A mere two months after teaming up with Sawtooth Guitars for two all-new electric guitar ranges, Michael Angelo Batio has once again joined forces with the builder, this time to create a production run of his legendary Double-Guitar.
Limited to only 50 units, the out-of-this-world new model comprises two sycamore-bodied, Sunburst-finished T-style guitars – one left-handed and one right-handed – joined at their lower bouts, which can be detached for easy transportation.
Both halves of the Double-Guitar feature a D-shaped bolt-on maple neck with a 21-fret maple fingerboard, specially designed matte black one-ply pickguard, and Floyd Rose 1000 Series bridge.
Electronics-wise, each side is loaded with a single bridge-positioned humbucker, which can also be split to conjure single-coil tones. Controls include single volume and tone knobs.
“The first version of the Double-Guitar was actually two separate guitars,” Batio says. “I took a Flying V guitar and fastened it to a snare drum stand. This was a right-handed guitar faced in a left-handed playing position.
“Another guitar was strapped (right-handed) around my shoulder. I played the left side first, and then the right side, then both at the same time. The audience loved it. It was then that I knew I could refine this idea and make it work!”
He continues: “Next, with my guitar tech, we came up with a new way to attach the two guitars. We took a flight case latch and retrofitted it to the back of each instrument. [Then] it took seconds to put the Double-Guitar together and take it apart.”
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He concludes: “Once I first had a working Double-Guitar, my questions were: ‘What can I do with this?’ and ‘What are the possibilities?’ I started writing down different ways to play it.
“For example, both guitars at the same time in harmonies, two different parts at the same time, like a piano, crossing my hands over the necks, upside down, crisscross left-handed and more. The possibilities are endless!”
The Double-Guitar is available now for $1,499. Each purchase includes a selection of extras, including a hardcase, signed certificate of authenticity, Batio's Speed Kills instructional DVD on Metal Method, an autographed photo, two ChromaCast string dampeners, and a ChromaCast black woven guitar strap.
For more information, head to Sawtooth Guitars.
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Sam was Staff Writer at GuitarWorld.com from 2019 to 2023, and also created content for Total Guitar, Guitarist and Guitar Player. He has well over 15 years of guitar playing under his belt, as well as a degree in Music Technology (Mixing and Mastering). He's a metalhead through and through, but has a thorough appreciation for all genres of music. In his spare time, Sam creates point-of-view guitar lesson videos on YouTube under the name Sightline Guitar.
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