If you decide to join me please send pictures or links to your videos to askknowyourgear@gmail.com Kramer $179 guitars ( not an affiliate link) www.americanmu... Link to Tim Pierce video • The #1 TONE pedal of t...
I made a Super Strat earlier this year out of a Black Harley Benton HSS. It now has a single knob single SD Black winter PU. Absolutely with the thought of "WWEVHD if he played extreme metal?"... I'm thinking it needs one of those little candy like red buttons. So that when I hit it, it will be a salute to EVH without doing the *"Silly Stuff". (*refer to Nuno B on when he met EVH...lol) This is an awesome tribute Phillip. "Keep playin man, you gotta keep playin. It's the only thing there is, music man. Keep playin, alright? if you don't, I'm gonna come lookin for ya." - Edward Van Halen
A friend of mine actually had a candy-apple red partscaster in the 80's that was painted with Schwinn paint. Silver base, Candy, then clear. It lit up when you hit it with bright light!
Edward Van Halen is the reason everyone tinkered with or built their own guitars. Hope you are doing well Phil. This has been a hard couple days man. He was everything to me.
you aren't wrong about that. He's the reason I wanted to paint my guitar and rip out those shitty single coils from my starcaster strat and add a super distortion. while I never did paint the starcaster yet I have changed my mind after hearing he died so I thought I would do the stripe finish in green or blue since I still have my design drawing from 7th grade.
If I may take from a quote of Simon Pegg: "If you're sad today, just remember the world is over 4 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as *Eddie Van Halen." *Originally said about David Bowie.
Eddie was the SOUNDTRACK of my teenage years for sure and when I think back to those days I still hear VH1andV2 in my head.. Those first 4 albums will never be surpassed for hard bluesy rock.. EPIC!
We grew up with the guy in our heads. The sound track of our lives. I think I was 15 when the 1st VH album came out, it was obvious, it was time to party!!!! All of the cruising around town, house parties, parties in the woods, every where you went, Van Halen was there.
The fact that he popularized the Floyd Rose trem system is astounding. Then to invent the D-Tuna. The Damn thing has became part of my playing. Going from dropped D and then back again is incredibly inspiring during a song. I've written songs incorporating this device. Cant say enough about the man.
I was just discussing the other day with my friend about how much Eddie has influenced the gear industry. On a personal note, my first guitar was a Peavey Predator Plus, the HSS one with the maple fretboard, 2 point trem, locking tuners. Very similar headstock to the Wolfgang. I recently put a Gibson 490t in the bridge, a SD SSL1 in the middle, and a hot rails in the neck. I didn't realize until now that I basically did the true EVH thing with it. He was the original, the GOAT
Right? My first was an HSS Strat. I realized later that the Strat was the perfect guitar for me. I Decided later on I had to have one with a Floyd Rose, SS frets etc I’ve since started a project to build myself just that. Realizing now Eddie was the OG, means a lot.
I too had a Peavey Predator from about 1999 that I bought new for $110. US made, very sturdy and solid guitar. Years later, I took that guitar apart and gutted it, aged the hardware, put in a new HSS electrics and repainted the body multiple times until I came up with my own design. I also taught myself how to set up guitars with this one and it turned out great. Those US Predators were so well made and when they're set up right, are amazing players. After doing that, I had confidence to move on to other mods with other guitars.
@@RKDriver funnily enough, I got one of those same guitars in a Lot of 4 old abused guitars I found on Facebook and immediately connected with it. It was missing tuners, saddles, knobs, strap buttons, so I originally just stripped cheap parts off a Washburn to put it together. After I fell in love with it, I upgraded it to a heavier zinc block, stainless steel saddles, and fender tuners from take off's of my friends MIM Strat for cheap. They are so much fun to modify and make your own. Mine has the aged finish as well. Not sure how the paint was on yours but it was BAD on mine and was also beat on, but I was able to turn it into more of a relic look so now it has just the right vibe! I've had 130 guitars in the last 10 years and this is a total keeper, and I only have 15 electrics now.
@@RKDriver Also, the bridge block was by far the biggest upgrade! If yours hasn't been swapped through all those years and renditions, do it and you will be blown away.
I was telling be people today at work that I was in the mood to paint a cheap guitar and try to make my own tribute. now I just saw this and I am even more motivated to do this.
