Musical Props!!

[Chewie15]

Hi Everyone.

I noticed a thread in the prop forum a while back where someone was asking about Van Halen guitar building... well, I'm not building a '5150' guitar that they were discussing, but I have built the VH1 'Black and White' (circa 1977) and just finished a 'Shark' relic (circa 1978) I'm also about to start a 'Frankenstein'... which was the black and white one before Eddie painted in red.

I think these are some cool guitars and recreating them is the same as building and painting a Boba Fett Helmet in that I'm trying to duplicate all of the same details like scrathes, wear, paint, etc.

Hope you enjoy the ones I've built so far... guitars are my other passion

Here are the originals:

H

 

[Mechamaniac]

IIRC, the iconic Eddie Van Halen guitar was one that he threw together from an old Kramer body and spare parts and "decorated" with criss crossing lines of black electrical tape.

I also remember seeing a documentary where some guy went to his house to interview him and he took the guy to his personal recording studio that was in a shed or some such on his property. He grabbed his guitar, walked out of the house to a pickup truck where he threw it (yes, threw it) into the bed. Then got in, and drove off.

 

[Chewie15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mechamaniac @ Feb 11 2007, 05:02 AM) [snapback]1416287[/snapback]</div>

IIRC, the iconic Eddie Van Halen guitar was one that he threw together from an old Kramer body and spare parts and "decorated" with criss crossing lines of black electrical tape.

I also remember seeing a documentary where some guy went to his house to interview him and he took the guy to his personal recording studio that was in a shed or some such on his property. He grabbed his guitar, walked out of the house to a pickup truck where he threw it (yes, threw it) into the bed. Then got in, and drove off.
[/b]

Oh man... if we're going to discuss Van Halen's original 'axe' that eventually became known as the 'Frankenstein' (that in the early 80's had a Kramer neck on it)... after having about 4 other necks on it from time to time. Hense the name Frankenstein because Eddie was always messing with it...

Here's the scoop:

it was originally a San Dimas made body (made by Boogie Bodies Brand) in Southern California from Lynn Ellsworth and was considered a 'second' (because it had defects in the wood grain). Eddie bought the body for $50 and the neck for $80... both were replacement parts, not Kramer at all. A matter a fact, Eddie didn't even get involved with Kramer until about 1983. And this Black and White version was made for the cover of Van Halen I... that's why he sprayed it black, taped it up and sprayed it white, and added some pin-stripping (done at the time for the album cover).

It's actually qouted as the most valuable guitar in history at over a million dollars. Not bad for $200 when he built it in 1976

It is true that he would toss his guitars around

As for the Shark replica I built, that was once a 1976 Ibanez Detroyer that Edde hacked up and was upset that he lost so much tone in it after he cut it up for looks You can see the Shark on the cover of 'Woman and Children first'.

H

 

[motman241]

The entire 'Kramer' thing didn't come to be until many years later. Kramer logos were added to his guitars, no matter the make or parts used. And yes, Eddie always said that guitars were meant to be played, not kept in cases, so he never had them in a case.

So tell us, Chewie, what were some of your weathering techniques?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the notch cut in that Gibson/Ibanez-type was done with a chainsaw.

 

[Gman666]

In December 2004 at Dimebag Darrell's funeral, Eddie donated his famous black and yellow guitar from the Van Halen II album inlay, stating that Dimebag had always said that was his all time favorite guitar. The guitar was put in Darrell's KISS coffin, and he is buried with it.

"Only a few weeks earlier, Darrell and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, had finally met their Van Halen counterparts, Eddie and Alex, an occasion Dime described to me as inspirational, uplifting, and almost religious. Darrell had asked Van Halen if there was any way he could jump the queue and buy one of the limited-edition black-and-yellow-striped Charvel guitars. Ed replied that he would tape the thing up himself, in Dime's presence. As this was no longer possible, Edward explained, he wanted to give Dime the ORIGINAL black-and-yellow ax, the guitar depicted on the back of VAN HALENII. It is this guitar Dime was holding when he was laid to rest ..... "[/b]

Is this in your plans? Cannot wait to see it. I love your work.

Greg

I know that he did not do the original himself but it was done for him.

 

[Uber Fett]

I remember guys grabbing their Fenders and a roll of electrical tape just to get the look.

