Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

[Mike M.]

Low and behold, but my local music store had one in stock. While I have no desire what so ever to own one I always said I would at least love to play one if given the chance just to see what it felt like.

I'll tell ya, that neck is a player and a half. Don't think I've ever felt more at home with a guitars neck as quickly as I did with this one. Felt like it was custom made for my hands. If Fender or anyone were to offer this neck as a replacement part I'd order one tomorrow for my Strat. No hesitation, either.

To look at that guitar is hilarious! Paint upon paint (even has a bit of blue by the lower strap holder), scratches, dents, rust, burns, guts **** near hanging out and to look at how the pickup is mounted...jeez! On the treble side the mounting tab is actually bent slightly up and the screw that holds the pickup to the body isn't even centered. The guitar looks like you chained it to the back of your car and went down some unpaved back roads for a few miles!

I did'nt plug it in but that was okay. My jones for wanting to try one was well satisfied. Again, I'd never want to own one ($25,000.00!!!! No way!) and even though it was a replica it was indeed kinda cool to feel what one of my heros guitars felt like.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

I have little doubt that it's an awesome guitar. But not 25K of awesome.

 

[mediumpimpin]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

I'd like to play one, just to say I played a 25k guitar. I personally don't think any guitar is worth that, except for maybe the real frankenstrat. I also wanna play that new $150,000 martin history of flight guitar, and yes I said 150k.

 

[Mike M.]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

Whoa! $150,000.00?!?!? That would make the start of a nice retirement!

 

[acosmicmessenger]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

I'd like to play one, just to say I played a 25k guitar. I personally don't think any guitar is worth that, except for maybe the real frankenstrat. I also wanna play that new $150,000 martin history of flight guitar, and yes I said 150k.

if you disregard collectability, i would bet these replicas are worth more than the original.

 

[tone?]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

please lets not start again on what people think that guitar is worth. for Christs sake, not again.

I would love to get my hands on one as well. Just to see what my hero was playing. sounds like a cool experience!

 

[JOLLY]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

I thought about getting one, then I realized I was John Jolly and not Bill Gates.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

I´ve never been an EVH fan, but as a player and luthier I would buy one in a heartbeat if I could afford it

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

if i was rich i'm sure i'd own one concider how many hours and hours i sat staring at pictures of Ed's axes in the 80's... the Frankie, the 5150 and 1984... and the super funky pair of Kramer double necks on the 1982-83 era tours-(one red stripped, and one yellow stripped) and the mini LP copies....

But i just came across a 1984 issue of Hit Parader magazine with Ed on the cover.... his red frankie has the neck on it that looks like the neck with strat headstock on it that they used for the replica.... yet the one in this old photo has the Strat rounded heel on the 21 fret neck and the replica's seem to have the more square Tele heels... They Original Frankie's body has a rounded heel in the neck pocket too not square. The photo i would think is from 1982 as by 1984 ED had a few different Kramer necks stuck on that thing... HMMMM!!!?!?!?!? strange.... maybe this is Fenders way of stopping neck swaps...

 

[KeyOfG]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

Actually the neck that is on Ed's "Frankenstein" now/today/presently is the original neck that was on it when it was the B&W version during the recording of VH I & VH II, as well as, the VH I tour. It was also back on it for the recording of Women and Children First, and possibly Fair Warning. It has since then had the headstock shaved smaller and the brass nut taken off for the FR lock nut. It is a Boogie Body neck made by Wayne Charvel. Of course other times it has had the B&Y Charvel neck with the black headstock on it, and during most of Diver Down it had a One-Piece Strat-style neck before the Kramer "pinched end" style and the Kramer "Banana" headstocked necks were fitted on it. It's also had a few rosewood board strat-styled necks on it too, notably the VH II tour and sometime around Diver Down when he worked on the Brian May Star Fleet Project.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

