Folks, I find myself at something of an existential crossroads whilst I wait for my spare (mostly guitar) gear to sell—the proceeds from which will allow me to pay off my invention-related debts.

I had decided to sell absolutely all of my gear, in order to afford an SG-12, until a few days ago. My resolve weakened when some friends in San Diego announced that they want to help me move there, such that I can establish and run a medicinal cannabis garden for us (with them handling the bulk of the physical labor). Said garden may well serve as job training for commercial growing, provided Prop 64 passes and is not undercut by political maneuvering (what happened in Washington was a travesty). “What does all of that have to do with Stick equipment,” you ask? Read on.

When Greg and I were discussing the possibility of him coming to my house to let me try some Sticks, more than two years ago, he seemed confused when I could not recommend any potential gig venues. He asked, “Rob, if you do not mind my asking, what do you do?” To which I replied, “Well, I had not really thought of it this way…but I guess I sit at home and endure extreme pain.” All of my Stick planning over the years has been based on consigning myself to that life, making music as both a means of distraction and a way to process emotionally the various implications and consequences of that existence. Now that it may be possible for me to escape from this torturous prison, I have to think more pragmatically about costs.



Obtaining a guitar which I can play comfortably will cost somewhere between $600 and $950, depending on what is available when I have the money (the latter number represents assembling my own guitar from parts, with assistance from my father). That would allow me to keep something like $2,000—after repaying my debts—with which to move to San Diego. It is entirely possible than I will need the additional $1,550–$1,900 which I could raise by selling my guitar rig and not buying said guitar in order to establish the garden (which would happen ASAP, so that the soil can “cook” for as long as possible). As these numbers indicate, I have to choose: do I work to play the Chapman Stick, or do I work for a better life?



It seems safe to assume that everyone here came to the Stick from a different instrument: how did you decide when to make the transition? How did the prospect of replacing some or all of your equipment affect that decision? Were you faced with the choice between giving up music and improving your life, how would you view the former?



Whereas I do not expect any of you to tell me who I am, I acknowledge that all of you have been on some part of this road: I would appreciate any perspective you can provide.

Rob,

Although I can relate on some points, your situation is pretty extreme. I came from bass guitar and piano. From the standpoint of mobility, creativity and playing in a small group or solo, the Stick attracted me. It is more personal than a piano when playing to an audience. It is more mobile than a keyboard. The bass guitar, although very fun, requires a group to play with and that group usually wants the bass guitar in a pocket instead of out front. Also, I am not a fan of most solo performances, as they all tend to sound the same. So, I wanted a Stick.

I had to compare my ability to find time and maintain my family health budget as well. My wife is disabled from Ehlers Danlos and my son has autism. Neither of these conditions are covered well by insurance. By example, "Oh, your wife's teeth are falling out because her gums are affected by EDS. Too bad, if it had been diabetes..." "Oh, your son needs speech therapy, well if he had a stroke..." So from a money vs. health standpoint, I completely hear you. From a time standpoint, my wife can only do so much in a day without hurting more than a human should, so I often have to sacrifice practice time for family care.

Bottom line: Health comes first. My personal philosophy is that meeting your basic needs as well as possible reduces the pull in other directions that never quite satisfy. If you have clean air, clean water, comfortable clothes, good food, and a nice place to live, there isn't so much to escape from. If you can spend more time feeling yourself instead of feeling trapped in pain, no amount of musical expression can equal that. I would like you to have an SG12, but not at the expense of feeling human.

Thanks for that, Daniel. Perhaps the only help I can offer is medicinal cannabis advice, and you are welcome to all I can provide when the time comes.

Personal health and well being is a priority over everything else.


I have to ask, why don't you get a really inexpensive guitar that is still well built that you could turn into a tapping machine? Y'know a Peavey "Raptor" and get it SET UP to shred. I have an old Fender Mustang that I bought on sale for $135.00 back before they got a bit more popular, and that thing is set up to FLY. At the end of the day, it's a piece of wood with strings on it and depending on how you set that thing up, it could be a real piece of kit! I know it's not an SG12, but you can still tap on a guitar. Partyzant, Adam Fulara, Stanley Jordan, Chris Broderick.
Same thing with your amp, get something super cheap that works. Some folks on kijiji give that sort of stuff away... A guitar that is 6-800 bucks is usually not too much better than one that is even cheaper... You can upgrade once you are feeling better.

I have this friend who plays guitar and he has a "series A" from the 80's that he will NOT part with...

And hey, if it's tapping you want to get into, and you want a tapper, how about one of those "Krappy" tappers? They look pretty inexpensive and you can pursue your tapping goals...

As for life on a farm, well it ain't easy. Lots of work. The good news is that the plant you are looking at will grow relatively easily in all kinds of conditions.

Anyways good luck, man.

I must have missed something... i thought you had a Stick and were playing it?? Your health and well being trump everything else... all the best

Guitar necks are too narrow for me to tap with Free Hands, and tapping in the typical guitarist style kills my wrists. I need an exceedingly short scale length to play guitar, which is why the lower end of the price spectrum I mentioned is represented by a used Fender Pawn Shop Mustang Special.

Ahhh I see. Gotta love those Mustangs!

If you find out anything good about managing chronic pain from EDS, which is mainly connective tissue and joint issues, let me know. Being in NC, we are a bit restricted and looking for something that works, is legal and doesn't come with a high. The specialist in Chicago actually asked us if marijuana was legal where we live, because treating chronic pain is such a nightmare.

Rob, an anecdote: while I was in a nursing home, in a wheelchair, (for 3 years!) waiting for total hip replacement surgery (both), I had my sister bring me my old Stick. The only way I could play it without pain was flat on my back. (and it took me three days to change the strings). But there are still times when practicing/playing takes it's toll on my back. (I have 3 different chairs in my room.) But it is still playing, and thinking, MUSIC, that keeps me sane.