but he did use an Echoplex EP-3 which is a tape delay, an MXR Phaser . On a related note, its hard work making things look bad. } align-items: center; }); In 1979, disappointed with the bumblebee's performance, Van Halen re-taped the body of the Frankenstrat and painted it with red Schwinn bicycle paint. padding: 0; check() && code(); $('.stewmax-container__message-check p').wrap(''); Masking tape; 1 x 200ml can of Pinty Plus Basic Black 9005; 400ml of Pinty Plus Basic White 9010 (2 x . || canonical.startsWith('/parts-and-hardware/bridges-and-tailpieces/') .tmx-variant-image a.active-variant-border { function check() { If using shellac as a sealer coat, rub it on using a lint-free rag or towel. I'll answer this here.because this is the same . Because companies began selling guitars with similar finishes, and because he felt that the guitar was being too badly damaged from overuse, he stopped playing the Frankenstrat in public, instead using the black-and-yellow "bumblebee" guitar pictured on Van Halen II (1979). I also touched the black pickguard with 800 grit sand paper, which might have been a bit much. After spraying/sealing, very lightly sand with 220-grit to remove any dust specs and level the surface. width: 100%; Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. var to_price = (p.replace('$', '') * cE).toFixed(2); Fortunately, there are countless forum studies on what paint was used, with a pretty solid consensus on the order of operations and the layers of paint originally applied. obs.observe(pv, {childList: true, subtree: true}); } In Eddie's own words: From the January/February 2014 issue of Guitar Aficionado magazine. display: flex; Step 2: lay down the first layer of red lacquer. if (y > last_scroll && !has_class && last_height == b && document.querySelector('.header-dropdown .dropdown-menu.tmx-dropdown-menu.show') === null) { Continue Shopping How to paint a Frankenstrat ? }; There are no order minimums and no limit to how many times you order. } var y = document.body.scrollTop; These start at $1199US, not very cheap, but worth it if you are keen on one. Ever wonder how much duct tape it would take to make a near-perfect replica of an Eddie Van Halen guitar? The guitar building pros at StewMac show you step-by-step how to paint the iconic red, black and white Frankenstrat.

window.MagicZoom Shake the spray can a couple of minutes. function close_slideout() { var has_class = h.classList.contains("scroll_down"); Frankenstrat Templates. html.mz-expanded-view-open body, Spray at a distance of 25/30 cm, apply thin layers horizontally and then vertically. eAction: event.eAction || "", He had a limited knowledge of electronic circuitry, so there was no tone control. Jan made a $143 down payment consisting of a $20 bill and $123 in trade-in credit for a Bundy flute and Ed's Univox Custom 12 . var obs = new MutationObserver(function(mL, o) { I got it from Mean Street Guitars, a company who specializes in EVH-Type guitars. This white layer does not need to be a full opaque white, but just enough to provide a brighter backing color for the final red lacquer. Learn About Instrument Finishing + Finish Repair, ColorTone Vintage White Aerosol Guitar Lacquer, ColorTone Tinted Aerosol Guitar Lacquer, Cherry Red, ColorTone Black Aerosol Guitar Lacquer, Black Gloss, Sanding Block for Self-adhesive Sandpaper, Wear a respirator rated for the finishes and solvents you are using, Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and check that it is working, Wear a dust mask when sanding wood or finishes, Wear rubber gloves when handling solvents or finishes. Respect that solvent-based fumes are flammable and be aware of any sources of ignition: pilot lights, electric motors, exposed incandescent lightswork well away from any of these sources of ignition. border: solid 1px #ccc; !$('#js-pdp-image-container').data('is-stewmax'); We have to do these things, too. new_img.setAttribute( FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon The body was a basic Fender Stratocaster (with CBS style headstock) maple neck and fingerboard, with Schaller tuning pegs and Gibson Jumbo frets. There were many, many opinions on which pickup sounded most like Eddies trademark brown sound. }); $("body").append(trustModal); Necessity is the mother of invention. I really felt that I was on to something when I built that guitar, because you couldnt buy anything like it at the time. Indeed, his guitar, along with his guitar playing, completely changed the way the music industry was working with the sound of the electric guitar. }, /*Stewmac - Low Stock Urgency www.fractaluniversemusic.com. justify-content: center; We can ship to virtually any address in the world. The cover of the Zero demo tape, produced by Kisss Gene Simmons, where Ed first used his original Frankenstrat on recording. . At this stage the body can be roughed up a little if you're looking for more of a worn-in, well-played look. }).get(); In spite of everything, when Van Halen became famous, Eddie recorded many albums with her. Although the 5150 reappeared on the 2004 reunion tour with Sammy Hagar, the guitar upgraded with a Charvel neck and EVH Wolfgang humbucker, it was subsequently retired. Info@WalkerTapeCo.com. } o.disconnect(); let prev_active = document.querySelector('.active-variant-border'); if (cC == 'JPY') Theyre VERY rare, and if I could find one, it would be prohibitively expensive. window.$.fn.jquery && ( || canonical.startsWith('/parts-and-hardware/all-hardware-and-parts-by-instrument/electric-guitar-parts/electric-guitar-bridges-and-tailpieces/') height: 100% !important; var check_customer_service = function (checkCount = 0) { if(inp !== null && avail.length && limit_max) var m = document.querySelector("body > main"); .cart-slideout .cart .btn { I will provide a link for you on all you need to know about how to assemble a Van Halen I Frankenstrat.

