Bass of the Week: Nishgaki Guitars Tempesta 5 Indigo Blue

Luthier Yuki Nishgaki of Nishgaki Guitars draws his inspiration from nature. That’s clear on this gorgeous semi-hollow Tempesta bass, which summons visions of huge waves of sound.

“‘Tempesta’ means ‘storm’ in Italy,” Nishgaki explains. “Its top and back wood curve are shaped by hand. Semi-solid structure with an original designed center block. Tempesta blends two opposite directions of sounds: acoustic like a vintage cello with electric bass overtones. A player can express its various sound just by his/her sensitive touch.”

This particular bass, made with bassist Ryo Miyachi, has a body crafted with an alder center, exotic maple back, and a Tochi top. (Nishgaki calls Tochi a “Japanese Horse Chestnut.) Its set neck is made from both flame maple and hard maple, while its fretboard is African Blackwood. The head plate is Kaede Tamamoku, a Japanese exotic maple.

The bass has a dazzling blue Indigo blue finish that Nishgaki creates from a rare traditional Japanese method. “I use ‘Awa Ai’ from Tokushima prefecture for indigo dyeing,” the builder shares. “Highly-pure precipitated Indigo can mix with the natural color of the wood well, and it makes unique color and a good feel. This special material of Indigo is from Leki Nagahara who is a producer of ‘Awa Ai.’”

Other features include a set of Nordstrand Big Single pickups, a Hipshot bridge, and Gotoh tuners. You can hear this incredible piece of work in the capable hands of Miyachi on the bassists’s Facebook page.

Nishgaki Guitars Tempesta 5 Indigo Blue Bass Specs: