1977-2015 Eddie Van Halen's Guitars

Edward Lodewijk van Halen was born in Nijmegen, Netherlands on January 26, 1955 to a Dutch father and Indonesian mother.  The family emigrated to the United States when Eddie was 7 years old settling in Pasadena, Ca in 1962.

 

Eddie began his musical career with classical piano lessons from the age of 7 to 12, winning the annual piano competition at Long Beach City College 3 times.  At age 9, Eddie formed his 1st band, the Broken Combs, with his brother Alex where he played piano and Alex played saxophone. 

 

Both Eddie and Alex soon transitioned to guitar and drums forming the band Mammoth in 1972 with friend Mark Stone on bass, and Eddie on lead vocals.  According to Eddie, "I got tired of singing. I used to lead sing, you know, and I couldn't stand that crap!  I'd rather just play.  So David Lee Roth was in another local band, and we used to rent his P.A.  We said, "F***! it's much cheaper if we just get him in the band!" so we got Dave in the band in 1973."  In 1974, they changed the band's name to Van Halen and recruited Eddies Pasadena College classmate Michael Anthony Sobolewski to replace Stone on bass. 

 

After successfully navigating the Los Angeles and West Hollywood club scene and a 29 track demo produced by Kiss's Gene Simmons, Van Halen was signed to Warner Bros. in 1977 and released their self-titled debut album on February 10, 1978.  The original lineup released 5 more albums until David Lee Roth left the band in 1985.  Roth was replaced by Sammy Hagar with whom they released another 4 albums until Hagar left the band in 1996.

 

After multiple reunions and other members including Eddie's son Wolfgang, Eddie Van Halen played his final show with Van Halen on October 4, 2015 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

 

Eddie played many iterations of his trademark striped “Frankenstein” guitars over the years, including versions with different bodies, necks, headstocks, and colors from Charvel, Kramer, Ibanez, Steinberger, Peavey, Music Man, as well as his own brand, EVH.  However, each guitar was striped differently creating a unique "fingerprint" to identify each guitar.

 

Eddie Van Halen guitars by Album:

• Van Halen I (1978) → All Frankenstrat
• Van Halen II (1979) → Mostly Frankenstrat, with Flying V on “You’re No Good”, and Ibanez Destroyer on “Beautiful Girls”
• Women and Children First (1980) → Frankenstrat 
• Fair Warning (1981) → Frankenstrat
• Diver Down (1982) → Frankenstrat + Destroyer + Little Guitar
• 1984 (1984) → Mostly Kramer 5150, Ripley
• 5150 (1986) → Kramer 5150, Steinberger GL2T, Ripley
• OU812 (1988) → Kramer 5150, Steinberger GL2T, Ripley
• F.U.C.K. (1991) → Ernie Ball/Music Man EVH
• Balance (1995) → Music Man EVH, Peavey Wolfgang protos
• Van Halen III (1998) → Peavey Wolfgang
• A Different Kind of Truth (2012) → EVH Wolfgang (USA & Stealth models), EVH Frankenstrat replicas live
• 2015 EVH Wolfgang USA Signature  (Image #15) - This was the last Guitar Eddie ever played onstage October 4, 2015 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles

 

Eddie was the forerunner of many musical innovations that led to his unmistakable and unique sound.  Some of these are described in more detail in another section below.  But side from Eddies numerous technical innovations, Rick Beato discusses why Eddie Van Halen is uncopyable, and is the GOAT...

1977-1983 The Early Years:  Frankenstein SN 61071 (Image #5)

In the early years, Eddie struggled to find a production guitar that met his needs.  He liked the tremolo and the looks and playability of a Fender, but he preferred Gibson sound so, he decided to build his own guitar, a crossover between a Fender and a Gibson.  In early 1977, Eddie purchased a Stratocaster body and neck from Boogie Bodies shop, owned by Wayne Charvel and Lynn Ellsworth.  The body that Eddie picked for Frankenstein was a factory-second unfinished one.  Then he added a single PAF humbucker from his old ES335 in the bridge position and so the "Frankenstein" era began...

