Double neck guitar

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A double neck guitar is a guitar that has two necks. The most common type has 12 strings on the top neck, while the bottom neck has the normal six. Combination six-string and 4-string are also used. This allows the guitarist to switch quickly and easily between the two necks 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 as he used it during live performances of the song Stairway to Heaven.

Other notable double neck guitar users include:

• John McLaughlin of The Mahavishnu Orchestra
• Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi
• Alex Lifeson of Rush
• Michael Angelo Batio, Steve Vai
• Slash of Guns N' Roses
• John Petrucci of Dream Theater
• Mike Rutherford of Genesis
• Pete Townshend of The Who
• Don Felder of The Eagles
• Jeff Cook of Alabama
• Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar
• Rik Emmett of Triumph
• Junior Brown ("guit-steel")
• Deke Dickerson
• Danny Gatton
• Earl Hooker
• Joe Maphis
• John Otway

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. An allusion to the instrument was used in a Simpsons episode, “Who Shot Mr. Burns Part Two”, for humor value when heavy metal enthusiast and schoolbus driver Otto once requested them ineloquently from Principal Skinner as an expenditure made possible by the elementary school's expanded budget. His phrase was, "You know those guitars that are, like, double-guitars?"

Triple-, four- and five-necked guitars also exist. Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen uses a custom five-neck Hamer guitar, and John Paul Jones sometimes made use of a 3-neck guitar, which added a mandolin neck and strings.

External links

• [Double neck guitars on LP/CD covers]