Conference napalm::guitar

    
    The only six-string/bass combos that I know of in current manufacture
    are from Carvin and Rickenbacker.  I don't think that Gibson sells
    theirs (SG/EB3 combo) anymore.  I don't want to think about how
    much the Ricks are (they also have 12-string/bass combos!!!) but
    the Carvins are about $800 or so.
    
    Ibanez used to make a Strat/Jazz Bass combo which I have seen
    occasionally in stores used.
    
    Every double neck I have ever tried was too heavy except for a rare
    and not very versatile Danelectro model (the body is hollow and quite
    light).  Washburn used to make a "Bantam" doubleneck guitar/bass (as
    well as fretted/fretless bass) that was based on a Steinberger clone
    body....obviously much lighter.  The price was about $1000.
    
    
    
     

    Funny that you should mention the weight. My personal double neck
    guitar has a poplar body (not the prettyest hardwood, but looks ok if
    finished in a dark, or solid color). Maple, Ash or Mahogany weigh too
    much. Sinec I often play 4 an 5 hour gig's (the average seems to be
    4 hours), I find that the added mass and sustain arn't worth the
    additional weight (and it's not that significant of a loss to me
    in any case). I build my own guitars & mine is a 6 string/4 string
    bass. I play in a duo & I get to fill in the bass lines when the
    keyboard player wants to show off. I like my light body guitar, but....

    

    Keep in mind how a double neck balences on your body, and consider
    which neck you plan to use most often & where you want that neck to be.
    I've built them where the main neck (in my case the 6 string) is at the
    top & it took me nearly a year to get used to it, since it rides
    different than my other single neck 6 strings. I have found that I like
    the main neck to be the bottom one (I have built more than one double
    necked instrument), and that's the easiest to get used to. Since
    6/4 combo's are kind of rare (What I use however), you may not get
    a lot of choices to consider. You might want to look at buying some
    necks & making your own body (I'll be glad to make some simple plans
    available for a 'STRAT' type of double neck for 6/4 combinations.
    I don't happen to care for the longer 'STRAT' scale length & usually
    make my own 6 string necks (I prefer the 24 3/4 inch Gibson scale over
    the 25 1/4 inch 'STRAT/TELE" Fender scale - However, I seem to be in
    the minority). I got into this by custom making left handed 6 string
    guitars (if you think that right handed double necks are uncommon, try
    and find a left handed version) & not charging more than the cost of
    a comparable factory instrument. Most parts are available from Stewart
    MacDonalds & If you think that you can manage a few tools to make the
    body, you might find it interesting.

    Nice thing about Poplar, is that you can make intracate carvings with
    out the difficulty encountered in Maple or Ash. Thus, if you have some
    ideas to make your own instrument really special, you can give it a
    shot (Besides, if you use a dark stain, it looks a bit like Walnut
    (without the pores in the wood!) but a lot cheaper.

						    Jens

    		-< Any Jimmy Page fans out there? >-
    
    	Thanks for the tips on double necks.  What about the DN custom
    S.G. that Jimmy uses for "Stairway to Heaven"?  I'v played an SG
    before and while they don't have the sustain that my Les Paul has,
    the difference in weight is remarkable.  Playing a Les Paul on stage
    for 3 to four hours a night is no easy task.  Even a double-neck
    SG couldn't be THAT heavy, could it?  I've never seen one, except
    strapped on Jimmy's shoulder.  I remember reading somewhere that
    he had it custom made when Zep started playing "Stairway" live.
    I would think that the cost, especially nowadays, would be pro-
    hibitive to your average struggling musician.  
    
    	If anyone out there has ever seen or played one, I would appreciate
    (sp?) some feedback.  I love the sound of that thing!
    
    	While I'm on the subject, did anyone out there in VT-land (as
    opposed to TV-land) catch the Atlantic Records 40th birthday   
    special on HBO last spring?  How about Jimmy's playing?  I'v had
    bad nights before but not in front of millions of people!      
    If you have a tape of it, watch the last measure of "Stairway".
    Jimmy has a look on his face that just says "Sorry Folks..."
    
    
    	I saw him in Portland, Maine a couple of weeks ago.  He was
    his good old godly self.   I thought I would end on a positive 
    note.
    
