EVH Frankie build

[-=Scorch=-]

Two years ago I walkd into a musicstore and found one of the Fender issue EVH frankensteins selling for $25,000. I was lucky to play it for an hour in the store and said to myself, I can build one of these.

this pic, on the left I'm holding the $25K fender model, to the right is the copy I built two years later. Total build time with research, parts finding, painting and assembly took 3 months.....and I saved myself $23,800. :-P

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs410.snc3/24789_10150132267965263_624780262_11517835_6373959_n.jpg


Here's a closer look

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs496.ash1/27088_10150164693950263_624780262_12072457_7445820_n.jpg

Gig Pics

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs414.snc4/47754_10150250191375263_624780262_14489485_6288604_n.jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs639.snc3/32049_10150192903560263_624780262_12806869_7435263_n.jpg


public facebook link of the progress build from start to finish. enjoy!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=382686&id=624780262&l=4d50ca1fb1

[JoeyM]

Holy shit! That was some build! Enjoyed those pictures very much. Thanks for sharing that:thumbsup

[escopunk]

Oh snap, one of the stripes is too wide and the wrong place:nono better send it to me for proper disposal:jump

[daveschare]

Nice:drool

[-=Scorch=-]

It's easy to spot the guitar players out in the crowd when I first walk on stage with it.

[KRAMER Classic I]

I wonder if even Ed could tell the difference...

[brokrguy]

I wonder if even Ed could tell the difference...

Are you kidding...?

ONE SNIFF - if the funk of 25 year-old bourbon, Marlboros, and vomit aren't there...then it's the copy...:D

Great job, man! Looks awesome!

[pointyheadstock]

Thats OUTSTANDING.

dont how you guys build these.. absolutely perfect.

btw, I could go for a snort of 25 year old bourbon.

[brokrguy]

btw, I could go for a snort of 25 year old bourbon.

:D I phrased that wrong...should've wrote:

"...25-year-old funk of bourbon, Marlboros, and vomit aren't there...then it's the copy...:D

See...the FUNK is old...not the bour...ah, fuck it...I'd like some, too.

[pointyheadstock]

I know that "funk" very well.. it lives in guitar cases, on top of tubes.. pedals.. and so forth..
everytime you turn your shit on at the gig it manifests like a phantom..

they should bottle that fragrance and call it

"Essence of Barre'
:funnel

[amerturk]

Nice job dude!

[literary]

I'm impressed!!!:thumbsup

[brokrguy]

I know that "funk" very well.. it lives in guitar cases, on top of tubes.. pedals.. and so forth..
everytime you turn your shit on at the gig it manifests like a phantom..

they should bottle that fragrance and call it

"Essence of Barre'


:D Hold it! I think you've hit on the next EVH product...

"Essence of Ed"

Who says you have to be a rock star to smell like one? Yes, now you can smell like you're just finished a 2-hour rockin' show in Tuscon, smashed a guitar, broken up your band (again!), and done it all after a 3-day booze and cocaine bender...

We took samples of Ed's dried sweat from the busted-up green Wolfgang from the '04 "1st Reunion" Tour...in our secret lavatory (no, not laboratory!) we cloned those molecules and created the ultimate Guitar God scent!

One spray, and you'll think it's the glory daze of hard and hairy rock again, and you just puked up a quart of stale JD on your striped guitar and 2 naked sluts backstage after the show! The subtle hints of Marlboro, unwashed spandex, and toxic sweat - they're all here!

Get yours today - in the black/white, black/yellow, or red/black/white bottle - it's not enough to have his riffs down...now you'll have his whiffs down!

Essence of Ed
$89.95/bottle (+ s/h)

[bongano]

Awesome, incredible, terrific job! :drool
Stolen all your FB pics!! :D
Where the neck comes from?

[aceman_831]

wow, awesome replica =] two thumbs up!

[pointyheadstock]

:D Hold it! I think you've hit on the next EVH product...

"Essence of Ed"

Who says you have to be a rock star to smell like one? Yes, now you can smell like you're just finished a 2-hour rockin' show in Tuscon, smashed a guitar, broken up your band (again!), and done it all after a 3-day booze and cocaine bender...

