To better understand the complex history of the guitar, this article features a prelude tobrieflycover at the major changes throughout its life. 75 watching. The top is when it was new, the bottom is after some work. The next step is to black primer coat- make sure you do not go too heavy with the spray painting as it . Kramer decided to have Tom redrill the new posts and move them closer to the bridge pickup. Save 5% with voucher. In April 2019 the original red, black and white Frankenstrat guitar was put on display at The New York Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Play It Loud Instruments of Rock and Roll exhibit. Wikipedia. Above, Edward performs at theVan Halen II World Tour rehearsals. Fig. Thread starter hbucker; Start date Feb 25, 2013; hbucker Senior Member. Wet paint from walls at a venue before a show. " The Frankenstrat was [Eddie] Van Halen's attempt to combine the sound of a classic Gibson guitar with the physical attributes and tremolo bar functionality of a Fender Stratocaster. Notice how the black shows though a little through the red coat? I have not done these yet, but the next person to leave some ciggies at my house will benefit in knowing that the helped achieve this step on my guitar! I wanted mine to look like the original as much as possible, so decided to sand, bash and trash it up a bit. The reason I did 5 coats of each colour, was to ensure the colour below it was only slightly visible through the upper coat. Prelude: The Big PictureBody, Paint, Necks, Tremolos, and Pickups. SHARK, Paint Your Own Guitar, Build your own guitar, Guitar Kit. If you used a certain template can you provide the link? 1983: Danelectro neck, Kramer Beak neck, Floyd Rose APM whale tail FRT-5. So first, spray the undercoat. More Options. It turned out pretty much how I wanted it to turn out, and sounds better than I expected it would! hi John! The body had a significant amount of road wear and one of the oval reflectors on the back had snapped off during the Fair Warning tour. Do you happen to have a template of EVHs bumblebee? 1. A dedicated artist and tooler, he also designed and played one of the most well known specialty in all of rock: the Frankenstrat. Frankenstrat routing template. This neck would be put back on the Frankenstrat in 1997 and is currently still on the Frankenstrat today! Not satisfied with these tweaks, Ed would take an irreversible leap and make massive changes to the guitar that would forever transform it into the beast it is known as to this day. And, heres the finished product. Seriously, dont do it, Eddie does not have any artwork on his headstock, only cigarette burns. Nice for Van Halen fans! Frankenstrat Stripe Templates. Thread: EVH Frankenstein Humbucker #3 I have also not seen or heard about having 4 wires on the EVH, and even though I specified that I. Mod Garage: The Original Eddie Van Halen Wiring The DIY guitar that shook the world: Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein. Now, 15 years later, I have decided to strip it back, as it was simply sitting in a cupboard doing nothing, and proceed to convert it into a frankenstrat! give it about 5 coats of white to ensure a good coverage. RoutingThe routing template maximizes system re sources for unicast routing, typically required for a router or aggregator in the center of a network. Here is the final colours straight after removing the tape. here is a direct link for you. The Rasta guitar today is owned by Dweezil Zappa. And, with that its ready to head off to the guitar builder to get set up! The neck had been swapped for a more modern strat headstock and there were cigarette burns on the headstock from Eddie placing cigarettes under the strings. Diagram courtesy of Seymour Duncan. 8.. Spraying too thick will cause runs and drying issues, so slow and steady dustings of colour will help build a stable coat of paint. Even better (beyond the chops to play it) is that its iconic black, white, and red paint job is all DIY. The PDF links on this page are for the most common configurations and are here primarily for you to check the overall fit of the pick guard buy gauging it's overall shape and mounting hole layout etc. Below is an example of one of the 70s Fender tremolos in question. Steps. Then, with the sleeve on the bushing, simply rout the outline of the recess and the remainder of the waste by following the template. Your purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments. peel the tape off carefully to reveal the final colour scheme! The Frankenstrat is next seen in 1997, this time with the Tom Anderson neck taken off and replaced with the Square-heel neck played during the 1981 tour. Yes any chance you have templates for the frankiethat would be amazing! Ed prepares for a gig at the Whisky A Go Go, with his now-black Frankenstrat. Floyd Rose was contracted out with Fernandes Japan during this time and supposedly had a factory in Kyoto, Japan fabricate many of his Floyd parts. Hello there It is also evident from interviews at the time, as well as some logical analysis, that Ed used the Bumblebee and the borrowed