“Beethoven described the guitar as a ‘miniature orchestra’ – but he never had the opportunity to hear or play the modern Gibson Harp-guitar,” says the firm’s 1923 catalogue. 100 years ago, this obscure hybrid instrument may have appeared modern, but double-neck guitars were, in fact, around long before Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827). Electric Spanish-style double-neck guitars were, however, a novelty when players such as Joe Maphis and Jimmy Bryant were using them in the 1950s.
