fbpx
Wikipedia

Gibson EDS-1275

April 10, 2024

The Gibson EDS-1275 is a double neck Gibson electric guitar introduced in 1963 and still in production. Popularized and raised to iconic status[1] by musicians such as John McLaughlin and Jimmy Page, it was called "the coolest guitar in rock."[2]

Gibson EDS-1275
A modern edition of the EDS-1275 in Alpine White.
ManufacturerGibson
Period1963–1968, 1974–1998, 1998–present
Construction
Body typeSolid
Neck jointMortise & Tenon
Woods
BodyMahogany
NeckMahogany (pre-1998)
Maple (1998-current)
FretboardRosewood
Hardware
BridgeABR-1 (6-string)
Tune-O-Matic (12-string)
Nickel Claw Tailpieces
Pickup(s)490R Custom Bucker (rhythm)
498T Custom Bucker (lead)
Colors available
Ebony, Alpine White, Heritage Cherry

History edit

Gibson's first doubleneck guitars were produced from 1958 to 1961[3] with a hollow body and two 6-string necks, one being a short-scale neck tuned to a higher octave; from 1962 to 1967 it had a solid body. A model with a 4-string bass and a 6-string guitar neck was called the EBS-1250; it had a built-in fuzztone and was produced from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1977 to 1978.[4]

In 1963, the solid-body EDS-1275 was designed, resembling the SG model; this version of the doubleneck was available until 1968.[5] The guitar was available in jet black, cherry, sunburst, and white.[4]

In 1974, Gibson started making the guitar again, in a number of additional colors, with production lasting until 1998. Since then, alpine white and heritage cherry versions were made by Gibson USA in Nashville, Tennessee, until 2003, in the Nashville Custom Shop from 2004 to 2005, and in the Memphis, Tennessee, Custom Shop beginning in 2006.[4]

Notable EDS-1275 users edit

Main article: List of Gibson players

The EDS-1275, while never selling in great quantities, was used by a number of notable musicians. Chicago bluesman Earl Hooker is seen holding one on the cover of the 1969 albums Two Bugs and a Roach and The Moon is Rising,[6] and Elvis Presley sports a cherry doubleneck in the 1966 movie Spinout.[7]

John McLaughlin edit

 
 
 
John McLaughlin, Jimmy Page and Steve Miller are three notable users of the EDS-1275

In the early 1970s, jazz-rock musician John McLaughlin played an EDS-1275 in his first years[8] with the Mahavishnu Orchestra.[9]

Charlie Whitney edit

Another guitar player who was known for playing the EDS-1275 was Charlie Whitney, the principal guitarist for the British underground band Family. Clips of Whitney performing with his EDS-1275 are readily available on YouTube from Family appearances on Beat-Club and The Old Grey Whistle Test.

Jimmy Page edit

The EDS-1275 was mostly popularized by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, most notably during live performances of "Stairway to Heaven."[10][11] The doubleneck eliminated the need to switch guitars mid-song:[2] at the beginning of "Stairway to Heaven", he used the bottom 6-string neck for the intro and first verse, then switched to the top 12-string neck, then to the 6-string neck for the extended guitar solo, and back to the 12-string for the final chorus.

By the time Page desired an EDS-1275, they were no longer in production so he ordered a custom-made cherry 6/12.[10] Page's influence was such that after him other guitarists picked up the EDS-1275, including Alex Lifeson of Rush, who used it to play the song "Xanadu" live.[12] Eddie Van Halen also had one in his collection which he used live and in the studio on the track “Secrets” from Van Halen’s ‘Diver Down’ LP.[13] Tommy Shaw of Styx had a custom double neck which had two 12 string necks which he used live with Styx on the band's live performances from 1977 to 1983 on "Fooling Yourself" (live versions from 1977 and 1978), "Suite Madame Blue" (up to the end of the synthesizer solo where he would switch to his Les Paul or Explorer or Ibanez guitar) and "Queen Of Spades" (for the intro and outro).