Actually the neck that is on Ed's "Frankenstein" now/today/presently is the original neck that was on it when it was the B&W version during the recording of VH I & VH II, as well as, the VH I tour. It was also back on it for the recording of Women and Children First, and possibly Fair Warning. It has since then had the headstock shaved smaller and the brass nut taken off for the FR lock nut. It is a Boogie Body neck made by Wayne Charvel. Of course other times it has had the B&Y Charvel neck with the black headstock on it, and during most of Diver Down it had a One-Piece Strat-style neck before the Kramer "pinched end" style and the Kramer "Banana" headstocked necks were fitted on it. It's also had a few rosewood board strat-styled necks on it too, notably the VH II tour and sometime around Diver Down when he worked on the Brian May Star Fleet Project.

That original 70's neck that was on it was said to of been snapped in half.... this neck would of been the one that Ed stuck the Gibson logo on the first VH 1978 tour... I'm sure it could of been glued back together

 

[KeyOfG]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

That original 70's neck that was on it was said to of been snapped in half.... this neck would of been the one that Ed stuck the Gibson logo on the first VH 1978 tour...

Misinformation, and Yes, that one.

Here, some cool tid bits of info I came upon by chance today from a single Google search, still didn't find what I was looking for though.

I wrote both EVH articles and did the interviews with Ed, Matt Bruck and Chip Ellis. Unfortunately, my original submitted article on the EVH Replica got hacked to bits by Fender's lawyers. This discrepancy would not have occurred if the lawyers hadn't intervened (they even wanted us to remove well-known details such as the pickup being a Gibson PAF and the body and neck being made by Boogie Bodies - which were copies of original Fender designs to begin with!). Also, the video was filmed long before I did my interview with Ed (Ed is commenting about the prototype in the video).

Here is how my Q&A with Chip Ellis originally read:

Guitar World: After you got the initial work order, how did you begin work on the replica guitar?

Chip Ellis: I made the first prototype using just photographs for reference. Eddie’s relationship with Fender was just getting started, and nobody wanted to ask him if they could hold onto his original guitar for any length of time. We brought it into the shop once to take it apart and make patterns from the body, but we made sure to put it back together and give it right back to him. When Ed and I started working together, he trusted my judgment with everything and he had no problems with letting me hang onto the guitar for a while. We still have the original guitar in our possession right now. We take it back from him as we need it, and Ed is super cool about that. He has catered to our every need.

GW: Ed has done a lot to that guitar over the years, and he’s changed the neck several times. What kind of neck is on it now?

Ellis: The neck that’s currently on the guitar is actually the neck it started with. That was really cool. The original guitar was not a Fender. It was made from aftermarket parts— a Boogie Bodies body made by Wayne Charvel and a Boogie Bodies neck. The neck heel and the neck pocket are still stamped with the Boogie Bodies logo. We sat down with Ed and heard his stories about how the guitar came about, which was filmed for a DVD.

Once the project got the green light, Ed let Chip Ellis hang onto his "Frankenstein/Baby" several times for extended periods while Ellis duplicated details. Ed also confirmed this in the interview I did with him (I spoke with Chip before I interviewed Ed).

FWIW, the "brown sound" feature was 100 percent approved by Ed and Matt Bruck before it went to print. I did a lot of back and forth with Ed to make sure that the details were accurate - Ed, Matt and I agreed that it was time once and for all for telling the complete, definitive story about this topic (especially in light of all the false info floating around on the internet). While most of the details are common knowledge, some "gray area" details that Ed confirmed include the type of speakers in his Marshall cabs, that he didn't use a power amp in his rig on the first album (many speculated that he did), and his Echoplex setting. I also went to great effort to reach Donn Landee to confirm specifics about the studio setup and engineering techniques, and I tracked down a past employee at Sunset Sound to confirm the exact console that was in the studio in '77 when the album was recorded (lots of conflicting info about this floating around on the web - now it's confirmed).

http://www.guitarworld.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=382637&sid=c5f5fdeb1a44b81f3f06fb8e4ea17d16

Plus I saw a youtube video of that dvd included with that GW article for the first time this past week and Ed refered to that very sticker you mentioned, stating 'it was placed right here' as he pointed to the area on the headstock as he held his original guitar. Upon further looking at the Replica necks and recalling the first neck in detail, as I remember it, there is no doubt in my mind (as if it really matters, tis no big deal either way...) that it isn't the same neck reconfigured.

