I have one of these guitars my dad found it in a pawn shop in 1997 and brought it home. I still have it and now my kid plays it. Amazing guitar and will always be part of the family.
Best tone of his career? I don't know... listen to Source of Infection on OU812, through headphones... after that it would be hard to say this guitar produced the BEST tone of his career. But yes, one of his best tone periods, for sure. Actually, listen to ALL of the heavier tracks on OU812 as well as Source of Infection, through headphones... Ed's tone will spin your head around and make it dance... complete with chills through the body!
I had 3 of the original EVH MM guitars . First one bought from guitar centre in LA my parents brought back . It had some quality issues with the setting of the neck and thus fret buzzing . Pick ups were great in the guitar , quite a bit hotter and fuzzier than a strat . A little less than a Les Paul . You basically got the FUCK album tone ( poundcake ) tone never liked the 5150 amps found them too fuzzy and white noise not as brown sound as a jcm 800. I'd say Eddie's best time was fair warning to 1984 .
It wasn't the guitar. It was his wet-dry-wet amp setup, and the Eventide making that sound. I don't rank it above any of his Roth-era tones. It became too processed and jangly by 1995. Just a very different sound.
My purple EBMM EVH was born May 29th, 1992. I still recall picking it up like it was yesterday. Best guitar ever. Best neck ever. Best pickups ever. IMHO. :-)
I reckon Eddie definitely agreed with us, the slab body while not as comfy is a tele/pre EB MusicMan thing. The design is very utilitarian and functional but is just beautiful like a tele. From how the Floyd is mounted to the pickups it’s all about getting all the tone from the players hands - no filler like a Strat or even Les Paul you have to play it to get the tone.
I got my Tobacco sunburst, Edward Van Halen in 1992, had it for 16 years. Loved that guitar. Best neck on the planet. That guitar opened my eyes to the EB/mm line !!!
I have three EBMM EVH's, bought them brand new, two are 1991 models, Amber and Pink, the third is a 1992 Red one. They are museum quality pieces, they are awesome guitars.
I’ve got a Purple 1993 EBMM EVH. Bought it around 2011 at a Guitar Center in Tempe AZ. There were about 10 of them of different finishes on the wall of their ‘used’ area. I played all of them, and chose the Purple. It’s a great instrument.
To be honest of all of the EVH guitars, this is my favourite. The colour, the roundness. It looks cool, not crazy. He played this on the F.U.C.K. tour and it sounded fabulous. His earlier guitars were kind of crazy, his later onces look too... "Tactical", like a bullet proof vest or a piece of military gear. The Music Man though, now that's a musician's design.
Got two, 80917 a 1991 EBMM EVH, and 84199, a 1993 EBMM EVH. Both Amber. One in perfect condition with the whitest neck, and the other one is the player with some dings and a worn brown neck from the years of playing I've put on. My dad bought them in 1994, the '91 was used for $1500 CAD, the '93 brand new for $2200 CAD.
i had a 1991 plain finish with the maple top and the bird-eye maple neck. it came from the factory in san luis, obispo and shipped it back to the uk. i sold it for more than i paid for it 4 years later
Totally true and you will save yourself about 4 grand now if not more! I literally just looked up the completed sales on Ebay and EVH Ernie Balls are a sellers market now! Makes me wonder, what about in 10-15 years???
The neck on the new ones are not the same the pickups I believe are very close but I believe different in my ears when I play them back to back but still a great guitar
My friend and co-worker bought number 854 in 1991, it was “highly flamed” purple. He had it delivered to our workplace in Alabama from I believe New York. It came UPS, and he was waiting for it every day. The day it finally came he had left work early, and I received it and took it to him. That day happened to be Elvis’s birthday, and he named the guitar “the king”.
Sadly, I've never owned one, but I used to work next to a music store that sold these when they were new, so I played them fairly often. I do regret not buying one when used prices were around $1300 or so - but that was around $2500 in 2021 money, so not exactly cheap at the time. I remember the neck being pretty unique - narrow, but fat - which was quite a contrast to the thin shredder guitars of the era.
Would love to hear some discussion from the music man side - how (hard) was the project to go through and stuff like that. I'm sure it was not the 1st guitar that eddie agreed to use
Check out Rob Chapman's factory tour video he did a few years ago, they show some custom EVH's around the 20 min mark. ua-cam.com/video/nWd9nx3IYOE/v-deo.html
I have a 1996 Axis that has the left over parts from the signature line. It has the bridge with the offset intonation saddles. The Dimarzio pickups are identical to the signature model. The only difference is they told me they modified the CNC carving machine to widen the neck 1/32 of an inch after the 12 fret because the bridge was a tad different from the Kramer guitar and was causing users have the high E string go off the side of the neck. The toggle is in a different spot. Mine is Natural Clear finish and I seen allot of the colored once that faded badly. The only mod I did was have my luthier put Stainless Steel frets cause over the years it had 2 refrets now it doesn't even have a mark on them. My only guitar since 96 when I bought it for $1750. Plays and SOUNDS great. ED left Ernie Ball because they couldn't build them fast enough. I'm not impressed with the Wolfgang or EVH guitars.
Yeah i seen a few say they Dimarzio's were changed after Ed left EBMM but that is total internet lore. Both Steve blucher (chief engineer at dimarzio who made the pu's for the EBMM) and the people at Music man insist they are identical pu's in wind,magnet and tone with one small exception. the newer ones are 4 conductor wire instead of the original 2 conductor. This was done so the pickups could be split or wired series parallel. Since no two guitars sound exactly the same any differences some may hear are due to that and not the dimarzio's being changed.
Still remember seeing it for the first time... But when I tried one; I completely dwarfed that body-shape... And I'm just a 90kg 185 guy... Plays like a dream tho! Can't go wrong with an axis.. and remember Ed himself tinkered a lot with different guitars and setups; it's all in the fingers
I also bought a Sterling AX40-D. this is the only series they made with the actual dimarzio evh/axis set in them. the regular AX4-'s all have sterling designed pu's that sound nothing like the dimarzio set.
Yep. I have the exact same model, bought new in ‘93. I have never gigged it, preferring my 86 Kramers, Barettas and Stagemasters. It is an investment for one of my grandkids when I am gone. They can fight over it! Meanwhile, it comes out sometimes,but not often. Rip. Ed.
Hey Jeremy great job as always, it's clear you do this professionally, very smoth and very natural. For some reason this guitar reminds me of a real 1959 Les Paul, the top color, The top color aging, the pickup color and aging, and it's visual mojo - Very cool. Also the historical significance of Ed's and Lester's friendship and this is Ed's "first" guitar design. Thanks for doing this video. Rick. PS: my ICONIC combo is on it's way and I can't wait!
My buddy had one of the EVH Music Man guitars. It played great and sounded great. He had a Boogie mkIV and ran a Rocktron Intellifex in the fx loop it sounded huge.
I am the proud owner of two MM Axis guitars. One that came from a run for Wilcutt Guitars in Lava burst. I believe the only difference is the location of the switch to the EVH MM.
Yea I remember the day the news was announced he passed, i looked on reverb at evh gear and it was disgusting how much stuff had skyrocketed and what people wanted for music man, peavey, and evh guitars
Some guy I used to work with in the early 90s bought a purple EVH Ernie Ball guitar. He was just a poser but loved to show everyone that guitar. I offered him what he paid and deal ALMOST went through before he backed out. Great guitar, wish I owned one now.
These guitars used to cost about what a Gibson Les Paul costs...and on the used market you could pick them up for $2k, or even less if it was a little dinged up. On October 6, 2020 they instantly shot up and every asshole selling one jacked them up to like $7k on average. That sucks....this is one of those unicorn guitars I always wanted but as a kid couldn't get. Now I know I'll never get one because of all the "collectors" out there. And more than half of the guys that own this can't play it for shit, but they'll sell it to you for $10k.
@@Auen73 This is actually very true. The 5% difference is not really a major issue if you have always wanted a EVH but don't want to pay the $$$ these sell for these days! In a few instances i prefer the axis, like where the 3 way toggle was relocated is better for me and of course the axis would or can be brand new with warranty if you don't buy a used one.
@@Murphy_R9 I had the opportunity to play a MM EVH model a few times.......I recall the EVH neck profile being very smallish & rounded at 1st & 2nd fret area? I owned an Axis SS for years, and recall it feeling a little flatter/wider or "normal felling" in the 1st & 2nd areas, over the MM EVH🤔. Aside from the neck revision and the pickup selector location.....it's the SAME guitar.
@@Auen73 I agree, the original EVH has a symmetrical shaped neck that can feel odd to some. it was a clone of eddie 5150 Kramer neck in profile. that Kramer had a worn 1st and second fret area in the neck but eddie loved it so EBMM made a digital clone of it.
I never knew Ed was going to pass away when I bought mine in 1993. Dunno what it is worth now, but that is immaterial ‘cos I am never going to sell it.
In the late nineties you could get these used for $800-1000. I always wanted a black or red one. I never got the ebmm but I did get a black peavey Wolfgang and I absolutely love it. I have since bought olp’s and love them too since I can’t afford a real ebmm these days.
I have a cream colored (antique white officially) EVH Wolfgang Special first run 2010. Has all of the USA specs except, it has a flat top. Otherwise, it has the USA hardware, pickups, birdseye fretboard and came with the SKB Wolfgang hardshell case. I'm not sure whether I like the current MIM Wolfgang Special or not. I wish mine had the carved top, that the MIM ones now have though.
