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Mike Rutherford Shergold double neck
- Thread starter GeezerB
- Start date
- Apr 18, 2008
- 16,007
- 1
- 31,701
- Disclosures
- I'm highly opinionated and extremely self-assured
Plans?!?
It's a cool and unique instrument. But I doubt there are plans available anywhere. You just have to go by the best photos you can find.
It's a cool and unique instrument. But I doubt there are plans available anywhere. You just have to go by the best photos you can find.
And please consult your chiropractor before playing. It's a heavy beast.
I saw him playing that monster the one time I saw Genesis in the early 80's. He's a big guy, so it didn't seem to faze him. IIRC that was a custom-built two-piece design that could be bolted together in various configuration like guitar/bass, 6/12 string, etc. I think your chances of finding a set of plans for it are slim and none, but this guy did a TB thread on it, some good photos here. Maybe contact the guy and he'll trace it for you? This one is one-piece, not the bolt-together one I saw him play.
A quick Google Image search turned up a few photos too.
Assuming the bass is standard 34" scale, the distance from nut to 12th fret is 17", which you can use a reference to scale the photo up, but in practice there's always a bit of distortion due to parallax or lens geometry. Couldn't hurt to ask the TB guy who started the thread in 2022 to see if he still has it. Maybe he can take a few photos of it with a yardstick for scale.
It has finally arrived!!! This one is a boyhood dream come true! I’ve pined for one since high school and now, about ten years later, I FINALLY have one!!!
A 1978 Custom Shergold Masquerader 12/4 Double Neck, similar vein as that Modulator Doubleneck made famous by one Mike Rutherford of Genesis!!!
Here are the pics!!! More on it to follow later!
A 1978 Custom Shergold Masquerader 12/4 Double Neck, similar vein as that Modulator Doubleneck made famous by one Mike Rutherford of Genesis!!!
Here are the pics!!! More on it to follow later!
A quick Google Image search turned up a few photos too.
Assuming the bass is standard 34" scale, the distance from nut to 12th fret is 17", which you can use a reference to scale the photo up, but in practice there's always a bit of distortion due to parallax or lens geometry. Couldn't hurt to ask the TB guy who started the thread in 2022 to see if he still has it. Maybe he can take a few photos of it with a yardstick for scale.
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As I recall it's actually 2 instruments joined together and they actually could be separated for transport and storage. The 12 string looks to be a lefty (note controls on upper bout). I've owned a couple of 4040's and they're really pretty great! It would be quite a project. Sourcing hardware and electronics could be daunting. Please keep us posted!
BBB
BBB
If I remember correctly, Shergold made a few configurations of 12/Bass, 12/6, 6/12.
I always preferred the shape of the Hayman basses to Shergold. I used to see them in many pawn shops in London as a kid. They were everywhere.
I always preferred the shape of the Hayman basses to Shergold. I used to see them in many pawn shops in London as a kid. They were everywhere.
A bunch of info here:
Unless you really want to get into the whole "module-swapping" bolt-together thing (which sounds daunting electronically), seems like the one-piece version with 6-string guitar and bass necks would be most practical. I don't think Rutheford has played the Shergold live as part of Genesis for decades, so it may have been more of a PITA than it was worth. If you make the body out of basswood or some other lightweight wood (or chamber it)., the weight could be made manageable, but the balance is always going to be... a challenge. Please tell us you've built a few guitars or basses from scratch before attempting a double-neck! I suppose it's really just two bolt-on necks and a body, in which case you could just buy a "paddle" style bass and guitar neck and cut the headstocks to shape, but it's still not for the faint of heart. If you haven't done this before, I'd go that route, just the body and electronics will be hard enough.
I think there may be 2 jacks for the outputs. Note that the 12 has a completely separate set of controls. That notwithstanding, still a heckuva project, even eschewing the modularity! And, geez, look at all that hardware on the 12 string headstock! I don't know if any wood body could alleviate that neck dive, and I've owned a few double necks!
BBB
I saw him playing that monster the one time I saw Genesis in the early 80's. He's a big guy, so it didn't seem to faze him. IIRC that was a custom-built two-piece design that could be bolted together in various configuration like guitar/bass, 6/12 string, etc. I think your chances of finding a set of plans for it are slim and none, but this guy did a TB thread on it, some good photos here. Maybe contact the guy and he'll trace it for you? This one is one-piece, not the bolt-together one I saw him play.
It has finally arrived!!! This one is a boyhood dream come true! I’ve pined for one since high school and now, about ten years later, I FINALLY have one!!!
A 1978 Custom Shergold Masquerader 12/4 Double Neck, similar vein as that Modulator Doubleneck made famous by one Mike Rutherford of Genesis!!!
Here are the pics!!! More on it to follow later!
A quick Google Image search turned up a few photos too.
Assuming the bass is standard 34" scale, the distance from nut to 12th fret is 17", which you can use a reference to scale the photo up, but in practice there's always a bit of distortion due to parallax or lens geometry. Couldn't hurt to ask the TB guy who started the thread in 2022 to see if he still has it. Maybe he can take a few photos of it with a yardstick for scale.
I've still got it!
It's currently getting work done but I should be getting it back later this month.
Both of my doublenecks are 2 outputs. It's definitely the most practical way about it, imo. As for neck dive, the key is strap placement! I find that a button on the bridge side on the 12 String (Top Half) and a button by the neck on bass (Bottom half) or even on the lower horn help tremendously!
Well, I won't volunteer your services, but if you can photograph your Shergold dead on from both sides with a yardstick next to it, the OP might have a shot of re-creating it as a custom one off build. Cool bass, and a rare bird indeed. If I have time, I might take a crack at it myself in Autocad. I draw bass plans for fun and (no) profit as a weird hobby. Is the bass neck standard Fender 34" scale?
It is indeed full scale! I'd almost recommend he or anyone else interested reach out to this guy unless REALLY determined to make it themselves! BUT he is pricey, when I enquired 5 years ago he was asking about $5k for a one piece and about $6k for a detachable one.
Shergold twin necks
Shergold twin necks
I watched Mike play this double neck live with Peter Gabriel and Genesis during the “Lamb Lies Down On Broadway” tour in Indianapolis. Since it was a theatrical style presentation he was often seated behind some kind of scrim. Peter was the”Show”. In the clip from the Midnight Special it appears he is playing a Rickenbacker Double neck at 1:25
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You could try the Shergold website and forum, lots of info:
www.shergold.co.uk
Shergold Guitars - Index page
A build thread on a 12/4 Shergold:
Genesis Replica 12/4 - (and probably a 6 too) Part 1 - Shergold Guitars
Genesis Replica 12/4 - (and probably a 6 too) Part 2 - Shergold Guitars
The Shergold guitars are made of Abachi, a very light wood.
www.shergold.co.uk
Shergold Guitars - Index page
A build thread on a 12/4 Shergold:
Genesis Replica 12/4 - (and probably a 6 too) Part 1 - Shergold Guitars
Genesis Replica 12/4 - (and probably a 6 too) Part 2 - Shergold Guitars
The Shergold guitars are made of Abachi, a very light wood.
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The neck is a standard 34" scale.
I made a few Shergold-like Marathon bass guitars, so I have a template for the body:
Shergold Marathon
Marathon 8 snaar
