Anderbilt Guitar neck vibrato mechanism
Overview
Brand name:
Product:
- electric guitars
Dates of manufacture:
The Anderbilt floating neck guitar was a solid body electric guitar made in the late 1960s by the Anderson-Bevers manufacturing company of Raymondsville, Texas.
The maple neck was mounted on a low friction linear sliding mechanism with ball bearings, almost exactly like a drawer slide. The slide mechanism was connected to two springs inside the body of the guitar. The two springs pulled the neck of the guitar in opposite directions and are adjusted such that the guitar is in tune when the strings in a their equilibrium position. The player could move the neck longitudinally in and out of the body (like a pump action shotgun) using their fretting hand to increase or decrease the vibrating length of the strings to produce a vibrato effect.
The vibrato mechanism led to tuning stability problems which probably limited the popularity of the model.
The guitar itself had a double cutaway shield shaped body. The maple neck had a rosewood (or ebony?) fingerboard and white dot position markers and was also reinforced with a pre-stressed steel bar. The headstock had six-in-a row chrome plated tuners and a string retaining bar, and bore the Anderbilt script logo.
Its two single coil pickups were mounted on a black pickguard. There were numerous knobs and controls, all mounted on the pickguard, as was the output jack. It had a fixed chrome bridge and tailpiece. Finish options were sunburst and red.
3 Comments
anderbilt guitars
Submitted by gary bosworth (not verified) on
earl anderson was an Assembly of God minister and inventer of the floating neck principle. His goal was to get more expression from the guitar much like a violinest. He and his brother in law produced and sold about 18 guitars. One was actually played in a concert in San Antonio by Roy Clark and Mr clark spoke very favorably of it. Bro Anderson was not satisfied with the neck suspension system and thought it might be a maintenance issue in the long run and pulled it from production until he could redisign the suspension. Keeping it in tune was never an issue to my knowledge, but time away from the pulpit was. In the late 80's he and I formed an informal partnership and produced the 2nd generation Anderbilt. Circumstances and work responsibilities prevented resumption of production. Earl played the new guitar in church every Sunday as long as health permitted. After his death 8 or 10 years ago, his family presented his guitar to me. It is a very cherished item.
Bro Anderson
Submitted by Joan Dallas (not verified) on
Thank You for your post. I was just telling a friend about the guitar tonight and decided to google it to see what ever happened with the guitar. Bro Anderson was my Childhood pastor. I remember when he invented it. So sorry to hear of his passing. But it has been many years even if it does feel like yesterday. Thanks again. Joan Dallas
anderbilt guitar
Submitted by Darrell Tucker (not verified) on
I recently purchased a floating neck guitar.and it has a soul . The experience this instrument has given me are in one word, well , and get ready to call me crazy,but that word is supernatural. I paid 700 dollars cash money for this piece of " living" art, when I could have had it for considerably less, for the simple reason that I didnt want to offend this instrument, this is where I found the only tuning issues. These issues that were concerns long before I ever picked up my first guitar, yes I know that may sound rediculous but in my experience this guitar has a mind, of its own and when spoken to or talked about negetively it responds in kind by breaking strings ( 2 on one occasion ) or by absolutely refusing to go in tune.
If. Earl Anderson, its creator, were still alive I would only ask him why this guitar,1 of 18 produced, a red one, has been labeled, on the underside of the pick gaurd and again inside the body cavity, in pencil as if it was done during its creation, by its creator, the number 666. It is very mysterious and given how this guitar seems to have a mind. Er soul of its own, that has prompted both me and my teenage son to announce designs on taking over the world, while playing this miraclous instrument.
My statements may seem like a" bunch of hooey" and for some reason this guitar inspired the use of that term. If anyone knew this minister, I somehow feel confident that this expression was one he used often. Now im ready for the straightjacket and im sure you the reader will probably agree, but if you knew this man and help me fill in some blank I am @ [email protected]. if the people who manage this site decide this letter isnt worthy of posting, I understand fully. It is a bizarre tale but you know what they say about truth, its stranger than fiction. Thank and ill include a pic just so youll know im not bullshitting your or the fine folks who may frequent this very informative site.thank tou and God bless.
P.s. ill sell it today for, 100 thousand dollars. I believe its an amazing creation, and worth every penny. ( crazy right)