Shawn

 

[Chewie15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gman666 @ Feb 11 2007, 06:37 AM) [snapback]1416318[/snapback]</div>

In December 2004 at Dimebag Darrell's funeral, Eddie donated his famous black and yellow guitar from the Van Halen II album inlay, stating that Dimebag had always said that was his all time favorite guitar. The guitar was put in Darrell's KISS coffin, and he is buried with it.

"Only a few weeks earlier, Darrell and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, had finally met their Van Halen counterparts, Eddie and Alex, an occasion Dime described to me as inspirational, uplifting, and almost religious. Darrell had asked Van Halen if there was any way he could jump the queue and buy one of the limited-edition black-and-yellow-striped Charvel guitars. Ed replied that he would tape the thing up himself, in Dime's presence. As this was no longer possible, Edward explained, he wanted to give Dime the ORIGINAL black-and-yellow ax, the guitar depicted on the back of VAN HALENII. It is this guitar Dime was holding when he was laid to rest ..... "[/b]

Is this in your plans? Cannot wait to see it. I love your work.

Greg

I know that he did not do the original himself but it was done for him.
[/b]

Eddie made the first ones for sure... he hated waiting for charvel and other luthiers to do stuff for him, so he often did most of his own in the early days He would actually nail the pickup into the body and even chiseled out the bodies to fit pickups. He also came up with the 'brown' sound he had by dipping his Gibson pickups in surfboard wax that he'd melt in a coffee can... he was quite the inovator
A matter a fact the Shark (Destroyer) was done because he took it in to Charvel to get it painted and when they said they we're busy for about a month, he couldn't wait. He took it hme and drilled holes in the shape it is now and cut the chunk of wood out with a hacksaw.

Another hard thing to recreate were the colors he used were all old Schwinn colors, like the Shark was 'Apple Krate Red', which is not made anymore... so finding colors to work was a very challenging process. I miss growing up in Souther Cali where at age 7 you could buy toxic spray colors in the local bike shop, boy times have changed

As for the 'Bumblebee' that is buried with Dimebag, Eddie had it made for him by Charvel and it never worked for him, he hated palying it and mainly used it for the photos for the album Van Halen II. He was going to make a deal with Charvel at the time, but they didn't want one so he changed the headstock out again


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(motman241 @ Feb 11 2007, 05:30 AM) [snapback]1416297[/snapback]</div>

The entire 'Kramer' thing didn't come to be until many years later. Kramer logos were added to his guitars, no matter the make or parts used. And yes, Eddie always said that guitars were meant to be played, not kept in cases, so he never had them in a case.

So tell us, Chewie, what were some of your weathering techniques?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the notch cut in that Gibson/Ibanez-type was done with a chainsaw.
[/b]

I used all sorts of things... mainly X-Actos, razors and paint. To recreate the buckle rash on the back I actually pounded it with a chain

H

 

[Apollo]

Nice work on the Guitar and interesting read on Eddies various git-fiddles.

I always though they were Kramer Parts.

 

[Chewie15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(apollo @ Feb 11 2007, 04:36 PM) [snapback]1416510[/snapback]</div>

Nice work on the Guitar and interesting read on Eddies various git-fiddles.

I always though they were Kramer Parts.
[/b]

A lot of people make that mistake because in '83 he had Kramer make his '5150' and had a Kramer Duckhead neck on his Frankentein for awhile. He then went to Ernie Ball and now back to Charvel for his art series.

I'm only into the old school ones he built himself, they had far more character than the factory built ones

H

 

[TomSpinaDesigns]

Looks awesome. Nice to see people tackling the more oddball guitars (even if the Destroyer was the main guit on, what? Half of VH1? More?)

Not sure if I'm reading right but is yours based on a real Ibanez Destroyer? Korina wood, lawsuit series and all that or some recent Gibson or Epiphone offering?

What pickups did you go with?

Tom

 

[Chewie15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wampa @ Feb 11 2007, 07:06 PM) [snapback]1416590[/snapback]</div>

Looks awesome. Nice to see people tackling the more oddball guitars (even if the Destroyer was the main guit on, what? Half of VH1? More?)

Not sure if I'm reading right but is yours based on a real Ibanez Destroyer? Korina wood, lawsuit series and all that or some recent Gibson or Epiphone offering?