Those actually came out in 98. If I remember correctly, they sold for $599 brand new. It was a KILLER deal considering the arch top deluxe cost 3x that much and the only difference was it was flat and had a solid basswood body and solid maple neck. No birdseye neck or quilt/maple top. And all colors were solid on those. Gold, Black, and Ivory. They also only had one knob. ✌🏻oh my bad, I realize now we are talking about 2 different eras. I overlooked you saying yours had birdseye. They must’ve reintroduced them years later. I’ve been out of the loop. You got me thinking about that original though. Those were KILLER guitars for $600.
these guitars look comfortable and seem like they would be great guitars even for beginners....one of my favorite Eddie Van Halen guitars was the Frankenstrat Red, White & Black except the one I liked had like a Kramer banana headstock it was shaped like the end of a hockey stick and I think it was backwards....I guess people call that particular guitar the "5150" but I managed to walk into my little local guitar shop about 30mins from my house called "Hot Lick's" and you know the scene in Wayne's World where he sees his "dream guitar" in a see through glass class lol, well that was me when i saw in the corner of the store an Actual Frakenstrat Eddie Van Halen guitar...like one of his originals!! the guy who worked there told me they just got it off "The Smithsonian Museum" in D.C.where it sat in display for several years....it was just sitting inside what looked to be an energy drink cooler that had glass that you could see through and it had the green Pick Of Destiny sitting in the strings lol....I was almost dumn enough to ask the guy if I could play it, but once I saw that price tag I almost didnt even want to see it for fear of breaking it or something lol. they wanted something like $30,000 I was just happy to see apart of guitar virtuoso history...the epic guitar that blew every other guitarist away and then EVERYBODY was trying to be an Eddie Clone.
The Frankenstein/Frankenstrat has the cavity showing the neck pickup and the switch in the middle . Ed spent alotta time at the Kramer factory building 5150 guitars around the time Diver Down or the 1984 album release for that particular tour . The 5150s are believed to be Beretta bodies .
@@akfreed6949 yep! That's exactly how it looked when I saw it, with the cigarette stains and all, reflectors on the backside and the mighty mite block with the springs showing reminded me of the scene in Wayne's World "ohh yes, she shall be mine!"
I got a 1998 Amber Peavey Wolfgang hard tail after playing the music man. I like it better because of the carved top, flatter neck radius and switch location (upper horn). But EBMM makes high quality guitars for sure. I actually traded my valentine for the Wolfgang. I also read the Dimarzio article and it has a lot of cool info. Thanks for the video!
What was the exact number that were produced? I’ve heard around 8,000 or so! But, I’d like to know an exact number. I have 2 late1991’s, (bought in December of that year), a heavy quilted purple and a Tiger striped grain gold one!
I love’s my Musicman Eddies, but they dont leave my studio anymore, I think of them as “semi-retired”. They are becoming kind of valuable and difficult to replace and touring/gigging is hard on a guitar. Live, its WOLFGANGS all the way….🎸🤘🏻
I had all of Eddie Van Halen’s signature guitars: EB Music Man, Peavey Wolfgangs, and EVH’s various guitars. I had to sell them all and at cheap prices when Covid hit. I am regretting it to this day. So sad.
$2000 US? I distinctly recall these being these being advertised for $1600 when they first hit. I considered buying one but man that was a lot of money back then for a kid in high school to save up.
The person that sold me my fender 50th anniversary sunburst 62 reissue strat had one. He had the yellow one. He tried selling it to guitar center but they only offered 650. He ended up selling to his friend.
Yea I bought one it's bleach blue it's loud with. The box you can sound like him n play like him. Sterling edition that started it all play his videos in concert n her for your self
I agree and unfortunately no other production dimarzio or other pu out there sound exactly like them. The neck one is very similar to a Air norton and is close enough but the bridge is really its own animal. I have tried the tone zone(not the same) a air zone(still no dice!) the Norton(nope) the AT-1(closer but still lacks the mojo of the Dimarzio EVH/Axis bridge version. I finally just spent the money and bought a few sets on ebay, yeah $200 a set is a bit much but it was the only way outside of buying the whole guitar to get them. I put one set into my Charvel custom shop TMZ mahogany natural and they sound amazing there.
My question is how can Ernie Ball legally produce and sell this model if EVH is no longer with Ernie Ball or with us? Did Wolfie make a deal with them?
They’ve been able to do this for decades while Eddie was still alive and wolf was a baby. Ed’s name isn’t on it so Wolfie gets no $ from it. Plus, there’s been a couple of slight modifications to the guitar like the addition of a tone knob on EBMM. It’s the same reason peavey can keep selling hp series (wolfgang). Ed only owned his name. Peavey also still sells 6505 amp which is a 5150. It just doesn’t have his name on it. I’m assuming all of these things were discussed and agreed upon before the project even began.
