Bass of the Week: Padalka Guitars Ennea Hotchkiss 3-String Bass
Extended-range basses have become a huge trend in the last few years with instruments having anywhere from five to twenty-four strings. While Russian custom shop Padalka Guitars has built several seven and nine-string basses, they decided to take a more minimalist approach with the Ennea Hotchkiss, a three-string bass with bold contours.
A riff on their flagship Ennea model, the Hotchkiss is a left-handed, single-cut design that features a 36-inch scale complete with 26 frets. It’s built with a two-piece white ash body and a three-piece set hard maple neck. The rosewood fretboard is fitted dot side markers and Jescar stainless steel frets.
The minimal concept is taken a step further with a single Q 2.0 MM-style pickup hooked up to only a kill switch. Hardware includes Hipshot Ultralite with two extenders, individual Hipshot bridge saddles, and Schaller-style straplocks.
For more information, check out the Padalka Guitars website.
Padalka Guitars Ennea Hotchkiss Bass Specs:
Construction: | Set Neck |
Scale: | 36” |
Strings: | 3 |
Body: | 2-Piece White Ash |
Neck: | 3-Piece Hard Maple |
Neck Thickness at 1st Fret: | 22mm |
Neck Thickness at 12th Fret: | 24mm |
Fretboard: | Rosewood |
Fretboard Radius: | 10” |
Frets: | 26 Jescar Stainless Steel |
Side Markers: | Dot |
Nut: | Carbon |
Pickup: | Q 2.0 MM Style 4 |
Electronics: | Killswitch |
Tuners: | Hipshot Ultralite with 2 Extenders |
Bridge: | Hipshot Individual Saddles |
Strap Locks: | Schaller-Style |
Finish: | Polyurethane, Satin |
A work of art!
What strings are on this? Low B/E/A? You should do a six string with 3 sets of 2 like a 12 string guitar. The low string being the normal G on a 4 string bass. That would be super cool. I had a bass with piccolo strings on it and a capo too. Opened some new doors!
How much does this retail for
According to current exchange rate, around 2K dollars
What a work of art, I like it. Looks like the strings are B , E , and A lifetime strings .
Absolutely gorgeous!
Beautiful, but useless.
I somewhat agree. Can’t do much with just three.
3 is all a good bass player needs.
I dig it!
I bet it will be 3,000 dollars. 3,300 for the double three strings. $$$!!!
I don’t get it. What am I missing?
It is a beautiful work of art though..
Superb craftsmanship. The neodymium Q-tuner q2.0 MM style pickup is a beast.