Tone Report Weekly 185 | Page 25

eck There’s an old episode of the Simpsons where Groundskeeper Willie strikes oil while digging a grave for the recently deceased Springfield Elementary pet gerbil, prompting Principal Skinner and crew to immediately set about drafting a wildly opulent new school budget to make the most of their newfound riches. Otto the bus driver, die-hard rocker that he is, suggests that the school set aside part of its expected influx of funding for “those guitars, that are like, double guitars, you know?” Principal Skinner gives Otto’s proposal his rubber stamp of approval without a second thought. Like so many Simpsons quotes, this line is perfect on several levels. For one, it captures with keen accuracy the way that many people (even experienced musicians like you and I) feel about double-neck guitars—those rare, inherently exotic, and oft-misunderstood members of the electric ToneReport.com 25