1975 Gibson Double-Neck
Stairway to Heaven…
Six Strings & Twelve-Strings
This custom-built double-neck (conventional six-string neck in the lower position combined with a twelve-string neck weighs 11.00 lbs. The conventional guitar neck has a nice, fat nut width of just under 1 3/14 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches; the twelve string guitar neck also has a scale length of 24 3/4 inches and a nut width of just over 1 11/16 inches. Solid mahogany body with bevelled edge (16 1/2 inches wide and 1 3/8 inches deep), two three-piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany necks with bound rosewood fretboards. The conventional guitar and the twelve-string necks have 20 jumbo frets and inlaid pearl split-parallelogram position markers. Each headstock with "Gibson" logo silkscreened in gold and two-layer (black on white) truss-rod cover. Serial number ("409026") and "Made in USA" impressed into the back of the headstock of the conventional guitar. 'Three-in-a-row' and 'six-in-a-row' double-line Gibson Deluxe tuners with oval metal buttons. Four "T-Top" humbucking pickups (all stamped on the underside "Patent No. 2,737,842" on the underside and black plastic rings) and with outputs of 7.37k and 7.33k on the six-string guitar and outputs of 7.25k and 7.24k on the twelve-string guitar. The pots are dated "137 7452" (CTS December 1974). Two five-layer(black / white / black / white / black) plastic pickguards with bevelled edges, the one on the six-string guitar side with six screws, the one in the middle with eight screws. Four controls (one volume and one tone for the two pickups of the conventional guitar and one volume and one tone for the the two pickups on the twelve-string guitar) plus a three-way pickup selector switch for both of the necks in the center of the guitar and a three-way neck selector switch on the treble horn of the pickguard of the conventional guitar. Black plastic ribbed-side conical-shape "Witch Hat" or "Amp" knobs. Each guitar with Gibson "patent-number" Tune-O-Matic retainer bridge, both with metal saddles, and original screwed-on non-adjustable bar tailpieces (each with three screws). The original strap buttons are positioned on the heel of the twelve-string guitar and on the lower edge. This guitar is in near mint (9.25) condition. Housed in the original Gibson black rectangular hardshell case with purple plush lining (9.00).
According to Larry Meiners's Gibson Shipment Totals 1937-1979 (p. 20), three hundred and thirty four ES-1275 Double 12 guitars were shipped in 1975, out of a total of eleven hundred and forty-five EDS-1275s shipped between 1974 and 1979. The actual breakdown is as follows: (1974: 1), (1975: 334), (1976: 14), (1977: 42), (1978: 288), (1979: 466).
"The first Gibson double necks were built in Spring 1957 and later in the year a Double 12 and a Double Mandolin were displayed at the July 1957 NAMM convention in Chicago. Both models featured a conventional 6-string neck in the lower position combined with a 12-string neck on the Double 12, and with a short scale 6-string neck tuned an octave higher on the so-called Double Mandolin (a real misnomer!). The enlarged body was of the double cutaway type with sharp Florentine horns and at a distance it could be mistaken for a solid body owing to the absence of f-holes. The early double necks are primarily characterized by their unique hollowed-out body construction featuring of a carved spruce top without f-holes. For additional weight saving, the body depth was kept to 1 7/8" at the rim and, regardless of other appointments, this feature qualifies them as thinlines. The interest generated at the show was sufficient to convince CMI and Gibson to include them in the line, albeit on a custom-order basis only and not as standard production items. The Double 12 (later known as the EDS-1275) and the Double Mandolin (known as the EMS-1235) were first described in the November 1957 issue of the Gazette and subsequently displayed in the 1958 catalog. At respectively $475.00 and $435.00 the two models were in the same price range as the ES-5 Switchmaster, but cost significantly less than a Super 400CES, a L-5CES or even a Byrdland. They were available in a choice of three finishes: sunburst, solid white and solid black" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 83).
"At the end of 1962 the original thinline double necks were phased out and superseded by solid bodies patterned after the ultra-thin SG design pioneered on Les Paul guitars. Notwithstanding the change in body style, double necks continued to be built to custom order only and few were shipped during the 60s before being (temporarily) withdrawn from the Gibson catalog" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 196).
"On the SG-styled double necks, and unlike the thinline models, the two necks share the same individual volume and tone controls and pickup selector switch…Notwithstanding the change of body style, double necks remained built to custom order only. Mid-60s catalogs indicate that they dould be ordered with 'your own choice of double neck equipment'. In other words, any neck combination was possible" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 196).
From the 1963 Gibson Guitar and Bass Catalogue (p. 15): "These fine products of the Gibson custom department offer the unique crafting and individual attention which is found only in custom-built instruments. Gibson's custom department has long been famous for the special models built to the individual specification of top artists in all phases of the music business. Whatever they sought in a guitar, the Gibson custom department was able to achieve it. This same special treatment is given to the double electric guitars because they are in reality all custom-built instruments. Each receiving that special individual treatment…The Double Twelve combines the conventional six-string guitar with a twelve-string neck., thus enabling the player to tune either in thirds or an octave apart for reinforced resonance and unusual tonal effect. Has two slim, fast, low-action necks of one-piece mahogany, Rosewood fingerboards, pearl inlays. Adjustable Tune-O-Matic bridges.Twin, humbucking pickups on each neck with separate tone and volume controls. Three position toggle switch. Neck selector switch to activate either neck" (at http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gib63p15.php).
In the early to mid-sixties the SG-style 'double-twelve' guitars proved somewhat less popular than the previous thinline versions. Only twenty-seven 'double-twelve' guitars were shipped between 1962 and 1966, as opposed to fifty between 1958 and 1962. The six instruments recorded in 1962 include both styles as the (2) earliest solid bodies were shipped at the end of that year. The limited number of 'double-twelves' produced in the sixties probably explains why their shipments ceased to be recorded after 1967 even though they were cataloged and built to special order until 1970. The 'double-twelve' was re-introduced in late 1974 and the shipping totals between 1974 and 1979 show that eleven hundred and forty-five 'double-twelves' were shipped between late 1974 and 1979.
Six Strings & Twelve-Strings
This custom-built double-neck (conventional six-string neck in the lower position combined with a twelve-string neck weighs 11.00 lbs. The conventional guitar neck has a nice, fat nut width of just under 1 3/14 inches and a standard Gibson scale length of 24 3/4 inches; the twelve string guitar neck also has a scale length of 24 3/4 inches and a nut width of just over 1 11/16 inches. Solid mahogany body with bevelled edge (16 1/2 inches wide and 1 3/8 inches deep), two three-piece Mahogany/Maple/Mahogany necks with bound rosewood fretboards. The conventional guitar and the twelve-string necks have 20 jumbo frets and inlaid pearl split-parallelogram position markers. Each headstock with "Gibson" logo silkscreened in gold and two-layer (black on white) truss-rod cover. Serial number ("409026") and "Made in USA" impressed into the back of the headstock of the conventional guitar. 'Three-in-a-row' and 'six-in-a-row' double-line Gibson Deluxe tuners with oval metal buttons. Four "T-Top" humbucking pickups (all stamped on the underside "Patent No. 2,737,842" on the underside and black plastic rings) and with outputs of 7.37k and 7.33k on the six-string guitar and outputs of 7.25k and 7.24k on the twelve-string guitar. The pots are dated "137 7452" (CTS December 1974). Two five-layer(black / white / black / white / black) plastic pickguards with bevelled edges, the one on the six-string guitar side with six screws, the one in the middle with eight screws. Four controls (one volume and one tone for the two pickups of the conventional guitar and one volume and one tone for the the two pickups on the twelve-string guitar) plus a three-way pickup selector switch for both of the necks in the center of the guitar and a three-way neck selector switch on the treble horn of the pickguard of the conventional guitar. Black plastic ribbed-side conical-shape "Witch Hat" or "Amp" knobs. Each guitar with Gibson "patent-number" Tune-O-Matic retainer bridge, both with metal saddles, and original screwed-on non-adjustable bar tailpieces (each with three screws). The original strap buttons are positioned on the heel of the twelve-string guitar and on the lower edge. This guitar is in near mint (9.25) condition. Housed in the original Gibson black rectangular hardshell case with purple plush lining (9.00).
