Why the twist in the neck?

[Annoying Twit]

Why does this bass have such a pronounced twist in its neck? Clearly it's deliberate, and I presume it aids fingering, but is there more to it or could someone please explain exactly what the advantage is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRm--axzsUw

[Mikey R]

Its not a twist, the frets are set out in a fan configuration, so that the bass strings have a longer scale length than the treble strings. It just creates a bit of an optical illusion. See the bass in my avatar.

[Machines]

Novax fret system.

[JapanAxe]

Similar setup on Dingwalls of course.

[Bloodaxe]

As mentioned above, the 'twist' an optional illusion caused by the fanned frets.

However, there is a design with a full-on twist made by these guys: [url="http://littleguitarworks.com/torzal-natural-twist/"]http://littleguitarw...-natural-twist/[/url]

Ed Friedland gives the Torzal Twist a review here:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLi8pOa6zYk[/media]

P.

[Annoying Twit]

Thanks. I fully believe you all that it's a flat neck, but my eyes are still telling my brain that it's twisted. It really is a convincing optical illusion

[Johnm93]

Superb instrument - and playing.
Does it have a 'name' as such?

[tauzero]

[url="http://jeanbaudin.com/bassgear.html"]http://jeanbaudin.com/bassgear.html[/url]

It's the first one on that page. As for a name, some would call it a bass, some an ERB, some an ironing board, and some an aircraft carrier.

[squeezer]

[quote name='Annoying Twit' timestamp='1388050817' post='2318035']
Thanks. I fully believe you all that it's a flat neck, but my eyes are still telling my brain that it's twisted. It really is a convincing optical illusion
[/quote]
This will really do your head in than -- a Torzal twist neck with fanned frets...

http://littleguitarworks.com/2012/06/torzal-fanned-fret-yes/