Rick Nielsen's Hamer Custom Five-Neck Guitar (1981), exhibited on Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll, The MET.

The Quint Neck Guitar (also known as a five-neck guitar) consists of five guitar necks with accompanying hardware and pick-ups in one oversized body, used by Rick Nielsen from the rock band Cheap Trick.

History

The guitar's birth was first conceived on ruled note book paper by Nielsen during one of his frequent scribble sessions. He brought the idea to his manufacturer (Hamer Guitars) to build. The original design sought by Nielsen was a circular guitar allowing him to spin the guitar from neck to neck. This design was scrapped by Hamer due to weight and logistical issues.

Nielsen and Bobby Demonic both have employed several five-necks over the years. Nielsen's original "orange Quint neck" with dovetail-jointed necks was retired in the mid-1990s after the top neck snapped off. It was replaced by a black and white with 1/2-inch checkers (Nielsen's unofficial trademark).

References

Hamer News

• Guitars Of The Stars: Rick Nielsen (hardcover book)