We took samples of Ed's dried sweat from the busted-up green Wolfgang from the '04 "1st Reunion" Tour...in our secret lavatory (no, not laboratory!) we cloned those molecules and created the ultimate Guitar God scent!

One spray, and you'll think it's the glory daze of hard and hairy rock again, and you just puked up a quart of stale JD on your striped guitar and 2 naked sluts backstage after the show! The subtle hints of Marlboro, unwashed spandex, and toxic sweat - they're all here!

Get yours today - in the black/white, black/yellow, or red/black/white bottle - it's not enough to have his riffs down...now you'll have his whiffs down!

Essence of Ed
$89.95/bottle (+ s/h)


Whiffs! :happy1:happy1

[cecil607]

there is no denying it......frankensteins just look cool

[joelson6]

and if i act now, do i get a 2nd bottle FREE, (just pay separate shipping and handeling)

[JoeyM]

:D Hold it! I think you've hit on the next EVH product...

"Essence of Ed"

Who says you have to be a rock star to smell like one? Yes, now you can smell like you're just finished a 2-hour rockin' show in Tuscon, smashed a guitar, broken up your band (again!), and done it all after a 3-day booze and cocaine bender...

We took samples of Ed's dried sweat from the busted-up green Wolfgang from the '04 "1st Reunion" Tour...in our secret lavatory (no, not laboratory!) we cloned those molecules and created the ultimate Guitar God scent!

One spray, and you'll think it's the glory daze of hard and hairy rock again, and you just puked up a quart of stale JD on your striped guitar and 2 naked sluts backstage after the show! The subtle hints of Marlboro, unwashed spandex, and toxic sweat - they're all here!

Get yours today - in the black/white, black/yellow, or red/black/white bottle - it's not enough to have his riffs down...now you'll have his whiffs down!

Essence of Ed
$89.95/bottle (+ s/h)

Excuse me, Shane, Ed's attorney is on line 2 for you...are you in?:D

[KRAMER Classic I]

Are you kidding...?

ONE SNIFF - if the funk of 25 year-old bourbon, Marlboros, and vomit aren't there...then it's the copy...:D

Great job, man! Looks awesome!

Lol--I took a closer look at the photo album and noticed the OFR is flush mounted so the quarter is only there for cosmetic purposes. Did you start this build wanting a flush mounted bridge?

[moku]

that's a pretty amazing build, and the documentation is great!

thanks for sharing...

[errbt]

Amazing work...thanks for documenting the journey! :headbang

[-=Scorch=-]

Lol--I took a closer look at the photo album and noticed the OFR is flush mounted so the quarter is only there for cosmetic purposes. Did you start this build wanting a flush mounted bridge?

I noticed this too while doing the research for this guitar. the reason why the quarter is behind the floyd and not under the corner of it is because it represents where the floyd is today. the quarter never moved.

Ed used a LOT of necks on this guitar, and in order to accomodate them he had to move the bridge forward a bit, pivots posts reinstalled about 5mm forward to help the guitar intonate properly, but when he did this, he didn't bother with moving the quarter because the sustain block on the floyd was resting flush against the wood in the trem cavity at this point.

the sustain block in mine does the same thing.

Finding a 1971 quarter is NOT easy. I had to get it on ebay, and then someone sent me another one while reading the progress pics during the build. :D

[-=Scorch=-]

Awesome, incredible, terrific job! :drool
Stolen all your FB pics!! :D
Where the neck comes from?


lmao! nice!

I bought my neck from a guy named James Duffy.

Maybe a few of you heard of him around here, his nickname used to be Frankenstraat on various forums and such.

This guy has turned out to be a total fraud and rip-off artist. He took thousands of dollars from people and never sent them their stuff. it's a well documented thread at www.halen.com on what this moron is like. I wish I read it before buying my neck from him.