About 2 years ago i bought an old tiesco and fell in love with the gold foil pickup, but it didn’t play very well. Even after some set up, I wasn’t a fan of the playability so I found a guitar I did like the playability of, an esp m-10. It came routes for dual humbuckers, and after some searching I found guitarfetish and picked up a set of their hum sized gold foils, put it in with one of their wiring harnesses since I didn’t know how to solder at the time and ended up painting it in black silver and gold evh style stripes because I realized what I had was a Frankenstein, a modern superstrat with tone closer to that of a vintage tiesco. Was thinking of repainting it soon but I don’t think I can now. Eddie was one of my biggest inspirations for picking up the guitar and he will always be a hero.
Phil. Thank you for the videos and all the great topics. Ed's passing hit me right in the gut man. He gave us so much. Thank you for this video Brother.
Thanks Phil. I watch your videos all the time. I've enjoyed them, and learned a lot, but I think this is my first comment. I'm going to build a tribute guitar to Eddie. Van Halens music takes me to a much happier time in my life. Adventure around every corner. Rest in Peace. Never to be forgotten. Eddie Van Halen.
I have a funny EVH moment. One time I was traveling over to my relatives place for a family event, and there was a Sam ash nearby so I really wanted to check that out. The first thing I picked up and played was the striped series evh (kinda like the one in the video) and I felt like a fucking legend playing that guitar. RIP to the legend, 2 days later and I still can’t process it 🤘😔
It’s so crazy- about 10 years ago i played a strat with a floyd rose...loved it-on sept 29 i went to third rock music center in Cincinnati to return a guitar - ended up walking out with a white with black pick guard 2018 mim strat with a floyd rose- something told me to buy it. I have a few Eddie stories- but my favorite-I was giving tennis lessons to this dude named Chris Duncan- as the lessons went on we became better n better friends. Chris and I also talked a lot of music-Macy’s in Cincinnati had a grand piano in the jewelry department- Chris was looking for a gift for his mom Lynn I got bored and sat down at the piano and started playing - Chris sat down next to me and we ended up playing piano-security shows up as we were playing fur Elise to kick us off-we ended up playing playing piano for about an hour - the piano was at the top of the escalator just to the left so it sounded huge--we forgot where we were. Afterwards Chris asked hey do you want to go back to my place -sure...so I go over to his place go down stairs and there is a red guitar - I start playing it-Chris looks at me and says be careful with that it was a gift to my dad from Eddie- oh ok.. cool...I didn’t even think about... dad got a gift from Eddie --cool who is your dad and who is Eddie. Weeks go buy and Chris asks me-hey I have free tickets to see guns, Metallica and faith no more in Indy.. he’ll yea guns and faith no more 2 of my favorite bands. Go to show walk over to will call-Chris gives me tickets and a pass to put around my neck and 2 dudes show up behind us...sir place the pass on the inside of your shirt when you are out front back stage it must be seen at all times. Wtf I’m going back stage with a laminate-I asked who the f are you-his reply what? You didn’t know my dad is seymour Duncan...1st person to ever get tossed out of back stage 4x in 1 night at guns and Roses-anyway-few weeks go by n Chris asks hey do you want to go out to cali for a week? Hell yea...this was right after the oj murders-we get off the plane in Orange County -walk out the airport and there is this benz with a skull painted on it-door opens up --it’s f’in David Lee Roth...I froze didn’t know what to do or say...while we were in cali -Chris takes me up to meet his dad at the factory, takes me to all the clubs in la walking past people to get into the clubs no cover drinks drugs all free. Day 3 - Chris says he let’s go hang out with a few people I grew up with..ok sure -Chris took me to eddies house. Sitting around the pool with Eddie and Val drinking Miller and smoking cigs. Eddie says to me-Chris told me you are an amazing musician- classically trained - I said yes Eddie stands up and takes me into 5150...look- I come from a musical family I’m use to being around Motown people but I was young I had no idea John Lee hooker was who he was for year but he would come to our house and drink with my grand father and grandmother- George Harrison would stop by from time to time..I didn’t know it was the George for years to me he was the funny talker -I was under 8 years old-I knew the Beatles but didn’t know what they looked like. So to me it was nothing...but I’m standing in the 5150 studio freaking out... alex walks in...Sammy walks in..hand to god- Eddie hands me a bass -- click click click-I’m jamming with Van Halen.. in 5150 studio... between jams-Eddie takes off his guitar I took off the bass -go to walk outside to figure out wtf just happened - Eddie says hey let me hear you play guitar. I’m playing the original Frankie in 5150 studio -- and what does my dumb ass play? Nothing because that guitar screamed like I was killing a dog-Eddie laughs I hand him the guitar back -it was like a baby that didn’t want to meet anybody else... more to the story but we ended up leaving a few hours later. Funny years later chris ends up in jail for squatting in house just doors away from Kobe Bryant- Chris and robin moser were living doors away from Kobe eating cat food to stay alive.
