I realize that this is very likely a delicate topic, but I’m curious what the future holds for Stick Enterprises.

I know that Grace is beyond capable at construction, repairs, and running the business, but she is very obviously short staffed; and with the extremely sad and unfortunate passing of both Emmett and Greg, it’s a very different landscape now in the Stick world.

Wait times for new instruments are understandably long due to the circumstances, but even repairs are estimated at around 2 years, which makes it very challenging for players new and old alike.

With Emmett having been the sole R&D person there, what’s next for the Stick?

That's a very legit question, and hence the high asking prices of the used Stick market.

I honestly don't know.

It's nice that there is such a demand for new instruments, and repairs, but at the same time Grace can't possibly go on forever.

I would say things will continue as they are, until they stop taking deposits for new instruments/repairs/etc....

Where it's the same person doing both new builds & repairs that doesn't seem at all surprising.

If you were waiting for a new instrument would you be impressed if other jobs kept being inserted into the queue ahead of you?

Just a thought...

A legit inquiry. One that comes up a fair bit in recent times. I assume Grace & SE would start to train new people eventually. I'd LOVE to be one of those new people, but no way am I moving to LA!

Stick setup alone is a tricky art. I thought it was easier than expected after trying to change string gauges from Heavy to Mediums. But I started the process wrong, screwing it up even further by the time Grace gave me proper instructions via email. Thus, I'm on the 2 year repair waiting list! Maybe I'll figure it out in the meantime. Thankfully, I have two Sticks.

Almost 25 years ago I had asked Greg Howard the same question about SE. Can it continue on after Emmett? "SE is well equipped to continue on without Emmett" he assured. I can only assume that Grace & Co. have or are making plans for the same.

The SE Patents hold real value. If these Patents did not exist, many companies would be producing Sticks, Railboards, NS Sticks etc.

I live just down the road from S.E. and I'm in fairly frequent contact through email and when and I stick my head in the shop on business. I can assure you things are going well, Grace is working hard, slowly catching up and there is light at the end of the tunnel. I just got a note from Grace a few minutes ago saying as much.

Dude, that's wrong. You can't write this and not share what's going on.

Do tell!

Nothing much to tell. Down a road, stairway up a hill, shop full of Sticks in various stages of completion. Several folks quietly staying to task and recovering admirably from some setbacks. Last time I was over, they had a new type of SKB hardshell case. All black, kinda like a Pelican case - very tough, stout and light. I think there's pictures of it now on their site. https://www.stick.com/shop/accessories/cases/hard/

So yeah Stick Enterprises is very much in business. Be patient folks.

Oh yes. I have that case. It came with my new 10-string Bamboo late summer 2022. I don't know when SE switched over to that kind.

It doesn't look like a Stick case at first. When the delivery guy was unloading it at my house, my first thought was, "Did SE screw up and send me an NS Stick?

It looks like an iseries rifle case (another stickist turned me on to using rifle cases).

NOTE : remember they are fitting foam to specifically fit Chapman Stick and an SKB rifle case without stick-specific fitting is north of $200US anyway.

I think it's a wise move, with enough else going on, using OTS accessories/components could streamline things, leaving resources for the stuff that sort of HAS to be custom


funny thing though. I use panasonic toughbooks a lot - I've been initially hassled at airports
you can't bring this in here
what? a laptop?
oh I thought it was a handgun case