Doubleneck Guitars/Basses, What for ? Log Out | Topics | Search
Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Doubleneck Guitars/Basses, What for ? « Previous Next »

Author Message
scott
Junior
Username: scott

Post Number: 12
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 5:57 am:   Edit Post

After seeing the post of the 70's advertisment for Jim Jorgeson, or whoever it was with the Doulbleneck 4 and 8 string Bass, I started wondering why people use doublenecks like 12 string guitars and a 4 string Bass, is there any famous songs where the 12-string guitarist decides to play a few bass notes, I am also interested in hearing any ridiculous combinations that people have came across from any company, such as a doubleneck mandolin and seven string guitar doubleneck, etc.
rami
Advanced Member
Username: rami

Post Number: 323
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 6:52 am:   Edit Post

Hi Scott,

That's the John Judge Doubleneck that you're referring to. I think doublenecks were most popular in the 70's and 80's. I've seen pictures of JPJ with some weird acoustic doubleneck that had a mandolin neck on it.

I think the only real point of doublenecks is that they look cool. You can't really play either neck comfortabley enough to make it your main instrument. They're also prohibitively heavy. They're great for sustain due to their sheer mass, but really impractical.

Oh yeah, there's also that phallic symbol aspect to them...

(Message edited by rami on March 26, 2004)
bracheen
Advanced Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 323
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 7:11 am:   Edit Post

Scott, I think the weirdest one I've seen is Rick Nielson's 6 neck Hamer. Or is it 5 neck?

Sam
senmen
Advanced Member
Username: senmen

Post Number: 248
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 7:31 am:   Edit Post

Sam,
Ricks multi-neck guitars have 5 necks. There are two existing, the older orange one and a newer checkerboard style one.
Also he has the famous double neck with name Uncle Dick.....

Oliver (Spyderman)
kenbass4
Member
Username: kenbass4

Post Number: 91
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 8:06 am:   Edit Post

Scott,

If you've ever heard older Genesis stuff ('72 through about '77) Mike Rutherford had a 4 str Bass/ 12 string guitar. There were sections of a song he would play bass pedals with the 12 string, and then switch to bass for other sections. Selling England By The Pound had alot of this on it, particularly "Firth Of Fifth" and "Cinema Show"

Ken (TEO)
u14steelgtr
Junior
Username: u14steelgtr

Post Number: 11
Registered: 7-2003
Posted on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 11:01 am:   Edit Post

Well Scott; in the realm of "ridiculous combinations" there are the "Pikasso" instruments that Linda Manzer built for some pop/jazz player. As I recall she has pictures of a couple of her "Pikasso" instruments on her web site Manzer.com.

I must say the following in defense of Linda; Linda is a superb Luthier that I have the utmost respect for. But she does push the limits of conventional construction every so often. If a person were only half the luthier that she is that person would still an exceptional luthier.

The "Pikasso" instruments are multi-necked instruments that are also akin to a harp guitar.

Regards
--E

See a picture of Linda's "Pikasso I" at this Link:
http://www.manzer.com/media/manzerjpg/15.m293.jpg


(Message edited by u14steelgtr on March 26, 2004)
the_schwartz
Member
Username: the_schwartz

Post Number: 63
Registered: 1-2003
Posted on Friday, March 26, 2004 - 12:13 pm:   Edit Post

Linda Manzer built the 42-string Pikasso guitar for jazz great Pat Metheny. He uses it on "Into the Dream," which can be found on the "Imaginary Day" CD. He also recorded two live versions, one on "Jim Hall & Pat Metheny" and one on "Trio ->Live". He accompanies himself, playing bass lines on one neck while strumming on the other necks, which have open-chord tunings.

Joe
keavin
Intermediate Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 112
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Sunday, March 28, 2004 - 5:00 am:   Edit Post

double necks & and twelve or multistring things are all like 'dream toys',they are just tools of the ones trade, (and of course they do look good), and however, people who have them use them for that purpose, they know when & how to play them .
oujeebass
Junior
Username: oujeebass

Post Number: 46
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Monday, March 29, 2004 - 6:45 pm:   Edit Post

There is a practicality to a double neck in a performance setting but beyond that.. not much good to them.
goatfoot
Junior
Username: goatfoot

Post Number: 23
Registered: 12-2003
Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 5:26 am:   Edit Post

I can see the practicality of a fretted/fretless doubleneck, or a 4/8 string doubleneck for a performance. But I don't really see the use for a bass/guitar doubleneck, Mike Rutherford excepted. Definately cool looking though.

