1970s Ernesto Cavour Doubleneck Classical/12-String Guitar

Ernesto Cavour was a fascinating musician (charango and voice, especially), instrument inventor, teacher, and general folk-music-promoter from Bolivia. I'm not sure what was happening in his live when he decided to build this instrument (or have it built for him...?), but it's truly a strange beast. It's got a classical build and neck on one side and a 12-string neck on the other in a "turnover"-style build and has solid wood throughout (pine...? on the top and...top -- and mahogany for the sides and interior "back" between the two halves).

Ancel did all the work on this guy save a little aid from myself and both necks got glorified level/dress jobs and the saddle areas got recuts and were fit with wider, fully-compensated rosewood saddles. As both bridges did not have much "right" going for them off the bat as far as intonation and action height was concerned. Note that in the photos we hadn't yet retouched the bridge color on the 12-string side.

Post-repairs, this box plays beautifully and is fit to serve. Both halves of the guitar sound lovely, though the neck configuration makes it difficult for "wrap-around" thumb-players like myself.