The comb

[line6man]

I found this video on YouTube of a Rickenbacker guitar with a contraption nicknamed "the comb." I've never seen one of these before, but it's certainly a nifty bit of mechanical engineering. Has anyone else built twelve string guitars with a "comb?" I would imagine that there would be some limitations to right hand technique in six string mode, tuning instability with repeated mode switching, and no way you could switch modes on the fly without making noise; but it's still cool, if you don't mind that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jp4hXRyyzhs

What do you guys think? Is it cool, or just another amusing gimmick that never caught on?

 

[Corey P.]

I love the concept but I think it'd be a mess on the fly - doubleneck guitars are taboo in their own right, but I feel like they serve the intent better.

 

[Re-Pete]

The idea has an advantage over the usual twin neck guitar or lugging around 2 guitars.

But in practical application, there'd be quite a limitation to the 6 string function.

I can't imagine you could do much lead/soloing with it - the extra strings would still be there, although 'combed' away so they don't sound. String bending might wrench the octave strings right off the comb device. The device itself would inhibit some folks who would strum in between the two pickups too.

 

[bagman67]

I've actually played one of those guys.  Damn thing just got in the way.  I suppose given time I could adapt, but I'm not in love with the Rickenbacker nor the 12-string phenomena, so it hardly seemed worth the effort.

 

[Ddbltrbl]

I'm always looking for ways to make my guitar as versatile as possible; i.e. give it the widest range of achievable tones possible. But, I'm pretty sure I'd just as soon carry 2 guitars as fight with that thing, especially in 6-string mode! Maybe if I were doing a lot of Roger McGuinn covers it might look a little more appealing, but I doubt it.  :dontknow:

 

[aarontunes]

I would lug a double-neck before I would play that. That said, it's an interesting contraption that I was not familiar with before this thread....another bit of guitar minutiae to store, and dazzle my guitar friends with someday.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I remember seeing that in the catalog back around 1981 or so and thinking that it would sound like a snare rattle over the guitar pickups.

His claim that they only had the comb on them up till 78 or so may be off a tad.

 

[DangerousR6]

I'd just rather have a doubleneck, they look cooler too...But then I've never like Ric's anyway, they just don't appeal to me... :dontknow: