NBD - Ergonomic Bass "Twisted Sister"

[TFM94]

Finally...after over two years of building this bass, it's new bass day! I call it "Twisted Sister".

This is a twisted neck bass. On purpose. It has -20 degrees at the nut and +15 degrees at the bridge, a total of 35 degrees of twist. The concept was invented Jerome Little (Torzal) and the idea is that it relieves strain or your wrists while playing, following your natural hand position as you move along the neck. And I have to agree, it feels very comfortable and is very easy to get used to.

This bass was built with the use of normal woodworking techniques, not with a CNC. If you're interested in the detailed build process, check out this thread in the Luthiers corner: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ergonomic-bass-build-twisted-sister.1547342/page-9#post-28341274

Specs:
- Scale: 34"-36" multiscale, 24 frets
- Twist: 35 degrees
- Headless
- Radiused back, like a Spector
- Neck-thru-construction with a maple neck and wenge fretboard with ebony binding
- Swamp ash wings, wenge top with maple stripes
- Ebony headpiece veneers on the front and back
- ABM headless hardware in gold
- Nordstrand BigRig pickup wired in parallel
- Vol/tone control, passive
- Weight: 3.6 kg/7.9lbs

 

[songwriter21]

Finally...after over two years of building this bass, it's new bass day! I call it "Twisted Sister".

This is a twisted neck bass. On purpose. It has -20 degrees at the nut and +15 degrees at the bridge, a total of 35 degrees of twist. The concept was invented Jerome Little (Torzal) and the idea is that it relieves strain or your wrists while playing, following your natural hand position as you move along the neck. And I have to agree, it feels very comfortable and is very easy to get used to.

This bass was built with the use of normal woodworking techniques, not with a CNC. If you're interested in the detailed build process, check out this thread in the Luthiers corner: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ergonomic-bass-build-twisted-sister.1547342/page-9#post-28341274

Specs:
- Scale: 34"-36" multiscale, 24 frets
- Twist: 35 degrees
- Headless
- Radiused back, like a Spector
- Neck-thru-construction with a maple neck and wenge fretboard with ebony binding
- Swamp ash wings, wenge top with maple stripes
- Ebony headpiece veneers on the front and back
- ABM headless hardware in gold
- Nordstrand BigRig pickup wired in parallel
- Vol/tone control, passive
- Weight: 3.6 kg/7.9lbs

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What would befuddle me, is how to see if you have your preferred relief, when the neck is twisted.

 

[ThudThudThud]

What would befuddle me, is how to see if you have your preferred relief, when the neck is twisted.

I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE NO MATH!

 

[TFM94]

What would befuddle me, is how to see if you have your preferred relief, when the neck is twisted.

You cannot check the relief just by looking at it or with a straight edge, but you can fret a string at the 1st and 24th fret and then measure the gap between the string and the top of the frets in the middle of the neck, for example with a feeler gauge.

This bass has a double-action truss rod and the relief can be adjusted like on any other bass.

 

[ThudThudThud]

You cannot check the relief just by looking at it or with a straight edge, but you can fret a string at the 1st and 24th fret and then measure the gap between the string and the top of the frets in the middle of the neck, for example with a feeler gauge.

This bass has a double-action truss rod and the relief can be adjusted like on any other bass.

Thank goodness it's not a multiscale, fanned-fret.

 

[Bass4ThePublic]

So… how do you level the frets when it needs a fret job?

 

[TFM94]

Thank goodness it's not a multiscale, fanned-fret.

But...it is multiscale. 34"-36"

So… how do you level the frets when it needs a fret job?

What I have done is adjusting the neck approximately flat and setting it up with fairly low action where it just starts buzzing. Then I could see where it buzzes and where it doesn't. If it buzzes on the 7th fret, but not on the 8th, then the 8th is too high. With my fret crowning file I can file down the high fret a bit and try again. I did a few iterations of this and now it plays very nicely.

 

[TFM94]

From a playing perspective I'm surprised how easy it is to adjust to the twisted neck. It doesn't feel all that different.

The only thing that throws me off is that you can bend strings upward on the fretboard, but not downward. Then it frets out. That's a bit weird, but not really a problem.

 

[Watchootognbout]

Thank goodness it's not a multiscale, fanned-fret.

 

[EagleMoon]

That’s amazing. Bet it’s fun to play.

 

[el murdoque]

I'm foaming from my mouth.
If you ever do a six string and want to get rid of it, call me!

 

[Dincrest]

Unique, interesting, and cool. Me likey.

 

[climber]

I’d sure like to see someone playing this from several angles: full front, headstock and player POV.

 

[Eric Ryan]

Well, that got my jaw dropping...

 

[superiorpine]

I was wondering when one of these (multi scale torzal) basses would show up here. Very nicely done. Hats off sir!

 

[Hues]

Exceptionally cool....Pics don't show side markers,I'm assuming they are there.

 

[Killing Floor]

His basses are fantastic. I have only held one in a shop briefly but it really is a good feel. Congrats.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Just beautiful. Congrats!

 

[lowendrv]

I’d sure like to see someone playing this from several angles: full front, headstock and player POV.

Here is a Torzal with the same 35-degree twist.
Demo - Torzal "Natural Twist" Bass Guitar - Andy Irvine - YouTube

 

[Slade N]

Ive always wondered how is chordal playing on one if these?