Shergold Cavalier Double twin-neck 4-string bass/12-string guitar £2350 London SE4

[toneknob]

Hi - everyone loves a Shergold bass from the 70s. This one comes with a bonus 12-string guitar! This collector's item is a glorious three-tone sunburst finish Shergold Cavalier Double is a rare and distinctive guitar, quintessentially British ("Hand Crafted London" on the scratchplate) and imbued with the spirit of the 70s. As rare as Shergold double-necks were, this 4-string electric bass and 12-string electric guitar variant was the most unusual combination of them all. This guitar has serial number 0027 (as shown on the rear of the bass headstock, see photos). Although the exact number of Shergold double-necks produced is hard to pin down, it is believed to be in the ballpark of approximately 30 to 40; so this is one of the latter models (Cavalier Double serial numbers start at 0001). The serial number decoder at the Shergold website dates this guitar to November 3rd, 1979 - so it is fast approaching its 45th birthday.

 

The guitar came into my ownership when I joined Genesis tribute band Invisible Touch in the late 1990s, when I purchased the guitar from the previous "Rutherford" in the band. I have since played with other Genesis tributes, all of which saw this guitar used on classic Genesis songs from the 70s. It has remained in my ownership since then, and since I stopped playing in Genesis tributes in the late 2010s it has seen very little use (and only home/practice/studio use). This guitar deserves to be out there being played!

 

The playability of both necks is amazing - the necks are flat and fast, and playing is free of buzzes, thanks to the zero fret on each neck. Both necks have a loud and clear unplugged sound. Tone is of course subjective, but the bass has a lovely round plummy 70s Englishness, while the 12-string chimes like bell with its own natural chorus effect.

 

This guitar has two sets of double pickups, and switching is enabled a three-position switch per pickup pair, which switches between bridge, both and neck pickups. Also there is a single tone and volume control per neck, along with per-neck on/off switch (so yes, you can have both necks "on" at the same time, or both "off" - but optimum setting is to have one neck "on" at a time; switching between one neck or the other on the fly is a breeze once you get used to it). There are two distinct signal paths from pickups to separate output jacks - one for the bass, the other for the 12-string. All controls operate as expected and are free from electrical crackle and interference throughout all settings.

 

All controls, electronics, and fittings are unchanged throughout my ownership (except strings), and as far as I know are as originally fitted to the guitar; from what I can tell this guitar has never had bridge or pickup covers, so these aren't missing (they were never there!), likewise there are no screwholes to show where they would have been attached.

 

The guitar weighs approximately 7kg, the case (see below) weighs around 9kg. The bass is of course heavy, but I have never suffered any back, neck or shoulder pain from its use. Good posture is of course essential! One of the slight modifications made to this guitar (before it came to my ownership) is the siting of the strap pins (see photos), which I believe assist in finding the optimum balance and playing angle for this guitar.

 

Shergolds are well-known for showing signs of crackling in the finish. Compared to other Shergolds I have seen, the crackle is fairly light on this guitar, and I have attempted to show as much of this in the photos as possible, but most prevalent behind both bridges, between the bass pickups near the scratchplate, and on the rear of the body at the end the neck joints.

 

Also clear from the photos are general dings and other marks common in a guitar with a good gigging history of this vintage. For full transparency I will point out the following if not visible on the photos: a light scratch on the back of the bass neck near the neck joint; small marks to the finish on the upper bout, forearm chamfer and top-facing surface of the top edge; one single dent approx 5mm across midway along the top edge, roughly in line with the 12-string bridge pickup. Having said that, the guitar is in excellent robust and gig-worthy condition for its age, and I am happy to supply more photos if needed.

 

The original case that came with this guitar is unfortunately no longer in use, having carried out its job of protecting the guitar when on the road. When that case was retired, I replaced it with a custom-made flight case, made by Gothard Flightcases (a google search will easily find their website). The new case is stronger and studier than the original, and is of course included with this sale.

 

Also included with this sale are two new sets of strings: an unopened pack of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky custom gauge roundwound bass strings (50, 70, 85, 105) and an unopened pack of Ernie Ball 12-String Slinky custom gauge nickel-wound guitar strings (8/8, 10/10, 8/14, 11/24, 17/32, 22/40). The wide and comfortable strap you see in the photos is also included in this sale.

 

For your further peace of mind, the (non-official) Shergold website helpfully includes a buyer's guide - google "Shergold Buying Guide" and you should find it easily.

 

The combined weight of the guitar plus case means that I am offering local collection only, although I'm happy to meet in central or SE London to exchange. Thanks!

 

I've also listed on other platforms: Basschat gets the fee-free prices of £2350.

 

Please get in touch with any questions!

 

Edited May 7 by toneknob

[toneknob]

Me in action with the Shergold at a tribute band festival in France in 2007. We supported Deep Purple. Janis Joplin was on before us. The generator blew at the peak of Genesis classic Supper's Ready.

 

[toneknob]

I have very few videos of the guitar, but here's one from 2008(!) with Liverpool-based tribute Carpet Crawlers, doing the second half of Los Endos. Plus the backs of many prog fans' heads. One or two more to follow.

