The lower guitar is a hybrid cross between a partially defretted baritone and a 12 string. It has 10 strings and runs from 'A' seven frets below a normal guitar bass 'E' and 'A' five frets above a normal guitar high 'E'. It has a piezo under the bridge and Seymore Duncan Bass pickups.The top guitar is a normal 6 string electric, with aged recondiitoned Dimartzio pickups. Both pairs of pickups are set up as humbuckers.
Ash plays both guitars at the same time and slips in a vocal loop (using a Boss RC-20XL Loop Station) half way through using the mic which is also attached to the guitar.
Ash started experimenting with playing both necks at the same time after hearing somebody had been playing two at the same time in Glastonbury Festival. That person was Rodney Branigan (check him out on youtube)
Ash Mandrake did a UK tour (Wales, The Midlands and the South of England) from Sept to Jan of 2008. He is currently in the studio recording his first album, and will back out on the road again in March. He'll be pushing into new territory (still in the UK) throughout 2009.
His act is about entertainment; about the music, the double neck guitar, the hats, the stories and the use of loop machines.
The music featured in this video is part of a song called "Rolling Down Hill To The Bright Summer Sun". It's is a cellebration of the rising sun, and The Vernal Equinox.
You can find out more about Ash by visiting http://myspace.com/ashmandrake
And there are details about that double necked guitar at http://myspace.com/ashmandrake16
He makes his own hats, and you can find out about the hat featured in this video and others at:
http://www.myspace.com/mandrakehats
Thanks to Ian Clutterbuck (www.fieldov.com) for his wonderful filming and editing. This is the sixth time Ash and Ian have collaberated on a project.
Great concept, I feel like I'd try to figure out a different use of it, however.
superstriker00 8 months ago
This is one of those songs that I thought was joke, but I constantly keep coming back to it and now I realize how brilliant it is.
RainWiLLIDie 9 months ago
ASH you are 100% mental, good stuff though. may I wish you every success in 2011
incongra 1 year ago
amazing job
footballmaroon22 1 year ago
Ash - I want to see an album in 2011! All the best from Kim
Roseingrave 1 year ago
excelente.... gracias por el arte... from Mexico... great idea... great instrument...
luisbachata 1 year ago
That's really quite excellent sir. Kudos.
Great post, brilliant execution.
faunflynn 1 year ago
That's amazing. I wasn't expecting anything quite as good as that when I first saw the hat...
TheDemondice 1 year ago 2
Awesome Awesome Awesome!
Ash Mandrake at Wuthering Heights, Stanbury, Nr. Haworth, West Yorkshire 27th April 8.30pm!!!!!!!!!
MartynFolkSinger 1 year ago
yer bro pritty gud
jbkNation 1 year ago