 

July '77 - March '79:  Black & White "Frankenstein VH I / Eruption"  SN 61071  (Image #5)

• Although Eddie The 1st notable version of "Frankenstein" was the white guitar with black stripes seen on the cover of Van Halen I
• Eddie painted the body black using acrylic lacquer Schwinn bicycle paint.  He then took gaffer tape and rolled it around the body couple of times, and then repainted the whole body white making the black stripes.  As a finishing touch added a Gibson decal on the "Charvel" headstock
• He used Fender tremolo from his old 1958 Stratocaster, a brass non-locking nut, and Schaller tuners
• He used the Gibson PAF pickup from his old ES-335 – which he dipped into paraffin wax (Dr. Zogg’s Sex Wax specifically) filled Yuban coffee can, in order to get rid of the feedback, a technique that is now known as "potting"
• He cut out and mounted his own homemade black pickguard, covering the neck and middle pickup routings, and installed a single master volume knob (although the knob itself, famously, was labeled “Tone” )
• He played the guitar on Van Halen’s first album, and during the band’s first tour.

 

March '79 - May '83:  Red, Black & White "Frankenstein II"  (Image #5 & 6)

• In mid 1979 Eddie repainted the black & white  "Frankenstein" SN 61071 red, again using acrylic lacquer Schwinn bicycle paint, using Gaffer tape to create the black and white stripes on it.
• He also glued a couple of bike reflectors to the back of the body, which he would often expose during concerts.  
• In 1980, Eddie transferred the Floyd Rose FRT-1 and neck from Bumblebee to Frankenstein.  He had problems keeping his guitar in tune with this version of Floyd Rose, which he solved by screwing in a 1971 quarter to serve as a bridge stop.  In mid '82 Eddie replaced the FRT-1 with an FRT-4, eliminating the need for the coin, but he kept it on a body as a decal.
• The bridge pickup was briefly replaced with the EVH Custom DiMarzio from "Bumblebee", but Eddie soon put the old Gibson PAF back in.  Eddie swapped the pickup more than a few times, but knowing that Gibson PAF was his favorite, he most likely kept that one in for the most part.
• One of the many quirks of Frankenstein was that the bridge pickup was put into the cavity at a slant with the bass side (low E string) closer to the bridge, and the treble side (high E string) farther away. The slant allowed the pickup to capture a brighter, more articulate sound on the bass strings (closer to the bridge) while producing a warmer, fuller tone on the treble strings (farther from the bridge). This compensated for the natural tonal differences between thick and thin strings, creating a more even response across the fretboard.
• Eddie installed a Mighty Mite single-coil in the neck cavity, but it wasn’t wired at all – and probably served as a way to trick the copycats.
• The middle cavity originally had a Tele pickup but it was soon removed and it was kept empty from then on (usually with some junk wires in it and a three-way switch)
• He replaced the original white pickguard with a hand made plate which was soon replaced with a retail black Stratocaster pickup cut to cover only the volume and tone control cavities
• Frankenstein was an ongoing development platform over its 6 years as his primary guitar with MANY changes, sometimes on a day to day basis!  This guitar had at least 8 body/paint changes, 11+ different necks, 8 tremelos, and at least 5 different pickups!!
• In 2007, Fender launched Eddie Van Halen's EVH brand with a limited-edition Custom Shop recreation of his iconic Frankenstein guitar that was so accurate, Eddie Van Halen himself mistook one of them for his original Frankenstein.  After playing the replica, Eddie grabbed a Sharpie and wrote “This is the Shit” on the back of the real "Frankenstein's"  neck, to distinguish it from the replicas!
• "Frankenstein" was on display at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York from April to October, 2019, and is now under the care of his son Wolfgang

 

EDDIE VAN HALEN:  In His Own Words | The Journey to Frankenstein

1983-90 The Kramer Era:  Kramer based Stryper guitars  (Image #2)

Eddie signed an endorsement deal with Kramer in 1983.  From 1983-90 Eddie played MANY versions of his famous Kramer Pacer Special based red, white, and black striped guitars over the years, with the most famous being the "5150", and "Hot for Teacher" guitars.

 

These guitars were heavily based on Eddie’s “Frankenstein” guitar featuring the same red finish with black and white stripes, and equipped with just a single functioning humbucker and a single volume control.  They got their nickname "5150" from Eddie’s 5150 Studio where the album 1984 and all subsequent Van Halen albums were recorded.  The Kramer Strypers have become some of the most recognizable musical instruments in modern history.

 

1983 Kramer "Hot For Teacher"   SN CO176  (Image #3)

• Sold to Jim Irsay in 2023 for $3,932,000, making this guitar the 3rd most expensive Electric Guitar ever sold at auction
• Built by Paul ‘Unk’ Unkert at the Kramer Green Grove Road Plant in Neptune, NJ with ‘Unk’ stamps on Neck and Body
• Poplar double-cut “Strat” style body, the top routed for a single double-coil Seymour Duncan humbucker pickup, volume control, Floyd Rose bridge with whammy bar, unvarnished 22 fret maple bolt-on neck (stamped “UNK” on heel) with Kramer sticker on headstock, unvarnished body and headstock spray painted with Van Halen’s characteristic black and white abstract stripe design on a red base, rear routed for the Floyd Rose’s three springs and stop, no pick guard or rear cover (as designed)
• This was one of Eddie’s main guitars throughout 1983 and 1984 until Eddie began using another similarly striped guitar with a basswood body which became known as the "5150" guitar SN B4129
• 1984 Kramer EDDIE VAN HALEN "Hot For Teacher Mini" In Hot For Teacher video  sold by Juliens Dec 2020 for $50,000 - A scaled down non playing version of the"Hot for Teacher" Kramer used by "young Eddie Van Halen" in the "Hot For Teacher" video

 

1984 Kramer"5150"  SN B4129 (Image #2)  

• "5150" was Eddie’s main guitar from 1984 until 1990 when he moved his endorsement to Ernie Ball/Music Man
• Basswood body, Red with Black & White stripes
• Maple neck and fretboard, banana headstock
• Floyd Rose FRT-1 w/locking nut - 1st version of Floyd Rose
• Stock Seymour Duncan JB pickup (Seymour Duncan, Larry DiMarzio, Steve Blucher, and Dave Friedman have all confirmed that the 5150 pickup was a stock Duncan JB)
• Single volume knob (labeled "Tone")

 

1984 Kramer "1984"  SN F1021 (Image #2) - 

• Uused on he 5150 and OU812 tours
• The low E string on this guitar was actually a bass A string tuned down 3 1/2 steps and used for the 5150 song, "Good Enough".

 

1982 Kramer "Kramer Ad" guitar SN #B1297  (Image #4)  

• Auction pending... Estimated sale $2-3M
• This guitar was played on tour by Eddie Van Halen in 1982 and 1983 at concerts in the United States and South America with photo documentation including shows in Philadelphia, Caracas, Venezuela; Sao Paulo, Brazil; and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
• "#1 Edward Van Halen Model" inscribed on the back of the headstock.
• Guitar was gifted to Rudy Leiren, his guitar technician in the 1980’s, with "Rude - Its Been a Great Ten Years – Lets Do Another Ten. Eddie Van Halen" inscribed on body by Eddie Van Halen
• Rudy Leiren eventually sold the guitar to Motley Crue guitarist Mick Mars who played it extensively while recording the band’s album Dr Feelgood and other recordings.
• Additionally, this guitar was used to test Prototype #1 of the most important guitar artificats of all time, the Floyd Rose FRT-5

 

1984 Kramer "C5150"  SN C5150 sold in 2021 for $120,000

• #4 of 5 Kramer Stryper guitars hand-made by Eddie Van Halen at the Kramer factory in N.J.
• Played by EVH on the 1984 Van Halen World and 1986 5150 tours

 

Eddie’s Guitars (1975-Kramer Era) – Van Halen Gear Timeline

Boogie Bodies History – Van Halen Gear Timeline

1990 – 2015:  Wolfgang Era - EBMM EVH vs PEAVEY WOLFGANG vs EVH STEALTH USA

 

2009+ EVH Wolfgang USA Edward Van Halen Signature  Model 5107921849/0868  MSRP $4599/4499  (Image #10)

