Hi All,
Hap here.

I will be starting a new double neck project and with so many asking asking all sorts of questions, I thought it would be time to start a thread on it. This won't be quick and may go on for a while but I'll do my best to post info as I go.

Let's get the one question everyone wanted to know. "How did you wire Big Red's switch?" I tried a neck switch on the body but found it took to long to make the switch and keep on playin'. So I went to a floor AB box (we'll talk later on the box). This solved alot of wiring issues and made it real simple to deal with.

The stock Fender switch is a two sided switch. It was a designed mostly for DC and audio switching like in early Radio. It comes with a signal OUT post and three signal IN post PRE SIDE . So three pickups on one side and three on the other with the two outputs go to the volume controls and tone controls with both sends going to a stereo output jack (tip,ring and sleave)

As an option a toggle switch could be added after the controls for neck swithching or before the controls to only one volume and one tone with a single send to the mono output jack.

Here's a link to a PDF file of what I wire into BIG RED rev 2. Later I took the tone controls out in Rev 3.

http://home.earthlink.net/~jvanhornrlh/Doubleneck_Project/PICKUPWIRE.pdf

Most files will be in PDF format so as to be able to download , save and print.

I'll tackle cost issues and construction issues as we go.

First on the list is to design the body and it's cost.

Any suggestions? Step on up.

Hap Hazzard

I wouldn't want to tell a man how to run his business...However, since Neptune _is always depicted with a tri_-dent, shouldn't you be building a triple neck?

I mean really, how difficult could it be?

Cheers,
Chuck

or go for a triple neck Michael Angelo Batio-design

image

Rules to live by #314:
"When in Italy, if the menu says something's grilled, don't assume it is."

https://www.facebook.com/The-Malbehavers-286429584796173/

When he played fresno back in the day, he had at least THREE VINTAGE guitars stacked one on top of the other on straps, on his chest and behind him. SHIT. the paint must have been flyin!

THe NEpTuNeS

http://stetsbar.com/gallery/Steves%20ASAT.htm

Hmmmmm?

Sonichris
This will be a cool thread - I've been thinking about a double neck jazzmaster - standard six string/ Bass VI for a while - I even drew the plans for the body and pickguard. I'm a little concerned about my limited ability with a router, though....
I figure I can get necks from USA Custom Guitars, and probably a body blank too.

Chris

Warmoth ad said that they can deliver 2 blanks with Tele route outs but not for the Jazzmaster. There is a Ebay Store that sells templates

http://stores.ebay.com/Guitar-Building-Templates-and-More

The Jazzmaster is one of them. So all you need now is wheather or not you want a stagger with the necks.

Here a Jaguar has the Bari on the bottom with staggered necks
image

I have the stagger diminsions and will get a PDF up soon.
As to doing the routing, you could take the wood (Swamp ash to keep it light) and the templates to a local shop with someone who is into guitars working there and it's almost a treat for them to do. It may take awhile but they are out there. I know I had a shop like that (Clearwave Audio). All they do is to use them as a master and make the mother from it. Or clamp it into possition and route the first neck, move it to the next and route it. The contour shapping is done on a big ass belt sander (BIG face frame sanders) and they do have these in the big shop and the quarter round edge is done with a standard hand router.

In short, the labor is out there. You just have to do is bring coffee and donuts and sh!! happens. If not, money always works for getting things done.

I'll be back with some quotes on wood and labor. (or six packs it will take)

Now the paint we'll cover later.

SurfBandBill
I'm sure most people remember Mel Bergman's double-neck that he played in the Phantom Surfers...

Jazzmaster on top, Jag on the bottom.

It was this guitar that made me want to get both of 'em.

~B~

For those who never saw it, here's a link.
http://www.blijdorp.org/200506/IMG_2972.jpg

Now there ya go!

He still have it?

It can come in handy as a chick magnet. Ya Right!
image
Checkout what they're doing besides coppin' a feel.
Hap

I've seen that doubleneck jag/Bass VI photo before, and thats what I used as my starting point when I drew up my full scall plans. I want the BassVI neck on top, because the tremolo will get in the way the other way around I think.

I made Jazzmaster pickup, tremolo and control routing paterns out of 1/4" lexan during my latest Jazzmaster re-fin. They turned out well, and I made neck routing paterns too. I'm just scared to spend a bunch of money on a guitar project that I may not build right, or like when I'm done. I've never played a double neck before.....

I can do all the paint finish work,  and probably all the wiring too.

I need to step up to the plate, and quite being a wimp about it and just do it!

Any good suppliers for a light weight body blank?

Chris

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

Sonichris
I've seen that doubleneck jag/Bass VI photo before, and thats what I used as my starting point when I drew up my full scall plans. I want the BassVI neck on top, because the tremolo will get in the way the other way around I think.

I made Jazzmaster pickup, tremolo and control routing paterns out of 1/4" lexan during my latest Jazzmaster re-fin. They turned out well, and I made neck routing paterns too. I'm just scared to spend a bunch of money on a guitar project that I may not build right, or like when I'm done. I've never played a double neck before.....

I can do all the paint finish work,  and probably all the wiring too.

I need to step up to the plate, and quite being a wimp about it and just do it!

Any good suppliers for a light weight body blank?

Chris

You got the right Idea with the lexan. When I do router templates, I would use a guide on the router that gave me a 1/8" offset. This way I could use a plung router and drop the bit down a little on each pass.

I when a did a rubbing of a Strat body the first time I got the dims for a drawing. Now I'm an AutoCAD user and I use a digial caliper. I could post a DXF version of the AutoCAD drawing.

I KNOW WHAT I CAN DO! It might be big.
I'll post a small PDF to veiw and a full scale PLOT FLIE of it. You won't be able to look at it, and won't be able to print it. Take the Plot File to a BLUE PRINTING shop NOT Kinko's and ask for what ever page size I'll specify. The last time I did this it cost only 2 BUCKS per copy. Kinks was 85 bucks. (never could figure out why)

Here's a link to the guys and gal I used to print large sheets. Look for someone in your area that does the same and ask "Can you print AutoCAD Plot Files?" If they say Yes, then your ready.

http://www.airportblueprint.com/

http://www.airportblueprint.com/largecolor.html

http://www.airportblueprint.com/largedocs.html

If there's is someone around that has a small CNC table router, they might do a template from 1/4 masonite. A DXF file is what they want to see.

Here's a guy who did his whole body on a CNC table

image

They're all around and you might have one real close to you.
So Call up the Dogs and Start the hunt!

Last but not least. Car Body and Fender supplies for most the stuff. But for a SunBurst I'd think twice about before doing.
Find a Lowrider Autobody place. They got lacqur in their blood.

Hap

3way!!!!

It’s funny how Barbara looks like she is genuinely cracking up in both shots... what a hooot!

THe NEpTuNeS