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Multi-neck guitar

{{Short description|Guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks}}

{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal

|image1 = Vienna - Double guitar Paris 1690 - 9606.jpg|width1=178

|caption1 = A 17th-century multi-neck guitar by Alexandre Voboam.

|image3 = Gibson EDS1275.jpg|width3=200

|caption3 = A Gibson EDS-1275 double neck guitar, with 12 and 6-string neck.

}}

A multi-neck guitar is a guitar that has multiple fingerboard necks. They exist in both electric and acoustic versions. Examples of multi-neck guitars and lutes go back at least to the Renaissance.

Today, the most common type of multi-neck guitar is the double-neck guitar, of which the most common version is an electric guitar with twelve strings on the upper neck, while the lower neck has the normal six. Combination six-string and bass guitar are also used, as well as a fretless guitar with a regular fretted guitar, or any other combination of guitar neck and pickup styles. There are also acoustic versions. Two necks allows the guitarist to switch quickly and easily between guitar sounds without taking the time to change guitars.

Customization

{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal

|total_width = 230

|image1 = Schrammelgitarre.jpg|

|caption1 =

|image2 = Rickenbacker 4080 Double Neck - played by Pete Trewavas (Marillion).jpg|

|caption2 =

|footer = left: A 15-string acoustic contraguitar with fretted and fretless necks.
right: Rickenbacker 4080 Double Neck with bass and guitar.

}}

There are many ways to customize a multiple-necked guitar, such as the number of strings on a neck, frets or no frets, the tuning used on each neck, etc. One of the earliest designs still in regular use is the acoustic contraguitar, invented around 1850 in Vienna. This guitar, also known as the Schrammel guitar, has a fretted six-string neck and a second, fretless neck with up to nine bass strings.

One of the more common combinations is where one neck of a double-necked guitar is set up as for a 6 string guitar and the other neck is configured as a 4 string bass guitar. Guitarist Pat Smear of the Foo Fighters utilizes a double-necked guitar during live performances (bass guitar top neck, six-string electric guitar bottom neck) in order to perform Krist Novoselic's bass part in the song "I Should Have Known," from the album Wasting Light, in addition to his own duties. Rickenbacker International Corporation and Gibson Guitar Corporation in the US have both manufactured production models of these configurations in the past.

A less common configuration has a 12-string guitar neck combined with a 4-string bass guitar neck: Geddy Lee of Rush is well known for using the 4/12-string Rickenbacker 4080/12 production model live in the 1970s.

File:MikeRutherfordGenesis.jpg of Genesis, circa 1980, playing his custom Shergold guitar in its twelve-string/bass double-necked configuration]]

In the 1970s and 1980s Mike Rutherford of Genesis was known for playing a custom-made Shergold Modulator twin-neck guitar-bass unit in live shows, as he frequently changed between lead guitar, 12-string guitar and bass guitar, depending on the arrangement of the song. The unique design of this guitar set is that it consists of several modular elements, that could be separated and combined by a system of dowels and thumbscrews, including an electrical connection. The complete set originally consisted of a 6-string guitar "top-section", two 12-string guitar "top-sections" to have different tunings readily available, and a 4-string bass "bottom-section". The bass section could be attached to any of the top-sections to create a variety of twin-neck combinations. (Additionally there was a smaller lower-body-section which could be attached to any of the top-sections when they were not in use as part of a double-neck configuration, to complete the shape of a single guitar.)

{{cite web

| url= http://www.shergold.co.uk/thefarm.html

| title= Shergold Guitars Homepage - "Down on The Farm", 30 June 2000

| publisher= Shergold.co.uk

| date= 2000-06-30

| access-date= 2012-03-03

}}

As a tongue-in-cheek reference to Rutherford's frequent use of this double-neck guitar, the puppet version of Rutherford in the video for "Land of Confusion" plays a four-necked guitar.

{{clear}}

Multiple-necked bass guitars

Image:Chris Squire, 2003 (1).jpg of Yes (2003) playing Wal triple-neck bass consists of 3 double-course guitar, fretted and fretless 4-string basses.]]

Electric bass guitars with two or more necks have existed at least since the 1970s. Some basses have three or more necks, but usually upon custom order only. A double-necked bass guitar can be used for multiple tuning (e.g., B-E-A-D on one neck and E-A-D-G on the other, etc.); combining fretted and fretless necks; combining necks with different numbers of strings, etc.

Carvin Guitars made double-necked guitars and basses from 1959 to 1993; their business model relies greatly on custom-made instruments, and it has produced a number of double-neck bass guitars, including one with a fretted and a fretless neck, the DN440T, made for Steve McDonald.{{cite news|title=The Carvin DN440T|last=Moseley|first=Willie G.|date=June 2009|work=Vintage Guitar|page=64}}

Chris Squire of Yes played a custom triple neck bass on "Awaken" on Going for the One (1977). This is a replica of a model built by Wal for Roger Newell of Rick Wakeman's band, the English Rock Ensemble. Squire's original had a four-string fretted neck, a four-string fretless neck, and a six-string tuned in octaves (tuned to aA-dD-gG). This bass is currently on display at the Hard Rock Cafe.{{cite news|title=Chris Squire Custom Triple Neck Wal feature|date=1999|work=Bassist}}{{Cite web|url=http://walbasshistory.blogspot.com/2016/01/chris-squire-custom-triple-neck-wal.html|title=A HISTORY OF WAL BASSES: "Chris Squire" Custom Triple Neck Wal feature - "Bassist" magazine 1999|date=January 30, 2016}} Steve Digiorgio used a multiple-necked bass guitar with a fretless neck and another fretted neck. A number of makers have also produced double neck basses with an 8-string bass neck (double courses, tuned in octaves like a 12-string guitar) on top and a 4-string bass neck on the bottom. Double neck basses with various other combinations exist, such as 4-string/6-string and 4-string/5-string.

Hybrids

{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal |width=150

|image1 = Joe Maphis double-neck guitar by Semie Moseley - Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum.jpg

|caption1 =

|image2 = Bigsby double-neck guitar (1956), Mosrite, Harvey double-neck guitar (1957), Museum of Making Music (edit1).jpg

|caption2 =

|

|

|footer = left: Custom-built Mosrite double-neck guitar for Joe Maphis with "octave guitar"
right: Bigsby double-neck guitar with mandolin

}}

Multiple-neck "guitars" have also been made which include other stringed instruments among the alternate necks. Country guitarist Joe Maphis played a double-neck Mosrite instrument that had a regular 6-string neck on the bottom and an "octave guitar" for the top neck. This was a 6-string neck tuned an octave higher than the standard guitar, that both extended the range of the instrument, and allowed Maphis to play mandolin-like sounds. Between 1958-1968, Gibson made an instrument of this type which it called the "Double Mandolin" (Gibson EMS 1235).{{cite web |url=http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-Custom/EDS-1275-Double-Neck.aspx |title=Gibson Custom EDS-1275 Double Neck |publisher=Gibson.com |date=2008-06-24 |access-date=2012-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303182559/http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/SG/Gibson-Custom/EDS-1275-Double-Neck.aspx |archive-date=2012-03-03 }} Hybrids with a 6-string guitar neck and a true 8-string mandolin neck were also made (e.g., the 1971 Dawson Electric guitar/mandolin). And Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones has a triple-neck electroacoustic instrument, custom made for him by luthier Andy Manson, which features (from top to bottom) 8-string mandolin, 12-string guitar, and 6-string guitar necks.{{cite web|url=http://www.led-zeppelin.org/studio-and-live-gear/81-reference/studio-and-live-gear/john-paul-jones-gear/922-manson-triple-neck-acoustic-instrument |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409180535/http://www.led-zeppelin.org/studio-and-live-gear/81-reference/studio-and-live-gear/john-paul-jones-gear/922-manson-triple-neck-acoustic-instrument |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 9, 2016 |title=John Paul Jones » Manson Triple Neck Acoustic Instrument |publisher=Led-zeppelin.org |access-date=2012-03-03}}