Breifly owned a Trans Red EBMM eVh, then a couple of Peavey Wolfgang Standards. My Trans Green Peavey with Trem was my favourite. Should never have sold it. Currently, own an OG eVh Wolfgang Special (with the Stainless frets) and an early release Indo Wolfgang Standard. The Special is good but the fretboard edges on the Standard have been beautifully rolled. It feels great but tuning stability is compromised by the Floyd Special (poorly named as it ain't very special at all...)
I have a sort of sky blue evh music man guitar and i have a few Axis guitars they cost about 600.00 dollars , they sound completely the same .But now that same yellow axis guitar will cost you 4000.00 YEAH ,But when music man released second addition couple years later as the 20 years aniversary original same colors had jump on it again , but in all honesty the second addition sounded a hell of lot better way better guitar tone ,and tone is important to every guy on the planet or female . I PERSONALY if i cant get my hand on another second addition aniversary music man guitar I will buy it
I had a chance purchase one of these years ago in 1992, Just a kid at the time. I had saved up all the money that I could. I had heard that they were on back order and used my money to buy something else. I regret not waiting and being more patient. These guitars are out of reach now. The people that are selling them now want too much money for them.
I was fortunate enough to buy and sell a couple dozen in the 1990's. I held onto 5 beauties in "new" condition. I kept them tucked away in perfect condition. In 2019 I came home from work and everything was gone including my 5150 amps..three days later divorce papers showed up...
It's sad the way Ed quit his partnership with Ernie . Ed had a few ideas on making a better guitar and Ernie Ball patented Ed's idea .It's like getting ripped off behind your back . I ALWAYS wanted one but I'm left-handed and they never made any lefty guitars
I have one of these guitars my dad found it in a pawn shop in 1997 and brought it home. I still have it and now my kid plays it. Amazing guitar and will always be part of the family.
I love this Guitar! I bought mine in late 92-93. I'm still in love with it.
For me it was love at first sight. Never a guitar looked so cool like EBMM EVH model. Instant classic.
This set up produced the best Tone of his career IMO .
Best tone of his career? I don't know... listen to Source of Infection on OU812, through headphones... after that it would be hard to say this guitar produced the BEST tone of his career. But yes, one of his best tone periods, for sure. Actually, listen to ALL of the heavier tracks on OU812 as well as Source of Infection, through headphones... Ed's tone will spin your head around and make it dance... complete with chills through the body!
Agreed, FUCK & Balance nuff said...
I had 3 of the original EVH MM guitars . First one bought from guitar centre in LA my parents brought back . It had some quality issues with the setting of the neck and thus fret buzzing . Pick ups were great in the guitar , quite a bit hotter and fuzzier than a strat . A little less than a Les Paul . You basically got the FUCK album tone ( poundcake ) tone never liked the 5150 amps found them too fuzzy and white noise not as brown sound as a jcm 800. I'd say Eddie's best time was fair warning to 1984 .
It wasn't the guitar. It was his wet-dry-wet amp setup, and the Eventide making that sound. I don't rank it above any of his Roth-era tones. It became too processed and jangly by 1995. Just a very different sound.
I agree. The beautiful intonation and quality of EBMM guitars plus the wet dry wet
My purple EBMM EVH was born May 29th, 1992. I still recall picking it up like it was yesterday. Best guitar ever. Best neck ever. Best pickups ever. IMHO. :-)
This guitar and the telecaster. My favourite of all time.
I reckon Eddie definitely agreed with us, the slab body while not as comfy is a tele/pre EB MusicMan thing. The design is very utilitarian and functional but is just beautiful like a tele. From how the Floyd is mounted to the pickups it’s all about getting all the tone from the players hands - no filler like a Strat or even Les Paul you have to play it to get the tone.
I got my Tobacco sunburst, Edward Van Halen in 1992, had it for 16 years. Loved that guitar. Best neck on the planet. That guitar opened my eyes to the EB/mm line !!!
I don't have an EBMM EVH (yet), but I do have a beautilful Axis. It is by far the best guitar I own.
Hell yeah!
I have three EBMM EVH's, bought them brand new, two are 1991 models, Amber and Pink, the third is a 1992 Red one. They are museum quality pieces, they are awesome guitars.
No offense but I always hated this style of guitar. Really dorky looking compared to the striped.
That pink one is my dream guitar.
I’ve got a Purple 1993 EBMM EVH. Bought it around 2011 at a Guitar Center in Tempe AZ. There were about 10 of them of different finishes on the wall of their ‘used’ area. I played all of them, and chose the Purple. It’s a great instrument.
They are great guitars and yes the translucent purple is very sharp.
