David Lynch designed a distinctive five-necked guitar, crafted to complement his eccentric playstyle, with Kurt Cobain's luthier executing the vision.
Groovy Guitars and a Slice of David Lynch's Musical Abode
Meet Mike Adams, the lucky SOB who gets to play with some of the most legendary guitars in the music world, thanks to his job as Julien's Auctions' in-house appraiser. Guitars owned by heroes like Prince, John Lennon, and Kurt Cobain? Check. But when the opportunity to bring home a piece of cinematic mastermind David Lynch's collection came up, Adams was all in.
"My wife and I became major Lynch fans after hours of devouring his work," Adams shares with our site. "From Twin Peaks and his Masterclass to Rabbits—we went deep. So, when Julien's snagged some of his personal belongings, we knew we'd struck gold."
Lynch wasn't just a movie madman. He also dabbled in the musical world, with an avant-garde approach that reflected his boundary-pushing filmmaking. And one standout item from his empower had Adams' jaw dropping—a custom-built five-necked guitar that's currently up for auction.
"Legendary luthier Danny Ferrington dreamed up this baby for Lynch, inspired by Lynch’s console steel style design," Adams explains. "It's like nothing you've ever seen before, optimized for David's one-of-a-kind, upside-down, and backward playing style."
Each neck on this mind-spinning guitar boasts six Gotoh tuners, a chrome Floyd Rose bridge, a single P-90 pickup, and two jack outputs—all designed for connecting through patch cables. The top two necks were tuned in D A F# D A D, the middle two in E B G# E B E, and the baritone in E C# A E A E. And if that's not quirky enough for you, there are capos that can be attached to each neck for easy shifting among chords.
"This bad boy is truly one of the most unique instruments I've ever laid my hands on," Adams says. "And every time I examine yet another legendary guitar, there's something special about understanding the artists behind them."
But Lynch's collection didn't stop at the five-necked guitar. Adams also got a peek at the filmmaker's iconic 1997 Parker Fly, complete with some mind-bending modifications that left Adams baffled as to how the guitar actually functions.
One thing's for sure—David Lynch's musical instruments were every bit as out-there as his captivating filmography. When it comes to legendary guitars with unparalleled stories, few can rival the 5-neck beast crafted for the enigmatic David Lynch.
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- Mike Adams, the in-house appraiser at Julien's Auction, was excited to add a piece of David Lynch's collection to his growing arsenal, especially a custom-built five-necked guitar.
- The five-necked guitar, built by legendary luthier Danny Ferrington, is unique with each neck having six Gotoh tuners, a chrome Floyd Rose bridge, a single P-90 pickup, and two jack outputs.
- Apart from the five-necked guitar, David Lynch's collection also included an iconic 1997 Parker Fly, which boasted some mind-bending modifications that left Adams baffled.
- The five-necked guitar, designed for David Lynch's one-of-a-kind, upside-down, and backward playing style, is truly one of the most unique instruments Adams has ever encountered.
- Every legendary guitar that Mike Adams gets to examine comes with a special story about the artists behind them, and the one crafted for David Lynch is no exception.