Harpolyre, could it be the original 3 neck guitar or not?

I am sure most of you know Steve Vai’s famous 3 neck Ibanez guitar. It makes a very interesting show to watch, because, beside being the Master of The Space Guitar, Mr Vai is also the Master of Visual Appearances and I think we all know what I am speaking about.

But are you familiar with the concept of “Harpolyre”? If not, read on, watch this video and let me know what you think!

…the new classification of “fretted harp guitars” - however, I don’t want to make too much of this term, as I expect it will confuse the casual reader into thinking I consider it a type of true harp guitar. It is not. Nor is it a “triple-neck” guitar, nor a type of lyre guitar. Despite most major museums having specimens, no scholar has addressed the instrument in any detail, though many have noted the unusual tunings of the outer necks - obviously not intended for chords. Yet they are fully fretted, even extending to glued-on soundboard frets in some specimens…

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Now, can you tell me where did Mr Vai get his inspiration from? Could it be this instrument?

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