To be honest of all of the EVH guitars, this is my favourite. The colour, the roundness. It looks cool, not crazy. He played this on the F.U.C.K. tour and it sounded fabulous.
His earlier guitars were kind of crazy, his later onces look too... "Tactical", like a bullet proof vest or a piece of military gear.
The Music Man though, now that's a musician's design.
I got my red '91 new when I was teen and still have it. Thanks for the video!!
Had a 92 EB/MM EVH. Loved that guitar. The best. Best neck ever.
I have a 1994 trans Amber.
Best neck I've ever played in my opinion
strongest neck i might add bow never happen
Got two, 80917 a 1991 EBMM EVH, and 84199, a 1993 EBMM EVH. Both Amber. One in perfect condition with the whitest neck, and the other one is the player with some dings and a worn brown neck from the years of playing I've put on. My dad bought them in 1994, the '91 was used for $1500 CAD, the '93 brand new for $2200 CAD.
i had a 1991 plain finish with the maple top and the bird-eye maple neck. it came from the factory in san luis, obispo and shipped it back to the uk. i sold it for more than i paid for it 4 years later
My opinion, The Axis guitars are the same guitar as the EVH/EBMM and at a more reasonable price. Great guitars.
I agree!! The same with his Peavey 5150 amp. It's the exact amp as the 6505.
Totally true and you will save yourself about 4 grand now if not more! I literally just looked up the completed sales on Ebay and EVH Ernie Balls are a sellers market now! Makes me wonder, what about in 10-15 years???
@@randyromero4808 And the Bogera 6260 is a replica of the original 5150.
The neck on the new ones are not the same the pickups I believe are very close but I believe different in my ears when I play them back to back but still a great guitar
Have a 92 Ernie Ball Music Man Eddie Van Halen still love to play it
never will forget this guitar
My friend and co-worker bought number 854 in 1991, it was “highly flamed” purple. He had it delivered to our workplace in Alabama from I believe New York. It came UPS, and he was waiting for it every day. The day it finally came he had left work early, and I received it and took it to him. That day happened to be Elvis’s birthday, and he named the guitar “the king”.
Best tone he ever had...
Sadly, I've never owned one, but I used to work next to a music store that sold these when they were new, so I played them fairly often. I do regret not buying one when used prices were around $1300 or so - but that was around $2500 in 2021 money, so not exactly cheap at the time. I remember the neck being pretty unique - narrow, but fat - which was quite a contrast to the thin shredder guitars of the era.
Would love to hear some discussion from the music man side - how (hard) was the project to go through and stuff like that. I'm sure it was not the 1st guitar that eddie agreed to use
Would be a fun convo!!
Check out Rob Chapman's factory tour video he did a few years ago, they show some custom EVH's around the 20 min mark.
ua-cam.com/video/nWd9nx3IYOE/v-deo.html
@@netfinity99 I was so mad cause they spent 20 seconds on em!! Those are the stars!!! Wtf!’ 😂😂😂
ua-cam.com/video/UCf6Y_QT3ug/v-deo.html&ab_channel=EBMMEVH
Referencing factory tour video, EVH guitar also shown at 44:51 mark.
Recently bought a 1994 in Trans Amber at great cost!!
Best neck I've ever played. 😀
Oh yeah, the neck is incredible!!
I have a 1996 Axis that has the left over parts from the signature line. It has the bridge with the offset intonation saddles. The Dimarzio pickups are identical to the signature model. The only difference is they told me they modified the CNC carving machine to widen the neck 1/32 of an inch after the 12 fret because the bridge was a tad different from the Kramer guitar and was causing users have the high E string go off the side of the neck. The toggle is in a different spot. Mine is Natural Clear finish and I seen allot of the colored once that faded badly. The only mod I did was have my luthier put Stainless Steel frets cause over the years it had 2 refrets now it doesn't even have a mark on them. My only guitar since 96 when I bought it for $1750. Plays and SOUNDS great. ED left Ernie Ball because they couldn't build them fast enough. I'm not impressed with the Wolfgang or EVH guitars.
Yeah i seen a few say they Dimarzio's were changed after Ed left EBMM but that is total internet lore.
Both Steve blucher (chief engineer at dimarzio who made the pu's for the EBMM) and the people at Music man
insist they are identical pu's in wind,magnet and tone with one small exception. the newer ones are 4 conductor wire
instead of the original 2 conductor. This was done so the pickups could be split or wired series parallel.
Since no two guitars sound exactly the same any differences some may hear are due to that and not the dimarzio's being changed.
Still remember seeing it for the first time...
But when I tried one; I completely dwarfed that body-shape... And I'm just a 90kg 185 guy...
Plays like a dream tho!
Can't go wrong with an axis.. and remember Ed himself tinkered a lot with different guitars and setups; it's all in the fingers
I have Sterling Axis, White Stripe Series, EVH Wolfgang Standard, A 5150 Combo Amp, An EVH Overdrive Pedal, All are Fantastic!