I found this neck on ebay under the seller name "4monkeyz". I didn't know it was him. It took me almost two months to get my neck, and the neck he sent ended up having a non working truss rod, 3 raised frets and a slight backbow that was a bitch to get straight... on top tof that, In order to get any action on shipping I had to go thru a paypal dispute. I'll be replacing this neck with a better playing Muskraft one as soon as I can fund it.

another nick he uses on ebay is exoticwoods or something of that nature, his location is in new jersey area. Steer clear of him on ebay, seriously, the guy is a dick.


anyways, I like to thank all of you for the awesome compliments on my build. I had a blast making it and learned a ton along the way. Glad you enjoyed it.

[bongano]

lmao! nice!

I bought my neck from a guy named James Duffy?

Maybe a few of you heard of him around here, his nickname used to be Frankenstraat on various forums and such.

This guy has turned out to be a total fraud and rip-off artist. He took thousands of dollars from people and never sent them their stuff. it's a well documented thread at www.halen.com on what this moron is like. I wish I read it before buying my neck from him.

I found this neck on ebay under the seller name "4monkeyz". I didn't know it was him. It took me almost two months to get my neck, and the neck he sent ended up having a non working truss rod, 3 raised frets and a slight backbow that was a bitch to get straight... on top tof that, In order to get any action on shipping I had to go thru a paypal dispute. I'll be replacing this neck with a better playing Muskraft one as soon as I can fund it.

another nick he uses on ebay is exoticwoods or something of that nature, his location is in new jersey area. Steer clear of him on ebay, seriously, the guy is a dick.

Thanks a lot. :thumbsup
I heard about that guy around some forums, too.
Yeah, Musickraft necks are very good.
You made me want to build my own Frankie replica... :banghead

[bongano]

Uh, just went to MK website... a 22 frets strat head neck at 295$? Am I seeing right? :scratchhe

[johnny_beane]

Amazing work man!!

[-=Scorch=-]

Uh, just went to MK website... a 22 frets strat head neck at 295$? Am I seeing right? :scratchhe

Yep, they do all the work for you. Looks exactly like the fender issue neck.

However, you can get a custom charvel type neck for 195 and do some dirty work yourself. that's what I intend to do.

Jeeez, I know some who spent over $3000 building them. This hobby ain't cheap! My build cost me $1200 and I had to wait, beg, borrow, and bargain like crazy to keep the parts cost down to a minimum.

[JGB]

Nice job Scorch, looks great!

[kramer.geetar]

Looks awesome Scorch, great build pictures on FB as well!

I just did a quick calculation of how much my 5150 cost me and.....well I wish I hadn't calculated :D

[-=Scorch=-]

Looks awesome Scorch, great build pictures on FB as well!

I just did a quick calculation of how much my 5150 cost me and.....well I wish I hadn't calculated :D

hey, thanks KG!

I know, it's depressing when you have it all laid out on a list with price numbers isn't it? lol

I'm doing a mutt build now with a CAR Focus 2000 body I bought here a couple weeks ago and just dropped $110 on all the "little things" you need like screws, pots, shielding, strap buttons, tuners, pick up rings......


.....ugh... So far I'm like $250 into this project and I don't even have a neck, floyd or pickups yet!

and then I see Focus guitars on here or ebay going for $300 to $500 and wondering "WHY AM I DOING THIS?"

[bongano]

I'm doing a mutt build now with a CAR Focus 2000 body I bought here a couple weeks ago and just dropped $110 on all the "little things" you need like screws, pots, shielding, strap buttons, tuners, pick up rings......

That's why I prefer to buy guitars with all original parts on them... :poke :poke :poke

;)

[kramer.geetar]

I paid $160 for a Floyd, $80 for Schaller Mini's (more expensive in CDN), $140 for EVH pickup, $10 for output barrel jack. Thats almost $400 invested in the project without a neck, body, paint, pay someone to drill the body/neck plus setup AND doesn't include shipping of some of those parts......*shivers* seriously, I just don't wanna know :D

However, when it all comes together and comes together really well.....its worth every penny!

