EVH's original Frankenstein strat, swamp ash or hard ash?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Chubtone
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In 1983 I was on a quest to build my own single humbucker strat like EVH's and I definitely recall that it was an ash replacement body that he used. The closest thing I could find at the time was an ash body by DiMarzio. I remember being disappointed that it wasn't exactly what EVH used, but it turned out to be a fantastic body. I wish I had bought 10 of them. I went through a couple of necks until I got a hold of a very flat radius Charvell neck with large frets in about 1984 or 1985. I'm still playing that exact guitar today - great neck, regular ash body, a Floyd Rose, and a good pickup. That's really all you need. And a lot of time getting the setup just right of course.

I tried to build a guitar using the lighter ash in the 1990's with a pre-painted ESP body and it looked great but was worthless as an instrument.

If you build a project guitar, try to find an ash body that has the look and feel of an ash baseball bat.

Paul
 
Thanks for that info Paul. Sounds like we were both looking for the same thing at the same time in the same area. I lived in Schaumburg back in the early 80's and bought my first San Dimas Charvel in 1984 at the Chicago Guitar Center.
 
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MrDan666":1ad0f said:
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Ralphie, how many guitars do you own? just curious, i swear it seems you own guitars with every different type of body woods :D
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About 13 or 14 and yes... I do own just about every wood there is accept for the exotic type stuff and Korina wood. :thumbsup:
 
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Gainfreak":97bbe said:
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About 13 or 14 and yes... I do own just about every wood there is accept for the exotic type stuff and Korina wood. :thumbsup:
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Very cool!!!

Are they all GMW's and Charvels? I had you down as a total Charvel nut, but didnt know if you owned various other brands?
 
I had a friend back in the 80's who played in Valerie's friends band called "private life" fronted by chick singer and he got too meet Ed in his house. He saw the frankenstein guitar ( with the reflectors in the back) and said it was like a log. I think it was a Northern As body vs. the lighter swamp ash.
 
well gnugear played the fender clone guitar and he said the body was rather light.i know a guitar builder who talked to the guy who is making the fender replicas an told him that the body was swamp ash!
 
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