I also bought a Sterling AX40-D. this is the only series they made with the actual dimarzio evh/axis set in them.
the regular AX4-'s all have sterling designed pu's that sound nothing like the dimarzio set.
Yep. I have the exact same model, bought new in ‘93. I have never gigged it, preferring my 86 Kramers, Barettas and Stagemasters. It is an investment for one of my grandkids when I am gone. They can fight over it! Meanwhile, it comes out sometimes,but not often. Rip. Ed.
My 91 Edward van Halen is still my favorite I has an USA peavey but to be honest music man just blew it away in so many different ways
Hey Jeremy great job as always, it's clear you do this professionally, very smoth and very natural. For some reason this guitar reminds me of a real 1959 Les Paul, the top color, The top color aging, the pickup color and aging, and it's visual mojo - Very cool. Also the historical significance of Ed's and Lester's friendship and this is Ed's "first" guitar design. Thanks for doing this video. Rick. PS: my ICONIC combo is on it's way and I can't wait!
I just got the wolfgang standard trans blue love it the next one im getting the bumblebee evh
Those stripped series are really great guitars. Play and sound amazing!
I've got one Translucent gold just after seeing it in "Right Here Right now" ....love at first sight :-)
I have a 1993 trans red that I bought new at the old Guitar Center in Sherman Oaks. Best neck I’ve ever played. I’ll never sell!
I bought my EVH Signature Ernie Ball guitar in 1994 @ Manny's Music in NYC. My favorite guitar, plays like buttah, fits my hand like a glove!
I still own my 94 signature it’s interesting to see differences between it and the one in the video
Yes....I have the cheap cousin OLP but what a killer look alike and has that EVH tone so I'm very happy 💯
Is it possible to get (nowadays) a traslucent gold guitar of that EBMM EVH?
My buddy had one of the EVH Music Man guitars. It played great and sounded great. He had a Boogie mkIV and ran a Rocktron Intellifex in the fx loop it sounded huge.
The current EBMM Axis is an improvement on this one, and quite a bit easier to come by.
I am the proud owner of two MM Axis guitars. One that came from a run for Wilcutt Guitars in Lava burst. I believe the only difference is the location of the switch to the EVH MM.
Yea I remember the day the news was announced he passed, i looked on reverb at evh gear and it was disgusting how much stuff had skyrocketed and what people wanted for music man, peavey, and evh guitars
91 and have had it since really does play like butter and they were going for $1,800 not 2000 but close
Some guy I used to work with in the early 90s bought a purple EVH Ernie Ball guitar. He was just a poser but loved to show everyone that guitar. I offered him what he paid and deal ALMOST went through before he backed out. Great guitar, wish I owned one now.
These guitars used to cost about what a Gibson Les Paul costs...and on the used market you could pick them up for $2k, or even less if it was a little dinged up. On October 6, 2020 they instantly shot up and every asshole selling one jacked them up to like $7k on average. That sucks....this is one of those unicorn guitars I always wanted but as a kid couldn't get. Now I know I'll never get one because of all the "collectors" out there. And more than half of the guys that own this can't play it for shit, but they'll sell it to you for $10k.
I hear ya man. Just get an AXIS model.......it's like 95% the same guitar.
@@Auen73 This is actually very true. The 5% difference is not really a major issue if you have always wanted a EVH but don't want to pay the $$$ these sell for these days!
In a few instances i prefer the axis, like where the 3 way toggle was relocated is better for me and of course the axis would or can be brand new with warranty if you don't buy a used one.
@@Murphy_R9 I had the opportunity to play a MM EVH model a few times.......I recall the EVH neck profile being very smallish & rounded at 1st & 2nd fret area? I owned an Axis SS for years, and recall it feeling a little flatter/wider or "normal felling" in the 1st & 2nd areas, over the MM EVH🤔. Aside from the neck revision and the pickup selector location.....it's the SAME guitar.
@@Auen73 I agree, the original EVH has a symmetrical shaped neck that can feel odd to some. it was a clone of eddie 5150 Kramer neck in profile. that Kramer had a worn 1st and second fret area in the neck but eddie loved it so EBMM made a digital clone of it.
I never knew Ed was going to pass away when I bought mine in 1993. Dunno what it is worth now, but that is immaterial ‘cos I am never going to sell it.
In the late nineties you could get these used for $800-1000. I always wanted a black or red one. I never got the ebmm but I did get a black peavey Wolfgang and I absolutely love it. I have since bought olp’s and love them too since I can’t afford a real ebmm these days.
I have a flame maple top EVH and I love it.
