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NGD - Along time coming. EVH Frankenstein

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Zilthy:
So, I have had it a few weeks, almost a month, but I finally acquired the EVH Frankenstein.

This particular guitar has been a long, long, long time coming for me. Hailing back to when I started playing in 1985 and put black and white electrical tape stripes on my Harmony Flying V.

My first introduction to the striped guitar didn't come until 1984 though, and what I latched on to was the Kramer 5150 striped guitar with Eddie flying across the stage in the Panama video. The Frankenstrat was later. But, that was my introduction to Van Halen, and I was hooked. Fast forward many decades later, and through all of the Kramers, and the Charvel art series, I still did not have one. Finally, the EVH brand comes up, and I still passed on it. About 4 -5 years ago, I finally decided I was going to get one. At that time, I think the 5150 Striped had just come out, and was about $500 more than the EVH red/white/black striped series (non relic).

I *really* wanted the 5150, but thought, well, I will be satisfied with the regular striped series. Silly move. I did really want the 5150, and ended up getting one a couple of years ago. I should have just gone for that in the first place. When the Frankenstein striped came out at $2k vs $20k, I thought, well, that is neat, but I am really in to that first image I saw from the 1984 videos, I kind of gave it a passing glance, then moved on. Sure, the reviewers/deomos/etc were all talking about the 'mojo' of the Frankenstein, but I gave it little thought. Over the past couple of years, I started thinking about the Frankenstein more and more.

I finally decided to get one last month, and yeah. This feels different than the other EVH guitars I have had. In a very good way. Not that the others are bad, but the extra rolled fretboard edge, unfinished (oiled) neck, worn/satin finish on the body, it is just a comfortable joy to play.

And here is me enjoying the hell out of it, trying to not do too embarrassing of a job playing some of the Mighty Edward's work on the guitar. :)

 

The Link https://www.youtube.com/embed/cKRX2bCWc-Y?si=8liLOTcDriL4zpLJ

rnolan:
Hey Zilthy, nice guitar :thumb-up: and some great playing  :whoohoo!:

Harley Hexxe:
Congratulations Zilthy,

  You did the right thing going for the guitar that you really wanted. I went through the same thing a year and a half ago and bought back a guitar that I used to own in the 80s.

   I've missed those guitars since I sold them and regretted that I did. Now that I've paid nearly five times what I paid for one back in the day, I find myself reaching for it more than any other of my guitars. When you have the right guitar in your hands, the magic happens, and you can't help yourself.

   I looked at those EVH guitars and kind of wondered if I'd like it as much as I do my other guitars. The ones that appeal to me the most from that line are the bumble bee and a Wolfgang model that I think it is called the special. (That's the black one with the ebony fretboard). I don't know if I'll ever get one since no one around here carries them and I can't even try one out. The last time I tried a Wolfgang model was when Eddie was still with Ernie Ball, and that was a pretty solid guitar, but there were a couple of small details I didn't like about it, so I didn't think much about it after that.

   I'm rambling now. Anyway, I'm glad to hear you found the "one" that flips your switch. You're getting great tone and pushing your playing out further which is exactly what a great guitar is supposed to make you do.  Enjoy!

Dante:
Sweet axe, Zilthy! I sure like playing my Strats (which are similar to that Kramer body style) and I did have a Wolfgang for awhile, but I traded it for my H&K head, so that was a great trade....love that amp, and don't miss the guitar (Like Harley, I wasn't crazy about the Wolfgang...little things, nothing major, just not my cup o'tea)

Like you, I also decided "EFF IT, I'm getting what I want..." and bought my first real Gibson Les Paul. I have had other Gibsons, I still have my Explorer, had a Sonex 180 Deluxe in the 80s. And, I've had other Les Pauls - Ibanez PF160 was a TANK of a guitar, my Ibanez AR200 Goldtop is still what I consider my "go to" Lester but it shaped more like a double cutaway.

To be honest, none of my Gibsons (I'm up to 4 now) play half as nice as the Ibanez guitars, especially the semi hollow ones. Those necks are slim and fast. So, I practice with the Gibbys and gig with the Ibanez and Epiphones. I do love Burstbucker pickups tho, they sound nice

What's my point? I have no idea, but if you have the money to get what you want, do it. You only live once. If you don't have the money, either sell something or put a down payment on it and just keep the payments comfy until you get it.....DO IT ;)

Sometimes it works out and you have the dream guitar, sometimes you realize that guitar wasn't all you thought in the first place. Glad you found a keeper  :thumb-up:

Harley Hexxe:
Dante,

   You and I share the same mindset when it comes to guitars, we both like the slim, fast neck profiles. You would love both of my 1983 guitars as they don't have your typical Fender neck profiles.

   As for Gibson guitars, if you are looking for slimmer, more comfortable neck profiles, they only did that on the guitars from the early 60s to the early 70s. Those guitars are SOOOOO overpriced though that they are completely impractical. Since I'm such an oddball when it comes to guitars, I'll throw this out there right now. The only Gibson I would ever buy would be a 1971-1972 Les Paul Recording model. Just saying.

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