Gibson Custom EDS-1275 Double-Neck Electric Guitar  

Just bought a 1981 model and other then a few slight dings, slight belt buckle rash and the faded cherry finish, it is still a great looking guitar. As with most anything Gibson, this EDS-1275 is very solid and well built.  The previous owner changed the tuning keys as he said the originals were slipping. As for all of the continuous comments about it being heavy and off-balance, is somewhat true.  Les Paul owners will find the EDS weight not any worse. As other reviewers have mentioned, that a good wide, thickly padded strap will help quite a bit to remedy that. I have 2 Mosrite double necks (12&6) and they are just as heavy and off balanced as with the EDS. I found the EDS 12-string neck to be one of the best 12-strings to play. I have set mine quite low and it is comfortable and very easy to play. I own a Rickenbacker 360/12, a 1967 Vox (teardrop) Mark XII and as previously mentioned, 2 Mosrite double necks. Mosrite and Rickenbacker are best known to have extremely low action necks, but to my surprise, this EDS-1275 is even better. The 6 string neck is OK but it is the 12-string neck that really is outstanding for me. Tone is very good as well. This guitar if used live on stage would most likely be a secondary used guitar best suited for songs that requires quick switch-over from 12 to 6 or 6 to 12. I certainly would not be able to play this continuously for 2 1/2 hours. Other then using for live performances, it is just a neat piece to own in one's guitar collection for the history and coolness that it represents.

Yes, it's heavy.  Yes, it nose dives.  Get a good strap and you'll be okay.  My biggest gripe is that the finish is not the best in spots, where you could see where it was touched up at the factory.  The neck binding is cut a little sloppy, too.  I would expect better for the price.  But the tone is to die for, and you always get a ton of style points when you pull it out.

Sure its a little heavy and the price might be stiff but who cares when you are wowing a room full of attendees gawking at you going crazy onstage with that thing and loving every minute of it.  I will admit I did not buy this because of Jimmy Page I bought it for the sheer fact of entertaining the masses. If you are smart all you have to do is dial in the right settings for this guitar(s) to make the roof explode off the place.  Enough said. Go for it.

Very poor finish on back of guitar -chips in lower portion of neck where it meets body covered with finish, but looks amateurish-not enough filler to hide all the pocks in the grain-overall, a imported Samick looks 100% better-you are paying for the name is all-

I purchased this guitar as a suppliment to my other instruments. It's weight could make you ache if you carried it for a long set. It is a terrific tool for what it is created for: Fast tonal conversion between a six-and-12 string sound. I own the white-with-gold hardware Gibson EDS-1275 (it used to be the more expensive of the two). It plays and sounds fine. I added a Roland pickup on the six-string neck to enhance sound diversity. It is not the first instrument I reach for but, in the required scenarios, there is no other I would prefer. Regarding similar products from the other manufacturers: As for me and my house, we prefer American.