Hi folks,

Just joined and posted in introductions but have an interesting observation regarding my new (to me) Stick.

White polycarbonate model #2508.

As stated in my intro post it arrived in pretty poor nick but I won't bore you with repetition.

The instrument has a strange tuning, it arrived way out of tune with dodgy non standard strings. Having strung it up with fresh strings, the intonation set up correlates with classic tuning but with the bass and treble courses reversed, bass runs lowest string in the middle of the neck but strings go away from the players body. Treble, however, runs with it's lowest string on the outside of the fingerboard and highest in the middle hmm.... It's like treble stacked on bass.

I tried to ask Stick Enterprises about this a couple times when I contacted them to order parts but didn't really get any joy - I'm not sure they quite understood.

The bridge pins (no adjustable bridge) look factory fitted and judging by the patina of it, doesn't look like it has been refurbished. Some string slots have been enlarged and others reduced with nice little glued in metal inserts.

I'm interested to know whether this may have been a special order at the time. From a historical perspective it would be interesting to keep the same but it is difficult to play in this configuration and I would rather change it to regular classic tuning.

Anyone know anything that may be of use? The instrument came to me from Greece - at that price it was my contribution to their economy!

Time to learn about thermoplastic repairs....

Ciao,

Tim

ok give us the exact "open" string tuning that is on there now,. starting with the outermost string and moving inward (If you are looking at the stick on a stand, the string to the right)

I could be a custom tuning however, it is very likely that this was someones experimental tuning, If that is the case, they may have done some damage to the instrument. Sticks should have uniformly LOW action, really low. the instrument should be as flat as possible.

If you could take some detailed pics of the instrument it may help us figure out the problems as well.

Brett

out of curiosity, what possible damage could be caused to a Stick by changing the tuning?

Welcome, Tim! Sorry you're having problems--but you're in good hands here on this forum.



I'm an NS guy myself, but this sounds like an uncrossed tuning. When I first started tapping I was using a borrowed Megatar with the strings like that--only all 4ths. FWIH pianists sometimes prefer playing this way, something about mentally keeping the hands separate.

Guys help me out here--I thought I heard at some point the early Polycarbs didn't have truss rods?

Tim, if you can post pictures that may help us get a better idea of the issues you're having more quickly.

The only white polycarbonate Stick I ever saw is Carrie Melbourne's instrument. At the time this picture was taken, it looked quite normally tuned.

You sound like you might have the skill set to do the work yourself, but:



Probably best to just let the dust of time cover the past and resurrect this baby as
best you can

The key question; is there a truss rod? If not, then sending it all the way to California
(Stick Enterprises) would be best, but what the hell You can make this thing
work I can just feel it .

If I were to recommend as strategy it would be; go back to the classic string
configuration, but tune it down to "Matched Reciprocal"(that would just change the melody strings not the bass)...Send us a picture, for 'historical reasons We like to document stuff like that No really, we want to see it, good luck.
.*J*
..~

Hi Tim.

Sounds like you have an interesting Stick whichever way you look at it. The polycarbs are like a renegade creation from the land before time. Looking forward to hearing you play.


Where are you based?

Hi all, thanks for the comments.

I got word back from Stick Enterprises earlier today. They said that it has had several owners and left the factory in classic tuning. I am guessing that the modifications were done by SE as the work seems to be of a high standard. There goes the historical preservation....

I will be returning it to original, I just need to find info on what to use to fill holes in polycarbonate. I'm thinking that epoxy will be too hard, I need to find something softer that will still hold the screw threads. The intonation positions can be easily copied from the existing ones. Match up the paint and away we go.

I have been toying with the idea of installing a truss rod myself..... probably just jigs and a slow speed on the router (he says the smell of melting plastic in his nostrils!) but it needs fret work and I'm afraid so I'll save up and send it to the US eventually.

Two pics in the gallery labelled 'White polycarb' 1 and 2 should show what is happening.

Radkon, I'm in Melbourne but it's gonna be quite a while before I let anybody hear what I can do!

Cheers,

Tim

Sorry, forgot to mention - no truss rod, tuning (left to right from front of neck) F# B E A D LowC G D A E.

Cheers

I had two of these white instruments during the late 80s. Cool ax.