Patent Publication Number: US-10332492-B2

Title: Electric guitar / bass with double neck, which is divided into two separate autonomous guitars / basses

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention is directed to musical instruments. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Guitars/basses with 2 necks are already known. The double necks give music performers dual sound capabilities and simultaneously allow them to have a double role during the musical performance. The double neck guitars/basses are mainly intended for live performance. E.g. when a musician while playing a live track does not have the time to leave the twelve-string guitar and catch the six-string, because this would mean to stop playing at all for at least some seconds. On the contrary, when playing an instrument with 2 necks, the change from one neck to another is almost instantaneous, taking imperceptible time. However the instruments with double necks apart from their increased cost, they have also a very limited use, only for specific circumstances of live music. This is why in the majority of the musical activities of most guitarists/bassists standard single neck instruments are used, which musicians always primarily own. Thus, for any guitarist/bassist buying an instrument with double neck is a high extra cost for an instrument probably not often needed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention refers to: a) an electric guitar with 2 necks (e.g. with a twelve-string and a six-string neck) that can be divided into two separate autonomous guitars (e.g., a twelve-string and a six-string guitar) b) an electric bass with 2 necks (e.g. a fretted and a fretless neck) that can be divided into two autonomous basses (e.g. a fretted and a fretless bass) c) a combination of electric guitar and bass with 2 necks (e.g. a six-string guitar and a fretted bass) that can be divided into two separate autonomous instruments (e.g. one six-string guitar and a fretted bass). In any case, the division of the mentioned musical instruments is made possible thanks to the specially designed construction of their bodies. 
     The advantage of this invention is the possibility of its multiple uses, since it can itself serve all possible requirements of its users in different circumstances. 
     The electric guitar/bass with double neck according to the present invention has the characteristic that it can be divided into individual guitars/basses which are used alternatively by the musician without the need to purchase other originally individual instruments. This is actually a “3 in 1” electric guitar/bass. For example the holder of such an electric bass with two necks (fretted-fretless) of the type proposed by the invention, can easily transform it into a single fretted and a single fretless bass, depending on the circumstances and requirements of the music. This conversion is possible thanks to the divided electric guitar/bass body. So whenever the guitar/bass body splits, 2 individual autonomous instruments are created. The two autonomous instruments have of course the possibility to easily reconnect whenever musical circumstances require it, creating again the original double neck instrument. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows the way the two electric guitar/bass bodies are connected for double neck use (state a) and the manner of their division (state b) from which the two autonomous instruments arise. 
         FIG. 2  shows the bodies of  FIG. 1  combined with bass necks (fretted-fretless) and the result of their division from which a self-fretted and a self-fretless bass arise.  FIG. 2  is only one of the possible combinations that could result by choosing each time different guitar or bass necks. 
         FIG. 3  shows four example autonomous instruments in separation from each other. 
         FIG. 4  shows three example autonomous instruments in a connecting combination with each other. 
         FIG. 5  shows the four example autonomous instruments of  FIG. 3  in a connecting combination with each other. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     One way of implementing the invention is described with reference to the drawings. The bodies are designed and constructed so as to pair one inside the other when connected (state a) as shown noticeably in the figures, while held together by screws (the screws are not shown in the drawings) that are screwed into the holes (point c) and (point d) as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In these or other embodiments, multiple bodies and corresponding necks may be combined (e.g.,  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) or separated (e.g.,  FIG. 3 ) as desired. For example, a triple neck instrument may be formed as shown in  FIG. 4 , or an instrument with even more necks may be formed as shown in  FIG. 5 . Additionally or alternatively, separate instruments may be formed like the three separate autonomous instruments shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     So whenever the division of the two bodies (state b) is needed, unscrewing the two screws suffices. When using the instrument as a double neck (state a), i.e. the two bodies connected, apart from screws, other types of links (none of them are shown) could be used for inside the holes (point c) and (point d), such as: clips, clip shafts or even a semi locking-unlocking system (each time onto the bodies or removable).