In 2011, the National Guitar Museum unveiled the "Rock Ock", which it calls the world’s largest fully playable multi-necked stringed instrument. The guitar weighs 40 pounds, has 154 frets, 51 strings, and 8 necks. The eight instruments are a mandolin, ukulele, 6-string, fretless bass, standard bass, 12-string, baritone guitar, and a 7-string. The guitar was designed by noted artist Gerard Huerta (responsible for the iconic AC/DC logo, among others) and built by Dan Neafsey of DGN Custom Guitars. The guitar hardware was supplied by Mojo Musical Supply while the instrument itself was commissioned by the National Guitar Museum. The instrument has been used in live performance and can be seen on YouTube.{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/07/the-rock-ock_n_1133995.html |title='The Rock Ock': The World's Largest, Fully Playable, Multi-Necked String Instrument |publisher=Huffingtonpost.com |date=2011-12-07 |access-date=2012-03-03}}

Experimental alternate versions

{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal

|image1 = Pikasso Guitar (lowres).jpg|width1=189

|caption1 =

|image2 = Dyer Harp Guitar.jpg|width2=70

|caption2 =

|

|footer = left: Pikasso guitar by Linda Manzer
right: Dyer Symphony Harp Guitar Style 8

}}

{{See also|Harp guitar}}

Some luthiers not only built guitars with two necks in common configurations, but worked to expand the possibilities with multiple necks, extra bridges, odd configurations, and the like. Hans Reichel crafted a series of third bridge guitars with two necks on both sides of the body. Linda Manzer crafted the Pikasso guitar (a three neck guitar with 42 strings) for Pat Metheny. Solmania is an Osaka-based noise music band known for making their own experimental electric guitars out of spare parts. The guitars usually take an extremely bizarre form, utilizing unconventional body shapes, extra necks, strings and pickups in unusual places, and various extraneous gadgets such as microphones. Most of their instruments are double neck guitars or harp guitars.

Logistics and design

{{multiple image |align=right |direction=horizontal |width=200

|image1 = Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick)'s 1981 Hamer Custom Five-Neck Guitar - Play It Loud. MET (2019-05-13 19.33.34 by Eden, Janine and Jim).jpg

|caption1 = Hamer Five-Neck Guitar (1981) played by Rick Nielsen

}}

Many of those who have played double neck guitars report that the instruments are heavy and awkward,{{cite web |url=http://acapella.harmony-central.com/archive/index.php/t-2768564.html |title=Double neck guitars, what's your experience? [Archive] - Harmony Central Forums |publisher=Acapella.harmony-central.com |date=2011-04-13 |access-date=2012-03-03 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120701125800/http://acapella.harmony-central.com/archive/index.php/t-2768564.html |archive-date=2012-07-01 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://blindman.15.forumer.com/a/double-neck-guitars_post4414.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204213628/https://blindman.15.forumer.com/a/double-neck-guitars_post4414.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 4, 2024 |title=Double Neck Guitars |publisher=Blindman.15.forumer.com |access-date=2012-03-03 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?referrerid=252301&t=1171154 |title=UG Community @ Ultimate-Guitar.Com - Double Neck Guitars |publisher=Ultimate-guitar.com |access-date=2012-03-03}} but this can be managed with practice. Triple neck instruments are even weightier and more unwieldy. This raises the question as to whether some of the larger varieties of multi-neck guitar are even playable as guitars, much less practical in performance situations. The bottom neck of Rick Nielsen's famous five-neck Hamer guitar is barely reachable by a person of average stature holding the instrument in a normal standing playing position, and it's hard to see how that neck could be played with any facility with both arms extended to their limit just to reach it. Although playable hybrids with up to eight necks have been produced (see the "Rock Ock", above), five necks would seem to be the practical limit for multi-neck guitars.