Don Felder edit

Don Felder's white EDS-1275 was most famously used for playing "Hotel California" live with the Eagles[14] and now (via Gibson Custom Shop replicas) in solo shows. It can be seen in any number of clips from the mid to late 1970s. Felder customised his EDS-1275 by removing one of the pots (bridge pickup tone control), and replacing it with a second output.[14] This allowed for the signal to be sent to two separate amplifiers: for "Hotel California", an Echoplex and a Leslie for the swirling tones (played on the 12 string neck capo at the seven fret), and then later through his standard guitar amp (a Blackface Deluxe Reverb or Tweed Deluxe) using the six string neck for the duet/harmony guitar solo shared with Joe Walsh.[14] Felder's original EDS-1275 is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.[14]

Models edit

Current model edit

 
Don Felder signature model

As of 2009, the guitar is offered only through the Gibson Custom Shop as a special order model. It features two volume and two tone control knobs, a three-way pickup-selector switch, and a three-way neck-selector switch. It has vintage tulip tuners, pearloid split parallelogram inlays, black pickguards and pickup rings, twenty frets per neck (bound with single-ply white binding), and 490 Alnico (R) and 498 Alnico (T) humbucking pickups.[15] The Custom Shop also makes a Don Felder "Hotel California" signature model.[16] New Gibson EDS-1275 and Epiphone G-1275 models feature longer 12-string headstocks than the original EDS-1275 and the "Hotel California" EDS-1275.

Signature models edit

Gibson released a Jimmy Page Signature EDS-1275 model in 2007; a total of 250 were made.[17] Page kept serial number one for himself. Serial numbers 2 through 26 of these were played and signed by Page; number 11 was donated for auction to benefit a charitable cause.[18]

In 2019, Gibson announced a black model for Slash.[19]

Similar models edit

Epiphone edit

 
Epiphone G-1275

Epiphone (a Gibson subsidiary) makes a version of the classic doubleneck, marketing it as the G-1275.[20][21]

Ibanez edit

Japanese guitar manufacturer Ibanez produced a model inspired by the Gibson, called the Double Axe, from 1974 to 1976. They were available as a 6/12, a 4/6, and a 6/6 configuration, in cherry and walnut finishes.[5]

Harley Benton edit

German guitar manufacturer Harley Benton, which is the in-house brand for Thomann Music Store produces the 'DC-Custom 612 Cherry' doubleneck at an affordable price point. It features 6/12 configuration with 22 fret necks.[22]

References edit

  1. ^ "Rare Led Zeppelin guitar available again Jimmy Page's double neck is back after 36 years". NME. March 15, 2007. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Vinnicombe, Chris (August 4, 2008). "Jimmy Page's Gibson named 'coolest guitar in rock'". MusicRadar. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  3. ^ Gruhn & Carter 1999, p. 245
  4. ^ a b c Fjestad 2008, pp. 430–31
  5. ^ a b Fjestad 2008, p. 629
  6. ^ Batey 2003, p. 165
  7. ^ Case 2007, p. 109
  8. ^ . Gibson. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  9. ^ Chapman 2000, p. 115
  10. ^ a b Case 2007, p. 171
  11. ^ Drozdowski, Ted (February 11, 2010). . Gibson. Archived from the original on February 15, 2010. Retrieved March 4, 2010.
  12. ^ Case 2007, p. 110
  13. ^ Brown & Sharken 2003, p. 39
  14. ^ a b c d Fanelli, Damian (October 22, 2012). "Interview: Don Felder Discusses His Signature "Hotel California" EDS-1275 and 1959 les Paul Gibson Guitars". Guitar World. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  15. ^ . Gibson. Archived from the original on March 10, 2009. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  16. ^ "Gibson Custom – Don Felder Hotel California EDS-1275". Gibson. Retrieved January 15, 2012.
  17. ^ Fjestad 2008, p. 486
  18. ^ . Archived from the original on January 3, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  19. ^ "Gibson announce badass new Slash Doubleneck guitar". NME. September 13, 2019.
  20. ^ . Epiphone. p. 21. Archived from the original on March 22, 2010. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
  21. ^ "Epiphone G-1275 Custom". Epiphone.com.
  22. ^ "Harley Benton DC-Custom 612 Cherry". www.thomann.de.

Bibliography edit

  • Batey, Rick (2003). The American Blues Guitar: An Illustrated History. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0-634-02759-8.
  • Brown, Pete; Sharken, Lisa (2003). Gear Secrets of the Guitar Legends: How to Sound Like Your Favorite Players. Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-0-87930-751-6.
  • Case, George (2007). Jimmy Page: magus, musician, man: An unauthorized biography. Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-1-4234-0407-1.
  • Chapman, Richard (2000). Guitar: music, history, players. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 978-0-7894-5963-3.
  • Fjestad, Zachary R. (2008). Blue Book of Electric Guitars. Alfred Music. ISBN 978-1-886768-73-4.
  • Gruhn, George; Carter, Walter (1999). Gruhn's guide to vintage guitars: An identification guide for American fretted instruments (2 ed.). Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-0-87930-422-5.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gibson EDS-1275.
  • Official website  

