EVH Wolfgang Frets

Ball&Chain

Ball&Chain

New member
So, I tried out a couple EVH Wolfgang Specials at GC this weekend. They only had 2 there unfortunately.

They had the hardtail and the one with the evh branded floyd, both with maple boards.

The hardtail was a MIJ for $1200. I think I read somewhere before about the sloppy neck joints and it was evident on this guitar. There was a noticeable gap on both sides of the neck pocket. The toggle switch was similar to the one I got from stew mac awhile back, meaning just a very small grazing of the switch would send it back to the middle position.

The floyded one was a MIC priced at $1500. The neck joint was much better on this one and the toggle switch stayed
firmly in all 3 positions.


What was evident on both were the frets. They are a vintage size SS fret. I didn't think I'd get along with them well being more used to medium jumbos and jumbos, but they were actually quite nice with one exception. The fret tangs jutted out slightly on both necks all along the fretboard and on both sides making them pretty uncomfortable to play.

I know a file and a bit of sand paper could fix that right up, but on guitars selling for $1200 plus, I wouldn't think it should be necessary. I'm not sure why they don't just recess the fret tangs and fill the gaps with glue and wood dust ?
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

You're going to need a pretty hard file for those frets! Perhaps the neck shrank slightly, leaving the frets sticking out a bit, which probably means that the maple wasn't seasoned properly before being made into a neck.

Because recessing the tangs and filling the gaps would take more time, which, by the time the guitar gets to a shop, would mean the price is jacked up more.
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

Yes and the fret tangs would have had to have been filed flush at the factory. From what I hear, SS frets are hard on tools, so the filing process would take time and also result in wear and tear on the files. If they cut the fret tangs short, there is no need to file. I cant imagine filling the gaps and sandpapering smooth would equate to much more time and money than nipping the ends after the frets are installed and filing them and replacing tools. Especially with SS frets.

The prices are already jacked way up as is and considering there doesn't seem to be a consumer savings by switching factory locations from Japan to China, its going to be a hard sell at those prices. This leads me to the original point, which is why on a 1200 plus dollar guitar. can they not do it right to begin with. If its a wood aging thing as you suggest, you would think they would know that. When you have a way overpriced guitar sitting on your floor that nobody is buying because they can buy a better constructed guitar off the same floor for less than half the price, you would think it would lead you to think twice about stocking any more of said overpriced guitars. Just a thought.

One guitar might be an issue, 2 is a concern. Too bad there wasn't a third to establish the pattern or break it. Id be curious to find if this is an issue anyone else has seen with these?
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

I have vintage style frets on my jaguar, the only thing that bugs me about this guitar. I wish I had some jumbo frets or something.

most techs and luthiers are weary to work on SS frets.
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

Ball&Chain said:
Yes and the fret tangs would have had to have been filed flush at the factory. From what I hear, SS frets are hard on tools, so the filing process would take time and also result in wear and tear on the files. If they cut the fret tangs short, there is no need to file. I cant imagine filling the gaps and sandpapering smooth would equate to much more time and money than nipping the ends after the frets are installed and filing them and replacing tools. Especially with SS frets.

The prices are already jacked way up as is and considering there doesn't seem to be a consumer savings by switching factory locations from Japan to China, its going to be a hard sell at those prices. This leads me to the original point, which is why on a 1200 plus dollar guitar. can they not do it right to begin with. If its a wood aging thing as you suggest, you would think they would know that. When you have a way overpriced guitar sitting on your floor that nobody is buying because they can buy a better constructed guitar off the same floor for less than half the price, you would think it would lead you to think twice about stocking any more of said overpriced guitars. Just a thought.

One guitar might be an issue, 2 is a concern. Too bad there wasn't a third to establish the pattern or break it. Id be curious to find if this is an issue anyone else has seen with these?
Click to expand...

I agree, but this is capitalism :). The number crunchers over at Fender are looking to save every cent, because when you generalize that to several hundred instruments, the numbers get bigger. They want to build as cheaply as possible, then rip the customer off as much as possible; it's about them saving $$, not you. The EVH association contributes some serious jacking, remember those $25k striped guitars? Similar complaints have been levelled at Gibson over the past while regarding the kind of guitars they crank out and what they cost. It's all about the name and the legacy, and lucripetous men in suits (and old rockers who need to find ways of staying relevant when they tire of playing the same song over and over again) behind it all.

It's possible that the guitar left the factory perfect, but by the time it arrived in a shop, the frets were like you saw them. Or it was a Friday afternoon guitar :friday:.

So, I don't like it either ($1500 is steep for a MIC guitar, regardless of its association), and it's partly why I don't buy new guitars. If I wanted new, I'd get a luthier to build me something, that way I get exactly what I want in specs and a top job.

Well, Jolly has a MIJ one which he loves, and I don't think he's had any issues with it.
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

I remember the Peavey Wolfgang'shad those tiny-azz frets. Great for playing quickly on but boy are they a pain when you wanna bend or get under a note. They're so small they make my fingers cramp. Can't stand 'em. The Clapton Strat has small frets like that too.

I haven't played the new EVH brand ones, but given how much I like the stainless 6115's on my Music Man, I wonder how a stainless vintage-size wire would feel.
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

I don't remember having any problem with bends on those frets, but sliding into notes was a bit dangerous to say the least.
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

Ashurbanipal said:
Well, Jolly has a MIJ one which he loves, and I don't think he's had any issues with it.
Click to expand...
You are correct.


B2D said:
I remember the Peavey Wolfgang'shad those tiny-azz frets. Great for playing quickly on but boy are they a pain when you wanna bend or get under a note. They're so small they make my fingers cramp. Can't stand 'em. The Clapton Strat has small frets like that too.

I haven't played the new EVH brand ones, but given how much I like the stainless 6115's on my Music Man, I wonder how a stainless vintage-size wire would feel.
Click to expand...
I don't have any problem at all bending on my EVH.
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

My local Guitar Center has a few hard tails they can't manage to sell- even after discounting them to $799. The Floyded one I saw at Sam Ash had high action- things which can be fixed, but don't convince you to buy a guitar.

My EVH striped came just about perfect, maybe if Fender starts making the wolfgang specials in Mexico there will be more consistency
 
Re: EVH Wolfgang Frets

An EBMM Axis has been my main guitar for years. Not surprisingly, it has similar-sized frets. Coming from PRS, I was a bit concerned but it turned out to be a surprisingly easy transition, so much so that when I had them refretted in SS, I got pretty much the same fret size.

As for the fret ends, that bunk. If you're going to do stainless frets, you must make sure that you manage the ends (and the fretboard wood) to avoid fret sprout. The guy who did my EBMMs cut back the tang a bit to keep them from ever sticking out. He went to luthiery school in NM so he knows a bit about putting things together in a way that works in dry climates. Bad move on FMIC's part to build guitars with SS frets that sprout before anyone can take 'em home.
 
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