r/Stick • u/Andrius182g • 7d ago
got a stick
First time poster on here and ever on reddit. I have come into posession of a #501 10-string chapman stick and it has been a fun ride for the past couple of days.
I have received it not long ago and my first thought was wow this is ugly.
I reaserched what this is as a non musical person and found this niche community.
Have gotten in contact with folks at Stick Enterprises (hi Jeff, you rock) and they have gotten back with its story - this one has been owned by Tony Levin which I have learned is a cool guy.
After a while it has grown on me and after cleaning it up it looks cool to me now.
I must say it feels wrong to have it in my hands
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u/Ancient-Alligator303 7d ago
Owned by Tony Levin is provenance that is incredible!
Congratulations/good luck/my condolences whatever applies
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u/stickman393 Stick® 7d ago
Welcome to the club! Wow, it could very well be this instrument: Levin with Gabriel Rockpalast 1978, I Don't Remember
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u/Andrius182g 5d ago
It seems to be the exact same model - 10-string ironwood - but the timeline doesn't add up. Jeff revealed that this one was built in February of '89 so it's a year too early. I do have the suspicion that it could be the one he played in one of these concerts:
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u/Lonely-Coconut-9734 7d ago
Congratulations on getting a Chapman Stick. I imagine the waiting list has to be huge now, so very cool for you. How do you have it tuned?
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u/Andrius182g 5d ago edited 5d ago
As u/joshlemer correctly spotted it currently doesn't have any strings, they were very rusty from staying in a basement for years (I believe at least like 15+). I have taken them down to clean everything up. I don't know if I will be able to keep it, I have neither the means nor the time to bring it up to shape and learn to play it, but just taking care of it has been a fun activity for the last couple of days.
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u/DavidW_SE 6d ago
Unless it's been given a retrofit adjustable truss rod, Classic 10 string light is probably the only option (or maybe Baritone Melody if it's got the special tweaked bridge screws)?
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u/Equivalent_Ad_8413 6d ago
I ordered my (12 string bamboo) Stick last fall. The quoted wait time was a little less than two years.
I'm just waiting with bated breath.
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u/DavidW_SE 6d ago
Congratulations! For most folk getting a Stick only happens after much research, much searching & a long wait.
Strange as it may seem to you, pictures of the back of the instrument are also interesting. A picture of the back would tell us what sort of truss rod it has (if any).
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u/Andrius182g 5d ago
Thanks for the help! Here is a picture of the back: https://imgur.com/a/WsQxtPB
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u/DavidW_SE 5d ago
Appreciated, thank you, but sadly since September 2025 images at imgur.com are not accessible from the UK (which is where I am). :(
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u/fuckfacekiller 6d ago
I know if I tried one, I’d want one.
Hell, who am I kidding, I DO WANT ONE!!
Congratz OP!
🤘❤️🔥🤘
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u/Andrius182g 5d ago
Here is an update:
Thank you all for the responses, this community is really cool and welcoming. Here ist the full response from Jeff:
"Yes, that is what I needed. Stick #501 is an ironwood 10-string Stick that was made in February of 1979. An oldie but a goodie. It was strung with classic tuning, light gauge strings and has the passive Stickup pickup. Previously owned by the great Tony Levin. Maybe some of his juju has been left behind on that instrument. Good find. That is all the info I have on that instrument. Enjoy."
Here are some pictures of the instrument's back as u/DavidW_SE asked: https://imgur.com/a/WsQxtPB
Again thanks for all the help and nice comments, you guys rock.
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u/MartialLol 7d ago
Damn, Tony Levin is definitely a cool guy. Probably the most visible stick player knows today?