I
hope that I can help other musicians learn about the NS/Stick,
but I hope my process
helps all people looking for a musical outlet to
arrive at an instrument
that works for them. I needed an instrument
that will achieve
my vision, be unique, and inspire and make magic.
For me, the NS/Stick
fits my needs.
.
My vision is to
cover all frequency ranges from low bass to ear-shrilling
top end sounds are
the needs to fill my desire to be a one-man-band.
Years ago, I was
in a band with four other people and had the time of
my life. Still,
it was a logistical nightmare to organize several people
physically, and
agreeing on anything can be challenging. Being in a
band was terrific,
and I would not trade that experience for anything,
but as I got older
and responsibilities changed, I needed a new vision
that will fit into
my new reality. I may get together with others and jam for
fun, but I want
to perform by myself or work with a drummer for my ultimate vision.
.
If you know me,
you know that I am unable to conform to any norm.
My personality and
background make me very unique, and I need an
instrument that
fits that quality. So I searched for a unique instrument,
and the Stick is
very unique. I was drawn to the Stick community. There is
a fantastic
support system with stickist.com
and sticksynth.com
and all
the different Facebook
groups. Of course, Stick
Enterprises is a source
of support that
shouldn't be overlooked!
.
Any instrument can
be a source of inspiration, and you don't know if it
will continue to
inspire until you get it. But for me, the NS/Stick keeps
surprising me. At
the surface, it looks like a bass guitar and guitar mashed
together, but the
innovation that went into it is mind-blowing. What else
would you expect
from Emmett Chapman and Ned Steinberger! As a
long time bass player,
the bass side fit me like a glove with the string
spacing and neck
length. The melody side did take me a little time, but
I did a few of the
lessons that Don Schiff posted on NSStickist.com to
get me started.
I learned the shapes chords and the three positions, and
I was on my way!
.
As the newness of
the NS/Stick started to wear, and my adrenaline-fueled
excitement for the
instrument faded, I still found myself drawn to the
NS/Stick. Emmett
Chapman himself touches every Stick instrument.
It gives me great
gratitude to think the inventor himself touched and put
his sweat into building
the instrument I have in my hands. For me, the
NS/Stick has been
the perfect outlet for the sounds in my head. Emmett
Chapman says he
designed the Stick to be a reflection of you.
My personal NS/Stick
has a little more magic than the production model
because it is one
of two prototypes out there. (Don Schiff has the other
one, and we call
them the sisters and take pictures of them together when
there is a reunion...)
I feel the magic that comes from my instrument and
the Stick instruments
are filled with it.
.
So does this help?
I think the vision is critical in anything we pursue in life,
and sticking to
it is essential. You can adjust, but remember why you had
that vision. Be
yourself, and stay inspired. Believe in the magic that comes
from the instrument
and you.
.
So why did I choose
the NS/Stick over all the other Stick models.
The most simple
answer is because I don't want to learn the inverted
tuning. I wasn't
willing to add that to tax my brain. After years of being
exposed to the Stick
I have a better understanding of the inverted tuning
s but I decided
to dedicate myself to the NS/Stick as the sole instrument
I play for now..
.
Why is the NS/Stick
the only instrument I play?
This was a personal
decision I made. Limitations forces creativity.
I am forced to make
choices which will shape the sounds that I create
and therefore be
unique to me. I want my voice to be forced out.
*Hi
everyone,
I tried to write
something concise and to the point to how I came to choose
the NS/Stick as
my instrument of choice. My hope is that this helps people
choose an instrument
for themself. Everyone's journey is different and it
may not come to
you as it did for me. There is so much background and
events which I didn't
put in here and would love to share but I thought I
would try keep it
informational. Feel free to reach out to me on stickist.com
(my handle is SkyDiver)
or find me on facebook.
Thanks
.
|
Dean Kobayashi
Dayton - USA
August 2020..
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