Unbranded Strat Style Natural With Hardshell Case. This guitar is crucial to the development of the Van Halen sound, as well as everything that followed in rock music after Ed first blazed the scene in southern California. That will be fixed as soon as my numerical punches get here. new_img.setAttribute('class', 'img-fluid'); If using a vinyl sealer as the sealer/base coat, spray it in 2-3 light coats, watching that no runs develop. if (window.location.pathname === '/' } The guitar Frankenstrat ? $10 (maple ridge b.c.)
StewMAX ${isInternational ? } Wipe down the body with a naphtha dampened rag to remove dust and de-grease the surface, and wear gloves while applying the masking tape pattern. CBGB Kit, 100% USA Made Johnny Ramone Style Kit: $999.00: . var css = document.createElement('style'); The black, white and red "Frankenstrat" famously created and used by Eddie Van Halen. I tried everything to get the switch and other parts to rust, to no avail. #1. `; Once it had dried, he used said masking tape in a patterned style on his . h.classList.remove("scroll_down"); justify-content: center; (child) => (child.style.marginBottom = "0px") } let prev_active = document.querySelector('.active-variant-border'); if ($('.js-add-to-cart').is(':disabled')) return; LA. // 10s observer killswitch
[5] Van Halen put a Gibson decal on the headstock, emphasizing the "cross-pollination" between Gibson and Fender. Indeed, Eddie has said on numerous occasions that his first Frankenstrat was a combination of a Gibson and Fender sound. } 1982 is the year that we'll be focusing on. }; I want to protect the paint job, but still want it to look rough and not have a shine. David Lee Roth Recalls Helping Design Eddie Van Halen's "Frankenstrat" Guitar Rockers We Lost in 2020 Filed Under : Alex Van Halen , David Lee Roth , Eddie Van Halen , Van Halen Seems to be 3 different tape sizes trying to figure that out!! He initially painted the guitar black using Schwinn bicycle paint that he may have used on his paper route. $(this).find('.tmx-variant-image img').attr('src') || report. .msg-wrap p { variantZoomStyle.textContent = ` .js-add-to-cart-slideout { } var calculateTotalQuantity = function() { setUpButton($self, true); return; 1 : parseInt($(this).find(".input-spinner").find("input[name='quantity']").val())).toString(), function code() { } Have some fun applying your first stripe pattern with tape. The neck arrived a couple of days ago, and I waited until now to post pics. Since Ed had the guitar in this state for years, and these years were VERY hard on the guitar, we have to relic it as well as drilling holes for the old pickguard that no longer exists. The removal of the wood however destroyed the guitar's sound and he retired it. var check_header = function () { max-width: 500px; observer.observe(document.documentElement, { } catch (e) { addToCartSection.after(trustSealContainer); let trustSealText = ` Make sure you cover up any areas where electronics would have been on the guitar so you protect the earthing/shielding paint. display: none;
To achieve this, he had on his hands masking tape in 1/8 inch and inch size. All rights reserved. The intent is to seal the thirsty wood and to help fill/level any small grain voids in the body. return ` !document.querySelector('.pdp-product-variant .zoom-tag') && var cart;
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#stewmax-learn-more .modal-content { The Van Halen striped series is well worth checking out if you cannot find the time or money to build your own Frankenstrat.
Next, the masking tape is removed, revealing the black areas, as you can see in the following image. cursor: pointer; He initially painted the guitar black using Schwinn bicycle paint that he may have used on his paper route. } catch (e) {}; position: absolute; This sets the tape lines, and allows the tape to come up easier later. width: 220px; "The Frankenstrat was [Eddie] Van Halen's attempt to combine the sound of a classic Gibson guitar with the physical attributes and tremolo bar functionality of a Fender Stratocaster. document.documentElement, { attributes: true, childList: true, subtree: true } [citation needed]. var update_instock = function() { if (document.querySelector('main > .tmx-pdp, main > .tmx-cart')) { Paul Unkert, the "Guitar Guy" of UNK guitars, worked on the Frankenstrat and put his "Unk" stamp on it. The Origin of the Species. As with the original white layer, the first coat will likely look a little mottled, thin, and light, this is OK, resist the urge to lay down a heavy first coat of red lacquer. `); There may be no guitar more iconic in the history of rock than the famed Frankenstrat of the 1970s and 80s. Three hundred replicas of the red-and-black-and-white-striped Frankenstrat were offered by Van Halen's EVH brand for $25,000 each. Add to cart