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Double Neck Guitars. Flash or Function?

I never much wanted a double neck guitar. Sorry, double neck fans, they seem too flashy and 'look at me' for an intermediate level player like me.

But..... I use 2 tunings: GDg and DGB. Between the two, I can do a lot and produce different styles and tones. But to change things up, I am too often changing guitars.

What if I made a 2 banger? Would I feel like a pretender? Would they/ it play well? Would my whole life be better?

Tags: double, necks?

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Permalink Reply by Brickdust on May 5, 2012 at 8:52pm

I've just built a double neck guitar. The reason I made was so that I could play a bigger selection of songs without the hassle of carrying two guitars are changing them in a short set. It does take a little getting used to and I think I could improve on the design, but they do serve a purpose. Why don't you just build one and see what it's like. I love mine, but then I love all my guitars, and I'm sure I'm gonna get some use out of it. And they do look super cool. :)

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf & Negative Bunny on May 5, 2012 at 9:00pm

How about a 4 string tenor guitar set up primarily for fretting combined with a 3 string baritone set up mainly for slide?

Oh sure, some smart-ass too-clever-for-their-own-good type will probably ask why you don't just do a 6 strung heavy on top and light on the bottom, but that misses the point of maximizing the potential, which is the true origin of the double neck: think of a 12 string combined with a 6 string baritone.

For a cbg, it could be a 3 course double string combined with a 2 string, the double stringer with 26, 16, 12 and frets, the 2 stringer with 61, 49 and fretless

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 5, 2012 at 9:27pm

Clock, I would want versatility. I use the DGB for finger fretting and do better with that than a 4 string. But yes, I end up with two open G tunings one kind of baritone and one kind of tenor.

Brick, you went the double neck route for the same reason I am considering it. Do you have any photos? I will go look. I am not ready to build yet-- but what would you advise on separation distance between the necks? And is it best to go with the same scales?

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 5, 2012 at 9:30pm

Brick, that double of yours is really cool. I was thinking about similar distance between the necks. Like the idea of joining the headstocks. Man, that git looks right for you and your music.. But it is too flashy for me.

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf & Negative Bunny on May 5, 2012 at 10:22pm

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf & Negative Bunny on May 6, 2012 at 4:33am

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf & Negative Bunny on May 6, 2012 at 9:14am

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on May 6, 2012 at 12:37am

John,

You have a legitimate need. Form follows function, and all that crap. Build it. Just don't end up like these guys:

THAT would be flashy!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Stephen Eklund on May 6, 2012 at 12:57am

I think that guitar doubles as a head board for a twin bed. LOL

Uncle John, Double neck guitars were always meant to serve an on stage need. Not really a flash thing. make a lowbo and 3 string or 4 and 3 string combo. This would make it easy to use both for different tunes or within the same song.

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on May 6, 2012 at 1:14am

well ... diatonic and reg scale would be a fuctional use ,

but hey .. what do i know ? function and flash works for me too ;-)

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 6, 2012 at 4:00am

Do a four string incorporating both tunings in one. Work on ur playin til u can do it all on the one axe. Meantime, devise a mechanical mute for strings one and four ;) yes, double necks are for poseurs...

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on May 6, 2012 at 6:29am

I have never owned a double neck, although I could see an advantage.

For me a 3 and 4 string would be interesting.

If the 3 string had a longer 27" scale using baritone strings, I would tune GDg. This would be my bass.

The 4 string with a 22" scale, I would tune Open G (Dgbd) for rhythm chords and lead/bottleneck. The 4 string would be closer to the floor (3 over 4).

This is one ideas, but there are certainly other configurations that would be very useful.

Junior Brown surely does a magically job with his...

http://youtu.be/x_wLVCLPx0M

Good discussion. Thank you. Enjoy, Keni Lee