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Custom Rutherford Double Neck Build

Walfretless5

Walfretless5

In Memoriam
Mar 21, 2014
264
255
New York
#1
On Stand.jpg
After a long build process I have finally received a custom double neck build, modeled after Mike Rutherford's 12 / 4 Rickenbacker double neck. The Rickenbacker 4080 model was introduced AFTER Mike's design concept and had enough differences that made it a less desirable option for me. I have a need for such an instrument for live gigs and started out by bidding on a few 4080's that I saw on ebay. I have never seen one up for bid in the 12/4 configuration , they were all in the 6/4 configuration, which I would have had to either convert to a 12 string, or use some sort of processing on. I came very close at times BUT I had a limit on what I was willing to spend and dropped out of the bidding when I felt it went above what it was worth to me,or was out bid at the last minute. I also didn't like the fact that the Bass was the top neck, it presents some problems with playability in my opinion, the only thing I think it does is balance the instrument a bit better. That is why Mike Rutherford chose to equip his with 4 strap buttons, as did I.

After some consideration , I was thinking about a specific instrument from a 70's German Prog band that I used to listen to back in the day. I've been a prog fan since it was actually current in the late 60's throughout the 70's and have always been in search for new music. I would always shop the import section so I would not just see what was popular here in the states, but what was happening in Europe as well. The import pressings seemed to sound better as well so I would even by the import version over the domestic release here. The band SFF, "Schicke, Fuhrs,Frohling" was from the mid 70's and the "Symphonic Pictures" album was my first introduction to them. The guitarist/ bass player, Heinz Frohling had a Les Paul Gold top fused to a Jetglo Rickenbacker 4001. I felt that if two "Different" manufacturer's instruments can be done and Mike Rutherford did it, why can't I have mine made?

I commissioned Larry Davis of DGW, Davis Guitar Works ,to create this instrument. Larry does awesome work and is one of the most knowledgable Rickenbacker specialists that I know of. I asked him if he was up to the task and he responded with some photos of a previous Rutherford Model that he has done. I secured a spot on Larry's calendar which was pretty booked for almost a year but I was willing to wait and this gave me time to save money and think about certain decisions that needed to be made relating to the design.

I sent Larry a stripped 4001 bass body and several parts from the original bass for him to use in the assembly. I had a 360 that I considered using in the construction but felt why sacrifice a perfectly good instrument. Larry gave me the option of him building the guitar side or if I was to supply a guitar. I watched eBay and the price of buying the guitar verses having Larry make it wasn't really a big difference and with everything else I wanted done, (matched fingerboards, refretting, etc.) it would have costed more to purchase another instrument for him to use.

I will continue with the thread posting some of the photos of the build from start to finish. I will also note what decisions and changes I made along the way and why. I am posting this thread for those interested in double necks and for some discussion on the topic...comparing builds and ideas, for people who are interested in a project like this. Maybe I can offer insight as to why I made certain decisions or maybe you can look at them as mistakes for your particular project and help you decide on things either way. I think that if I referred to a forum and spoke to people having these instruments, my decisions would have been a lot easier to make.

Lastly, I am not making this thread to argue with people over if this is a real Rickenbacker, is it a Rickenfaker, etc. I really don't give a rats ass what people consider it....the instrument was made for me to function as a musician, for me to perform with. It needs to function the way "I NEED IT TO"....if I wanted a 4080, I could've and would've bought one. I am not calling this instrument what it isn't. It didn't make sense for me to pay this astronomical amount of money for an instrument that doesn't even serve my purposes at all. So please don't comment negatively as to the origin of the instrument or if its counterfeit or not...I'm gonna just ignore those comments in advance.

Thanks for looking and here are some pictures of the actual instrument and Heinz Frohling's Double Neck.
Sff.jpg
Ameritage Case.jpg
Open Case.jpg
 
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#5
Larry does great work, I have seen some of his restorations/modded instruments over the years.

Why did you choose the modern 1" location of the neck pickup on the bass side vs. the vintage (and Rutherford correct) 1/2" position?

An aside, I have seen Mike playing his bass a few times back in the early '70s. :bassist:
 
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#7
Jeff Scott said:
Larry does great work, I have seen some of restorations/modded instruments over the years.