April 10, 2024
gibson, 1275, double, neck, gibson, electric, guitar, introduced, 1963, still, production, popularized, raised, iconic, status, musicians, such, john, mclaughlin, jimmy, page, called, coolest, guitar, rock, modern, edition, 1275, alpine, white, manufacturergib. The Gibson EDS 1275 is a double neck Gibson electric guitar introduced in 1963 and still in production Popularized and raised to iconic status 1 by musicians such as John McLaughlin and Jimmy Page it was called the coolest guitar in rock 2 Gibson EDS 1275A modern edition of the EDS 1275 in Alpine White ManufacturerGibsonPeriod1963 1968 1974 1998 1998 presentConstructionBody typeSolidNeck jointMortise amp TenonWoodsBodyMahoganyNeckMahogany pre 1998 Maple 1998 current FretboardRosewoodHardwareBridgeABR 1 6 string Tune O Matic 12 string Nickel Claw TailpiecesPickup s 490R Custom Bucker rhythm 498T Custom Bucker lead Colors availableEbony Alpine White Heritage Cherry Contents 1 History 2 Notable EDS 1275 users 2 1 John McLaughlin 2 2 Charlie Whitney 2 3 Jimmy Page 2 4 Don Felder 3 Models 3 1 Current model 3 2 Signature models 4 Similar models 4 1 Epiphone 4 2 Ibanez 4 3 Harley Benton 5 References 5 1 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editGibson s first doubleneck guitars were produced from 1958 to 1961 3 with a hollow body and two 6 string necks one being a short scale neck tuned to a higher octave from 1962 to 1967 it had a solid body A model with a 4 string bass and a 6 string guitar neck was called the EBS 1250 it had a built in fuzztone and was produced from 1962 to 1968 and again from 1977 to 1978 4 In 1963 the solid body EDS 1275 was designed resembling the SG model this version of the doubleneck was available until 1968 5 The guitar was available in jet black cherry sunburst and white 4 In 1974 Gibson started making the guitar again in a number of additional colors with production lasting until 1998 Since then alpine white and heritage cherry versions were made by Gibson USA in Nashville Tennessee until 2003 in the Nashville Custom Shop from 2004 to 2005 and in the Memphis Tennessee Custom Shop beginning in 2006 4 Notable EDS 1275 users editMain article List of Gibson players The EDS 1275 while never selling in great quantities was used by a number of notable musicians Chicago bluesman Earl Hooker is seen holding one on the cover of the 1969 albums Two Bugs and a Roach and The Moon is Rising 6 and Elvis Presley sports a cherry doubleneck in the 1966 movie Spinout 7 John McLaughlin edit nbsp nbsp nbsp John McLaughlin Jimmy Page and Steve Miller are three notable users of the EDS 1275 In the early 1970s jazz rock musician John McLaughlin played an EDS 1275 in his first years 8 with the Mahavishnu Orchestra 9 Charlie Whitney edit Another guitar player who was known for playing the EDS 1275 was Charlie Whitney the principal guitarist for the British underground band Family Clips of Whitney performing with his EDS 1275 are readily available on YouTube from Family appearances on Beat Club and The Old Grey Whistle Test Jimmy Page edit The EDS 1275 was mostly popularized by Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin most notably during live performances of Stairway to Heaven 10 11 The doubleneck eliminated the need to switch guitars mid song 2 at the beginning of Stairway to Heaven he used the bottom 6 string neck for the intro and first verse then switched to the top 12 string neck then to the 6 string neck for the extended guitar solo and back to the 12 string for the final chorus By the time Page desired an EDS 1275 they were no longer in production so he ordered a custom made cherry 6 12 10 Page s influence was such that after him other guitarists picked up the EDS 1275 including Alex Lifeson of Rush who used it to play the song Xanadu live 12 Eddie Van Halen also had one in his collection which he used live and in the studio on the track Secrets from Van Halen s Diver Down LP 13 Tommy Shaw of Styx had a custom double neck which had two 12 string necks which he used live with Styx on the band s live performances from 1977 to 1983 on Fooling Yourself live versions from 1977 and 1978 Suite Madame Blue up to the end of the synthesizer solo where he would switch to his Les Paul or Explorer or Ibanez guitar and Queen Of Spades for the intro and outro Don Felder edit Don Felder s white EDS 1275 was most famously used for playing Hotel California live with the Eagles 14 and now via Gibson Custom Shop replicas in solo shows It can be seen in any number of clips from the mid to late 1970s Felder customised his EDS 1275 by removing one of the pots bridge pickup tone control and