What pickups did you go with?

Tom
[/b]

Good questions Tom

Here's some of my work I did on the Epiphone I cut up... I would never destroy an original Ibanez Destroyer (no pun intended), they're getting hard to find aand not so cheap for a replica project. I had to re-shape the body route and most of the headstock... it wasn't even close on the Epi and I wanted it to look just like the Destroyer. Here's some pics of my work with Aves to make the adjustments. I also did some extra routing to the body as well to make it even more accurate. I had help from a guy who owned an original Detroyer and he gave me measurements, etc. (not photoed) I ended up re-shaping the horn and the elbow too, this guitar in the end was practically resculpted
For the pickup I have a vintage Dimarzio on order, that was the original pickup he used. I'm also going to put on a brass nut.

The Destroyer Eddie had only recorded 'You Really Got Me', 'On Fire' and 'Jamies Crying'. After he cut it he never recorded with it again Kind of funny that this guitar only recorded three songs... but is a 'legend' of all guitars.

H

 

[motman241]

I really love what Eddie did for guitars, and recommend serious guitar players have a "Frankenstrat"-type to experiment with. I have one. If it could be screwed, glued, or done to a guitar, I tried it on this one. I really learned a lot from it. There's still a lot of "experiments" I'd love to play with.

 

[Chewie15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(motman241 @ Feb 11 2007, 08:43 PM) [snapback]1416660[/snapback]</div>

I really love what Eddie did for guitars, and recommend serious guitar players have a "Frankenstrat"-type to experiment with. I have one. If it could be screwed, glued, or done to a guitar, I tried it on this one. I really learned a lot from it. There's still a lot of "experiments" I'd love to play with.
[/b]

I'm making the original 'Frankenstein' replica next

H

 

[phez]

I had one of those Korena wood Ibanez Destroyers and traided it on an amp a few years ago. I have been trying to find another in good shape but have not been having much luck. The ones I have found have been way too expensive. I think they are getting fairly rare.

 

[mike5150]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chewie15 @ Feb 11 2007, 01:36 PM) [snapback]1416574[/snapback]</div>

He then went to Ernie Ball and now back to Charvel for his art series.


[/b]

You forgot about Peavey.

 

[The Manlet]

do they play as hppd as they look

 

[JediG60racer]

I love the Kramer 1984 that www.musicyo.com has available, I keep getting tempted to buy one and van halenize it.

Of course I already have a Kramer Baretta that I could just do that to. I love that Kramer body style.

 

[Chewie15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(phez @ Feb 11 2007, 11:33 PM) [snapback]1416777[/snapback]</div>

I had one of those Korena wood Ibanez Destroyers and traided it on an amp a few years ago. I have been trying to find another in good shape but have not been having much luck. The ones I have found have been way too expensive. I think they are getting fairly rare.
[/b]

That's a shame because those Ibanez Detroyers are so sweet. Hard to find and expensive these days too


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mike5150 @ Feb 12 2007, 01:28 AM) [snapback]1416855[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Chewie15 @ Feb 11 2007, 01:36 PM) [snapback]1416574[/snapback]

He then went to Ernie Ball and now back to Charvel for his art series.


[/b]

You forgot about Peavey.
[/b][/quote]

I don't think he ever played a Peavey guitar? I know that his '5150 amp' line is made by Peavey.

He also played Steinberger, Gibson and Wolfgang guitars. A matter a fact his favorite guitar was a ES 335 Gibson, but the band said it wasn't cool enough to play on stage... then eddie went with Fender but hated the thin sound, so he then made that Frankenstein my putting the ES-335 pickup in a chiseled cavity he made in the humbucker shape on the Boogie Bodies Guitar


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GundamZeppelin @ Feb 12 2007, 07:19 AM) [snapback]1417053[/snapback]</div>

do they play as hppd as they look
[/b]

They all play great.

H

 

[DLO Studios]

The Wolfgang is a Peavey.

 

[Chewie15]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DLO Studios @ Feb 12 2007, 02:11 PM) [snapback]1417169[/snapback]</div>

The Wolfgang is a Peavey.
[/b]

You see... I'm just not into the whole 'Sammy' phase of Van Halen and never even payed attention to those guitars

My bad.

H