Luthiers seem, however, to be undeterred by either practicality, or by the limits of human anatomy, and have produced instruments with even more necks. In 2008, Macari's Music of London commissioned a six-neck guitar ("the beast"),{{cite web|url=http://icedweb.com/1//index.php/2008/05/13/the_beast_is_here?blog=6 |title=The "Beast" (6 neck guitar) is here! |publisher=Icedweb.com |date=2008-05-13 |access-date=2012-03-03}} similar in design to Nielsen's five-neck. Yamantaka Eye, of the Japanese noise/rock band Boredoms, has toured with a seven-neck guitar (the "Sevena"). This instrument has four necks on one side and three on the other, and is mounted on a stand and played with drumsticks as a percussion instrument.

{{As of|2012}}, the most necks placed on a single guitar is 12, apparently first achieved in 2002 by Japanese artist Yoshihiko Satoh.{{cite web|url=http://www2.tbb.t-com.ne.jp/hipopo-art/works/works_HTML/Present%20Arms.html |title=Present Arms |publisher=.tbb.t-com.ne.jp |access-date=2012-03-03}}

Notable multi-neck guitar users

File:100 5623.JPG of Megadeth playing a Dean twin-neck. Note the machine heads for the 12-string secondary strings on the edge of the body.]]

File:Jperryaerosmith.jpg of Aerosmith playing a double-neck Gretsch guitar on stage in Chile]]

File:The Tea Party performing at Caesars Windsor, 2023-02-03 16.jpg of the Tea Party playing a Gibson EDS-1275 in Canada]]

In alphabetical order (of family name):

{{colbegin}}

  • Larry Collins of the Collins Kids
  • Jeff Cook, of Alabama{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4FgZNo5j7I |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/-4FgZNo5j7I |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Alabama - She And I |publisher=YouTube |access-date=2011-06-12}}{{cbignore}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/alabama/104049/mountain-music.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902054019/http://www.cmt.com/videos/alabama/104049/mountain-music.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-09-02 |title=Videos : Alabama : Mountain Music |publisher=CMT |access-date=2011-06-12}}{{cite web|url=http://new.music.yahoo.com/videos/Alabama/Alabama+Live+Medley--39013313 |title=Alabama Live Medley by Alabama Music Video on Yahoo! Music |publisher=New.music.yahoo.com |access-date=2011-06-12}}
  • Christopher Cross
  • Steve Clark formerly of Def Leppard
  • Nels Cline of Wilco

  • Don Felder of the Eagles, specifically on "Hotel California"
  • Roger Fisher of Heart
  • Lita Ford{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zy3fJ8Nmzyw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/Zy3fJ8Nmzyw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Lita Ford - Close My eyes Forever |publisher=YouTube |date=2006-09-12 |access-date=2012-03-03}}{{cbignore}}
  • Elwood Francis of ZZ Top

  • Gordon Giltrap{{Cite web|url=https://www.giltrap.co.uk/discussion/viewtopic.php?t=164|title=gordons doubleneck - giltrap.co.uk|website=www.giltrap.co.uk}}[http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v118/turquoisemoleeater/guitars/GordonGiltrap1976.jpg Gordon Giltrap 1976]
  • Pier Gonella{{cite web|url=https://lucshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pier-Gonella-triple-neck-guitar.jpg |title=Pier Gonella triple neck guitar |access-date=2018-10-13}}{{cite web|url=https://lucshop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Pier-Gonella-Mastercastle.jpg |title=Pier Gonella Mastercastle |access-date=2018-10-13}}
  • Rinus Gerritsen of Golden Earring uses a doubleneck bass Danelectro

