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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!eagle!mhuxi!houxm!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!CSvax:cak
From: CSvax:cak@pur-ee.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: bass players, and the Stick
Message-ID: <605@purdue.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 11-Oct-83 23:39:21 EDT
Article-I.D.: purdue.605
Posted: Tue Oct 11 23:39:21 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 13-Oct-83 07:05:20 EDT
References: ihu1f.193
Lines: 30

The Chapman Stick is an instrument invented and marketed by Emmett
Chapman, somewhere in Southern California. All the detailed information
is not at hand, but I can tell you some things about it:

It is a ten-stringed, fretted instrument, with very low string
tension.  It was designed as an electric instrument, rather than being
an acoustic instrument adapted to electronics.  The playing technique
is "tapping" -- tap in the desired fret to make the string sound. All
the normal effects such as bends, slides, and such are possible.
Strings are tuned in fifths, and the lowest strings are in the center;
thus when wearing the Stick (there is a hook on the back which you
place on your belt, and a strap that loops around your right shoulder,
so playing position is close to vertical), the left hand operates the
treble strings, which are arranged as a traditional guitar might be,
and the right hand plays the bass strings, arranged in an inverted
fashion from the traditional bass. The instrument is usually played
with some effects; at least a wah and a fuzz.

There is a stereo pickup, one channel for bass and the other for
treble.  Chapman has developed a teaching method and a tablature for
stick music, as well. As I recall, the price was about $700 a few years
ago, the instrument is nicely made of wood and comes with case and
stereo cord.

It's a pretty fascinating instrument, overall. If you're interested in
more info, Chapman usually runs ads in Guitar Player (or at least he
used to).

Cheers,
Chris Kent, Purdue CS