expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Mar 8, 2024
Mar 8, 2024 10:57 PM
Item 1 of 1
expired Posted by iconian | Staff • Mar 8, 2024
Mar 8, 2024 10:57 PM
EVH Frankenstein Relic Series Electric Guitar $1099 + free s/h
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Thumbs up regardless as its a great price just not my bag.
[Meaning bad hatred, not promoting "hater" the word; because we should hate evil, not good; for example. And that can't be hatred. Semantics.]
Relic:
I do not like buying relics either. Good point about authenticity. Why be a poser? Which the whole evil Godless world does. But this doesn't mean we can't cover EVH, and enjoy replicas for fun; but you better be able to play *like* Eddie; which may only be mostly possible for anyone else. 100% anyway. So 99%? Maybe that's why some forego the stripes.
However; I do understand pristine guitars; that I get and care for will get dinged, etc... And so one possible idea with relic-ing is a back lash against perfectionists and guitars; that can't be played without road wear, due to the risk. In other words some feel dents or whatever, minor damage on their relic would not usually matter or even be better. I still lean for clean. Yeah, fake wear is mainly to look experienced. Again, you better play well then.
The One?:
Yeah, 1st is which Frankie? Some first found it in the 90's 5150 style. And the "real" original (Once black, to stripped, to plus Red) was about 1983 (with others and before in white and black, plus The Bumblebee" all with like stripes "pre-Frankie". And EVH had copies and other guitars like the V and little guitar. But really both of those red strippers are the "classic" Frankie. Even then there are NUMEROUS gear options as either Frankie did transition, in it's time. So it's a lose standard. Two main variations perhaps. Just like a strat is a lose, and yet well known classic standard. Yes about two main, original and with nearly unlimited slight variation options. And note before we get into the Strat (Fender or other) like body shapes; and those that are obviously different than the (mostly) classic two Fenders. Like a "super Strat" change, with bridge humbucker (by EVH) is still a Strat type; but not quite not a Strat (different body holes?); but it is a Strat close enough. But an Ibannez metal style "Strat like" body is not a classic Strat. Or not somewhat purely. It's just based on it. Like a Tele is not a Strat. YMMV
Miss Information: (She's a B!)
Plus, I hear expert say the original Frankie Eddie used was a ash Fender; but I think the truth was it was a fine basswood body (Boggie body), just like a Fender Strat body and with blemish. The FACT remained The former Frankie (80's) in the actual Smithsonian is verified as the often underrated BASSWOOD. Where if your are careful to not strip the wood screw holes is a fine light weight choice. And if the basswood grain is bleached, before any see through grain finish, then it can even look good. Solid paint is no issue. Light weight matters with long playing times.
Perhaps TECHNICALLY an extremely light, very, VERY select "swamp" Ash (they are plentiful as only heavier now, mostly) would be light, durable and good looking grain too (depending on each one) and every tonally preferred in brightness, barley. But tone wood is relevant in SOLID acoustic guitar (Spruce) tops, not hardly with electric guitars. It does not matter! Where bumping the Treble knob half a millimeter can then match (more than well enough) brighter there.
Frankly:
One of the many variation, even on the first named Frankie were many different necks. Many remember the Kramer hockey stick head-stock on the 2nd (5150 variation) with it's matched stripes; before EVH went to Music Man guitars. However, the original (80's patterned Red Frankie with many change parts) in 1983 (All the BEST songs! IMHO) was a regular Krammer head-stock, as concert pics prove. And I think it's very telling that our $50 eStratBay guitars now (Glarry unbranded) are MATCH to the original 80's Frankie, no Floyd Rose bridge, basswood, correct Strat shaped body, thinner satin feel neck back (some even a good flatter radius, other Matching around 9.5, both great and to your preference), a clean no ad head-stock, 80's Krammer shaped and so just like the the parts where the Frankie originated.
SHHHH! All you would have to do is what Eddie did! Which is more fun to some. And are you getting it's only $50 to $60 shipped? Or $80 with a Humbucker in the bridge, or buy a Humbucker, plus some tape and spray paint to make the stripes.
Wow! In the 1982 Montreal concert EVH played a ROSEWOOD fret board Frankie and included yellow stripes with the rest! I would use Maple for EVH looks; but I prefer Rosewood for less wear looks so you could even do Rosewood, or what have you! Now that really demonstrates there is no one Frankie, even the main one in the Smithsonian.
The original was black; but you could make one from a white body too. So I agree with why pay high dollar for no stripes. If you wanted EVH style, plain original you could leave it black(or do what ever YOU wanted). But if you make your own stripes then you could make a black and white EVH style, like recently sold for high dollar, or black with yellow stripes, or Blue with yellow stripes for a Bubble bee rendition. Or mostly Yellow body with black etc...
So black body with a humbucker HSS with black(difficult) pick guard For under $60 is the best value target, for the original classic Frankie to DIY. Not much left to do then.
Your DIY EVH could be recognized by the stripes of the original (or second original 5150) EVH or buy just the body parts and styles. Or both. And BTW cheap floating trems (whammy bridge included) are superlative. You just have to learn how to balance them easily and with a functional nut.
What might be most interesting at this point is combining parts, colors and stripes all, into an obvious EVH style, yet in total as it never was. Then it would be your own style, and still respect to dear EVH. RIP. For like $100 instead of thousands. And if you are not crafty then trade a six pack with someone artsy.
Now THAT's like Eddie would do. WWEVHD! LOL. May God bless his family. Which I think may be many of us.
Plain Krammer (verified on head stock but hard to read) head stock very similar to eStratBay $59 guitars: '83
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hED_Yl0
Had optional Floyd Rose back then; but before that he didn't. Inexpensive Floyd like bridges are available; I just like regular trems when easily adjusted properly. They do not require unlocking and can return to tune after bending.