Chris Holmes Destroyer in late 1979 and early 1980 to track Women and Children First, meaning the Frankenstrat saw very little, if any, use on that album. Templates are available again I used plain masking tape for this step, which measured 18mm wide. Stratocaster Guitar . the original had reflectors for the end of shows. Front White Layer hi Jesse Eddie added pin striping, which he later removed before the red coat. Eddie would play the first ever Floyd Rose with fine tuners (FRT-4) and a strathead Kramer Pacer neck with the Kramer logo sanded off due a lawsuit by Fender. Just do a search for stripe template or. Probable the best-known application for a routing template is used to produce seamless joins on large work surfaces like kitchen countertops Routing Angle and Compasses Frankenstrat 17 Pins 7y G Collection by Greg Hessinger Similar ideas popular now Guitar DIY Instruments Guitar Art Van Halen Trending Outfits Unique Jewelry Handmade Gifts Red Vintage Etsy Kid Craft Gifts Craft Gifts Guitar Diy Music Guitar Cool Guitar Acoustic Guitar Cigar Box Projects Resonator Guitar Diy Instruments Lap Steel Handmade Guitar Brand New items are sold by an authorized dealer or original builder and include all original packaging. He was quite likely the first person to receive a prototype Floyd Rose after Mr. Rose developed the very first 2 units for Randy Hansen in late 1978 and early 1979. Our Story begins in late January, 1977. 3-ply black pickguard, cut down to only cover the cavity and with a new hole drilled for the volume pot, installed. The neck had a CBS-Style Fender Strat headstock, and a Birdseye maple neck . If you are concerned and want it higher, you could add a few small washers under each screw to lift it higher from the body or shallow out the cavity before painting. Of course, you can decide to leave it at this point, it is entirely up to you! Body, Paint, Necks, Tremolos, and Pickups, Many newcomers, therefore, seem to get unrelated Kramer guitars confused with Eds Frankenstrat, or simply misunderstand the relationship between Ed and most of his guitars. Note, the bridge humbucker installed in the guitar, starting from the February, 1979 Tour Rehearsals, is a DiMarzio PAF that Ed melted while trying to pot in wax. Front Red Layer With template routing you can make one or 100 parts that are exactly alike. Joined Oct 15, 2007 Messages 4,089 Reaction score 1,747. (LogOut/ No issue with volume, that I have noticed. Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. KRAMER EVH FRANKENSTRAT -Reverse-. Its better to do multiple light coats than rush it with a single thick coat and risk ruining it. The first is repeatability. Ed inquires about the body, to which (presumably) Wayne responds that it is a second. for some reason, my ISP has deleted my original website. , Hi Zane! . 2. Notice the chrome fine tuners and Japanese FRT-4 prototype saddles. Please help improve this article by adding quotes to reliable sources. Please contact me. $75.00 shipping. 1978 Eruption Van Halen Frankenstrat Black And White Stripes $900 $150 price drop $750 Used - Mint Custom built 78 EVH Frankenstrat $1,000 $500 price drop $500 Used - Good Free Shipping EVH Eddie Van Halen Wolfgang WG Standard Electric Guitar, Gold Sparkle $699.99 Brand New Free Shipping 30-Day Return Policy this is achieved by chiseling out the section of fretboard between the tuners and the nut (dont go further than the nut!!) Above you see the very first version of the Floyd Rose FRT-5 on the Frankenstrat circa November 1982. The body itself, a ~5-1/2 lb Northern Ash Boogie Bodies branded Strat clone, made by Wayne Charvel and Dave Schecter *using Schecters templates* in a batch of 100 Ash bodies in 1976, was advertised by Charvel to have improved tonal properties as a result of the heavy ash body. You are using an out of date browser. I dont sorry I had considered doing one for the Bumblebee, but stopped at this one Maybe in the future? I used 800 grit sandpaper and some graphite powder. Melted Dimarzio PAF on Frankenstrat 1979 Japan world tour. StewMac 80s Shred Humbucker Pickups. I almost forgot to mention the neck! 1978 was the year that the original Frankenstrat was first seen by the world. Make sure you cover up any areas where electronics would have been on the guitar so you protect the earthing/shielding paint. Here is one I prepared earlier around 1996 in high school woodwork, to be precise! However, this was a temporary and last ditch attempt to modify this guitar before something very important would happen. Frankenstrat Build. The material not carried can be challenged and removed. Please note that not all of the pick guards on this PDF list are currently available for ordering through the web site. One show (above) is undated, but has reasonable evidence to support its date, which is speculated to be 2/18/77 at the Pasadena Civic. If you rollover the image, you can see the relicing that I have done on the back to simulate wear and tear. Based on Chris Gill's research [ The true origins and evolution of Eddie Van Halen's legendary Frankenstein guitar ], the guitar was first