The Disco Volante is a Semi-Hollow Body model, meticulously designed and hand-built by John and Serge of Tao Guitars in Brussels Belgium. This Disco Volante in particular is named the "Fordy-Nine" and is the 15th to be built. The finish and Silver hardware are inspired by the Ford Forty-Nine concept car, seen in the last pic.
The "Fordy-Nine" Disco Volante features a select Maple top on a Spanish-Cedar body for both an incredibly balanced, lightweight and tone-full guitar, with this one weighing in at only 7lbs 3oz. The incredibly lightly applied satin/matte Nitro finish feels like silk against your skin. This guitar has some of the most outstanding pickups we've ever heard. They are a Tao special design, wound by Benedetti Pickups named "Johnny Blades". These are unique dual output Blade P-90's. Each pickup is connected to it's own push-pull volume pot; when the volume controls are in their down position they are at a medium output, perfect for most situations. When you pull up on the individual volume controls, the output of either the neck or bridge pickups becomes hotter, perfect for pushing a tube amp harder or for darker tones that can go great with a fuzz pedal, etc. The neck pickup tone working with the resonance of this guitar is full, rounded, clear and focused. The bridge position gives you a great thick, sometimes gritty single coil tone. The middle position is fully hum-cancelling and blends the tones of each pickup. You can take the blending a step further by adjusting the individual pickup's volume knobs. The middle-position tone is great for fingerpicking, as it provides a nice thump to each note. It's also a great tone for rhythm playing as well as certain lead work, w/ the neck pickup slightly backed off.Â
The neck is built out of Cedro wood, Cedro is a lightweight wood. It is very stiff in comparison to its weight. Cedro is also very resistant against warping. Between that and the 2-way truss-rod, adjusting the neck relief never becomes an issue, the truss rod opening is also very cleverly placed in-between the last two frets, for easy access. Tao has made adjusting your guitars neck even simpler by including a hand-made truss-rod adjustment tool. The fretwork is exceptionally clean and you can not see and more importantly feel the tangs of the frets on the sides of the fingerboard. The action feels slick and low, set up with a pack of 10's; though 11's could be a nice choice as well. The guitar is effortless and comfortable to play. It's truly inspiring.Â
Here is some of what Tao has to say about the Disco Volante: "Strange name for a guitar you say? Not for us at Tao Guitars by John and Serge. The reference to the Italian automobile design had so far not yet found it into our line. And it’s now something done. But why “Disco Volante” then..?… We pay a certain interest to any adventurous designs of people who attain respect in their desire not to play it easy by following the trends. In 1952, Alfa Romeo set the new aesthetical & aerodynamic landmark of the time with a Touring Carrozzeria Superleggera design called Disco Volante (Italian for “flying saucer”); his lines prefiguring the iconic jaguar type E by almost 10 years. An anniversary version came out in 2012, designed by Louis de Fabribeckers, head of design for Carrozzeria Touring, and a fellow Belgian as well. Our Disco Volante guitar is also our desire to reconnect ourselves with the genesis of what was once call the “Electric Spanish” guitar– the first ES guitar/non-cutaway body shape, and give it a ticket for the new century; creating a mix of cutting edge styling and old world craftsmanship. A toneful object of design"
Specs:
Body: Two Piece Spanish Cedar, Sienna Orange Matt FinishÂ
Top: Selected Flame Maple, Black Gloss FinishÂ
Build Type: Semi HollowÂ
Neck: 1/4" Sawn CedroÂ
Neck Profile: Med C .86" -.96"Â
Scale: 24 3/4"Â
Fingerboard: Indian RosewoodÂ
Side Markers: Silver Gauge Panel
Headstock Decal: Tao Logo, Silver
Pickups: Custom dual-output Benedetti "Johnny Blade" Blade P-90's (adjustable from back of guitar)
Pickup Covers: Handmade Aluminum Mesh
Nut: Bone 1 11/16"
Bridge: Brass Wraparound
Backplates: Black Acrylic (Magnetically Mounted)
Electronics: Vol, Vol Tone W/ Push-Pull on both Vol Controls for Output BoostÂ
Case: Mono Vertigo. Comes w/ COA & Custom Handmade Truss Rod Tool
Weight 7lbs 3oz