 

 

[lemmywinks]

Remember these from an old episode of Snuff Box!

 

[toneknob]

A couple of minutes of Afterglow

 

[toneknob]

The Cinema Show/In That Quiet Earth. This is some pretty hot stuff even if I say so myself.

 

 

[snorkie635]

Had one of these many years ago (1978). A fine instrument with an excellent sound. Brings back memories. GLWTS

[Cosmo Valdemar]

That is incredible. I'm not far from you either, such a shame you don't allow test drives! ☹️

[toneknob]

12 hours ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

That is incredible. I'm not far from you either, such a shame you don't allow test drives! ☹️

Listing edited!

[toneknob]

18 hours ago, lemmywinks said:

Remember these from an old episode of Snuff Box!

That white double-neck has certainly done the rounds.

You'll also find it with The Wedding Present on Top Of The Pops, ditto Dope Smugglaz (who?); an episode of Men Behaving Badly and another of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and a one-off Robbie Coltrane tv special!

 

[Burns-bass]

Just now, toneknob said:

That white double-neck has certainly done the rounds.

You'll also find it with The Wedding Present on Top Of The Pops, ditto Dope Smugglaz (who?); an episode of Men Behaving Badly and another of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and a one-off Robbie Coltrane tv special!

 

The BBC has a collection of instruments that it uses as props and for performances. (Or at least it did when my friend worked there.)

 

Wonderful looking guitar this. Good luck with the sale!

[philw]

What a fabulous old instrument with a wonderful provenance. Takes me right back to Genesis at Earls Court in 1978. 

Very best of luck with the sale.

 

Phil

 

PS. This is why I love Basschat.

[toneknob]

This has taken a good 5-10 minutes of determined googling to find - a brief clip of the BBC Shergold 4/12 (at 1m43s) on NMTB season 9 episode 5 starring Terry Hall bless him.

 

 

[toneknob]

4 hours ago, philw said:

What a fabulous old instrument with a wonderful provenance. Takes me right back to Genesis at Earls Court in 1978. 

Very best of luck with the sale.

 

Phil

 

PS. This is why I love Basschat.

 

*cough* 1977 right?

(people like me are why I stopped tribute bands btw)

[dmccombe7]

Superb example of a brilliant manufacturer. I had the 4 & 8 twin neck. Shergolds first 8 stringer that was built using their 6 string bass as a guide.

Being only 9.5 stone back then it was a heavy beast.

I came across a guy in London selling it and when i approached saying i was the original owner he removed the advert and disappeared. I can only imagine it had been stolen. 

Shame as i would love to have it back. Cost me £630 back in 78 i think it was.

My fondest memory is that amazing 4 stringer neck. It was just glorious to play.

If i had been in a prog band i would have jumped at this classic.

GLWTS

Dave 

[toneknob]

6 minutes ago, dmccombe7 said:

Superb example of a brilliant manufacturer. I had the 4 & 8 twin neck. Shergolds first 8 stringer that was built using their 6 string bass as a guide.

Being only 9.5 stone back then it was a heavy beast.

I came across a guy in London selling it and when i approached saying i was the original owner he removed the advert and disappeared. I can only imagine it had been stolen. 

Shame as i would love to have it back. Cost me £630 back in 78 i think it was.

My fondest memory is that amazing 4 stringer neck. It was just glorious to play.

If i had been in a prog band i would have jumped at this classic.

GLWTS

Dave 

 

Thanks Dave. Have we discussed Shergold 4/8-strings before? I think you must be the only other owner of a 4/8 twin apart from me (mine was white, s/n 8401). I p/x'd it for my Takamine TB-10 at Wunjo. I'm sure the tale is somewhere in the basschat vaults.

 

[dmccombe7]

3 minutes ago, toneknob said:

 

Thanks Dave. Have we discussed Shergold 4/8-strings before? I think you must be the only other owner of a 4/8 twin apart from me (mine was white, s/n 8401). I p/x'd it for my Takamine TB-10 at Wunjo. I'm sure the tale is somewhere in the basschat vaults.

 

I think we have. I didn't realise it was yourself. 

Would love another Shergold just for the sake of having a classic British bass IMO.

Mine was the single pick up versions but always fancied the twin pick up version. They had a very distinct sound. Not too bassy and a nice twang to them.

Dave

[silverfoxnik]

8 hours ago, philw said:

What a fabulous old instrument with a wonderful provenance. Takes me right back to Genesis at Earls Court in 1978. 

Very best of luck with the sale.

 

Phil

 

PS. This is why I love Basschat.

+1

[police squad]

I was offered a fretless 4 and 12 string in white for 50 quid when i worked in a shop in 1990

A lady was selling her ex husbands collection.  

It wasnt hers to sell and i didnt buy it 

[toneknob]

On 07/05/2024 at 10:29, toneknob said:

That white double-neck has certainly done the rounds.

You'll also find it with The Wedding Present on Top Of The Pops, ditto Dope Smugglaz (who?); an episode of Men Behaving Badly and another of Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and a one-off Robbie Coltrane tv special!

 

 

That Wedding Present appearance: