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Don Corleone
03-27-2005, 08:56 AM
I've toyed with the idea of having a replica of Ed's Frankie made for sometime now. Well about 2 months ago I contacted a guy over at Eddievanhalen.com about his building me one, and here is the end result:

Nitro Express
03-27-2005, 01:55 PM
Wow! He did a great job on the details. The worn paint, the cigarette burns. He enlarged the screw holes for the pickguard to make them look like they have been exposed to sweat. The quarter is drilled exactly right and the Dunlop strap lock button on the top horn is spot on too. The stripes are exactly right.

Shit, getting all of the stuff spot on is not easy to do, you could really fool people into thinking it was a real EVH guitar with that one. Congrats!

UGS
03-27-2005, 06:32 PM
That's a beautiful piece of work. It's nice to see some great dedicated craftsmen out there with that kind of attention to detail.

Don, how does it play?

Panamark
03-27-2005, 09:57 PM
Cool DON ! Looks great !

Im with UGS, how does it play ?? Or is it purely ornamental ?

DeadOrAlive
03-28-2005, 04:02 PM
The neck on the guitar looks pretty good...

BrownSound1
03-28-2005, 04:08 PM
That dude better hopes EVH doesn't get wind of him building replicas, cuz we all know what will happen.

Still awesome work though...hell could have fooled me with that guitar.

The Scatologist
03-28-2005, 11:48 PM
The paintjob and everything is spot on but something about the shape just doesnt look like frankie to me, I think it's the contours on the side. Ed's guitar isn't as round I think. Sorta more of a cross between what a les paul and a strat would look like. The side of Ed's guitar is more straight down like a paul.


still VERY nice tho

Panamark
03-29-2005, 03:39 AM
It would be cool to hand one to Ed and see what his reaction was :D

Don Corleone
03-29-2005, 12:17 PM
Originally posted by Panamark
Cool DON ! Looks great !

Im with UGS, how does it play ?? Or is it purely ornamental ?

Thanks. It plays and sounds really good. I don't plan on it being an ornamental and plan on using it live.

A little bit about the guitar its a Lins Elsworth Ash body (same as the original Frankie)

Panamark
04-01-2005, 09:31 AM
Kick ass !!!

GAR
04-02-2005, 05:18 PM
Wow, someone took alot of time and attention to detailing this thing exactly like the original.

Lynn Ellsworth's bodies are a bit different, the horns for example are not dead-on, and as Scat says, the edge radius looks to be 1/2" unlike the original 3/8".

Big Deal. That thing took alot of hours, I'd have to charge just under $3 grand to build it.

How much?

DeadMan1984
04-02-2005, 09:34 PM
Now THAT'S something to behold! Looks like ya raided Ed's studio for it, man.

Hardrock69
04-03-2005, 04:01 AM
Congrats on the new toy!
:)

Don Corleone
04-03-2005, 04:26 AM
Originally posted by GAR
That thing took alot of hours, I'd have to charge just under $3 grand to build it.

How much?

This one cost me around 1150 USD (including shipping costs to the UK).

Panamark
04-03-2005, 06:01 AM
Not Bad ! So are you getting the Brownsound now Don ?? :)

Don Corleone
04-06-2005, 01:56 PM
I haven't had it through my Plexi yet, but through the Van Halen preset on my POD I've got instant Brown Sound

Panamark
04-08-2005, 02:29 AM
POD2 ??

Don Corleone
04-08-2005, 03:17 AM
POD XT

GAR
04-11-2005, 11:17 PM
I wouldn't do one like that, with so much detail, for $1100

- but I could do a small run of them.

Don Corleone
04-12-2005, 02:09 AM
If you've got the tools then I would do it. There's definately a market out there for Ed replica's (the trick is to get round Ed's copyrights).

Mr Grimsdale
04-12-2005, 05:50 AM
Originally posted by Don Corleone
This one cost me around 1150 USD (including shipping costs to the UK).

that's outrageous!
i want one

Mr Grimsdale
04-12-2005, 05:51 AM
what is the neck? a kramer?

it's 22 frets and too straight cut for a strat neck

Don Corleone
04-12-2005, 12:28 PM
The necks a custom job (Strat Headstock). If you want, I'll put you in touch with the guy.

GAR
04-12-2005, 09:41 PM
If I didn't have an original I would want one also.

That guy must dream EVH in his sleep, there's too much detail here that without referencing the original pics, I can only pick out a few inconsequential points.

BrownSound1
04-13-2005, 12:28 AM
It is a fine job..perhaps the best one I've ever seen. What pickup is in it?

Frankenstraat
04-13-2005, 02:23 PM
Hey Guys, Frankensraat has arived to rotharmy.com! Thats one of my creations your viewing, incidently I took this cool pic of the guitar with a lefty, here's something you don't see often!

Mr Grimsdale
04-13-2005, 03:14 PM
Originally posted by Don Corleone
The necks a custom job (Strat Headstock). If you want, I'll put you in touch with the guy.

yeah... i probably won't take it any further buy just in case let me have the details, is that frankenstrat guy that's just posted?

Frankenstraat
04-13-2005, 03:40 PM
Yes, thats me... What's up Don?

Mr Grimsdale
04-13-2005, 04:29 PM
damn fine job!

Frankenstraat
04-13-2005, 04:48 PM
I do alot of these guitars, here is a pic from this last January 4th where I had alot of 5150's to do.

Frankenstraat
04-13-2005, 04:49 PM
2 weeks later I had this batch of Frankies to deliver

Frankenstraat
04-13-2005, 04:51 PM
Here's a couple from March

Frankenstraat
04-13-2005, 04:53 PM
This is what I'm working on right now, 2 black and white Frankies, 4 bumble bee's, 2 red, black and white frankie's without aging and 2 red, black and white Frankie's aged

GAR
04-13-2005, 09:02 PM
Originally posted by Frankenstraat
Thats one of my creations your viewing, incidently

Whoa..

You have just made alot of future viewers very happy.

GAR
04-13-2005, 09:08 PM
Originally posted by Frankenstraat
- and 2 red, black and white Frankie's aged

When you get a chance sometime, maybe you can detail how you peel the stripes, which you prefer to cut the paint with (xacto or safety razor)

Maybe by this summer when I'm back to painting bodies myself, we'll get into a pissing contest regarding "aging" or "distressing" the finish!

Nitro Express
04-13-2005, 11:05 PM
They all look great Frankenstrat good job! Now I can see paying some money to get one of those if one is an classic EVH collector. Maybe Eddie should hire you to do his Art Guitars for him. LOL!

Frankenstraat
04-14-2005, 08:28 AM
I use all different ways to ages these, you can't just use an xacto blade or a straight edge blade. Here's a pic of a heavily aged 5150, I threw the book at this one to make it look like this. There's just so many different ways that had to be used to achieve the aging...

BrownSound1
04-14-2005, 10:30 AM
Excellent

Don Corleone
04-14-2005, 01:06 PM
Do you do any aging on the Black and White Frankies? (I know when the Frankie was Black and White it did have a few dinks in it)

Mr Grimsdale
04-14-2005, 01:17 PM
Damn, I'm so tempted by one of those.

Frankenstraat, you are a baaaad man.

Matt White
04-14-2005, 11:45 PM
TOP FUCKING NOTCH FS!!!!

ASDF125250
04-16-2005, 07:54 PM
That is some amazing craftmanship Frankenstrat! I am very impressed. Maybe in a few years...

Frankenstraat
04-17-2005, 02:24 PM
thanks!

GAR
04-18-2005, 08:21 PM
In the Fender Custom shop, they use glass microscope slides as hand scrapers for aging paint everywhere on the guitar especially on the maple necks to achieve the worn-in look.

They also hit the painted bodies with pieces of chain link, and plastic-faced mallets.

Mr Grimsdale
04-20-2005, 04:55 AM
Originally posted by GAR
They also hit the painted bodies with pieces of chain link, and plastic-faced mallets.

You can get similar treatment in certain "exclusive" clubs down the back streets of Olde London Towne.

Panamark
04-20-2005, 05:55 AM
LOL ! :D

Excellent MR G !

Panamark
04-20-2005, 06:01 AM
Hey Frankenstraat,

Did you hear about Rols Guitars by any chance ??
Your guitars are unbelievable ! Has EVH ever seen
one of them, or contacted you in an unfriendly manner ? :D

Frankenstraat
04-20-2005, 07:54 AM
Yes I heard of Rols, I'm repainting and rebuilding one of their 5150's right now for a very unhappy customer. I heard alot of good things about him until I recieved this instrument. And believe me I got alot of shit from EVH's lawyers, many times. I was one of the first guys here to start aging the guitars a couple of years ago. After seeing how well the aged guitars and the other replicas sell on eBay I guess they decided to make their own version with Charvel and come after guys like me. After a while they singled me out from everyone else and had me suspended several times from eBaY. It got to the point were they would have me suspended for selling any kind of guitar, even if it wasn't a replica of his. Because of all the nonsence I started making fat strats with EVH custom shop pickups and selling those, of coarse they they removed from auction and I was suspended for the mention of that too. At the same time they didn't stop any of they other auctions that blatently adsvertised EVH 5150 frankenstrat Replica etc.


Hey you guys got some good ideas with the aging there, I sometime use a puch and a hammer for certain dents and chips. I'll hgave to try some of them on some of my new replica's...

Panamark
04-20-2005, 07:59 AM
Well, mate Im glad to see you are still moving them, I had a feeling you were going to say EVH's lawyers had been in contact, your guitars are too good.. It doesnt surprise me at all.... Hope you found other channels, your craftsmanship is too good to be wasted.

DrMaddVibe
04-20-2005, 10:27 AM
Ever do a Frankenbass?

Just curious.


Drop me a PM.

fryingdutchman
04-20-2005, 10:38 AM
Unbelievable craftsmanship!

I know what just went to the top of my Christmas wish list.

Well done FS!!!

GAR
04-21-2005, 10:49 PM
Originally posted by DrMaddVibe
Ever do a Frankenbass?


HA! Actually I did a "frankenbass" in paint only, on some pbass copy for the guy in Mind Over Four back in 1985.

What happened was he had it on for a year, then caught so much shit for it being all gay like Eddies so he just had it resprayed black. It took me a long time with about 2 posters and 4 magazine shots to figure it out.

Now anyone could do an EVH paint job because so many pics are out there on the internet of all his original guitars.. pulling tape exactly like EVH's was a headscratcher; "OK lets see, he musta STARTED the guitar in black, THEN red.. no no no it was umm" - confusing to say the least.

Don Corleone
04-22-2005, 03:08 PM
Originally posted by DrMaddVibe
Ever do a Frankenbass?

Just curious.


Drop me a PM.

Now that is something I wouldn't mind seeing.

Frankenstraat
04-23-2005, 11:22 AM
Lets see what happens, the guy has not officially order it yet, I'm going to do it charvel style without the routings, it wouldn't look right otherwise

Big Fat Sammy
04-29-2005, 02:13 PM
Cool guitars, whats up with the quarter? Did Eddie do that on the original?

GAR
04-29-2005, 03:11 PM
Yes, it was originally to cover a hole, then moved under the bridge to hold back the Floyd from backpulling too far and breaking the toprout ledge under it.

The holes under the quarter and within the low E side bridgepost screw were filled with fiberglas resin and redrilled, with the quarter removed, in 1983 after which the guitar (body at least) was retired in favor of the new load of Kramers Ed got in Feb 1983.

Rumor has it Mick Mars of Motley Crue - an avid collector - now owns that orig Frankenstrat. However I had spoken once with Rudy Leirien (EVH guitar tech for the first 12 years) and he alludes to several exact dupes. So it may be possible Ed has duped the "original" several times himself already.

Don Corleone
04-29-2005, 03:24 PM
There's a few rumours about the original Frankie. I've heard one that Ed's got it locked up in a vault somewhere.

GAR
04-29-2005, 03:33 PM
.. and by vault, you mean Public Storage in Sherman Oaks?

Someone posted a pic of him going thru his storage unit a few years back, when he was selling parts of his MusicMan stash to Guitar Center.

