Padalka Ennea-H 5-String

The Padalka Ennea-H SN 236 is a singular instrument, the culmination of over a decade of refinement since Simon Padalka first introduced the Ennea design in 2012. What began as a double-cut bass, evolved into a single-cut, has now reached its most ambitious form: a headless 5-string built to the exacting standards of one of boutique lutherie's most respected names, handcrafted in Saskatoon, Canada.

This particular instrument makes an immediate visual statement. The finish appears nearly black face-on, concealing the swamp ash grain beneath, but tilt it into the light and it transforms, shifting from deep purple to copper and gold, revealing the full depth of the inverse ceruse effect beneath a super-shift base color. It's a finish that rewards attention, much like the bass itself.

The neck is a striking combination of flame maple and wenge with a set-in construction, topped with an ebony fingerboard featuring a compound 10–27" radius that transitions effortlessly from comfortable chord work in the lower register to precise single-note playing up high. Luminlay side markers and wavy binding inlays ensure visibility in any lighting, while full-length carbon rod reinforcement guarantees long-term stability. Twenty-six stainless steel frets span a fanned 34–36" scale, offering improved tension and intonation across all five strings.

Electronics are uncompromising. Dingwall SF-II pickups feed into an Aguilar OBP-3 preamp, delivering a tonal palette that ranges from deep, authoritative lows to articulate, cutting highs. The control layout — volume, 4-way rotary switch, and a full bass/mid/treble EQ — gives the player complete command of their tone. All knobs, pickup plates, and the toolbox are crafted from matching ebony, tying the aesthetic together with a level of detail rarely seen at any price point. A Riviera bridge and Schaller straplocks round out a hardware package built for serious players.

At 7 lbs 15 oz, the Ennea-H is exceptionally light for a bass of this caliber, making it as comfortable through a long gig as it is inspiring in the studio.

Specifications

General

• Model – Padalka Ennea-H
• Serial Number – SN 236
• Scale – 34–36" (Fanned)
• Number of Strings – 5
• Frets – 26 Stainless Steel
• Weight – 7 lbs 15 oz

Neck

• Construction – Set-In
• Material – Flame Maple / Wenge
• Fretboard – Ebony
• Profile – "C", 19–22mm
• Fretboard Radius – Compound 10–27"
• Side Markers – Empty Ovals, Ebony/Luminlay
• Inlays – Wavy Binding, Luminlay
• Nut – Garolite
• Reinforcement – Full Length Carbon Rods

Body

• Construction – Solid Body
• Material – Swamp Ash

Electronics & Hardware

• Pickups – Dingwall SF-II
• Controls – Volume, 4-Way Rotary Switch, Bass, Mid, Treble
• Preamp – Aguilar OBP-3
• Bridge – Riviera
• Straplocks – Schaller

Other

• Pickup Plates – Ebony
• Knobs – Ebony
• Tool Box – Ebony
• Vault by Pelican Hard Shell Case
• Handcrafted in Saskatoon, SK, Canada by Simon Padalka

Product Images