Arrg! I never know what to write in here! OK! here goes......
My name's Eric and I've been playing acoustic guitar for about 45 years. I started out in the 1960's folk scene in the UK, where if you knew three chords an three songs they let you in without paying the door charge and gave you a beer for performing. My musical influences range from Tommy Emmanuel to Jake Thackery.
I am currently a Stickless wanna-be, and am in the market for a 10 or 12 String Grand so any advice/leads would be welcome.

Cheers, Eric

Hi Eric, welcome to the show. There are plenty of new Stickists here that can give you some good advice.

My 2 cents would be regularly troll eBay for good deals and the Stick.com site to see and hear all the different models.

I like the 10-string with medium gauge strings and ACTV-2 pickups.

Welcome Eric.

As Gene says, keep an eye on ebay (although this would be my last option) and stick.com. There is also a classifieds section on this site where you can get lucky too. Emmett usually has some reserve sticks ready to go on his site as well. If I was to buy again I would go directly to the source because you know it will come out of the shop set up properly and you wont have to do much fiddling when it gets to your door.
When deciding 10 or 12, dont think that 10 isnt enough or 12 is too much; you will get used to whatever stick you buy. It was luck of draw when I got my used 12 because if there was a 10 for sale at the time I would have bought it..
The Railboard will be coming out as well in the future, just not sure when. Have you seen Emmetts demo? This will most likely be a less costly instrument due to the easier construction methods.

Good luck man,
cheers,
kev

Welcome, Eric!

The Reserve list - right!? Silly me - yeah KC, that is the path. The reserve list is money because you get an instrument that has been setup and attended to by Stick Enterprises.
http://www.stick.com/instruments/reserve/

So you are looking at a difference of about $1000 if you go that route but you are guaranteed an excellent instrument.

You can also buy a used Sticks at SE that offer a better cost savings, generally older 34" models - although I do see a pretty bitchen 12'r on there as of now:

http://www.stick.com/instruments/used/current_used.html
12-STRING GRAND STICKS
#5829 - 7/09, 36" scale, wenge, PASV-4, MIDI-melody, divided truss rod,
smokey gray Gotoh tuners, glow linear inlays and molded SKB hard shell case.
Choice of an Grand Stick tunings in any gauge.
$3,100.

It's like purchasing a previously owned car through the manufacturer.

Except it's a Stick!

Welcome! have been a stick owner for about a month and a half and been on the forum for about 2 months. When i decided to buy a stick,( I had never physically held one or seen one in person) I almost bought one through ebay but the buy now button malfuctioned and wouldn't accept my bid...after that I called SE and they happened to have a 12 string grand wenge, all I needed to do was decide the pickup and strings and tunings. What was great, when looking at the sight previously my favorite wood was the wenge so this was the exact stick I would have ordered. I had my stick in a week when you usually have to wait 3-5 months from what I understand for a custom instrument. It cost about 1000.00 more than the ebay one but was brand new, came perfectly set up, IN TUNE!, and with a warranty. Getting a used one would have meant changing the strings, trying to set it up correctly, etc. Although not the end of the world, not something I wanted to deal with. I wanted to plug it in and play. I have never regretted paying more as I play this everyday and I feel I am worth it. They are incredible instruments as you feel when you get one in your hands and certainly worth the price. That's my experience for what it's worth. My only regret when I got it was, why didn't I do this 25 years ago! (Have been a pro bassist for 40 years). I love this thing! Good luck on whatever route you choose and this forum is a wonderful resource with many people much more experienced than myself willing to answer any questions you have.
Peace,
Tom

Hey!

Welcome!


I know exactly what you are going through, its tough but well worth the struggle of finding a Stick! I'm on the next production run for 12 string grand which means my 2007 Carney wood 10 string stick needs a good home. I love this instrument but I can't afford to have two sticks and its not setup (baritone melody) for my playing style and music. I'm looking out about 3-5 months but when my grand goes into production i will be putting her up for sale.

If she is played and loved as I have loved her then I could part with her!

Steve

Thanks for the warm welcome guys, and for the advice.
Some excellent news today, I was second on the buyer list for the recon #5829 Grand 12 string on SE. Cambria emailed me today that the other guy decided not to take it, so.......It's now mine . I've just got of the phone with her and it should take a couple of weeks until it's ready for shipping.
I'm having it set up in classic 6+6 tuning with medium gauge.
Although they're including a copy of Emmett's 'Free Hands' Book and I've also ordered a set of Greg's 'Basic Free Hands' DVD as well. No doubt, I'll be getting all the tutorial books out there eventually, but I figure that those two should keep me busy for quite some time.
Now all I have to do is stay sane for the next couple of weeks!

Thanks again to all.
Eric

Eric where are you from? you mentioned the UK if so what part?

Brett

Eric thats great news man! Straight outta the shop dude! Doesnt get much better does it? In my opinion this is the best route you could take.
What wood is it? Please keep us posted with pics when it shows up.

Have fun man, and have lots pf patience too.......

cheers,
kev