This onyx beauty is more precisely called the "Xavier Padilla Style Torzal 4-34 Bass", and was orignally designed and built by Jerome Little for that celebrated bassist. The above bass was built using my particular specifications (Nordstrand Fat Stack pickups, ebony fretboard, maple neck, swamp ash body), but what really sets this instrument apart are the ergonomics at work through both body design and gently, twisted neck. Beyond its easy interaction with the human body, it possesses a graceful beauty not often found in visually and physically heavy basses, and this design ethic is so unique that the Torzal has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington. At first it may seem something of an exaggerated abstract design, but one quickly warms to its utility as it wards off any thoughts of Carpal Tunnel. It's not just a museum piece.
No comments:
Post a Comment