Love the idea of beautiful coincidences. I think this is a fantastic tribute to the EVH creativity and the spirit of adventure in bespoking your own guitar. Well done sir!
Keep on , keepin on guy's & gals!!! Eddie wasn't a quitter. Remember the great things & celebrate an incredible life & inavature , teacher & Hero. Try not to dwell on the passing , be thankful for everything he shared. & thoughts & prayers & condolences to his family , who truly lost a father , bestfriend , brother & passer on of family wisdom. R.I.P & thank you for all & everything you've gave in life & in music.
Great idea Phill. It will be fun to see the creativity of the guitar community on this tribute. And thank you Eddie for all you gave us. Rest in peace.
Thanks Phil. I hope the build is cathartic for you. I've learned a lot from your video's and have enjoyed the content immensely. No one really dies if their memory lives on through the people they leave behind. Guitar has taught me exactly what you stated, "there are no rules". If it sounds good. It is good. Looking forward to hearing you crank that shit!
There have been two deaths of guitar players in my lifetime that left scars. First was Stevie Ray Vaughn....now Eddie. He is the reason I started playing. His rhythm playing....his grooves and fills....just amazed me. So many people focused on his soloing....which was incredible....but if you want to hear some of the reason why he was so great.....find the isolated guitar tracks of Eddie here on youtube and just listen. He was the only guitar player... in what was basically a three piece band with a singer....he never really had another guitar player to share the load with until Sammy and that was only for a few songs. Live he was amazing....singing backup....playing rhythm and fills and lead back and forth ...one to the other...like it was child's play. I am so glad that him and Sammy finally made peace before this happened. As far as I'm concerned....he is the GOAT and his death is a gut punch that will take a long time to get over.
You're allowed to keep it Phill. Everyone vote 👍. Phill needs this one for his collection... I believe. Just ask everyone to do what we always do... let's all donate to a cause. Collectively we're all richer together. I like St. Jude, they do ground breaking research for all of us and never charge the kids they treat. Don't do a third party donation, if you want to help just write them a check. There are surly other great places, I just know and admire them.
Nice one Phillip what a Fantastic way to show how much he Helped change the Guitar just like Hendrix, not only with his playing but when he made his Franken Strat he threw the rule book out of the window and showed the Guitar Snobs what Loving Guitar's are all about it's about having Fun, just realized that my Cheap Harley Benton Strat that i Bought for £76 to mod and mess about with will make the perfect EVH Franken Strat, right where did i put them old paint Aerosol cans
Accepted, 1984 has been on my turntable for about two weeks. Like many of us I was shocked and saddened to hear the news of another legend gone. Great idea Phil. I have a body sanded down and ready for paint, I just haven't had the motivation, thanks for the inspiration!
What a fun tribute! My health prevents me from building one but I look forward to seeing anything that is built by those who watched this video as well as Phil's build. :-)
I found this video quite moving. It's a great tribute you're paying him Phil. Last night, when I found out he'd gone I was shocked at how much it hit me. I can't get my head round the thought of no more music from the great man.
I actually was just about to rip apart a nice blue partscaster I finished about 2 years ago and make into a black and white. I had originally bought the body about a decade ago with the intent on doing an EVH inspired build. It's gone through so many different refinishes till now. But now that our lord and saviour has gone away. It only feels right to rip it apart one last time and do that EVH inspired build. Who knew you could miss someone you'd never even met.
I just modified 1965 harmony bobkat, drilled out for grover mini tuners ,routed body for single Seymour duncan invader pickup made clear pickguard with ernie ball 500k pot, new jack, tesi killswitch and did swirl dip paint job . I also sanded down 4mm off the back of neck.
Its cool you're doing this with a Glarry, I have two for modding. The first is a single Seymour Duncan humbucker with two decoy pickups and the other has 3 Seymour Duncan single coils. Im looking to change out the tuners and trems on it too.
Not just losing one legend this year, we also lost one of the best drummers of our time. I think building a homage guitar is a great way to celebrate his life.
The best idea anyone could have come up with. To commemorate EVH, to show what he's done to the world. For me, your channel has got the spirit of Eddie. Modding, sharing knowledge on how to work on guitars, spreading the love. Although I can't join the parade, I will be enjoying your contents that are about to follow. Thank you Phillip, what a great idea.
I did exactly what you are talking about. I bought a cheap guitar, upgraded it and painted it red, white, and black in the 5150 design. It is a tribute to Eddie, The King.
