Double neck guitar 3737096 225675915 2008-07-14T21:13:32Z Anger22 1008387 Revert to revision 224235761 dated 2008-07-07 22:48:09 by Anger22 using [[:en:Wikipedia:Tools/Navigation_popups|popups]] [[Image:SamboraKramerRSDouble.jpg|thumb|right|150px|The custom Kramer RS (Richie Sambora) Double-neck signature guitar made for [[Richie Sambora]]]] A '''double neck guitar''' is a [[guitar]] that has two necks. ==Double neck guitars== The most common type has [[Twelve string guitar|12 strings]] on the top neck, while the bottom neck has the normal six. Combination six-string and [[Bass guitar|4-string]] are also used. Sometimes, people may combine a [[fretless guitar]] with a regular guitar, or any other combination of guitar neck and pickup styles. This allows the guitarist to switch quickly and easily between guitar sounds without taking the time to change guitars. A popular double neck guitar model is the [[Gibson EDS-1275]]. This guitar was made famous by guitarist [[Jimmy Page]] of [[Led Zeppelin]], which he used during live performances of the song "[[Stairway to Heaven]]" and "[[The Rain Song]]". Because of its unusual or seemingly superfluous structure, plus its particular association with [[hard rock]], the double neck guitar is often a curiosity to those who do not play guitar. For example, in a ''[[Simpsons]]'' episode, "[[Who Shot Mr. Burns Part One]]", heavy metal enthusiast and schoolbus driver [[Otto Mann|Otto]] ineloquently asked [[Principal Skinner]] to buy one using the elementary school's expanded budget, saying "You know those guitars that are like, double guitars, you know?" Triple-, quadruple- and quintuple-necked guitars also exist. [[Cheap Trick]] guitarist [[Rick Nielsen]] uses a custom five-neck [[Hamer Guitars|Hamer]] guitar, and [[John Paul Jones (musician)|John Paul Jones]] sometimes made use of a three-neck guitar, which added a mandolin neck and strings. [[Steve Vai]] owns a custom three-neck [[Ibanez JEM]], most frequently used when he needs a fretless guitar (such as on the ''[[G3: Live in Denver]]'' DVD). [[Mike Rutherford]]'s puppet is seen playing a quadruple-necked guitar in the [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] music video "[[Land of Confusion]]" for comedic value. Quite possibly the most complex guitar ever created was the [[Pikasso guitar|"Pikasso" guitar]], an acoustic guitar designed for [[Pat Metheny]] by Linda Manzer, with a record total of 42 strings. Another famous user of a multi neck guitar was [[Michael Angelo Batio]], who is famous for playing "Double Guitars" (left and right handed guitars joined at the center in a V shape) and a "Quad guitar" (which is 4 guitars joined together in an "X" shape) the original "Quad guitar" was stolen, but in 2007 [[Dean Guitars]] built him a new [http://www.angelo.com/html/the_quad_guitar.html Quad Guitar]. ==Multiple-necked bass guitars== Recently, guitar makers have started producing bass guitars with multiple necks, the majority having two necks - although there are some basses with three or more necks made, 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 whilst the other neck is tuned to E-A-D-G, etc.). There are dozens of variations of how multiple-necked guitars can be customized, such as the number of strings on a neck, frets or no frets, the tuning used on each neck, etc. One of the more unusual combinations seen is where one neck of a double-necked guitar is set up as for a standard electric guitar and the other side is configured as for a bass guitar. That electric guitar vs. bass combination can be played in regular tuning, but often has to have drop-D tuning (D-A-D-G) as well, in order to accommodate most songs that could feasibly be played with such an instrument. One of the more well-known multiple-necked bass guitars is that used by [[Chris Squire]] (of [[Yes (band)|Yes]]) for the song 'Awaken'. This is a replica of a guitar built by Wal for Roger Newell of the English Rock Ensemble. Squire's original triple-necked bass guitar was configured with a four-string fretted neck, a four-string fretless neck, and a six-string tuned in octaves (Squire was known to have tuned it to aA-dD-gG). This bass is currently on display at the [[Hard Rock Cafe]]. ==Notable double neck guitar users== * [[Jimmy Page]] of [[Led Zeppelin]] * [[Jack White]] of [[The White Stripes]] * [[Michael Angelo Batio]], formerly of [[Nitro]] * [[Matthias Röhr]] of [[Böhse Onkelz]] * [[Junior Brown]] ("[[guit-steel]]") * [[Jeff Cook (musician)|Jeff Cook]] of [[Alabama (band)|Alabama]] * [[Rik Emmett]] of [[Triumph (band)|Triumph]] * [[Don Felder]] of the [[Eagles|Eagles]] * [[Danny Gatton]] * [[Earl Hooker]] * [[Steve Howe (guitarist)|Steve Howe]] of [[Yes (band)|Yes]] * [[Gordie Johnson]] of [[Big Sugar]] * [[Davey Johnstone]] of the [[Elton John]] band * [[Denny Laine]] of [[Wings (band)|Wings]] * [[Alex Lifeson]] and [[Geddy Lee]] of [[Rush (band)|Rush]] * [[Joe Maphis]] * [[John McLaughlin (musician)|John McLaughlin]] of [[The Mahavishnu Orchestra]] * [[Tom Morello]] of [[Rage Against the Machine]] and [[Audioslave]] * [[Rick Nielsen]] of [[Cheap Trick]] * [[Joe Perry (musician)|Joe Perry]] of [[Aerosmith]] * [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] of [[Velvet Revolver]] and [[Guns and Roses]] * [[Robbie Robertson]] of [[The Band]] * [[Mike Rutherford]] of [[Genesis (band)|Genesis]] * [[Richie Sambora]] of [[Bon Jovi]] * [[Karl Sanders]] of [[Nile (band)|Nile]] * [[John Petrucci]] of [[Dream Theater]] * [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] of [[Guns N' Roses]] (currently in [[Velvet Revolver]]) * [[Pete Townshend]] of [[The Who]] * [[Paul Stanley]] of [[KISS]] * [[Steve Vai]] * [[Eddie Van Halen]] of [[Van Halen]] * [[Joe Walsh]] of the [[James Gang]] and [[Eagles|The Eagles]] * [[Dave Mustaine]] of [[Megadeth]] * [[Zakk Wylde]] of [[Black Label Society]] * [[Paul Gilbert]], formerly of [[Mr. Big (band)|Mr. Big]] and [[Racer X (band)|Racer X]], who uses a 6-string + 3-string configuration on his double neck. * [[Steve Clark]], formerly of [[Def Leppard]] ==Popular culture== * A double-necked bass guitar was also used in the movie ''[[This Is Spinal Tap]]''. * Another double necked guitar was used in the episode "[[FLCLimax]]" from ''[[FLCL]]''. ==External links== * [http://www.wirz.de/music/doubneck.htm Double neck guitars on LP/CD covers] * [http://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.] *{{cite news | last = Rojas | first = Peter | coauthors = | title = Music Thing: The Triple Neck Guitar | publisher = engadget | date = [[2004-10-30]] | url = http://www.engadget.com/2004/10/30/music-thing-the-triple-neck-guitar | accessdate = 2007-09-05 }} {{Guitar}} [[Category:Guitars]] [[ja:ダブルネック・ギター]]