Hello friends

I bought my first guitar, the Fender American Special Mahogany strat - HSS, 3 years ago.

Stock pic on Guitarcenter:



I love everything about the guitar but only "really like" the humbucker. The the 2 single coils are perfect for what I like (70's blues rock), the neck is a dream, etc. Absolutely love at first sight.

OK, to the point: I love Van Halen, and he has a patented EVH Wolfgang humbucker and a "Frankenstein" reissue humbucker.

Has anyone put one in their Stratocaster who could tell me how it came out?

HWY1Strat was kind enough to advise me on the Gibson 490T about 9 months ago, but I haven't been able to pull the trigger yet. I would really like to know about anyone who has done this here.

Thanks!

Kevin

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Electric Guitar #1: Fender American Select Mahogany Stratocaster HSS
Electric Guitar #2: Agile Al-3110 Les Paul
Acoustic: Fender CD200SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Amp: Line 6 Spider III 75 75W 1x12 Combo Amp
Piano: Yamaha M450

I don't know about the new EVH humbucker, but Duncan makes a custom shop model called the "1978" that is really nice. It used to be called the EVH (short for Evenly Voiced Harmonics IIRC ). They had to change the name when a certain person didn't want his initials associated with it.

Hi There.

I am on another forum (Peavey) for years talking about the EVH Wolfgang, and I own one as well.
For years people have asked if Peavey would sell the pick-up, but Edward would not allow it.
I don't see that changing any time soon, say what you want about Edward, but he is very protective about anything he help design.

If you watch E-bay, from time to time a set will come up, I would snag a set there.
Now once you get a set, you will need to change the pots to 500Ohm and then you will need to make some wood shims (Popsicle stick work great for this) as the Wolfgang pick ups are designed to be mounted directly to the body.


That, or just buy a Wolfgang.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

BTW, here's a shot of mine......

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

I took the bridge pickup out of my Peavey Wolfgang and with a little work I put it in my Japan strat and I love it.

Thanks for the response goodinbed.

EVH actually has his own brand under Fender now with his own humbucker:

EVH Wolfgang Humbucker

as well as a reissue of the Frankenstein humbucker.

EVH Frankenstein Humbucker


Jeffytune - that's a really cool guitar. Thanks for sharing the picture. I wonder - is the neck "faster" or easier to "tap" on your Peavey Wolfgang than a modern Stratocaster neck?

Don't get me wrong, I love my strat. It's my dream guitar. It's just that I've found it easier to "tap" on other guitars (Ibanez, B.C. Rich). I'm just wondering if it would be easier to just put in his humbucker or would I actually have to buy his new EVH Guitar.

The Wolfgang Special goes for around $1299 and the USA Made Wolfgang for nearly $3k.

I've read a few times that Eddie did not record the majority of his music with a "Floyd Rose" equipped guitar because he believed that it compromised tone.

_________________
Electric Guitar #1: Fender American Select Mahogany Stratocaster HSS
Electric Guitar #2: Agile Al-3110 Les Paul
Acoustic: Fender CD200SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Amp: Line 6 Spider III 75 75W 1x12 Combo Amp
Piano: Yamaha M450

Probably a very stupid question, but... I have a Peavey Wolfgang guitar too. I don't like the tone when I play the neck pickup so I ordered a bluesbucker to replace it. If I put the Wolfgang neck pickup in my Strat bridge humbucker slot, would it sound like the bridge humbucker in the Wolfgang? In other words, are neck and bridge humbuckers the same, the only thing that makes the sound different where they are placed in the guitar?

I have both of mine tapped and I am using a Gibson pull pot to switch it on the tone pot.

I an glad to see that Edward is finally selling the pick up by itself.
Yes, I have seen and played the Fender made one, I like my Peavey far better, the neck is just not the same. But I do like the alder wood over the basswood body's.

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

who do you thing set the final design of the floyd?
i dont believe a word one of the above.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Exploring Edward Van Halen's Early Legendary "Brown Sound"


Maybe this was only true 30+ years ago and he had an active role in fixing the loss of tone, maybe it's true, maybe it's BS. But that's what I read.

A lot of people, including ones on this forum, believe that any tremelo system will alter tone/sustain and prefer a "hard tail".

_________________
Electric Guitar #1: Fender American Select Mahogany Stratocaster HSS
Electric Guitar #2: Agile Al-3110 Les Paul
Acoustic: Fender CD200SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Amp: Line 6 Spider III 75 75W 1x12 Combo Amp
Piano: Yamaha M450

oh i believe whole heartedly that they have a major role in tone/sustain.
i just dont believe eddie switched up like that. maaaaaybe in the very begining, but there are plenty of reads were eddie tells you which guitar he used on what album.
eddie played a key role on the final design of the floyd. it would only make sense that he would design the floyd in such a way that he could use it in both situations seeing as how most of his said complaints (above) could be EQ'ed out in the final mix anyways.
keep in mind, eddie is probably one of the biggest "mystery gear" guitar players out there.
there was more guesses and hype about eddie's gear than anybody ive ever read about.
most of which didnt even come close to the truth. he kept things a secret as long as he could. he even got to the point that he played his solos with his back towards the crowd and at lower light conditions just to keep people from figuring out what hes doing.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

I've read about him playing w/his back to the wall.

He states in this interview his complaints about the Floyd Rose but, as you noted in your reply, it was "in the very beginning" (1979).


"Eddie Talks Guitars: 1979" (from the "Van Halen Tapes 1978-82")

_________________
Electric Guitar #1: Fender American Select Mahogany Stratocaster HSS
Electric Guitar #2: Agile Al-3110 Les Paul
Acoustic: Fender CD200SCE Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Amp: Line 6 Spider III 75 75W 1x12 Combo Amp
Piano: Yamaha M450

wow that read totally blows away all of his endorsments for folyd and kramer he did back in the 80's doesnt it? he use to swear that "what you see is what i use" in the studio and on stage. lol. he even said that AFTER he left kramer.
maybe i do stand corrected. he was famous to mislead folks to keep people from
trying to copy him in any way. i remember several people back in the day calling him out on it. eugene malmsteen ( ) use to claim eddie avoided him like the plegue because he wanted to confront eddie about this claim of the 2 handed tap technique being
his own idea (the way it was being done in those times). eddie avioded him at all costs.
who knows, eddie probably used a damn tesco guitar with a transtrem installed lol.
i'll keep looking to see if i can find any old eddie ads or reviews where he states the
what you see is what i use statements. i wonder if he still uses the fender trems in the studio as he states above? the dates for the read above says from the tapes from 79-82. wonder if it was around then that he changed up or no.
oh heres a cool link for good reading on his guitars since we are on the subject, kinda.
http://www.celebrityrockstarguitars.com ... nhalen.htm

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."

Why thank you!!
I tell you Kevin....I like the 490T so much that I put it in a 2nd guitar.....a F.S.R. "None More Black" Highway One Strat HSS that I picked up last year. And...I'm LOVING it!! No regrets whatsoever!!
Getting a rock star replica pickup is ever so subjective.
Yeah it MAY get you in a similar TONE neighborhood...but there are so many variables in getting a certiain star's sound....you could drive youself nuts!!
Just get something that makes YOU happy...and sounds the way YOU want it to!!

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I refuse to have a battle of the wits with an unarmed man!

one of two things happens to tone chasers,
they either give up or go broke trying.

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63supro
"The good thing is in a club situation, most of the patrons are trashed and really can't tell the difference."