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The Stick is an electric stringed instrument invented by the Californian luthier Emmett Chapman in the beginning of 70s. Most of the people got to know the Stick thanks to Tony Levin, King Crimson and Peter Gabriel's Stick and bass player. Today there are many musicians all over the world playing the Stick in bands or as solo Stick players.
The method of playing the Stick is known as the method of tapping: the sound is produced by tapping with the fingers against the strings. This way, the technique of the Stick is somehow similar to that of the piano, and just like with the piano, one can play the Stick with two hands simultaneously. On the other hand, the typical guitar techniques, such as bending, vibrato etc. are also possible on the Stick.
Since one can play the Stick with two hands, and since the Stick can be used in stereo regime, the Stick may function as a guitar, as two guitars, as a bass, as two basses, as a bass and percussion (tapping can also produce percussive sound), as a guitar and a bass, and with today's effects or MIDI (there are also MIDI Sticks), as the entire orchestra. Each part of the Stick, bass part and melody part has its own independent pickup so each section can have its own amplification and/or be separately processed through effects.The sound of the Stick though, is not the same as that of the guitar or the bass. The Stick is well-known for its unique sound, thanks to its structure and playing technique.
There are several types of Stick; here is a brief description of them:

Boaz Bar Levy (Israel)
playing the Standard Stick

Standard Stick

The Standard Stick is made of different kinds of wood, graphite or polycarbonate fiber. The Standard Stick has 10 strings, usually 5 bass strings, and 5 melody strings. (I say "usually" because the Stick ia s custom-made instrument, therefore any configurations are possible.) In classical tuning, the melody strings descend (the highest string is at the bottom) and are tuned in fourths; the bass strings ascend (the highest string is on the top) and are tuned in fifths. As complicated as it may sound, such a reversed position of melody and bass strings is extremely comfortable and gives incredible possibilities. The Standard Stick is manufactured in different tunings. To learn more about The Standard Stick tunings, read the article by Glenn Poorman Tunings For 10/12 Strings.

John Edmonds (New Mexico, USA)
playing the Grand Stick

Grand Stick

The Grand Stick can be made of wood or graphite. The Grand Stick has 12 strings, with 6 strings on the bass side and 6 strings on the melody side, or 5 strings on the bass side and 7 strings on the melody side. In classical tunings the melody strings descend (the highest string is at the bottom) and are tuned in fourths; the bass strings ascend (the highest string is on the top) and are tuned in fifths. The Grand Stick is a kind of extension of the Standard Stick, with one extra high string on the melody side and one extra high string on the bass side, or one extra high string and one extra low string on the melody side. A great variety of tunings is possible fot the Grand Stick. To learn more about the Grand Stick tunings, read the article by Glenn Poorman Tunings For 10/12 Strings.

Miguel López (Argentina)
playing the Stick Bass

Stick Bass

The Stick Bass, also called SB8, has 8 strings. Eight strings are placed either in straight descending order from the highest string on the buttom till the lowest strings on the top (in standard SB8 tuned in fourth and in guitar modification with the highest strings tuned similarly to those of a guitar) or in reversed order, where 4 descending melody strings are tuned in fourth and 4 ascending bass strings are tuned in fifths. For more information read the article Stick Bass by Emmett Chapman

Andy Long (Wales)
playing the NS Stick

NS Stick

NS Stick is the fruit of collaboration between Emmett Chapman and Ned Steinberger. Unlike other Sticks, the NS Stick has a small body and a neckless head. The Ns Stick is made of hardwood. The NS Stick has 8 strings either tuned in fourths or tuned as a guitar on the high strings and as a bass on the low strings. The NS Stick allows combination of tapping technique with the traditional bass or guitar techniques, such as picking, plucking or slapping. For more information read the article on NS Stick by Emmett Chapman