tips for building an EVH inspired frankenstrat?

[spookyelectric]

Well, after catching VH this weekend in Detroit and being on a serious VH kick now, I've decided to slowly start amassing parts for an EVH inspired frankenstrat (1 pickup, 1 volume knob, etc. etc.).

Here are the parts on my list so far:

Fender Standard strat Body: $150 new (Ebay) or cheaper if I go used
Allparts unfinished strat neck: $115 new (from guitarpartsresource)
Dimarzio PAF: $50 new (or similar low output used Dimarzio/Duncan)
Fender strat tremolo: $35 (or similar allparts, etc. strat trem)
Strat pickguard: $15 (or cheaper if I go used)
Locking tuners: $65 (Fender/Schaller)
Allparts brass nut: $12
1/4" jack, vol pot, etc.: $15

Approx. cost: $457

I may be able to grab tuners, strat trem or a pickup cheaper, and/or keep an eye out for a used body for around $100 to keep it even lower.

I'm most rockers out there have built an EVH inspired guitar before, so I'm hoping for any practical tips on finding stuff cheap or painting tips if I get an unpainted body for cheap, but it'd need to have the holes already drilled for a strat trem, as that's one area that I'd probably mess up by not having things drilled correctly.

Any other tips?

[Robertito]

Sounds like a fun project - I'd go for a used body, if you find one, as Eddie's guitars never look that new. Also, I'd consider forgetting the pickguard; some contend that the tone of that guitar comes from screwing the pickup directly into the wood. I agree with you about the bridge screws. I've seen the drilling messed up, and it's not pretty.

[spookyelectric]

Thanks for the advice guys! I'd be getting a used pickguard so that I could just cover up the control cavity area like Eddie did on his early frankenstrat-- I'd be screwing the bridge pickup straight into the body.

If I can grab a used body, that will save alot of dough, so will getting non-locking schallers.

What difference would the 1 vs. 2 piece maple neck be? I'd think that a 1 piece hard maple neck would be more stable. I'd grab something with at least medium jumbo frets on it, if not true jumbos.

How would I tell on some of the aftermarket bridges if they are steel or zinc? Are the MIM classic Fender bridges made of steel?

[dosmun]

Floyd Rose, skip the Fender trem. The Floyd is the most important part for an EVH guitar IMO.

[otterpop]

check out www.frankenstraat.com
All will be revealed.
Edit: Looks like they're working on the site, check out the forum, that should get you started.

[spookyelectric]

Originally Posted by dosmun

Floyd Rose, skip the Fender trem. The Floyd is the most important part for an EVH guitar IMO.

In the early days, Eddie used the strat trem, as did all of the early Charvel EVH inspired single pickup guitars. That's actually one of the things that I don't want to change.

[Edmundo]

I know a guy that can paint it....

[spookyelectric]

Originally Posted by otterpop

check out www.frankenstraat.com
All will be revealed.
Edit: Looks like they're working on the site, check out the forum, that should get you started.

No info on the forum--- no forum to get to, actually. Looks like it's down while the rest of the site is down.

Dang!

[Robertito]

Just noticed the brass nut - if you use a brass nut, you'll be playing out of tune all the time. I'd try graphite or slipstone instead, and the trem will work a lot better. Brass is a soft metal; the windings of the strings dig down into it and get hung up, and believe me, no amount of oil will fix the problem.

[spookyelectric]

Cool, thanks for the advice Robertito. I'm using them on my Esquires right now with no problem at all-- actually they're more stable than bone as far as keeping in tune. But then again, the Esquires are fixed bridge guitars too.

[MBreinin]

I built this for about $350.00. The body was a score from E-bay, old school non-tuner floyd, Fender replacement neck, pickup is a hybrid of a Custom and '59, which is similar to the pickup that Ed made around Fair Warning. I went with a transitional look similar to when Ed had a full strat PG with a HSS setup on Frankie..but I went with only the single hum. This guitar screams. The neck is tiny but mega comfy...just a ripper.

It is much more dirty now though.

Mike

[buddastrat]

Originally Posted by spookyelectric

In the early days, Eddie used the strat trem, as did all of the early Charvel EVH inspired single pickup guitars. That's actually one of the things that I don't want to change.

Yes, that's what was so cool. Hearing him do that on a Fender trem, I said I want to do that. Much cooler with the Fender trem. A Floyd's cheating, too easy!

check out the Wilkinson trem if you want a decent, cheap trem. Are you going with a big head strat neck like the original Frankie had?

[spookyelectric]

Originally Posted by buddastrat

Yes, that's what was so cool. Hearing him do that on a Fender trem, I said I want to do that. Much cooler with the Fender trem. A Floyd's cheating, too easy!

check out the Wilkinson trem if you want a decent, cheap trem. Are you going with a big head strat neck like the original Frankie had?

I'll probably do the smaller headstock.

If I get a graphite nut then hopefully that will help w/ some of the tuning issues, although I'm sure it won't solve it entirely. Even Ed still had slight problems w/ staying in tune w/ the Fender trem.

[spookyelectric]

Originally Posted by MBreinin

I built this for about $350.00. The body was a score from E-bay, old school non-tuner floyd, Fender replacement neck, pickup is a hybrid of a Custom and '59, which is similar to the pickup that Ed made around Fair Warning. I went with a transitional look similar to when Ed had a full strat PG with a HSS setup on Frankie..but I went with only the single hum. This guitar screams. The neck is tiny but mega comfy...just a ripper.

It is much more dirty now though.

Mike

What did you use for paint? And what did you use to tape off? Looks killer!

[dosmun]

http://www.eddievanhalen.com/evh/ind...ile=index&c=11

This is where Frankenstraat hangs or used to anyway. Lots of great info and pics.