Gibson Custom EDS-1275 Double Neck Electric Guitar

The original two-in-one guitar from Gibson, now recreated to Gibson Custom’s high levels of craft and quality. Used by legends from Jimmy Page to Alex Lifeson, one of the most improbable guitars to ever be played has etched its place in music history since its introduction decades ago. The EDS-1275 Doubleneck features more than just stunning looks, with hand-selected body and neck woods, Custom Bucker pickups, and a hand-sprayed nitrocellulose finish for a truly no-compromise recreation that honors the original in tone, feel and spirit.

"A completely new and exciting instrument … combines the conventional six-string guitar neck with a twelve-string neck—six strings double strung which can be tuned either in thirds or an octave apart for reinforced resonance and unusual tonal effects." — Gibson catalog, circa 1962

Of all the guitars introduced by Gibson in 1958 – a key year in the development of Gibson as an indisputable force in electric solid body guitar design – the most talked-about models are still the innovative Explorer and the Flying V. Yet most people forget – or simply don’t know – that 1958 was also the first year of the Gibson double neck guitar, which in its original incarnation was offered in two distinct models.

The Double 12 – the forerunner to today’s EDS-1275 – had what would become the most conventional twin-neck combination: a 6-string neck and a 12-string neck. The more unusual Double Mandolin had two 6-string necks: one regular 6-string and one short scale length with its strings tuned an octave higher than a regular guitar, which was intended to reproduce the sound of a mandolin.

Undoubtedly, the two unique instruments were a sight to behold, but they offered the consummate stage guitarist two instruments in one for versatility and ease of playing. They were also produced on a “custom-built to order only” basis, making them rare finds in today’s vintage guitar marketplace.

Body 
 Body shape: Double neck 
 Body type: Solid body 
 Body material: Solid wood 
 Top wood: Not applicable
 Body wood: Mahogany
 Body finish: Gloss Nitrocellulose
 Orientation: Right handed 
Neck 
 Neck shape: EDS-1275
 Neck wood: 3-piece Maple
 Joint: Set-in 
 Scale length: 24.75" 
 Truss rod: Standard 
 Neck finish: Gloss 
Fretboard 
 Material: Rosewood
 Radius: 12" 
 Fret size: Medium 
 Number of frets: 22 
 Inlays: Parallelogram 
 Nut width: 1.687" (42.8mm) 
Pickups 
 Configuration: HH 
 Neck: CustomBucker 
 Middle: Not applicable 
 Bridge: CustomBucker 
 Brand: Gibson Custom 
 Active or passive pickups: Passive 
 Series or parallel: Not applicable 
 Piezo: No 
 Active EQ: No 
 Special electronics: 2-way neck selector 
Controls 
 Control layout: Volume 1, volume 2, tone 1, tone 2 
 Pickup switch: 3-way 
 Coil tap or split: No 
 Kill switch: No 
Hardware 
 Bridge type: Fixed 
 Bridge design: ABR-1 
 Tailpiece: Stopbar 
 Tuning machines: Kluson deluxe 
 Color: Nickel 
Other 
 Number of strings: 6-string, 12-string
 Special features: Body shape 
 Case: Hardshell case 
 Accessories: Certificate of authenticity 
 Country of origin: United States