I have a cream colored (antique white officially) EVH Wolfgang Special first run 2010. Has all of the USA specs except, it has a flat top. Otherwise, it has the USA hardware, pickups, birdseye fretboard and came with the SKB Wolfgang hardshell case. I'm not sure whether I like the current MIM Wolfgang Special or not. I wish mine had the carved top, that the MIM ones now have though.
Those actually came out in 98. If I remember correctly, they sold for $599 brand new. It was a KILLER deal considering the arch top deluxe cost 3x that much and the only difference was it was flat and had a solid basswood body and solid maple neck. No birdseye neck or quilt/maple top. And all colors were solid on those. Gold, Black, and Ivory. They also only had one knob. ✌🏻oh my bad, I realize now we are talking about 2 different eras. I overlooked you saying yours had birdseye. They must’ve reintroduced them years later. I’ve been out of the loop. You got me thinking about that original though. Those were KILLER guitars for $600.
these guitars look comfortable and seem like they would be great guitars even for beginners....one of my favorite Eddie Van Halen guitars was the Frankenstrat Red, White & Black except the one I liked had like a Kramer banana headstock it was shaped like the end of a hockey stick and I think it was backwards....I guess people call that particular guitar the "5150" but I managed to walk into my little local guitar shop about 30mins from my house called "Hot Lick's" and you know the scene in Wayne's World where he sees his "dream guitar" in a see through glass class lol, well that was me when i saw in the corner of the store an Actual Frakenstrat Eddie Van Halen guitar...like one of his originals!! the guy who worked there told me they just got it off "The Smithsonian Museum" in D.C.where it sat in display for several years....it was just sitting inside what looked to be an energy drink cooler that had glass that you could see through and it had the green Pick Of Destiny sitting in the strings lol....I was almost dumn enough to ask the guy if I could play it, but once I saw that price tag I almost didnt even want to see it for fear of breaking it or something lol. they wanted something like $30,000 I was just happy to see apart of guitar virtuoso history...the epic guitar that blew every other guitarist away and then EVERYBODY was trying to be an Eddie Clone.
The Frankenstein/Frankenstrat has the cavity showing the neck pickup and the switch in the middle . Ed spent alotta time at the Kramer factory building 5150 guitars around the time Diver Down or the 1984 album release for that particular tour . The 5150s are believed to be Beretta bodies .
@@akfreed6949 yep! That's exactly how it looked when I saw it, with the cigarette stains and all, reflectors on the backside and the mighty mite block with the springs showing reminded me of the scene in Wayne's World "ohh yes, she shall be mine!"
I think my pink version is one of the last ones ever being produced. September 14th 1995. I believe the production ended
here, to September that is.
I got a 1998 Amber Peavey Wolfgang hard tail after playing the music man. I like it better because of the carved top, flatter neck radius and switch location (upper horn). But EBMM makes high quality guitars for sure. I actually traded my valentine for the Wolfgang. I also read the Dimarzio article and it has a lot of cool info. Thanks for the video!
'91 Green. My #1.
The peavey evh's are excellent too!
The Peavey evh's are good but they're very inconsistent.
What was the exact number that were produced? I’ve heard around 8,000 or so! But, I’d like to know an exact number. I have 2 late1991’s, (bought in December of that year), a heavy quilted purple and a Tiger striped grain gold one!
Less than 6,000 has been reposted!
Paid $1300 for mine brand new in '93. Still a great price for a fantastic guitar.
Absolutely brilliant thank you
Always loved this guitar, sadly I'm lefty and don't have lots of $$$$ to buy a custom built one. Maybe someday
Awesome!!! MM EvH you got there Jeremy!
Nice worn look, not too beaten up.
One color you forgot to mention is Transparent Black! Just like mine. 😉
I love’s my Musicman Eddies, but they dont leave my studio anymore, I think of them as “semi-retired”. They are becoming kind of valuable and difficult to replace and touring/gigging is hard on a guitar. Live, its WOLFGANGS all the way….🎸🤘🏻
This Ernie Ball was always my favorite out of all of Ed's signature guitars....maybe aside from the original Frankie!
Luke and Siloetto very attractive too.
I have a OG 1992 model, made on my 8th birthday, Amber (translucent gold) of course.
I had all of Eddie Van Halen’s signature guitars: EB Music Man, Peavey Wolfgangs, and EVH’s various guitars. I had to sell them all and at cheap prices when Covid hit. I am regretting it to this day. So sad.
$2000 US? I distinctly recall these being these being advertised for $1600 when they first hit. I considered buying one but man that was a lot of money back then for a kid in high school to save up.
I had a purple 93 I bought new!
Very informative Jeremy, thank you for this! Edward was such a perfectionist. How are you enjoying that work of art? - R
Thanks man!!
The person that sold me my fender 50th anniversary sunburst 62 reissue strat had one. He had the yellow one. He tried selling it to guitar center but they only offered 650. He ended up selling to his friend.
