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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?

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on May 6, 2012 at 1:37am

Yeah...if we're gonna pose, we should all aspire to be first-rate poseurs!

Like Alex Lifeson, Joe Maphis, John MacLaughlin, Pat Metheny, and especially Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, just to name a few more.

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Permalink Reply by ledbelly on May 6, 2012 at 1:56am

i have a double neck danoand i do use both the 6 and 12.my 12 is always tuned to drop d and my 6 is tuned dadgad.just the way i play.i like the ability to change tones and styles just by ficking the switch and moving my arm a little.i havent got around to building anything for awhile so a doublr cbg is far off in the distance but in the thought process

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Permalink Reply by ledbelly on May 6, 2012 at 1:57am

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 6, 2012 at 2:09am

Gees, guys. Lots of good thoughts and advice here from all of you. Thank you.

Phrygian is right in that I could do a 4 string in GDGB that would combine my 2 tunings (GDg and DGB). Fact is, I have one tuned like that out in the wood shop. It is entirely useable, but I sound and play better with 2 separate gits. At age 63 and with arthritic hands (not so bad) - keeping it easy, simple and hand friendly is a good idea for me.

Really like what Brick said. I am after the same things he is. And he achieved a dual purpose double neck

Will think about this for a while and start looking for a box that would work well. Or build my own box.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on May 6, 2012 at 2:19am

And just so's you don't get trapped into the whole "both necks have to point the same way" fetish, let's not forget Matt Schaub's Sith-Tar:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/spin-n-shake

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 6, 2012 at 2:36am

Clock, if you are good on a double neck, you are not a poseur. If you are on the cutting edge of mediocrity, you might be. That's my worry. :)

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Permalink Reply by Grease Stains on May 6, 2012 at 4:19am

Don't kncok it till ya try it i suppose! I say build one, worst case, you have enough parts for two new guitars.

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Permalink Reply by Grease Stains on May 6, 2012 at 4:25am

And flash is only in poor taste if its simply done for flashes sake.
Saw a guy with a 3 neck electric once, 12 string, 6 string, and 6 string fretless. I thought it was a bit much till he started playing, used all three necks for the song.
In the end, its your git, who really cares what anyone else thinks if your happy with it!

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Permalink Reply by Lonman on May 6, 2012 at 4:52am

Well, John, I would go ahead and do it. Unlike me, you can play pretty well and you already said what tunings you like. I think you having a double neck 3 string with each one tuned different will be fun and a success. Also, I know that you are not much into slide, but you could have a fretted and fretless set up. Flash or function? Can be both depending on the bling you want to add. I have design drawn up for a double neck, titled 'double trouble' (I saw this name used recently, but I drew up the design over 8 months ago) Anyhoo, I just like the look, thought it would be fun to make. It will be a fretted and fretless 3 string gdg.

Best wishes on this one John. I think whatever you decide it will be great and you will be able to play it just fine.

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Permalink Reply by RTZGUITARS on May 6, 2012 at 7:31am

Junior Brown should be mentioned here if your not familiar with him you tube and watch

him play the the Gitsteel! I think he bleeds chicken blood.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on May 6, 2012 at 9:10am

I forgot about JR Brown. Oh yeah, that old boy can rock and ramble. Seems like he usually plays a simler version. Gees, I wonder if there are any JR songs a hack like me can play!?