Sharpen my axe videos are my favorite ones. My first real guitar is a 1996 Jackson Kelly and I admit I wasn't playing it recently. I love the neck shape but not the sticky finish on the neck (especially since it was aging and going out on some places). Thanks to this video I decided to remove the finish off the neck with 500 grit sandpaper and the feeling is now incredible. I now enjoy grabbing it and playing it even unplugged just to feel this neck. Also, thanks to your other videos, I felt confident enough to coil-split the pickups. It is now a much more versatile instrument.
I just got off the phone with BYOGuitar and the rep said that the "Shredder" aka the Kramer Pacer kit has been selling lot crazy (shipping time went from 3 weeks to 7 weeks) . So I like to believe that everyone is wanting to build a tribute to King Ed. Just shows how much Ed meant to all of us.
I own a Sterling AX20 with limited edition Rockstar paint. I didn't know Ed helped design my pride and joy when i first got it. That AX20 is my baby. Just... Thank you for everything Eddie. Just, thank you.
One invention of his..D Tuna. Absolutely love it. Simple idea but allows me to use one guitar for an entire show. We normally play four sets but every now an again we'll play a 90 min set with another band so I can grab one guitar and play all night
This is a tribute like no other- good on ya Phil. Can't wait to see what the community comes up with. My super strat- I have a LTD M-403, but I won't stripe the natural flame maple finish. I'll just keep chasing Eddie's tone.
Eddie was certainly an inspiration to us all. I also appreciate your videos. My guitar build was certainly inspired by Eddie. It's red and was a $40 garage sale parts kit from years ago. Included the super rare gotoh crown head tuners. I still have that guitar (with different pups) and have used it on my ambient music.
I am currently 16 and I started listening to EVH when I was about 14..... I still remember waking up in the middle of the night due to load screams and heavy dive bombs, little did I know it was EVH’ Eruption. I tried to make my own copy of his Frankenstrat with cheap parts on eBay about a month ago.... I only had about 200$ that I had been saving up... it didn’t go well. Cheap tuners broke, neck didn’t fit the body, no Floyd Rose tremolo. I’d still like to build my own frankenstrat , or at least a superstrat in honor of EVH. King 👑
Such a touching and uplifting way to honor Eddie, thanks for your action. EVH is such a ground breaking guitarist and a wonderful musician. As a guitarist for book trailers about comics who's influenced by Van Halen, I wish Eddie a hymn while missing his presence that inspires.
Monday night for no rhyme or reason I just randomly started watching Eddie/Van Halen videos. This not something I do regularly nor did I have idea he was battling cancer. Tuesday morning I woke up to the news he had passed. It was strange. RIP Edward. Thank you for sharing your innovative mind and talent with us all.
EVH was kit builder #1. Eddie helped create music as we know it and music will forever be on the course Eddie helped set it on. Eddie invented nearly everything around him. He was Mozart and he was Tesla, and you and I got to see a bit of it. Shred in peace, heaven needs a bigger PA.
I know partscaster is what we call it but I really wish you had said frankenstrat. Amazing innovation on his end and how he moved the position of the pot to fit better with his playing and everything. He was a musical visionary. May he RIP :)
My first guitar was/is a Kramer Focus 3000 with an original floyd, ESP neck and beak headstock that my Mom bought me in early 84'.. I started customizing that guitar within the first year to try and find 'my sound' , new pickups( JB then Invaders etc), individual micro switches... the whole 80's toolkit.....never would have had that guitar to start on or the lack of sacredness that Eddie helped bring to guitar playing/building.
Great project. I always thought the idea behind modding / hot rodding your guitar is to get the guitar that is capable of doing all the sounds you want out of it. Because its not about buying more and more gear, but making the most of what you have.
Lots of wisdom in this video, folks. Phillip's got the right idea about how to deal with EVH's death: be active in your reflecting. We've all heard too many EVH wannabees. What they've always missed is that an integral part of the EVH thing is doing what you've got to do to find your best version of yourself.
Eddie was part of the small elite of proper true guitar gods. Not only could they play, oh boy could they play, but they pushed the guitar forward. They inspired so many. But most of all you instantly recognized them playing. Eddie now sadly has joined Jimi, Dimebag, and Malcolm. Now I will watch Phil’s tribute. Stay safe everyone!
My first concert was Van Halen For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge tour 92' Omaha Civic Auditorium. My first guitar was an all white Kramer focus 1000 made in Japan. Although I knew I could never play like Eddie I was really inspired by his sound. I also started sanding the finish off my guitar necks because I read Eddie did it in a 93' guitar magazine. Long live Eddie
Good on you. My diy project is more of a neil Young tribute. I've got an old epi junior and I've stripped it down, routed it for a firebird pickup in the neck, repainted it black and I'm adding a bigsby.
