NICOLE CRAINE
An eight-neck guitar is one of the most unusual instruments on display in the Liberty Science Center’s “Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World” exhibit.
The only eight-neck guitar you are likely to see in your lifetime is currently on display at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.
You can only look (but not touch) at the 2011 Rock Ock; it is playable, but you can’t strum it yourself. You can, though, pluck the strings of the Guinness-certified world’s largest guitar, 43.5 feet long and 16 feet wide.
“Guitar: The Instrument That Rocked the World,” open through Jan. 4, has two sections with different approaches. One is interactive and scientific, explaining how the guitar works. The other is dominated by gorgeous instruments, displayed in glass cases as if they were precious sculptures (which, in a way, they are): acoustic and electric guitars, some with time-honored designs and others with wildly experimental looks, plus guitar-like instruments from other countries. Historical artifacts and videos of various master guitarists in action complement the displays.
NICOLE CRAINE
A woman plucks the strings of the world’s largest guitar, at Liberty Science Center.
Also, the museum has scheduled a live music series, free with general admission. Artists ranging from the family-oriented Beatles cover band Bubble to Alex Skolnick of the heavy metal band Testament will be featured from now through Dec. 29.
Here is the schedule:
OCT. 16
Student workshop with Stanley Jordan, by invitation only
OCT. 18
1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.: ArcAttack’s Lightning Guitar, featuring Joe DiPrima
OCT. 19
Noon: StarFish
1:30 p.m.: ArcAttack’s Lightning Guitar, featuring Joe DiPrima
OCT. 25
1 p.m.: Bubble
NOV. 1
2 p.m.: Grey McMurray
3 p.m.: Mike Levine
NOV. 9
12:15 p.m.: Kurt Gallagher
NOV. 15
Noon: Harvey Valdes
1:30 p.m.: Marc Sloan
3 p.m.: BT3 (Ben Tyree)
NOV. 16
1:15 p.m.: Andrew Leonard (family presentation)
2:45 p.m.: Andrew Leonard
NOV. 23
11 a.m.: Little Rockers
1:30 p.m.: Taylor Guitars Road Show
NOV. 29
1 p.m.: Michael Napolitano (from Preschool of Rock)
3:30 p.m.: Alex Skolnick’s Planetary Coalition
DEC. 21
12:15 p.m.: Kurt Gallagher
2 p.m.: “Les Paul – From Start to Finish,” showcasing Paul’s guitars and featuring stories from his friend, Jim Wysocki.
DEC. 29:
1 P.M.: Michael Napolitano (from Preschool of Rock)
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