Sesh? Did you save that somewhere on a drive?

Don Corleone
04-29-2005, 04:07 PM
Originally posted by GAR
.. and by vault, you mean Public Storage in Sherman Oaks?

Upstairs in the 5150 studio apparently.

Frankenstraat
04-29-2005, 08:56 PM
Ed still uses the Frankie till this day, it was never retired or given to Mick Mars although he was known to give guitars as gifts to his friends like the 5149 1/2 Shamer he gave to Dweezil Zappa. Here is a recent pic of Eddie and Frankie from the last tour, notice the Charvel Art Series neck on it...One thing though, you're correct in saying the original is locked up, well not actually locked up it just sits there and collects dust and its the original Black and White Frankie. The Red Black and White is a replica of the original guitar. By the end of the second tour Eddie realized the historical value of the guitar and made a replica of it. This became the Red, Balck an White version...

Big Fat Sammy
04-30-2005, 01:40 PM
Didn't know that about the quarter...cool.


I bet a few people think that Ed sold them the original...he probably sold mick marrs a replica for a shitload of money.

evhsrv5150
05-02-2005, 08:08 PM
Frankenstraat is the man! I know Frankenstraat from EVH.com and he's helped me out with gear problems before. He's a knowledgable guy and is just palin awesome to deal with. Hopefully if I ever get some extra cash I can get one as nice as The Don's!

GAR
05-03-2005, 11:06 PM
Does he make necks and bodies himself, or does he get them already made, does he say?

Frankenstraat
05-11-2005, 09:45 PM
What up EVHSRV, I didn't know you were on this site too.Yes I make the bodies but lately I have had the time to make necks, I only make them for my high end guitars that require a one piece maple neck with a walnut plug and stripe with an assemetrical profile or stuff that has birdseye, flame or quilt ot it.

akc5150
05-16-2005, 08:19 PM
Hey dudes!! Yet another EVH.com member here!! Frankenstraat produces some real fine work (as you've all seen) and is one of the most helpful guys you can ever talk to about doin' your own Frankie! But hey...Frankenstraat, you sure about Frankie being a replica of the original VH1?? I, like most other people, thought it was the same guitar!! How'dya find out about that? Oh, by the way guys, COOL SITE!!
:D

Frankenstraat
05-16-2005, 09:41 PM
Hey, its my brother from another mother! Welcome to the threads man. Yeah I'm pretty sure about that, the original Black and white still exhists, Ed realized its historical value at one point and its just sitting in his studio collecting dust. This was actually verfied by Wayne Charvel. If you take pics of both guitars and do an overlay you can see there are differences in the style of the body. I don't doubt that the finelines fell off but at one point in time the were restored.

akc5150
05-18-2005, 02:40 PM
Now that you mention it, I've just been studying a few pics of the VH1 and there is a big hunk of white missing on the lower bout on the rear edge, and can't see any evidence of this on frankie... As always, your probably right!! :p

Frankenstraat
05-18-2005, 03:51 PM
I've been trying to post a pic of the thre version of the frankie I have side by side and you can see the differences in the body shape and the stripes as well...

akc5150
05-18-2005, 04:07 PM
Do you mean 'three versions of the frankie'?? Ok, so ya got the VH1, the RWB Frankie.....and??? Do ya mean the B&W without the pin-stripes?? Or the Kramer ad model?? I must say, I would love to see them side by side as I love looking at details.... Hope you can post them soon....either here or.......mmmmmm....

Frankenstraat
05-18-2005, 04:27 PM
there are 2 frankies RBW with slightly different stipes, not the Kramer ad Frankie, and the there is the black and white original, the 2 RBW frankies have similar nbody styles but neither of them have the same style body as the black and white...

akc5150
05-18-2005, 04:30 PM
Do ya mean with the standard trem and then the floyd or........something else?? I'm REALLY curious now!!

Frankenstraat
05-18-2005, 04:37 PM
no, I mean two frankies with slightly different stripes, both with floyds, the chips, the quarter etc.

akc5150
05-18-2005, 04:40 PM
Show me, show me, show me!!! I'm so excited at finding out stuff like this!!