[-=Scorch=-]

I paid $160 for a Floyd, $80 for Schaller Mini's (more expensive in CDN), $140 for EVH pickup, $10 for output barrel jack. Thats almost $400 invested in the project without a neck, body, paint, pay someone to drill the body/neck plus setup AND doesn't include shipping of some of those parts......*shivers* seriously, I just don't wanna know :D

However, when it all comes together and comes together really well.....its worth every penny!

truth so pure.

I tend to keep the guitars I build a lot longer than the ones I didn't. They are built for "you" as a player and have all your needs and wants.

Same goes for this EVH build, even though it "looks" like EVH's guitar, I have it set up to sound how I like it. There's a duncan JB in the bridge position, I love that pickup and it covers a lot of ground, there's shielding in the cavity, and the neck pickup (a GFS NEOVIN 9) is actually functional and I use the push/pull volume pot to switch between the two pickups.

I always loved the Frankenstein guitar, ever since I started playing I've been a fan of VH, it took a lot of time, patience and resources to pull off building this "piece of junk" to get it as close as possible to the original in terms of looks. I doubt I will ever sell it, the highest serious offer I was given since building it was $3700. I didn't even think about it, instant no thanks.

ok, I'm in ramble mode again..... someone stop me! lol

[-=Scorch=-]

Looks awesome Scorch, great build pictures on FB as well!

I just did a quick calculation of how much my 5150 cost me and.....well I wish I hadn't calculated :D

Do you have pics of your 5150 ??

[kramer.geetar]

I'll PM them to ya, don't wanna post them here in your build thread :thumbsup

[terkel]

What an awesome build!
Enjoyed the pictures and story very much, and the result is beautiful!

[Robert Blake]

Scorch, I watched this on the other board. It was fantastic. Congrats! You not only have a great axe to PLAY but you have something authentic that you built yourself!

Kudos.

[-=Scorch=-]

http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/196767_10150451769675263_624780262_17879868_4938459_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/197319_10150451769760263_624780262_17879870_6191654_n.jpg

http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/196495_10150451776435263_624780262_17879961_893573_n.jpg

[Steve EZ]

If anyone is looking for a Floyd with the wood screws and fat brass block in place we have them pre-assembled now:
http://www.prorockgear.com/1984floydrosetremolosystemkit.aspx

The brass fine tuners will patina with age and use.
http://www.prorockgear.com/images/products/display/198401.jpg

[Vengeance]

If anyone is looking for a Floyd with the wood screws and fat brass block in place we have them pre-assembled now:
http://www.prorockgear.com/1984floydrosetremolosystemkit.aspx

The brass fine tuners will patina with age and use.
http://www.prorockgear.com/images/products/display/198401.jpg


Let's just throw out an advertisement in this guys build thread :scratchhe Anything else you would like to promote for your business here at the KF?

[KramerTRW]

Let's just throw out an advertisement in this guys build thread :scratchhe Anything else you would like to promote for your business here at the KF?

Sssssssssssss ouch!!!!! Damn man, take a stab.....haha


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[Steve EZ]

Sorry man, trying to be helpful. Admins remove the post please.

[Blix]

Let's just throw out an advertisement in this guys build thread :scratchhe Anything else you would like to promote for your business here at the KF?

It's not like Steve is a noob here, and just spamming up threads... I think you are too hard on him here.

[sixstring]

I say let Steve spam. :thumbsup

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[bongano]

If anyone is looking for a Floyd with the wood screws and fat brass block in place we have them pre-assembled now:
http://www.prorockgear.com/1984floydrosetremolosystemkit.aspx

The brass fine tuners will patina with age and use.
http://www.prorockgear.com/images/products/display/198401.jpg

That's sooooo cool! :drool

[Steve EZ]

Honestly I wasn't looking for an opportunity to boost business. I know a lot of guys buy the individual components to put together a bridge like this, especially for the Frankie projects, so I figured they'd be interested in saving some time and money. I'm not here to spam or to make money.

Sorry if it came across that way.

[sixstring]

No worries.
That is an awesome item, in fact, quite relevant to the thread. :thumbsup

[-=Scorch=-]

For the record, the locking nut and brass sustain block for this build came from Prorockgear. ;)