I only mentioned it like the Interviewer CGill stated, "in light of all the false info floating around."

I do want to find a back issue of that mag just to read the cover story.

 

[innerdreamrecords.co]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

It's only worth 25k if you make the money VH made.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

Misinformation, and Yes, that one.

Here, some cool tid bits of info I came upon by chance today from a single Google search, still didn't find what I was looking for though.



http://www.guitarworld.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=382637&sid=c5f5fdeb1a44b81f3f06fb8e4ea17d16

Plus I saw a youtube video of that dvd included with that GW article for the first time this past week and Ed refered to that very sticker you mentioned, stating 'it was placed right here' as he pointed to the area on the headstock as he held his original guitar. Upon further looking at the Replica necks and recalling the first neck in detail, as I remember it, there is no doubt in my mind (as if it really matters, tis no big deal either way...) that it isn't the same neck reconfigured.

I only mentioned it like the Interviewer CGill stated, "in light of all the false info floating around."

I do want to find a back issue of that mag just to read the cover story.

cool info.... i had wondered.... must of been a different neck that was broken...

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

Actually the neck that is on Ed's "Frankenstein" now/today/presently is the original neck that was on it when it was the B&W version during the recording of VH I & VH II, as well as, the VH I tour. It was also back on it for the recording of Women and Children First, and possibly Fair Warning. It has since then had the headstock shaved smaller and the brass nut taken off for the FR lock nut. It is a Boogie Body neck made by Wayne Charvel. ...

For the record, Lynn Ellsworth made the neck, not Wayne Charvel.... up to and including the takeover by Grover Jackson Wayne Charvel had never manufactured a single neck or body. It is no secret that a Wayne Charvel built Charvel has never existed and never will. It is for this reason somewhat odd that the body is credited to Wayne, though....

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

For the record, Lynn Ellsworth made the neck, not Wayne Charvel.... up to and including the takeover by Grover Jackson Wayne Charvel had never manufactured a single neck or body. It is no secret that a Wayne Charvel built Charvel has never existed and never will. It is for this reason somewhat odd that the body is credited to Wayne, though....

Ive heard this before and find it EXTREMELY intriguing. The man is heralded as a guitar building genius, but never made a body or neck until what?? The kickoff of the recent Wayne co??



MikeM,
Im suprised the shop even let you touch it.. I figured these things would be under lock and key any where that has them.

My local GC wouldnt let me play a Blackie replica. And Im middle aged ,mature etc.. They wont even get any 5150 IIIs in cuz they dont want to have anyone playing them.. Special order only..

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

Ive heard this before and find it EXTREMELY intriguing. The man is heralded as a guitar building genius, but never made a body or neck until what?? The kickoff of the recent Wayne co??

Post 1984, when exactly he built his first neck I don´t know as I´m a Jackson /Charvel collector and not a Wayne Charvel collector and therefore really don´t care much for what he did after he sold his name

That said, Waynes are great guitars, but they don´t feel like a CHarvel to me in any way.

 

[tone?]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

So Wayne had NO part in the creation of the hotroded super strat??

I know the eds first parts were from Lynn, but i thought that Wayne was somewhere around there, lurking.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

So Wayne had NO part in the creation of the hotroded super strat??

I know the eds first parts were from Lynn, but i thought that Wayne was somewhere around there, lurking.

You misunderstand. I said he did not build the neck and body. I did not say he played no role

 

[tone?]

Re: Tried the EVH Frankenstein replica today.

So what was his role in the whole thingy??