From Bose Portable PA Encyclopedia
Chapman Stick – Serial No. 545
Instrument Overview
| Attribute |
Details
|
| Model |
Traditional 10-String Chapman Stick
|
| Serial Number |
545
|
| Maker |
Stick Enterprises, Los Angeles, California, USA
|
| Production Era |
Early 1990s
|
| Wood |
White Oak (rare variant)
|
| Finish |
Natural
|
| Pickup System |
Stickup (passive, era-correct)
|
| Neck Adjustment |
Back-mounted truss rod
|
| Fingerboard System |
Aluminum rails (mature version)
|
| Logo/Branding |
Touchboard™ label + "The Stick" headstock plate
|
| Accessories |
Original hard case, strap, setup tools
|
| Condition |
Mint vintage – no wear, mods, or refinishing
|
Historical Significance
- Era of Innovation: Early 1990s marked a golden period in Emmett Chapman’s production, with refinements in materials, playability, and hardware.
- Touchboard Branding: The Touchboard™ label emphasized the tapping interface as a fretted string innovation.
- White Oak Rarity: Few Sticks were built with white oak, prized for tonal clarity and visual grain.
- Stickup Legacy: The Stickup passive pickup is known for warm, articulate tone and expressive dynamics.
Provenance & Preservation
- All parts, finish, and accessories are factory-original.
- Case, strap, and tools are intact—rare for a 30+ year-old instrument.
- No structural changes, refinishing, or upgrades.
- This places it in the top tier of surviving early-’90s Sticks, highly desirable to performers and collectors.