new 10 string grand sticks which puts 10 strings on a 12 string neck meaning a wider string spacing (something that bugged me about my original 10 string model).

There are even some new tunings string sets available which would cure the adjustment difficulties I had to the usual tuning of the bass strings in reversed 5ths and the melody strings in straight 4ths……

So, to help me either succumb to this terrible attack or to cure it by recounting stories of woe, can you please show me pictures of your Chapman Sticks and your set ups please?

[Jazzstick]

Well you seem to have some experience with the stick already. So You know how "different" Emmett's "free hands" technique is. It's really quite revolutionary. So as long as you are willing to approach it as a new instrument/method you should be fine.

As far as string spacing I have a grand stick which has sticgs even closer than the 10 string models. I have big fingers, But I don't have a problem with the spacing

heres a video.

Brett Bottomley plays Portmeirion at the MFA - YouTube

hope this helps.

go to Stickist.com - Portal we have a great friendly community

Brett

[HalfManHalfBass]

Thanks Brett!

Great playing-I watched all your videos and you have great fluidity, musicality and independence!

Thanks for the link to the Stick forum too. I'm wondering if using an uncrossed tuning would be easier for me this time, although that would then limit simultaneous bass and chording possibilities with just the left hand.....

But I have to say I've really missed and love how the bass strings sound on the Stick, they just sound so percussive and powerful - it's a better sound (in my opinion) than traditionally slapped bass and much less tiring on the ear too.

You manage to get a really mellow, jazzy type guitar sound from the melody strings.....it's making me wonder what flatwound/tapewounds would sound like on just the melody side........

Great stuff and many thanks again!

[Stick_Player]

Been playing one for a long time. I have an Alto Stick MIDI'd. Use the Roland GR-20, a MotionSound rotary speaker, scads of pedals a VOX AC30 cabinet, and a custom VOX AC100 for the bass-side. Lotsa sounds and fun!

[Tituscrow]

Doesn't Nick Beggs ply his trade on one of these things nowadays?

[Roscoe East]

Originally Posted by Tituscrow

Doesn't Nick Beggs ply his trade on one of these things nowadays?

Yes. I saw him in John Paul Jones' band a few years back, & Nick played Stick almost exclusively. Was pretty cool: When Jonesy was playing bass, Nick was on the top half of his Stick, & when Jones switched to mandolin or pedal steel or ukelele (!) Nick would handle the basslines on his Stick.

[ThingsAbove]

Originally Posted by HalfManHalfBass

In the newest and cruellest to date attack of GAS, I’m longing to own again (having decided to sell it years ago) a Chapman Stick…..

I’ve seen the new available models like the 8 string bass that is tuned in straight 4ths and the new 10 string grand sticks which puts 10 strings on a 12 string neck meaning a wider string spacing (something that bugged me about my original 10 string model).

There are even some new tunings string sets available which would cure the adjustment difficulties I had to the usual tuning of the bass strings in reversed 5ths and the melody strings in straight 4ths……

So, to help me either succumb to this terrible attack or to cure it by recounting stories of woe, can you please show me pictures of your Chapman Sticks and your set ups please?

I have pictures of my NS/Stick that is for sale in the classifieds forum on the Stickist web site.

Stickist.com - Photo Gallery

I have my NS/Stick tuned in 4ths with the 7th string as a 3rd to make the highest six strings correspond to a guitar tuning a 5th low.