• Basswood Body, Bigleaf Maple Top
• BINDING: 5 ply Cream
• NECK: Quartersawn Maple
• NECK THICKNESS:  .805" at 3rd & .890" at 12th Fret
• FINGERBOARD: Ebony, 12"-16" Compound Radius
• FRETS: 22
• SCALE: 25.5″
• NECK FINISH: Hand-Rubbed Satin Urethane   (note:  8 different neck finishes were tried before settling on the thin acrylic urethane finish.  There was one rubbed with simple gun stock oil, one with only sealer, one with only lacquer, another with a combination of sealer and lacquer, acrylic urethane sprayed thin like a lacquer, polyurethane sprayed thin, thick polyurethane, and a thick polyester
• NECK JOINT: 5 Bolt Sculpted Neck Joint 
• TUNERS: EVH®-Branded Gotoh®
• BRIDGE: EVH Licensed Floyd Rose Double Locking Tremolo WITH EVH D-Tuna and 40mm Brass Block
• CONTROL: Volume (EVH® BI Tech HPU Low Friction Pot) with Treble Bleed Circuit, Tone (250K EVH® Bourns® High Friction Pot)
• SWITCH: EVH® Reverse-Style 3-Position Switching: Position 1: Neck Pickup, Position 2: Neck and Bridge, Position 3: Bridge
• Stutter-stop on a dime for the classic “You Really Got Me” attitude courtesy of the red-button killswitch.
• BRIDGE PICKUP: Direct Mount EVH® Wolfgang® AL2 Humbucking
• NECK PICKUP: Direct Mount EVH® Wolfgang® AL3 Humbucking
• APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 7 lbs
• COLORS:  Ivory, Stealth Black

 

1996-2004 Peavy EVH Wolfgang  (Image #9)

Around late 1995 Eddie signed a deal with Peavey and continued where he left off with Music Man. The new guitar that he built with Peavey was named after Eddie’s son Wolfgang and looked very similar to the Music Man model – but featured some improvements and changes in the design.  

The company continued using the same type of wood (basswood), with some models featuring maple tops.

As opposed to the flat top on the MM, this guitar had an arched top and full body binding, with a 2pc maple neck with 15" radius fretboard.

It also had two custom Peavey/EVH-designed humbuckers, a three-way switch – which was now moved to the top of the body, 250K Ohm Volume and Tone Pot

Floyd Rose tremolo, and Schaller mini M6 tuners.

The version with the Floyd Rose also had a small device called D-Tuna, which is used to quickly change the tuning of the low E string by a whole step. Eddie was the lead inventor of this device and held the rights to the patent.

Another thing worth mentioning was the headstock, which followed a similar design to the one on the MM model. It was a middle ground between that shape, and the final shape used on EVH Wolfgang built by Fender a couple of years later – for which Eddie again holds the patent.

Eddie played these guitars from 1996 to 2004, when he and Peavey parted ways. Most of the time, he used either a purple one or a dark sunburst one.

 

1991-95 Ernie Ball Music Man EVH ★ Edward Van Halen Signature Guitar 1991 MSRP $2000  (Image #8)

Anticipating Kramer’s bankruptcy, after the company lost a lawsuit brought by Floyd Rose, Eddie ended his deal with Kramer and switched to Ernie Ball Music Man guitars. The company already produced EVH signature strings for a good couple of years, so the new deal with Ernie Ball made sense for Eddie. 

The new guitar was designed largely by Eddie, in order to incorporate everything he needed from a guitar at that time.

Eddie used the guitar for two VH albums, Unlawful Carnal Knowledge and Balance.

Post-1995, the guitar was kept in production under the name “Axis”, with few slight modifications. The switch was moved near the volume knob, the contour was added to the top and back of the body, and the neck was widened slightly.