Very cool Phil, Was sittin looking at an old Peavey Raptor Plus and an old Black Yamaha RGZ 612 standing neglected in my rack and was having the same thoughts. Take care buddy and all the best. 👍✌😎
You and I have wound up like-minded, Phillip. I am currently in the midst of modding MY Glarry (in Sunset/Sunburst, not the Blueburst ... but I wanted red). First to go was the vibrato; I got a Wilkinson 6-screw type for that. Also ditched the cheap, plastic string nut in favor of a graphite piece from Guitar Center. Next up is a fret job. Interesting observation: I took the strings off to flatten the neck with the truss rod, laid the axe down, laid the notched straightedge on it -- and the neck was already straight. Apparently Glarry just strings the axes up without doing very much more to set them up. Considering I've done that with several guitars after fret jobs and how well they've worked, I can't blame them. Maybe I'll laze out and just look for spots that need touching up. None of that will really make this a super-Strat, though. I'm still kicking around pickup ideas. I DO have one guitar that I modded until I considered it done -- it sounds GREAT, even though it still has its original, cheap electronics! Peavey Raptor Plus EXP, with a brass-on-steel-on-brass vibrato (brass block and saddles, steel everything else), graphite nut, fret job, new tuners and string trees. Still looks almost stock, but ... man, that SOUND! Now, THAT'S a super-Strat! I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with your Glarry. Maybe I'll get some ideas. Rest in peace, Edward.
those interested in building one....Amazon has a strat kit from Pyle as one of their Deals of the Day for only $86.70....just thought I'd throw that out there.....
@Phillip Mcknight, I have an old *kramer body and neck* thats pretty beat up and been in storage for a few years now. After watching this I've been inspired to hotrod it. Might even document it on my channel. Thank you brother. You have are an inspiration to fellow Gearheads. 🙌🏻
So cool that how impactful of a person he was and I am glad you put that gear head stuff that EVH was! He inspired me to tear stuff and think about gear and playing!!
RIP Eddie Van Halen! We will miss You!!! Been gathering parts to build a SuperStrat for a couple of Years now. The Foundation Guitar is a black Chinese made Squier Stratocaster I picked up in a Pawn Shop for $100
I have an Ibanez RG in parts and unfinished - had it a while and was waiting for the inspiration to do something with it. I feel that time has arrived - EVH stripes coming up! Please do keep us updated with your build - I have plenty to learn!
Now, this is what Edward would approve of, in a fitting memorial to him. He built Frankenstein from a $100 ash, boogie body 2nd. And a $150 neck, also I think he said the paint was krylon bicycle paint. He also said he took the paf from his Gibson 335, but his neck pickup was missing from his goldtop les paul so who knows? He did use just an old stock fender term system & his tuners were spurzels, 3 chrome, 3 gold, and a 71 usa quarter to hold the later added floyd rose in place, so it would only five downward.
I never knew that Hipshot adapted it's bass drop tuner for the guitar, that's really neat. I've always thought that that would be a great idea and I didn't know that they finally did it.
Like many, I thought the same thing - time to build a sort of tribute guitar. Just happen to have an old Tom Anderson body with Floyd that I just routed and filled the neck pickup cavity (was for a P90 and someone ruined the route to put a humbucker in) a few weeks ago. Like Phil says, throw on some VH and enjoy the build!
Great tribute Phil! I will not be modding a guitar but I do have my pink/purple Flip Flop painted Kramer American Pacer with the pointy headstock and the tag featuring the people involved with Kramer at that point in time of the late 80s including Eddie Van Halen. I sent the pictures DMd to you on IG.
I have a strat neck laying around, just need to find a cheap body and I will build a frakenstrat for sure! Also, thanks for the heads up about the Kramers. I have been wanting a purple berretta special for ever but they have always been out of stock.
Those purple and pinks in the Musicman and Peavey guitars are hands down the best versions. Wish they would introduce some of those more non-traditional colors with the flame and quilt tops.
Hay I remember back in 82 83 84 85 I had music catalogs I learned from Eddie in guitar mags that you could build your own guitar so I ordered a bogie body and a mighty mite neck and built my own guitar in those day shechter guitars sold body’s and necks Ed started it all.
Very cool Phil. I had already planned on modding my Hondo striped strat (their version of a EVH) to route out for a humbucker (3 single coils no pre routing). Now I want to finish the stripes too. Sounds like a challenge I'm going to accept.
Man I moddified si Many guitars because od Eddie, God bless him. Strats paints, DiMarzio pickups, wirings, necks, floyds. I moddified a Fender strats. The one and only ,right next to Jimmy.