Yea I bought one it's bleach blue it's loud with. The box you can sound like him n play like him. Sterling edition that started it all play his videos in concert n her for your self
Just got one too
Got the Opaque Black one. I think its a 92 maybe.
never boreing ed
I have a red 94 that I bought new. Gets better every year.
Nice!!
I still have that issue
Got a purple one from Thoroughbred in 93 for 1300 and a yellow from Sam ash in 94 for 1100
Sold both. Wish I had a crystal ball
Greatest pickups ever🤟🏻
I agree and unfortunately no other production dimarzio or other pu out there sound exactly like them.
The neck one is very similar to a Air norton and is close enough but the bridge is really its own animal.
I have tried the tone zone(not the same) a air zone(still no dice!) the Norton(nope) the AT-1(closer but still
lacks the mojo of the Dimarzio EVH/Axis bridge version. I finally just spent the money and bought a few sets
on ebay, yeah $200 a set is a bit much but it was the only way outside of buying the whole guitar to get them.
I put one set into my Charvel custom shop TMZ mahogany natural and they sound amazing there.
@@Murphy_R9 May I ask if the pickup made your mahogany Charvel sound exactly like the basswood Axis?
@@thaile4417 Not exact but very close.
The Charvel has more thump in the low end.
I should've bought a few when I could afford them back in the 1990s era
Who's EBMM is that in the video? It's beautiful!
EBMM = Ernie Ball Music Man.
Really cool guitar
My question is how can Ernie Ball legally produce and sell this model if EVH is no longer with Ernie Ball or with us? Did Wolfie make a deal with them?
They’ve been able to do this for decades while Eddie was still alive and wolf was a baby. Ed’s name isn’t on it so Wolfie gets no $ from it. Plus, there’s been a couple of slight modifications to the guitar like the addition of a tone knob on EBMM. It’s the same reason peavey can keep selling hp series (wolfgang). Ed only owned his name. Peavey also still sells 6505 amp which is a 5150. It just doesn’t have his name on it. I’m assuming all of these things were discussed and agreed upon before the project even began.
I have that guitar magazine
Damn bro… you make me miss having one🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸🤘🏼😎
Breifly owned a Trans Red EBMM eVh, then a couple of Peavey Wolfgang Standards. My Trans Green Peavey with Trem was my favourite. Should never have sold it. Currently, own an OG eVh Wolfgang Special (with the Stainless frets) and an early release Indo Wolfgang Standard. The Special is good but the fretboard edges on the Standard have been beautifully rolled. It feels great but tuning stability is compromised by the Floyd Special (poorly named as it ain't very special at all...)
I have a sort of sky blue evh music man guitar and i have a few Axis guitars they cost about 600.00 dollars , they sound completely the same .But now that same yellow axis guitar will cost you 4000.00 YEAH ,But when music man released second addition couple years later as the 20 years aniversary original same colors had jump on it again , but in all honesty the second addition sounded a hell of lot better way better guitar tone ,and tone is important to every guy on the planet or female . I PERSONALY if i cant get my hand on another second addition aniversary music man guitar I will buy it
I had a chance purchase one of these years ago in 1992, Just a kid at the time. I had saved up all the money that I could. I had heard that they were on back order and used my money to buy something else. I regret not waiting and being more patient. These guitars are out of reach now. The people that are selling them now want too much money for them.
The greatets guitar player on the planet...
I’ve got an ebmm reflex that’s the finest guitar I’ve owned.
Mine is from 91 gold like ed never get rid of it
bad ass guitar
Thanks man!!
I’m sad that EBMM instruments basically cost the same as a PRS now.
I should have bought one years ago.
I’ll never part with my gold EBMM EVH. It’ll go to one of my kids when I’m gone.
I was fortunate enough to buy and sell a couple dozen in the 1990's. I held onto 5 beauties in "new" condition. I kept them tucked away in perfect condition. In 2019 I came home from work and everything was gone including my 5150 amps..three days later divorce papers showed up...
Get ready for this.........Here it comes.......Can I get one of these in a lefty?!?!? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!
Those prices are clearly saying they don’t give a shit about the everyday joe.
It's a premium guitar with a premium price .
Owned one, but took it back and got a Fender. Stupid me -:)
I thought the action on these guitars were horrible. The Wolfgang Guitars I think are way better then these versions.
😎🤟🏾
I wouldn't pay $15000 for any guitar
I think these guitars are sexy AF.
A lil EVH Fanboi
🎸✅️💯❤️👉🔥
It's sad the way Ed quit his partnership with Ernie . Ed had a few ideas on making a better guitar and Ernie Ball patented Ed's idea .It's like getting ripped off behind your back . I ALWAYS wanted one but I'm left-handed and they never made any lefty guitars
Mine has a nicer top and neck