Here is a very rare guitar model by John and Serge of Tao Guitars. Not many Stradale, Disco Volante Solid Bodies exist. Its beauty can be appreciated by all lovers of fine hand made guitars, surrealist art and those who appreciate a unique instrument of incredibly high quality. This guitar was just completed for our store and we couldn't be more awe-struck by how it came out.
The name is fitting as Disco Volante in Italian means "Flying Saucer" and this instrument definitely looks like it is from another world. The build quality is "Old World Craftsmanship" brought into the new century, at it's finest.
The Stradale is Tao's solid body version of their Semi-Hollow Disco Volante model. It features some of the most striking and esthetically pleasing lines to ever bless the guitar world. This is truly a masterfully built, highly ergonomic and resonant tone machine.
The finish is the lightest we've ever seen on any instrument; with the grain of the guitar fully visible. This example has both a two piece Mahogany body and a 1/4" Sawn 1-Piece Mahogany neck. You can feel the texture of the wood grain when holding this instrument. With personal experience playing Tao guitars; we can truly say like others in our collection, that the build quality and attention to detail is second to none.
These instruments (particularly the set-neck builds) are like living, breathing organisms. You'll feel instantly attached upon picking up this guitar. The lines of the body and heavy contours, make it feel as if this guitar is an extension of your body. This is an instrument you experience rather than just play. The music comes almost effortlessly.
This Tao features a beautifully responsive Mastery bridge and vibrato system, with a custom vibrato arm tip of aluminum and orange acrylic. The knobs are custom made by Tao and machined out of aluminum. The three-way toggle switch also has a custom handmade tip of the same materials.
The pickups are custom, hand wound Benedetti "Large Ribbon" pickups; that are adjustable via the screws on the back of the body. They are floating as to not touch the body, giving this Stradale a very lively, airy and acoustic-like tone that translates incredibly well to it's electric voice. The Ribbons are asymmetrically wound Humbuckers, that are a mix between a Gold Foil and a PAF. They split into true single coils, as one coil is much more dominant than the other; because of this, you don't experience a volume drop when splitting the pickups via the push-pull volume pots. The tone is warm, airy and full in hum-bucking mode with lots of clarity and bite. When split you can pull off a unique and fat Strat-like tone. While using the two volumes, tone and coil-splits in the middle position; you can yield a wide range of blended tones.
This Stradale is strikingly ornate with it's "Guage Panel Markers" in orange on the side of the fingerboard, acrylic and silver fingerboard inlays, orange Tao decal, acrylic see through orange back plates, handmade pickup covers and it's stained & finished mahogany inlaid pick guard.
Specs
Body: Two Piece Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany (quarter sawn)
Nut width: 1 11/16"
Neck profile: Med C .84-.96
Scale Length: 24 3/4"
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
Pickups: Custom Benedetti "Large Ribbon Pickups"
Hardware: Mastery bridge and Vibrato
Tuners: Schaller
Weight: 7lbs 8.2oz
Comes with Mono Case, COA & Truss Rod adjustment tool
Serial # 03
