The Guitar Player's Resource
The Guitar That Broke Physics and Made Rock History. When you wrap your hands around this doubleneck beast, you're wielding the same dual-personality axe that Jimmy Page used to craft 'Stairway to Heaven' - that magical transformation from whispered folk poetry to stadium-shaking rock opera, all in one legendary instrument.
Ever wonder what happens when guitar designers throw caution to the wind and ask, "What if we just doubled everything?" The answer hangs around your neck like a beautiful, mahogany-bodied albatross - and trust me, it's worth every ounce of the workout.
This Heritage Cherry beast represents one of those rare moments when pure ambition collides with masterful craftsmanship. Gibson's Memphis wizards didn't just slap two necks together and call it a day. They engineered a sonic Swiss Army knife that lets you seamlessly weave twelve-string shimmer into six-string thunder without breaking stride.
Here's where it gets interesting - that upper twelve-string neck isn't just along for the ride. Thanks to some brilliant electronics wizardry, you can actually let those twelve strings resonate sympathetically while you're working the six-string neck below. It's like having a built-in choir singing backup to your lead lines, adding harmonic richness that would make cathedral architects weep with envy.
Those matched pairs of 490R and 498T humbuckers aren't just pickups - they're sonic translators, each set perfectly voiced for its respective neck's personality. The twelve-string side delivers that jangly, crystalline bite that made "Stairway to Heaven" unforgettable, while the six-string section growls with the authority that powered countless arena anthems.
Jimmy Page didn't choose this configuration by accident. When you need to transition from delicate fingerpicked passages to face-melting solos without switching instruments, there's simply no substitute for having both sonic personalities at your fingertips. Alex Lifeson understood this too - progressive rock demands that kind of versatility.
Sure, it's heavier than your average axe, but some things are worth the extra weight. This isn't just an instrument - it's architectural engineering disguised as rock and roll equipment.