• Basswood Body, Bookmatched Figured Maple Top
• BINDING: Cream
• NECK: Figured Maple
• FINGERBOARD: Figured Maple, 10" radius
• FRETS: 22
• SCALE: 25.5″
• NECK FINISH: Hand-Rubbed Gun Stock Oil and Special Wax Blend
• NECK JOINT: 5 Bolt Sculpted Neck Joint 
• TUNERS: Schaller M6LA with Pearl Buttons
• BRIDGE: MUSIC MAN® Licensed Floyd Rose Double Locking Tremolo WITH OFFSET SADDLES and 40mm Brass Block [GOTOH® GE1988T]
• CONTROL: 500K Ohm Volume Pot, “TONE” Knob
• SWITCH: 3-Way Toggle Pickup Selector
• BRIDGE PICKUP: DiMarzio Custom B1 Zebra Humbucking
• NECK PICKUP: DiMarzio Custom N1 Zebra Humbucking with “PATENT APPLIED FOR” Sticker
• APPROXIMATE WEIGHT: 7 lbs
• HAND STAINED TRANSLUCENT COLORS:  Black, Blue, Gold, Green, Natural, Pink, Purple, Red, and Sunburst
• ULTRA RARE COLORS:  Metallic Gold and Opaque Black
• 5150 Striped EVH Ernie Ball Music Man Signature Guitar 
• Van Halen - Poundcake (Official Music Video) [HD] (with Makita drill intro!) - 1st song with new Ernie Ball/Music Man EVH (his new signature model)

1979 Boogie Bodies black & yellow "VH II / Bumblebee"  (Image #6) 

• In 1979 Eddie made another guitar, similar to the Frankenstein, this one painted Black with Yellow stripes, nicknamed "Bumblebee", and was rear loaded so it didn't need a pickguard.
• During it's lifespan, Bumblebee had 3 different necks, 5 different pickups, and 3 tremelos.
• During the 1979 tour, the guitar had a white humbucker in it, with a black plastic shroud. Eddie assembled this pickup by himself, using a PAF magnet, DiMarzio bobbins and casing, and brand new copper wire, and dipped in paraffin wax.
• The Floyd Rose FRT-1 was the first production tremolo with a locking nut. Bumblebee featured one of the first five out of only 50 ever produced in the US which were all hand-built by Floyd Rose himself in 1979-80. 
• This guitar was on the cover of Van Halen II, although the concensus is that it was not completed in time for the actual studio recordings, but was used on the subsequent 1979 tour.
• Eddie gave "Bumblebee" to Dimebag Darrell, the Pantera guitarist who died tragically in 2004, and it is rumored to be buried with him...

 

1975 Ibanez "Shark" Destroyer (Image #11)

• While Frankenstrat is no doubt Van Halen's best-known guitar, Eddie may have played the “Shark” more on early recordings and tours.
• This guitar was on the cover of Van Halen's 3rd album, 1980’s 'Women and Children First.’
• The “Shark” started life as a 1975 Ibanez Destroyer that Eddie used to record the “non vibrato” songs on VH I including “Runnin with the Devil” and "You Really Got Me”.
• The guitar originally had Maxon Super 70 pickups but he made many changes to this guitar over the years.
• Unfortunately, he made one too many modifications when he cut a huge chunk out of the lower bout with a chainsaw destroying the sound of the guitar.

 

1986 Steinberger GLT2  SN 3340 (Image #12)

• Eddie used a 1985 Steinberger GL2T SN 3340 during Van Halen's 1986-87 Live Without a Net tour, and to record “Fire in the Hole,” from Van Halen III, “Summer Nights” and “Get Up” from 5150, “Pleasure Dome,” from For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge, and “Me Wise Magic,” the 1996 track that saw the group reunited with David Lee Roth.  
• Eddie’s “5150” and “OU812” Steinberger guitars were stock apart from his trademark striped red, white, and black paint job and EMG pickups.

 

1981 Petschulat mini Les Paul “Little Guitars”  #13 (Image #13)

• Eddie bought #13 for $1,100 in 1982 and used it on the Diver Down recording and tour.  Eddie ordered a 2nd one in wine red, #16, that he used briefly on the 1984 tour.