According to Larry Meiners's Gibson Shipment Totals 1937-1979 (p. 20), three hundred and thirty four ES-1275 Double 12 guitars were shipped in 1975, out of a total of eleven hundred and forty-five EDS-1275s shipped between 1974 and 1979. The actual breakdown is as follows: (1974: 1), (1975: 334), (1976: 14), (1977: 42), (1978: 288), (1979: 466).
"The first Gibson double necks were built in Spring 1957 and later in the year a Double 12 and a Double Mandolin were displayed at the July 1957 NAMM convention in Chicago. Both models featured a conventional 6-string neck in the lower position combined with a 12-string neck on the Double 12, and with a short scale 6-string neck tuned an octave higher on the so-called Double Mandolin (a real misnomer!). The enlarged body was of the double cutaway type with sharp Florentine horns and at a distance it could be mistaken for a solid body owing to the absence of f-holes. The early double necks are primarily characterized by their unique hollowed-out body construction featuring of a carved spruce top without f-holes. For additional weight saving, the body depth was kept to 1 7/8" at the rim and, regardless of other appointments, this feature qualifies them as thinlines. The interest generated at the show was sufficient to convince CMI and Gibson to include them in the line, albeit on a custom-order basis only and not as standard production items. The Double 12 (later known as the EDS-1275) and the Double Mandolin (known as the EMS-1235) were first described in the November 1957 issue of the Gazette and subsequently displayed in the 1958 catalog. At respectively $475.00 and $435.00 the two models were in the same price range as the ES-5 Switchmaster, but cost significantly less than a Super 400CES, a L-5CES or even a Byrdland. They were available in a choice of three finishes: sunburst, solid white and solid black" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 83).
"At the end of 1962 the original thinline double necks were phased out and superseded by solid bodies patterned after the ultra-thin SG design pioneered on Les Paul guitars. Notwithstanding the change in body style, double necks continued to be built to custom order only and few were shipped during the 60s before being (temporarily) withdrawn from the Gibson catalog" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 196).
"On the SG-styled double necks, and unlike the thinline models, the two necks share the same individual volume and tone controls and pickup selector switch…Notwithstanding the change of body style, double necks remained built to custom order only. Mid-60s catalogs indicate that they dould be ordered with 'your own choice of double neck equipment'. In other words, any neck combination was possible" (A.R. Duchossoir, Gibson Electrics -- The Classic Years, p. 196).
From the 1963 Gibson Guitar and Bass Catalogue (p. 15): "These fine products of the Gibson custom department offer the unique crafting and individual attention which is found only in custom-built instruments. Gibson's custom department has long been famous for the special models built to the individual specification of top artists in all phases of the music business. Whatever they sought in a guitar, the Gibson custom department was able to achieve it. This same special treatment is given to the double electric guitars because they are in reality all custom-built instruments. Each receiving that special individual treatment…The Double Twelve combines the conventional six-string guitar with a twelve-string neck., thus enabling the player to tune either in thirds or an octave apart for reinforced resonance and unusual tonal effect. Has two slim, fast, low-action necks of one-piece mahogany, Rosewood fingerboards, pearl inlays. Adjustable Tune-O-Matic bridges.Twin, humbucking pickups on each neck with separate tone and volume controls. Three position toggle switch. Neck selector switch to activate either neck" (at http://www.vintageguitars.org.uk/gib63p15.php).
In the early to mid-sixties the SG-style 'double-twelve' guitars proved somewhat less popular than the previous thinline versions. Only twenty-seven 'double-twelve' guitars were shipped between 1962 and 1966, as opposed to fifty between 1958 and 1962. The six instruments recorded in 1962 include both styles as the (2) earliest solid bodies were shipped at the end of that year. The limited number of 'double-twelves' produced in the sixties probably explains why their shipments ceased to be recorded after 1967 even though they were cataloged and built to special order until 1970. The 'double-twelve' was re-introduced in late 1974 and the shipping totals between 1974 and 1979 show that eleven hundred and forty-five 'double-twelves' were shipped between late 1974 and 1979.
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