When I look at this Stick, it doesn't grab me. It's a 34 inch 10 string iron wood, serial number 272. Asking price is $3,999.

Tell me that I should be paying less money to Stick Enterprises.

https://reverb.com/item/57291264-chapma ... -condition

Something doesn't seem right. The picture shows an instrument with what looks like an adjustable truss (introduced in 89) and the adjustable bridge (introduced in 91). Possibly those things were retrofitted by Emmett. Or it's not ironwood (numbering started over again when Emmett introduced the hardwood models).

It doesn't really matter though. The instrument looks "fine" (they used that word a lot) but there's no universe where anyone should pay that much money for it. Maybe half that.

Thanks.

It's always nice to have my thoughts confirmed by someone who knows more than I do.

That same instrument is also on eBay for the same high price. It’s a lot to pay for a very early example. It has the rounded jumbo frets and the square headstock - and has been upgraded by Emmett.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/CHAPMAN-STICK- ... 4882325522

It's definitely not #272 from the mid 1970's. This must be #272 from around the early 1990s due to Fret rods and scalloped headstock above the nut. The tip of the headstock might not have gone to the rounded style until soon after this instrument was made. Adjustable bridge & truss rod might have been standard by then, but could have been retrofitted.

And yes...you could pay less money to SE for something brand new and better features.

Hmmmph. Ouch

To put things into perspective.

Used 1978 Stick cost me $1200 CAD.
Used Railboard cost me $2500 CAD.

Used Helix Floor cost me $1500 CAD.
New Kemper Stage cost me $2500 CAD.

Playing the Stick/Railboard is an investment.
There are deals out there, but you have to be actively looking.
At the end of the day, having a great tone is worth every penny.

You are definitely 200% correct. It's the reworked brother of my beloved Padouk #351 from 1991. Without new style bridge I paid for him less than $800 in 2000. Looks like I invested my money well for once

On the other hand, if you have GAS and the prospect of waiting 2 years .....

Playing the Stick is a pleasure. The rest is irrelevant.

Is that piece of wood that's been inserted crossways just pickup side of the bridge a standard feature of these models, or is it somthing like a MIDI channel that's been 'filled in' (or pre-prepared for?), or something that might happen during refurb??

I also see what looks a bit like two circular wooden 'plugs' between that crossways piece & the block. One between the two sets of strings, the other between strings 8 & 9.

PS. I recently paid less than that for a 10 string graphite, with PASV4, in near 'mint' condition (nearly 10 years old, but hardly played since bought).