    KEEP ON PICKIN' !!!
    
    						Brad Karrfalt
    
    						SCUBBA::KARRFALT
    

    There's nothing particularly custom about Gibson doublenecks, except
    they only make them sporadically. The model number is EDS-1275 and
    the current list price is $1775.
    
    Use ones are available at $1000-$2500, depending upon year & condition.
    
    The first Gibson doublenecks were hollow bodies with closed tops.
    They were really heavy, but had excellent sound. They currently
    sell for $3000-$5000.

    
    Re: .4
    
    The first Gibson double neck, as Dan pointed out was a hollow body.
    It also had one regular six-string neck and one short "octave"
    six-string neck.  They called it a double mandolin.  
    

    Original Gibson doublenecks also were made in 12-string models, but you're
    right--the first was a "mandolin".
    
    Gibson is not currently cataloging anything but 6-12's.
    
    In thje truly weird department, don't forget the Ibanez 6-6: two
    six-string necks. Perfect for Stanley Jordan.
    
    Danny W
    
    

    don't forget the many double, triple & 5 necked guitars made for Rick
    Neilson (from Cheap Trick - at least I think that's how his name is
    spelled). All are custom made by Hamer & most are probably pretty
    difficult to use for anything. I never did understand what a double 6/6
    was for (maybe one neck for slide guitar??)

			Jens_who_plays_a_double_neck_6_string_and_4_string_
			bass_at_all_of_his_gigs.

    I played a gibson double neck Sg back about '73. It weighed about
    4 times as much as a les paul and wasn't all the easy to get used
    to, ie: knobs and switches were in strange (well seemed to me to
    be strange) locations, at least furthur away than I'd like. The
    other real disadvantage for lazy git players like me is that sitting
    down with it was not really recommended...same reason I never seriously
    considered a flying v...
    
    dbii

                              -<Thanks's folks!>-
    
    	Gee, thanks for all the neat comments - and so quick!  So a
    double-neck SG weighs four times more than a Les Paul?  That would
    put in in at about 45 - 50 pounds.  No thanks, ecpecially after
    hearing those prices.
    
    	Dave:  Although I have never played any sort of double-neck
    instrument, I would imagine that any configuration of knobs and
    switches would be awkward at first.  And as far as playing it  
    sitting down, that goes without saying unless you have 4 foot long
    arms; in which case you would probably be playing basketball instead
    of guitar!  (There's a lot more money in basketball!)
    
    
    					Brad Karrfalt
    

    Chuck Levin's has a new, dark cherry red Gibson 6-12 in stock @ $1325
    including shipping. They've sold a couple this week--must be the
    phase of the moon.
    
    Danny W

	Dear Santa,
    
    	I've been a good boy all year, PLEASE leave me a dark cherry
    red Gibson 6-12 double-neck guitar under my tree.
    
    					Brad
    

 One of the few Japanese guitars to have acquired some collector's
     status is the Ibanez Model 2670  Artwood Twin. This is a very
    fancy 6-12,in natural finish ash, with sculptured headstocks,
    mother-of-toilet-seat body purfling and tree-of-life inlays on both ebony
    fingerboards. Based on their artist body, it set new records for weight.
     It generally sells for $1500.
    
     The inspiration for this guitar was John McLaughlin's custom
    Rex Bogue doubleneck.
    
     A single neck version was the model 2681 Bob Weir.
        
        
     Danny W
    

    
    Guess what...according to the latest GP, Steinberger is now making
    double-necks, (6/6, 6/4, 4/4) custom-order only I would guess. 
    
    The picture showed an M series (i.e. bolt-on neck with normal body)
    and because they can put two M series necks easily onto a custom
    wooden body I would guess that they won't be offering doublenecks
    in the fully molded body-less XL series.

    
    
    	Saw a guy playing a double neck Ovation 6/12 this weekend. Looked
    just like the one Sambora uses on 'wanted dead or alive', except it was 
    natural colored vs. black. Does ovation produce an axe like that? Or
    was it custom made? I can only imagine how much something like that 
    would go for. More curious than anything..
    John

    Sambora's triple neck 6/12/Mandolin cost him a cool 50kUS$ per
    instrument.
    
    -Tony