I've spent the best part of today converting this unsuspecting acoustic guitar into an 8-string. This guitar/mandolin doubleneck is currently available for sale via Vintage & Rare, although you will need to call for a price. I like on this doubleneck how the mandolin portion appears to have its own top set into the top of the guitar, which beautifully defines the concept that here we have two instruments in one. You can check out some of his very striking designs at He is known for his inlay work which at times has a distinct African flavour with indigenous animals and insects often appearing, as well as soundholes decorated with figures of African bushmen. This is a one-off instrument built by Mervyn Davis himself, a South African luthier who graduated from making oil can guitars as a boy to a fully-fledged maker of fine stringed instruments including electric and acoustic guitars and basses, violins, mandolins and even the occasional oud. So to make up, if in only a small way, this week's guitar of the week gives two for the price of one: a six string electric guitar and 4-string electric mandolin all in one package. I think these "Vintage & Rare guitar of the week" posts have gotten a little out of sync recently, which wasn't helped by me being sick all last week (but thanks again to Bertram for posting in my absence). © 2012, Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year! The seller claims that "this is one of the rarest guitars in the world" but rare does not necessarily equal desirable so it'll be interesting to see what this sells for. This guitar is currently being auctioned on eBay with bidding starting at €1. However, this example on Fetish Guitars has the exact same headstock shape so it looks like it was made that way deliberately. When I first saw the photo for this guitar, I thought that the headstock should have been shaped like that on a Vox guitar of the period, but had suffered some damage. Is it any wonder that the Boyfendery name isn't better known? How many guitarists do you know who in the 1960s would have been comfortable playing a guitar with a name that sounded like "boyfriend"? Not a good marketing strategy, methinks.
However, the Boyfendery, either by accident or design, has gotten the Phantom shape wrong, and the design is not helped by a German carve, nor a badly designed pickguard which is totally lacking in grace. Allegedly made in Catelfidardo, Italy, it is obviously styled after the Vox Phantom guitars popular at the time and which were also made in Italy.
This Boyfendery Phantom is a curious guitar.