Kevin
keavin
Intermediate Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 133
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 5:37 am:   Edit Post

in one way its a form of 'showcasing' your toy on stage, because it will draw attention. (ever seen a rollsroyce in a parking lot???)
keavin
Intermediate Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 134
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Tuesday, March 30, 2004 - 5:52 am:   Edit Post

theres alot of people who plays two instruments at once,stanley jordan, pat matheney,victor wooten,just to name a few,its called the 'piano approach'.
max_webster
New
Username: max_webster

Post Number: 1
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 6:24 pm:   Edit Post

Back in the seventies, Rush would come out with a white Gibson 12-6 and a black Ric 4-6. That was the best visual use of dualling double-necks! Geddy at least continued to use his double Ric, tunes like A Passage to Bangkok and Xanadu used rhythm guitar over Taurus pedals.

I saw Jonas Hellborg use a home made Fretted\Fretless 4 during his solo. That was amazing.

Rick's original 5 neck had a fretless, unlined guitar in the lowest position! That bad boy got ripped of year's ago, don't know if he ever got it back.

Then of course there was Jimmy Page, nuff said.
dannobasso
New
Username: dannobasso

Post Number: 4
Registered: 3-2004
Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 6:40 pm:   Edit Post

Because it's friggin' cool! You can still order many brands of doubles. I saw Rush and Jonas (Wal). Now that I'm a committed Alembic freak I'd have to get one if I was to get any. After I saw Geddy I wanted a Ric double in the worst way. (pre 83 Spoiler days)
I did get some Taurus II's because of Lee, Wetton , Rutherford etc. I still have 2 sets of Roland PK5 midi pedals with modules. Why? because it sounds cool, looks cool and the shooting pains that goe up your left leg while balancing all your weight plus an Alembic 6 builds character.
Danno
keavin
Intermediate Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 184
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Sunday, April 04, 2004 - 6:43 pm:   Edit Post

yeah max, what are you thumpin on?, got any photos?
max_webster
New
Username: max_webster

Post Number: 2
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 2:09 pm:   Edit Post

I've got a Black '96 Fender American Jazz standard 4 and an '88 Lasido 4 with a hipshot that originally used the Zeta piezo bridge and had no other pick ups. Very cool looking bass in Arctic White. That chunk'o'junk (the zeta) broke so I stripped the bass down to bare wood, sprayed on clear lacquer, and had Fender custom shop J pick ups installed. I replaced the Zeta with a schaller. Now it rocks and is my main stage bass. Incredible wood tone, tones of mid range. Very light, very fast ebony neck. Played through a new SVT2pro and a pair of hartke 410XL cabs. Loud and proud.
Check out my website for some photo's.
www.ozzytribute.ca
Doing a Tribute band for now, steady work, lots a fun, decent coin.
Plan on getting a 5 string lined fretless. All my gig money is going to it. Any suggestion's on options? I'm thinking of a quilted maple rouge with eboney neck laminates.

by the way, google my username for a link to one of the greatest unknown canadian bands of all time.
keavin
Advanced Member
Username: keavin

Post Number: 217
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 2:19 pm:   Edit Post

any suggestions? yes, make sure you get all the bells & whistles on it! "aint nothin better than an alembic dipped in extra chocolate!"
kenbass4
Member
Username: kenbass4

Post Number: 95
Registered: 10-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 3:46 pm:   Edit Post

Actually, Max...

When I saw your name, the first thing I thought was "Wasn't he credited on a Rush album??"

I've got a pretty incredible Rogue that you can check out here: http://alembic.com/club/messages/411/8019.html?1076387590

Yeah it's only 4 string and fretted, but ya gotta love that Buckeye Burl...

Ken (TEO)
hollis
Intermediate Member
Username: hollis

Post Number: 115
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 4:11 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Ken,

Thanks for putting Erin-Oromion's showcase page up again. I musta been sleeping when it was first posted.... What a beautiful bass!

Wasn't there something somewhere about the wood looking like an eagle's face? Did it get lost in the translation? It is an amazingly gorgeous instrument.
max_webster
New
Username: max_webster

Post Number: 3
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 5:14 pm:   Edit Post

I think that the real Max Webster married Jethro Tull's daughter.

Thanks for the pic, great bass. No such thing as "only 4 string fretted".
I'm not a fan of buckeye burl. would want quilt or tiger stripe with really large stripes, not the really tight stuff. love the nickle, gold ain't my style.
The rogue seem's to be the dark horse of the alembic stable. Any thoughts as to why? It remind's me of a jazz bass shape.

Thank's for the tips. I think we've ruined this thread though.
bracheen
Advanced Member
Username: bracheen

Post Number: 367
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Wednesday, April 07, 2004 - 6:09 pm:   Edit Post

Rules were made to be broken, threads made to be ruined.
Welcome to the club Max. Great website you guys have. I was able to see Ozzy and Black Sabbath in '72 (I think) here in Jacksonville at the baseball park of all places. Excellent show, they were with Wishbone Ash, Sweathog, and probably Lynyrd Skynyrd. I think they opened for every concert I attended in the early '70s.

Sam

Topics | Last Day | Last Week | Tree View | Search | Help/Instructions | Program Credits Administration