replacing it with a second output 14 This allowed for the signal to be sent to two separate amplifiers for Hotel California an Echoplex and a Leslie for the swirling tones played on the 12 string neck capo at the seven fret and then later through his standard guitar amp a Blackface Deluxe Reverb or Tweed Deluxe using the six string neck for the duet harmony guitar solo shared with Joe Walsh 14 Felder s original EDS 1275 is on display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland 14 Models editCurrent model edit nbsp Don Felder signature modelAs of 2009 update the guitar is offered only through the Gibson Custom Shop as a special order model It features two volume and two tone control knobs a three way pickup selector switch and a three way neck selector switch It has vintage tulip tuners pearloid split parallelogram inlays black pickguards and pickup rings twenty frets per neck bound with single ply white binding and 490 Alnico R and 498 Alnico T humbucking pickups 15 The Custom Shop also makes a Don Felder Hotel California signature model 16 New Gibson EDS 1275 and Epiphone G 1275 models feature longer 12 string headstocks than the original EDS 1275 and the Hotel California EDS 1275 Signature models edit Gibson released a Jimmy Page Signature EDS 1275 model in 2007 a total of 250 were made 17 Page kept serial number one for himself Serial numbers 2 through 26 of these were played and signed by Page number 11 was donated for auction to benefit a charitable cause 18 In 2019 Gibson announced a black model for Slash 19 Similar models editEpiphone edit nbsp Epiphone G 1275Epiphone a Gibson subsidiary makes a version of the classic doubleneck marketing it as the G 1275 20 21 Ibanez edit Japanese guitar manufacturer Ibanez produced a model inspired by the Gibson called the Double Axe from 1974 to 1976 They were available as a 6 12 a 4 6 and a 6 6 configuration in cherry and walnut finishes 5 Harley Benton edit German guitar manufacturer Harley Benton which is the in house brand for Thomann Music Store produces the DC Custom 612 Cherry doubleneck at an affordable price point It features 6 12 configuration with 22 fret necks 22 References edit Rare Led Zeppelin guitar available again Jimmy Page s double neck is back after 36 years NME March 15 2007 Retrieved March 4 2010 a b Vinnicombe Chris August 4 2008 Jimmy Page s Gibson named coolest guitar in rock MusicRadar Retrieved March 4 2010 Gruhn amp Carter 1999 p 245 a b c Fjestad 2008 pp 430 31 a b Fjestad 2008 p 629 Batey 2003 p 165 Case 2007 p 109 An EDS 1275 and a Drone Stringed J 200 The Tale of John McLaughlin s Two Rare Gibsons Gibson Archived from the original on June 22 2011 Retrieved March 4 2010 Chapman 2000 p 115 a b Case 2007 p 171 Drozdowski Ted February 11 2010 Valentine s Day Blues 10 Classic Love Songs Gibson Archived from the original on February 15 2010 Retrieved March 4 2010 Case 2007 p 110 Brown amp Sharken 2003 p 39 a b c d Fanelli Damian October 22 2012 Interview Don Felder Discusses His Signature Hotel California EDS 1275 and 1959 les Paul Gibson Guitars Guitar World Retrieved May 14 2022 Gibson Custom EDS 1275 Doubleneck Gibson Archived from the original on March 10 2009 Retrieved January 15 2012 Gibson Custom Don Felder Hotel California EDS 1275 Gibson Retrieved January 15 2012 Fjestad 2008 p 486 2007 Charity auction for Gibson EDS 1275 Archived from the original on January 3 2008 Retrieved July 25 2007 Gibson announce badass new Slash Doubleneck guitar NME September 13 2019 Epiphone 2010 Catalog Epiphone p 21 Archived from the original on March 22 2010 Retrieved April 16 2010 Epiphone G 1275 Custom Epiphone com Harley Benton DC Custom 612 Cherry www thomann de Bibliography edit Batey Rick 2003 The American Blues Guitar An Illustrated History Hal Leonard Corporation ISBN 978 0 634 02759 8 Brown Pete Sharken Lisa 2003 Gear Secrets of the Guitar Legends How to Sound Like Your Favorite Players Hal Leonard ISBN 978 0 87930 751 6 Case George 2007 Jimmy Page magus musician man An unauthorized biography Hal Leonard ISBN 978 1 4234 0407 1 Chapman Richard 2000 Guitar music history players Dorling Kindersley ISBN 978 0 7894 5963 3 Fjestad Zachary R 2008 Blue Book of Electric Guitars Alfred Music ISBN 978 1 886768 73 4 Gruhn George Carter Walter 1999 Gruhn s guide to vintage guitars An identification guide for American fretted instruments 2 ed Hal Leonard ISBN 978 0 87930 422 5 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gibson EDS 1275 Official website nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gibson EDS 1275 amp oldid 1213899980, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.