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The Stick XG™Carbon graphite construction for 8, 10, and 12-string models
 Our new structural graphite, continuous strand carbon fiber, long scale Stick XG™ is now in full production, its fate now lying in the hands of other players. It is available in all 10 and 12-string tunings and string gauges, complete with all the latest hardware features, including the 90 degree pointed Rails™ fret system, the easily adjustable Flaps™ dual nut unit, the patented "3-D" adjustable bridge, and the patented adjustable truss rod flush with the rear neck surface. It is also available as a long-scale version of the Stick Bass® (SB8™) with same dimensions as the 10-string graphite model, but with 8 wider spaced strings normally tuned in uniform 4ths from the very low bass "B". As with the other models, any conceivable SB8 tuning is available in this graphite construction. The 12-string Grand Stick® has more recently become available in the same layered graphite, continuous carbon fiber, long scale construction. Again, the fully adjustable hardware and components will allow all tunings and string gauges to be set up at our workshop and/or reconfigured by the owner. INTERNAL CONSTRUCTION The layered carbon graphite through-neck beams for all three of the above Stick XG models are sub-manufactured by Moses, Inc., of Eugene, OR, with special attention to interior structural design. These beams are internally configured to offer exceptional stiffness and stability while maintaining appropriate light weight in the finished instrument. Running from headstock tip to tailpiece butt end, fibrous carbon graphite composite and related graphite materials are strategically positioned to maximize transfer of energy through the entire beam. An outer graphite shell, structured around an interior skeleton of high grade carbon fiber bars and ribs, is acoustically designed to enhance the lower frequencies, nicely complimenting the pronounced high harmonic reflections inherent in the carbon graphite material itself. This beam is designed to enable fine truss adjustment for fretboard straightness, while assuring rigidity at all non-adjustable areas (pickups, bridge and headstock). More rigid than laminated hardwoods, it nevertheless flexes and straightens nicely with a small tweak of the truss rod (pat. no. 4 953 435). PRECISION
And there's a solid tone of precision to match the "feel", with all the natural tapping highs and lows preserved. Moses' interior filtering materials and outer shell design also reproduces the full, rich, warm Stick tones in the mid ranges. Graphite construction additionally has negligible creep, along with excellent swell and sustain characteristics. SPECIFICATIONS All dimensions but length, scale length and weight are the same as those of our exotic hardwood laminate 8, 10, and 12-string models.
Scale length of all graphite models, bridge to nut, is 36 inches to accommodate the extra low fret, as opposed to the standard Stick's and bass guitar's 34 inch scale length. The extra 2 inches constitute the new lowest fret space, which in concept "grew" onto The Stick at the headstock end without affecting anything else on the fretboard, neither the shell dot positions, nor the lettered note positions relative to the bridge and dots, nor the string gauges. Not even string tension is affected! COMMON REFERENCE
To make the concept complete, the 1st dot of the Stick XG is at the 3rd fret space instead of the 2nd. Nevertheless, all dots line up perfectly when you stand both models on the floor with bridges lined up. As the dots go up in fourths (every five frets), the graphite Stick's 3rd dot is at the 13th fret space, one octave above the 1st fret. Again, all the notes of your tuning will match the octave position at the 12th fret space of your hardwood Stick. Nothing is changed anywhere on the board, except that you now have a new 1st fret with lower notes and longer string vibrations to play on. As long as you use the dots as reference points (or the high fret and bridge as reference points), and you ignore only the new lower nut, your music will remain unchanged in key, pitch, timber and finger execution. COMPONENT FEATURES I recommend abalone shell dots for warm, golden, pearlescent tones against the charcoal blackish graphite. We also have white pearl and the blue and green paua shells as options. On all carbon graphite XG™ models, we use four equal sized 1/2" diameter shell dots at positions 3, 8, 13 and 18, corresponding to the first four of the hardwood Stick's five dot positions. All carbon graphite XG models come equipped with either of the two Block pickup modules, the ACTV-2 or the PASV-4. We also have a supply of longer bass strings and longer shoulder straps as stock items for these new long scale models. THE BOTTOM LINE This carbon fiber/graphite instrument in any tuning and any configuration of 8, 10, or 12-strings sells for $400 more than it's hardwood counterpart with the same pickup selection. See the price list for more pricing details. The extra long Anvil flight case and deluxe stereo cable are priced separately. I wholeheartedly recommend the new carbon graphite construction, and have been exclusively playing the 10-string graphite model since January 2001, using first the ACTV-2 and then the PASV-4 Block modules. I like the increased string vibrating length at the very low frets, and my hands gravitate (or levitate) there. I also enjoy the sweet high melody end, and the subtle but solid precision in feel and overall tone from the Rails and smooth carbon graphite fretboard. Ultimately, however, I know I'll have to wait for the music of others to prove out this instrument. In the meantime, I know what I like! Best to All, Emmett.
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