  • Joe Maphis, country music guitarist and television personality
  • Jeff Martin of the Tea Party
  • Fred Mascherino of Terrible Things, formally of Taking Back Sunday
  • Brian May of Queen{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icj8pXmhnSg|title = More Guitars Used by Brian May|website = YouTube}}
  • John McLaughlin of the Mahavishnu Orchestra{{cite web |url=https://lucshop.com/creating-the-double-rainbow-by-leonard-ferris/ |title=Creating the 'Double Rainbow', By Leonard Ferris |publisher=lucshop.com |access-date=2018-11-18}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/Dave/mclaughlin/art/rainbow.html |title=Guitar Player magazine: May 1974 |publisher=Cs.cf.ac.uk |date=1972-07-18 |access-date=2012-03-03}}{{cite web |url=http://pod.ath.cx/johnnymac/4.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2009-02-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325222652/http://pod.ath.cx/johnnymac/4.jpg |archive-date=2009-03-25 }}
  • Neil Murray, ex-bassist of Whitesnake{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOJk0HW_hJw |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/GOJk0HW_hJw |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Whitesnake - Is This Love (Official Music Video)|via=www.youtube.com}}{{cbignore}}
  • Dave Mustaine of Megadeth

  • Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin{{cite web |url=http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2007/Gibson-Jimmy-Page.html |title=Find the Latest in Music Gear News and More | Harmony Central |publisher=News.harmony-central.com |access-date=2012-03-03 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212192207/http://news.harmony-central.com/Newp/2007/Gibson-Jimmy-Page.html |archive-date=2009-02-12 }}
  • Joe Perry of Aerosmith
  • John Petrucci of Dream Theater
  • Tom Petty
  • Elvis Presley

  • Robbie Robertson of the Band
  • Steve Rothery of Marillion
  • Mike Rutherford of Genesis{{Cite web|url=http://www.yourmovetheband.com/rick.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326005724/http://www.yourmovetheband.com/rick.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 26, 2010|title=Your Move: The Double Neck Project|date=March 26, 2010}}

  • Takeshi, bassist/guitarist/vocalist of Boris
  • Pete Townshend of the Who{{cite web|url=http://www.thewho.net/whotabs/equipment/guitar/equip-gibsoneds1275.html |title=Pete's Gear |publisher=Thewho.net |access-date=2012-03-03}}

  • Steve Vai[http://www.hard-rock-cafe.de/html/hrc_new_york_67.html Webhosting Account temporarily down for Maintenance]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
  • Eddie Van Halen of Van Halen{{cite web|url=https://www.vhnd.com/diver-down/secrets/ |title=Secrets |date=23 May 2013 |publisher=vhnd.com |access-date=2021-09-02}}

{{colend}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{commons category|Multiple neck guitars}}

  • [http://www.harpguitars.net/history/org/org-multi-neck.htm Multi-neck guitars, ancient and modern]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20110707065023/http://www.59gibson.com/ Information on the EDS-1275 from 1958-1961]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20120826133338/http://www.angelo.com/html/the_quad_guitar.html The Quad Guitar]
  • [https://www.wired.com/images_blogs/listening_post/images/2008/04/21/4neck1.jpg Another four-neck, the "ultimate bluegrass instrument"]
  • [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUMGvOgTZDQ# Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick plays the five-neck Hamer guitar on 9/16/2006 at MusicFest2006 in Cranford, NJ.]
  • [http://www.cbc.ca/gfx/images/news/photos/2010/04/13/cgy-5-neck-guitar.jpg Steve Puto's unique(?) five-neck instrument.]
  • [http://icedweb.com/1//index.php/2008/05/13/the_beast_is_here?blog=6 "The Beast," a six-neck guitar]
  • [https://www.flickr.com/photos/tront/2377515632/ Eye's "Severna," a seven neck guitar]
  • [http://www2.tbb.t-com.ne.jp/hipopo-art/works/works_HTML/Present%20Arms.html Yoshihiko Satoh's "Presents Arms" (2002), a twelve necks guitar sculpture]

{{Guitars}}

Category:Guitars