Hi, Azrael. I'm a bass player for the past 30 years, and a newbie to the world of tapping. I read your post about Sticks and assorted tapping instruments, and the lack of a beginner model. While that's true, I found the Mobius Megatar to be very affordable compared to the rest, with the base model starting at $999.00. I bought the Midi Tapper Solo (which has a MIDI pickup on the melody strings) and added Bartolini pickups to mine, as well. I paid roughly $2200 for mine with all the bells and whistles. I've never played a Chapman Stick, but I thought about ordering one and I contacted them. The wait time to have one built seemed long, and the base models start at about $2,000. And according to Megatar (which features the Buzz Feiten intonation system), they don't sound as in tune as Megatars, either. I'm not knocking the Stick. A lot of good music is made on them, and they certainly revolutionized the two-handed tapping concept. But if you're looking for a great instrument that won't break the bank, consider a Mobius Megatar. You can find them at www.megatar.com. So far I'm very happy with mine.