 

1981 Boogie Bodies "Unchained/Rasta/Circles" guitar (Image #14)

• This guitar was used during the 1981 Fair Warning tour, originally earning the nickname "Unchained" due to Ed's use of it playing the song Unchained which required a guitar with Drop D tuning.
• During the 1982 Diver Down tour, the guitar was repainted with red, green, and yellow stripes in addition to the previous white and black, earning the new nickname "Rasta".
• This guitar was the 1st guitar to use the Prototype #1 no logo Floyd Rose FRT-5 before it was transferred to Ed's "Kramer Ad" guitar.
• Eddie gifted "Rasta" to Dweezil Zappa while he was at Eddies 5150 studio for a recording session
• In 2010 Fender released the EVH® Striped Series "Circles" model, resulting in yet another nickname "Circles"

 

1991 Kramer "Let's get shucked up"  SN F 0024 sold for $231,250 in 2021 - Given to Eddie's friend Bryan Cush who went to school with Valerie Bertinelli's brother, and signed by Eddie: "Yo Bryan Let’s get shucked up! Eddie Van Halen 5150" 

 

Other Eddie Guitars - Eddie used ALOT of different guitars!

 

Eddie was the forerunner of many musical innovations including but not limited to:

• Eddie unique tone has been dubbed the "Brown Sound",  developed by Eddie using a combination of guitar, amp, and effects, not to mention his technique.
• Eddie was a pioneer in advancing tremelo  technology helping in the development of the Rockinger Tru Tune and Floyd Rose prototypes as early as 1979, with his Bumblebee  being one of the 1st guitars to use a Floyd Rose prototype FRT-1.  Additionally, Eddies Kramer Ad guitar is fitted with Prototype #1 of one of the most  important guitar artificats of all time, the Floyd Rose FRT-5.  The FRT-5 design was suggested by Eddie Van Halen to fix the FRT4’s issue of having its vertical fine tuners interfere with his playing style.
• Eddie also invented the D-Tuna system that that enables players to drop the E to D and back, in an instant.  D-Tuna has been standard equipment on Eddie Van Halen’s personal guitars as well as signature series locking tremolo-equipped guitars since the early 90’s.
• In addition to partnering with many other brands over the years, Eddie created his own EVH instrument brand under Fender launched in 2007.

2018 EVH ‘78 Eruption  (image #5) - Limited Edition of 78 total guitars in three tribute model packages:

1. Super ’78 (limited to only 8 guitars) MSRP $25,000
2. ’78 Eruption Relic (limited to only 30 guitars) MSRP $12,500
3. EVH ’78 Eruption (limited to only 40 guitars) MSRP $7878

 

2019 EVH ‘79 Bumblebee  MSRP $18,999 (image #6)

• Limited-edition replica of Eddie Van Halen’s iconic black-and-yellow-striped “Bumblebee” guitar from the 1979 Van Halen II album and world tour
• Only 50 units produced worldwide, each hand-signed by Eddie Van Halen

 

2007 Fender Custom Shop Masterbuilt EVH Eddie Van Halen Frankenstrat Aged MSRP $25,000

• Limited-edition tribute to Eddie Van Halen’s iconic “Frankenstein” guitar, crafted with meticulous attention to detail to replicate the original’s look, feel, and sound.
• Released as the inaugural product of the EVH brand, a collaboration between Eddie Van Halen and Fender, this guitar was limited to 300 units worldwide, each hand-built by Fender Custom Shop master builders, primarily Chip Ellis.
• The 2007 Frankenstein Replica was so precisely crafted that Eddie Van Halen reportedly mistook one for his original, prompting him to write “This is the shit” on the back of the neck with a Sharpie to distinguish it.
• In 2010, Eddie donated his "Frank 2"  2007 Fender Masterbuilt Custom Shop guitar that he used on the Van Halen 2007-08 North American tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth to the National Museum of American History
• Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein guitar replica (part 1)
• Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein guitar replica (part 2)
• Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstein guitar replica (part 3)
• 2007 Fender Custom Shop Eddie Van Halen Frankenstein | Norman's Rare Guitars
• Trogly's Review

 

2017+ EVH Eddie Van Halen Striped Series "Frankenstein™ Frankie"  Model 5107900503  MSRP $2099

• Relic'd production version of Eddie Van Halen's iconic and revered Frankenstein™ guitar

 

2017+ EVH Eddie Van Halen Striped Series "5150" Model # 5107902515 Model 5107902515  MSRP $1839

• Production version of Eddie Van Halen's iconic and revered 5150™ guitar

The Mach FIve Guitar is a Custom 2021 Eddie Van Halen '84 Kramer "5150" Replica  (Image #1)

Frankenstein I B&W: Rare Footage Of Eddie Van Halen Performing 'Eruption' live in 1978!

