I saw this listing today - on eBay.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/354774135428

I see the potential for much confusion and hilarity arising from the seller's omission of a # before the 1997.

Is that a polycarbonate?

I can't see any grain in the material? The top of the headstock looks squared off.

PS. I have no interest as a buyer, Only interested in its historical context...

Yes. Polycarb Stick. Serial #1997, probably built around 1986-87.

Other clues:
- Three large fret marker dots (1990s and later model fret dots each get progressively smaller closer to the bridge)
- Squared off head stock
- The 1980s style of case (with missing foam...expected with that age Stick)
- Non adjustable bridge (all bridges were adjustable by 1991-92)

I still think a Stick this age and condition should be priced around $1200-1800. But in the used Stick market these days, I guess this is a good price.

I noticed that there is a 'Make an Offer' button on the ad.

Thank you Brian.
My #1642 Ironwood is 1985. I appreciate that Stick blanks are prepared in batches and that the serial numbers are allocated at that point rather than the point of supply, but this is within 300 of that & at a long term average of 3 Sticks per week those dates seem very reasonable.


Perhaps time I gave the 'For Sale' for #1642 a nudge? I believed that 1200 GBP was a fair price when I paid it & I have no current plans to ask any more than that (buyer to pay carriage costs).

I'm in no hurry to pass it on (it's a lovely object and has a nice sound), but it's not gettng played here since I've used the adjustability of my newer Sticks to adopt a radically different tuning that an unmodified Ironwood is not capable of adopting.

it's in great condition, but for a bit more, you could have an instrument that was that had flaps, 3-d bridge and a truss (maybe a nicer case even). I tend to agree with Brian on the pricing, seems a bit much.

Here is a bit I did on the polycarb after talking to Emmett a bit about it. Shares a couple of the juicy details on the polycarb, the bit about the fretboard being glued and then bolted on was a pretty gnarly step up from the ironwood.



It was the first real precursor to the Graphite, which led to the Railboard we know and love today.