“Usually only pianos and harps were associated with independent use of two hands to create separate melody lines; however, similar two-hand methods were developed for guitars by players like Mark Laughlin and Jimmie Webster in the 1950’s.

“To (provide a specialized two-handed instrument), I offered a Biaxe double-neck guitar (U.S. Patent #4,240,319 in 1980), which combined a full-sized guitar with a longer, stick-form guitar module which was offset to provide more accessibility for two handed methods, and to distribute the weight more evenly.”

The Biaxe – Interchangeable bass and guitar ‘blades’, designed to play normally or by tapping, which inventor Soupios called ’string percussion.’ Unique rail runs along upper edge of melody neck to provide guidance & leverage for the thumb.

Soupios original Biaxe was superceded in late 1980 by a new model. (Soupios states that legal threats from Chapman were the primary cause in this migration.) The new model permitted interchangeable necks of different lengths, which was reported in Guitar Player magazine (May 1982), and then was later revised into the travel-guitar attached to a standard guitar system.

According to the Guitar Player article, the Biaxe Double-Neck could be played either as a standard guitar with a pick or fingers plucking, or it can be approached with a hammer-on technique which Soupios referred to as ’string percussion.’ To facilitate right-hand motion, a rail ran parallel to the neck on the upper edge, permitting a thumb rest so the thumb does not interfere with the lowest string.

Bi-Axe also makes single-neck guitars, called Battle Axes, which feature interchangeable sliding necks.

charles churchman soupios

1366 garfield street #101

denver, co 80206

(303) 394-9904