Guitjo (double-neck)
Encyclopedia
A double-necked guitjo is a guitar-like
, fretted, stringed, musical instrument
that has two necks attached to a single body, generally with 14-strings, seven strings on each neck. It is strung more like a banjo
rather than a traditional guitar
. Both necks may be played simultaneously producing a sound that has elements of both guitar and harp
. ,
The double-necked guitjo was developed in the late-twentieth century. Guitjos are made and repaired by luthier
s.
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, fretted, stringed, musical instrument
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
that has two necks attached to a single body, generally with 14-strings, seven strings on each neck. It is strung more like a banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
rather than a traditional guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. Both necks may be played simultaneously producing a sound that has elements of both guitar and harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
. ,
The double-necked guitjo was developed in the late-twentieth century. Guitjos are made and repaired by luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
s.
External links
- Echoes Radio Show - includes photo of double-necked guitjo
- Guitjo 101 - the anatomy of a guitjo