Bizarro World Guitars

Bizzaro World Comics

When I was a little guy I loved comic books. Superman/DC comics came up with Bizarro World, which was a cube shaped planet where everything was backwards. The planet was named "Htrae", which is Earth spelled backwards. The characters did everything the opposite of characters on earth, as did it’s super heroes. This was delightful when I was 9 or 10 years old.

Roto Neck Guitar

When it comes to the present day, I have come across some guitars that may have been made on the Bizarro World planet, such as The Roberts Roto-neck electric guitar. Curt Robert was an inventor; his wife Elizabeth was an artist. At the 1979 NAMM Roberts displayed the first two neck design with a guitar he called the Double Eagle.

Roto Neck Guitar with body

In 1980, his creation went on to become a four neck guitar. The player would rotate the neck to the desired string pattern, and continue playing. I am informed that the instrument is capable of 1,100 different combinations. Much like the LaBaye 2 x 4, this instrument appeared to have a body comparable to a 2 x 4. However it could be fitted an optional body. There is no record of how many of these guitars were sold.

La Baye 2 x 4 Guitar

The La Baye 2 x 4 was first manufactured in 1967. This minimalist design was the brainchild of a Green Bay, Wisconsin guitarist by the name of Dan Helland.



The La Baye 2 x 4 was a plank of wood with a slim neck bolted on, four thumb-wheel tone and volume adjusters on the top, and a Bigsby-style vibrato unit that is highly expressive. There were only 45 or so ever made. It was also offered in a bass version.

Because Devo used one in their stage act, this guitar developed a following, and Eastwood guitars did a reissue.

In 2018, Fender issued their Parallel Universe Guitars. These were guitars based on a combination of alternate guitars.

Strat Tele Hybrid

Such as the Strat-Tele Hybrid, which has the body shaped of a Fender Telecaster, however it was contoured like the one on a Strat. It has a two-tone sunburst finish, and a one piece pickguard similar to a 1956 Stratocaster. It also has a maple neck with the original 1956 style headstock.

Jazz Tele

The Jazz Tele combined a Telecaster body, but all the other features were straight off a Fender Jazzmaster. There are two Jazzmaster single coil pickups, a volume and tone control, and a three position toggle switch. The Tremolo unit was straight off a Jazzmaster. This guitar had a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard, and a Jazzmaster style headstock.

Tele Thinline Super Deluxe

The Tele Thinline Super Deluxe combined the 1967 Telecaster that had a single F hole, with a large pickguard. The neck is maple with a rosewood fretboard, and large block, perloid fret markers. The bridge is right off a hard tail Stratocaster. What makes this guitar stand out are the twin TV Jones pickups.

Whiteguard Strat

The Whiteguard Strat is reminiscent of the Squier ‘51. This unique instrument combines a Stratocaster body with all the features of a Telecaster. I like it.

Jag Strat

The Jaguar Strat combines a Stratocaster body, three parallel Stratocaster pickups, and all the features of a Fender Jaguar, including the Tremolo, the Rhythm/Lead switching capability with a separate bridge tone wheel control, and single volume and tone knobs. It included a 5-way blade pickup switching system.

Melobar Guitar

In the late 1960’s Walt Smith invented and marketed the Melobar Guitar. This was his attempt to bring the slide guitar, which was tuned to open chords, to young player.

The guitar was shaped like a convention double cutaway style guitar, but the body was at a 45 degree angle to the player. The fretboard was numbered to be correspondent to the chords.

Melobar Guitar

He called his company Smith Family Music. I did an article on Melobar guitars a few years ago, and some of Walt’s children wrote me. They are wonderful people. Ted set me straight on a few points. These were unique and bizarre guitars, and were played by quite a few famous people.

H.S. Anderson Mad Cat

For those fans of Prince, which should include many readers, you should be aware that Princes’ H.S. Anderson Mad Cat. 


This was an instrument based on Hohner’s version of a Fender Telecaster, called The Prinz, but a much nicer version.

H.S. Anderson
Apple Guitar

H.S. Anderson is a Japanese guitar manufacturer, that usually produces replicas of well known guitars from U.S. manufacturers. But they once offered this wild, and bizarro “Apple” guitar that sort of looks like the body from a Danelectro Bellzouki.  This minimalist instrument has one single coil pickup, a unique scratch plate design, and an unusual body that appears to be an upside-down apple.

Danelectro Bellzouki original

The Danelectro Bellzouki was invented by session player/guitar designer, Vinny Bell invented by session player/guitar designer, Vinny Bell.

Model 7010 and 7020

This twelve string instrument was introduced in 1961, and was the first Danelectro to date to feature a solid wood body. It featured one or two lipstick pickups. Over the years the body design changed. It is an interesting instrument, and at the time was very reasonably priced. Now they sell in the $1300 to $1500 range.