I'm hoping someone can answer this for me... what are the differences if any between say a 10 year old ns and a new one ordered today, specifically the fret rails. Were the old ones rounded fret rods? stainless steel?. I see the new ones seem to be like the pointed tip rails like on my railboard.

Thanks.

From my notes I have that guitar frets were used until August 2010 when the small 1/8" Rails started being used.

I would echo the same. The Rail size changed and Gary has been working with newer finishes and painting techniques as I recall.

Electronics and instrument design are largely the same. Oh, I believe that there may have been graphite necks once upon a time, but Graphite is no longer an option, just wenge and bamboo.

I played one of the first 300 made from 2004 until a few years ago when I sold it back to SE and bought a new one. The old one had bass guitar style frets. The new one has the latest fret rail size (smaller than my 2007 Grand Stick's fret rails). The old one had a Wenge neck and either an ash or alder body, don't recall. My new one is all Wenge, body and neck. I also noticed the spacing between the 4th and 5th strings is not as wide, and has a more normal feel to it as one would expect from a bass guitar. Gene is correct, Graphite came out around 2005, a year after I bought mine used from Steve Osburn.

I have a preference for stainless steel frets, and for a tapping instrument with low action this is a better way to go, as bass guitar frets can wear much quicker, which has happened to me on a few basses and guitars I've had in the past, a bit quicker than desired.

Hi guys and thanks for the info.
Do you know off hand if SE is taking orders at this time?. I would like to order an NS but not sure of their status considering the current state of things in CA and elsewhere. I sent a message to SE but didn't get a reply.

There is a beautiful Walnut NS up for sale on Reverb currently. It has a Graphite neck and older larger frets.

https://reverb.com/item/32960673-chapma ... ent-walnut

Maybe you are already saw this. I think the $2199 price tag is a bit much, but that's only because (for once) I know what I am talking about lol...

Best of luck with the search.

Here is a little bit of history on the Rails - http://stick.com/about/innovation/rails/

That's actually a good question.

I think Cambria is no longer there, so I found dealing with Grace to be much easier, although I believe there's a new guy there named Jeff.

I have an NS with a Bob Moses Graphite neck, and I absolutely love it.

Hi Gene,
I'm pretty sure that's the same one that's on Ebay right now. I'd rather wait for a new one with stainless steel rails and the newer neck profile.
... and i agree, $2199 is a bit much considering the cost of a new one. Still loving my nickle plasma railboard (in your tuning).