Bumblebee:  Spanish Fly Live 1979

Frankenstein 2 RWB:  Van Halen - Mean Street (Live Video)

Frankenstein 2 RWB:  THE MIGHTY VAN HALEN Oakland 6/12/81

Hot for Teacher & Mini Hot for Teacher:  Van Halen - Hot for Teacher Official Video

5150:  Van Halen Panama (Official Music Video)

5150:  Eddie Van Halen - Beat It solo Live Michael Jackson

5150:  Eddie Van Halen's "Live Without a Net" Solo 1986

Shark:  Van Halen - You Really Got Me (Official Music Video)

Unchained:  VAN HALEN - unchained (Oakland 1981)

Petschulat LP:  Van Halen - Little Guitars - Largo '82

Steinberger:  Van Halen - Summer Nights

1st song using Ernie Ball/Music Man EVH:  Van Halen - Poundcake (with Makita drill intro!)

1st song with Gary Cherone, Peavey Wolfgang:  Van Halen - Without You (1998)

Van Halen - Gene Simmons "Zero" Demos 1976 HQ

VANHALENARCHIVE - YouTube

EVH Wolfgang:  VAN HALEN'S LAST SHOW - HOLLYWOOD BOWL 10/4/15  - HD FULL SHOW

 

Complete List Of Van Halen Albums And Discography

1. The Mach Five Guitar
2. 5150 & 1984 Kramers
3. Hot for Teacher Kramer
4. Kramer Ad guitar
5. Frankenstein I & II
6. Frankenstein II
7. Bumblebee
8. Ernie Ball Music Man EVH
9. Peavey Wolfgang
10. EVH Wolfgang
11. Ibanez Destroyer The Shark
12. Steinberger
13. Petschulat "Little Guitars" Les Paul
14. Unchained/Rasta/Circles guitar
15. Last guitar played on stage with Van Halen

Disclaimer:  Hope you enjoy our attempt to summarize the VERY complex history  of Eddie Van Halen's guitars.  We've included many links for external sources of information to help support our info.  However, as you can see, Eddie purposely changed his guitars very frequently trying to optimize his build as well as hide his "secret sauce", so we're pretty certain that nobody has the complete story correct...  Anyway, if you know something on the website is false, needs something added, and have proof, please contact us @m5entertainmentsrj@gmail.com

 

EDDIE VAN HALEN EARLY YEARS DOCUMENTARY | Edward Van Halen: A Musician - Compilation of parts 1-5

Eddie Van Halen - "The Frankenstein" Interview (Guitar World, Nov. 2006)

Eddie Van Halen Bio

2007 Van Halen Hall of Fame essay by Deborah Frost

The Guitars of Van Halen: A Short History

Eddie Van Halen Guitars

EVH® Brand Guitars, Amplifiers and Musical Products

EVH Tremolos – VintageFloydRose.com

Eddie Van Halen Shares the Guitars Behind His Quest for Tone | GuitarPlayer

Guitar Player Online - Archives: Eddie Van Halen from April 1980

The History of Eddie Van Halen's 12 Most Famous Guitars

Vintage Kramer - The Online Resource for Vintage and New Kramer Guitars

Wolf Van Halen discusses Frankenstein!

Wolfgang Van Halen plays Eddie's iconic Frankenstein guitar | GuitarPlayer  “Tracking the slap part of THE END,” he writes. “Fun fact, I recorded the main tapping of the song, and the slap part with the Frankenstein!   Makes me feel closer to Pop that such an important part of his history can live with mine every time I record.” - Wolfgang Van Halen

Kramer 1984 guitar question - VH Links

Van Halen Store: Van Halen Store