Why did you choose the modern 1" location of the neck pickup on the bass side vs. the vintage (and Rutherford correct) 1/2" position?

An aside, I have seen Mike playing his bass a few times back in the early '70s. :bassist:
Click to expand...

It wasn't really something that I chose, the bass side is a 4001 (I believe it was a '79) so the pickup route was already there. Since all of my 4001's are later 70's models ( '76-'78's) I really didn't make it a "conscious decision". I imagine that it could have been plugged and re-routed but it wasn't something I really something I gave much thought to.
 
#10
Gilmourisgod said:
Walfretless5
So glad to see your dream bass come true, and so glad to ignore any idiocy about the guitar TRC being "legit" or not. If this isn't legit, neither was Rutherford or Geddy's doubleneck, both artists who flew the Rickenbacker flag for years, to the company's great benefit. Beautiful craftsmanship, hope you have a strong back!
Click to expand...

Thanks Gilmourisgod...much appreciated! Believe it or not I am told this is the lightest one he's done at 14.2 lbs, with his last one being 15.8 lbs, and an earlier one close to 18. I think it'll be heavy nevertheless and I'll find out tomorrow how easy to balance while playing the bass pedals.
Thanks for your kind words and I will post some of the build pictures over the next few days if you are interested.
 
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#14
In the winter of 1980-81, i breifly worked in a guitar store in San Diego. They were Rick dealers. Rush came through town, and I had tickets at the Sports Arena. About 2 hours before the show, a guy comes in with a huge guitar case, turns out it was Geddy's doubleneck, his tech was looking for some parts, don't remember what. I got to see (but not touch) the bass. It was heavily modified with badass bridge, custom pickguards, different electronics, looked like he had sanded down the back of the necks, and overall grungy and beat up, like you'd expect it to be. Was it still "legit" in that modified condition? In the words of walfretless, I don't give a rat's a**! Got to see him play it later that night, singing, doubleneck, and taurus pedals simultaneously played. Amazing musician and amazing instrument. I saw Genesis, but Rutherford was playing the custom Shergold by then.
 
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#15
Gilmourisgod said:
In the winter of 1980-81, i breily worked in a guitar store in San Diego. They were Rick dealers. Rush came through town, and I had tickets at the Sports Arena. About 2 hours before the show, a guy comes in with a huge guitar case, turns out it was Geddy's doubleneck, his tech was looking for some parts, don't remember what. I got to see (but not touch) the bass. It was heavily modified with badass bridge, custom pickguards, different electronics, looked like he had sanded down the back of the necks, and overall grungy and beat up, like you'd expect it to be. Was it still "legit" in that modified condition?.
Click to expand...
Yes, it was. :cool:
 
#18
I know the Shergold has interchangeable electronics modules, I don't recall the necks/body halves being so, too. Do you mean sort of like a Gretsch Bikini?

Yes, Mike is a rather tall guy; the first time I met him was like looking at a skyscraper! He didn't look that tall on stage.
 
#19
To the original poster:

Congratulations on the instrument. Beautiful on many levels.

I also commend you VERY highly for undertaking this project for ALL the right reasons.

I, too, believe in vintage purity....but only on a specific case-by-case basis, which includes the wonderful world of exceptional scenarios such as this. So, in my snobbish opinion: you did the right thing 100%. No one can argue at all with what you did on this project.

Why?

Anyone who knows anything about Rutherford knows that he had many custom and customized guitars over the years (including doublenecks) including some very unique and unusual instrument choices. Some of these were groundbreaking, as we know. He himself really viewed instruments as tools to achieve his end: to make music.

I commend you for taking the same view in this case. Noble, nicely done and thanks for sharing this very personal and meaningful instrument with us. Great to see.

And, as a Genesis fan, all I can say is: "I LOVE IT!"
 
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#20
Gilmourisgod said:
Jeff
Wasn't the Shergold some kind of bolt-together unit so you could swap combinations? When I saw them it was set up as bass and 12 string, but I've since seen photos of it as bass/6 string. It looked stupid heavy, but Rutherford is a big guy.
Click to expand...

The Shergold is a modular instrument in the sense that it could be assembled as a double neck , but also had the upper and lower wings that allowed them to be played as singular necks.

clipsapart.jpg
 
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