The solution came in the shape of a Gibson
double-neck. Jimmy had seen pictures of American
guitarists with similar concoctions: Grady Martin
with a Bigsby double-neck, Joe Maphis with a
Mosrite, though the inspiration came from a strange-
looking band he’d seen somewhat closer to home.
“I’d seen one in Family,” Jimmy said, “you remember
Family? That guy had a double-neck.”
That guy was Charlie Whitney, the main guitarist
in Family, who used a Gibson EDS-1275 six-and-12.
Charlie had spotted a double-neck in a 60s Gibson
catalogue and ordered one, which eventually arrived
in Leicester in 1964.
Meanwhile, in 1971, Jimmy’s bandmates
continued to tease him about the problem of
reproducing live what they called the “guitar army”
on the studio cut of Stairway..., so Jimmy, too, made
a special order. A double-neck seemed the perfect
compromise for live shows. “I asked to get one from
Gibson, because I knew it was the only way,” Jimmy
continued. “I knew I couldn’t do Stairway..., but it
was essential to do it. So it became iconic, didn’t it?”
If a little tough on the left shoulder. “Yeah, though
I’ve got heavier guitars! But nevertheless, it was
pretty weighty.”sort of riff, which is peculiar to that moment. I’m
not saying that’s the first thing I played on it, but it
was to come. I always knew the Les Paul was a really
user-friendly guitar over, say, a Strat or something
like that. It’s really sympatico. So many things start
singing, you know? Really singing.”GIBSON EDS-1275
Jimmy famously used an electric 12-string to
record the rhythm part on Stairway To Heaven,
introducing it a little over two minutes into the song
to strengthen his fingerpicked acoustic that opens
the track. Naturally, the band intended to play this
important piece live, but a problem quickly arose,
not least because the recording also has the chiming
12-string leading straight into the six-string Telecaster
solo. Even with Jimmy’s dexterity and skills, it looked
like it would be hard to play Stairway live with just a
single guitar in hand.“I ALWAYS KNEW THE LES PAUL WAS
A REALLY USER-FRIENDLY GUITAR
OVER, SAY, A STRAT OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT. IT’S REALLY SYMPATICO.
SO MANY THINGS START SINGING”
PREVIOUS PAGE By the time
they played this 1970 gig
in Denmark, Led Zep were a
stadium-sized rock machine
with a hit-packed set
ABOVE Page acquired his
Martin D-28 in 1970 and it
became his go-to acoustic
OPPOSITE TOP Led Zeppelin
III’s folkier sound saw Jimmy
order a double-neck Gibson
EDS-1275, which made its
live debut in March 1971
and is seen here in Denmark
two years later
OPPOSITE BOTTOM Led
Zeppelin rock smoother
attire at K.B. Hallen in 1973
©
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JIMMY PAGE
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