seen in this state on July 15, 1977, at Whiskey A-Go-Go. It is unclear how long it was installed for, and it was only ever pictured for the Van Halenalbum shoot. Eddie used the FRT-1 extensively on many of his guitars in in 1980-1981: Frankenstrat, VH-II, RUDE, Unchained, Star. Click to access frankenstrat-templates.pdf. The Kramer 5150 was actually built by Edward himself in Kramer's factory in New Jersey, using different parts that he desired to do so, loosely based on the Kramer Pacer. Painted black, 1961 Stratocaster mint green pickguard installed. Good luck on your build, and look forward to seeing pics of the final product! Amazing job man! This platform was an immediate success for Ed, and would become the basis for all of his primary instruments for the remainder of his life A tremolo, bridge humbucker, and master volume; everything else was secondary. Frankenstrat Stripe Template. He did it to make room for the humbucker and the switch, which he moved to the cavity where the middle pickup was. THE INLAY. If possible please reply thanks. With a grueling first World Tour under Eds belt, Edward now had an image: A young, flamboyant guitar prodigy with a visually striking guitar. Note that some light blue paint was smeared/transferred to various locations around the edges of the guitar in the mid-to-late 1980s, Photo: UnknownMET Exhibit, New York City 2019. Because I want the guitar to be playable, I didnt relic the Floyd Rose, tuning pegs, nut, or humbucker. The EVH Striped Series Frankie Electric Guitar is a fantastic recreation and one that's been looked over and signed off by Van Halen . Required fields are marked *. This is important to know, as for a few years, this guitar was used on the road, and copped a beating or two, so, if you want authenticity, it is time to relic your masterpiece. This item is sold As-Described and cannot be returned unless it arrives in a condition different from how it was described or photographed. I know these pictures dont show it too well, so please check the final step for all the templates! Notice that the Humbucker is mounted on an angle? After about 5 coats of undercoat to make sure I have a nice smooth working surface, I sprayed a further 5 coats of matt black. Heres Mark in his shop when I picked up my assembled guitar. This began a grudge that may have never been reconciled, and led Ed to toy with the idea of making permanent changes to his guitar to avoid association with the Charvel clones. Template routing ensures that each part is identical; whether you're shaping six parts or sixty, each one matches the template (Photo 2). Back White Layer Frankenstrat Taping Template. Routing templates are suitable for many router applications, e.g. Our range of versatile router jigs and templates from INCRA, Woodpeckers and AUKTools speed up the job of shelf pin placement, box joint cutting, forming circles and right-angle moulding and patterned inlays. As I will be using a Floyd Rose bridge on this guitar (as Eddie uses!) This is separate unit and not the one previously discussed on the Frankenstrat during this time. 4. Change). After a few days, remove the tape and admire! . This upgrade was the next step in Eds experiment. Coinciding with the fresh black and white paint scheme, Ed ditched his 1961 Strat neck for a new Boogie Bodies Birdseye Maple neck. 5-way CRL PA222-674 switch crammed into the middle pickup route. Above is the Kramer ad guitar with the same no-logo FRT-5 prototype previously seen on the Rasta guitar. HOW TO PAINT A VAN HALEN EVH FRANKENSTRAT GUITAR. Patience is key! Taking the tape off was like opening presents on Christmas morning. The Frankenstrat is Eddie's attempt to cross pollinate a Gibson and Fender. Here it is with the routing complete. . Sanding back a coat of paint due to an error would mean starting again, as the multiple layers of binding and tape create unique patterns. If you look closely between the large amber reflector and the red cortina reflector along the bottom edge, you can just make out the perimeter of a mirror that had briefly accompanied the reflectors prior to this photo. View similar gear Watch Watch this gear and we'll notify you if it becomes available again. It had a gold locking nut (as opposed to the chrome locking nut on the Kramer Pacer neck). All in all, better than I feared. Fernandes Japan produced these officially Floyd Rose versions and are very rare to find. White Charvel pickguard re-installed. Re: Question Regarding EVH Frankenstrat vs the SD Custom Custom The. One of the distinctive aspects of the headstock is the cigarette burns. Instead of building an exact duplicate of the man's guitar, this one is not relic'd like so many other clones. Please visit www.vintagefloydrose.com for more detailed Floyd Rose information during this era. Evh Frankenstrat Template Neck Wood: Birdseye Maple Finger Board Wood: Birdseye Maple Neck Finish: Satin (his was unfinished but finishing is recommended) Fret Size: Gibson Jumbo Frets 6150 Key Holes: Schaller Inlay: Black Dots String Nut: Fender vintage tremolo Bridge Type: Fender vintage tremolo Pickguard: Stratocaster Do you have knowledge in Eddies pickups over the years? Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll, from April 1st October 1st, 2019 and allowed many people to see the Frankenstrat up close and personal. Excellent job. PDF Files. This bizarre CBS era tremolo construction saw the sustain block and the tremolo plate made as a, , which was then chrome plated. After that it was pretty smooth. Headstock Cigarette Burns. He would have this Floyd Rose on the Frankenstrat until 1996. I noticed some builds have a white straw in wrapper looking thing on the lower horn. Notice the black fine tuners, and although the tremolo seems brown in this photo, the tremolo is indeed chrome. Anyone have a suggestion on where I can find it? At this stage, only 5 reflectors are present. Yep directly to the body! Kramer Guitar Headstock Templates images on Photobucket Browse. You will get more photos of my EVH Sansuis on my flickr stream here. cutting was achieved with the help of a jigsaw, some files, a sander and some hand sanding. I dont really know I just starts ordering all componetes to build a Frankinstien just trying to figure out the paint sceem. BUILDING A STRIPED S-STYLE! A midsize fixed- or plunge-base router is fine for most template routing. Its important to recognize that the Frankenstrat went through several stages of paint, which lasted from merely days to over a year. It may not display this or other websites correctly. "I took a PAF out of an ES-335 and the vibrato out of a Fifties Strat when I made my Frankenstein guitar". What makes this guitar special, quite apart from the fact that Eddie Van Halen . After adding the updated Floyd Rose that stayed in tune, he didnt need the quarter anymore so he just screwed it into place. Eddie bought a Strat replacement body and a Strat replacement neck from Boogie Bodies, a guitar shop owned and operated by Wayne Charvel. Eddie could swivel the quarter into place when needed. CC is generally fantastic in a Strat with a Floyd. From $49.99 $39.99. A black humbucker replaces the cream one from 1980. I used 3 coats only on the red (compared with 5+ each for white, black and primer). 1997: Square-heel neck back on, German Floyd. Teams. The quarter is a 1971 from the Denver Mint. Eddies guitar was pretty beat up by 1982, but I decided to not try to get too exactanother avoidable rabbit hole. Eye opening for sure. The conventional wisdom is than Eddie used Schwinn bicycle paint. These are features of very early Fernandes Japan FRT-4 and 5 designs, although this is debated. However, Eddies may have been a hand-built USA version. AWESOME job on your build! After many extensive hacks to make a standard 6-point trem stay in tune as best as is possible, Ed discovered a new lead via Lynn Ellsworth; a friend of Floyd Rose and Eds source of custom necks at the time. Eddie would play this version from approximately August 1982 December 1982. EVH Striped Series Frankenstein Relic - Red/Black/White Solidbody Electric Guitar with Basswood Body, Maple Neck, Maple Fingerboard, 1 Humbucking Pickup, and EVH-branded Floyd Rose with D-Tuna - Red/Black/White 61 reviews Write your review Item ID: FrankSSRBW $ 1,999 .99 Special Financing - Last Day As low as $84 /month with 24 mo. On your photos its hard to tell if the guitar body is routed out for the Floyd ros tremolo or standard start. The above photos are from the 2019 Metropolitan Museum of Art Play It Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll which better display the blue paint. Legend has it that Eddie Van Halen painted his Frankenstrat guitar (also known as The Frankenstein) with the iconic . It was painted with a black and white striped design until arriving at its final combination of red background with black and white stripes. Paint Your Own Frankenstrat Capture the look of the guitar that changed everything There may be no guitar more iconic in the history of rock than the famed Frankenstrat of the 1970s and 80s. The original Floyd Rose posts on the Frankenstrat were actually too far back and couldnt be intonated correctly when either the FRT-5 was put on (due to the saddles being further back), different necks not fitting correctly, or other various reasons. Its name is a portmanteau of Frankenstein, the fictional doctor who created a monster by combining body parts of the recently deceased, and the Stratocaster, a model of electric guitar made by Fender. dont u have to tape back over the black stripes when tapeig over the white for the white stripes so when u expose white stripes then pull up tape over the black stripes will no cover in red. 3. In late March 1979, frustrated by seeing copies of his stripe pattern on off-the-shelf guitars (more on this later), he hastily prepped, taped up, and added a layer of red paint to the guitar, transforming it into what we commonly know as the Frankenstrat today. The Frankenstrat is an ash Stratocaster body with a routing that. I let it dry for four days and then used a high rez pic to add in some wear details. Black/White stripes, 1/8 pinstripes removed, white Charvel 8-hole 1-ply pickguard installed.