Wolfgang Guitar Tone – The Truth About A Electric Guitar'S Tone
Eddie Van Halen, lead guitarist of the hard rock band, Van Halen, has always been a “tinker”. In fact of his most famous trademark red, white and black guitars, nicknamed “Frankenstein” was the hand made by Eddie from the parts of Fender Stratocaster pounded together with the parts from another guitar.
Eddie had several custom designs over the years but when it came to producing his signature Wolfgang guitar, named after his son, the legendary rocker went to Peavey Electronics.
Eddie was already working with the designers and engineers at Peavey for the development and manufacture of his custom designed 5150 amplifier and the 5150-212 combo amp.
The Peavey Wolfgang was in production from 1996 to 2004 at the now legendary Peavey guitar center at Leakesville, Mississippi. But when Eddie Van Halen ended his long time partnership with Peavey Electronics in 2004, he wanted to continue his quest for the ultimate rock and roll guitar.
So when he approached the master craftsmen at Fender in 2006, he had certain improvements in mind, especially concerning the Wolfgang guitar tone. The Fender/EVH Wolfgang comes as a result of over 35 years of Eddie Van Halen’s experience as both a guitar musician and designer.
It took over two years using a very meticulous trial and error process to develop the Wolfgang guitar tone. During this time, Fender master craftsman Chip Ellis, created a series of prototypes that made an "indestructible" guitar which Eddie Van Halen says even he “can't break” after a full year of on the road concert testing in 2007-2008.
But in the end this long and painstaking course of development resulted in a guitar that is not only durable but a Wolfgang guitar tone that has a beautiful range of harmonics.
In the fall of 2006, Eddie and the design team at Fender began what would turn out to be a grueling ten month search for just the set of pickups that would create just the right Wolfgang guitar tone that Eddie, who has a legendary ear, wanted. Eventually Eddie approved a set of custom pickup designed by Fender engineer Seiki Goto.
Even after he received his Wolfgang prototypes in fall of 2007, Eddie still inspected and pushed the electric guitar tone limits every concert. Fender gave him guitars with various finishes, the tobacco burst, a black and a Wolfgang vintage white. Van Halen would play one or the other of the prototypes every single night on virtually every song working to improve the electric guitar tone.
He was constantly adjusting, changing, modifying, and resetting components and specifications until he was happy the Wolfgang guitar tone, feel and visual appeal. Eddie put the prototypes through their paces.
During an interview with CNN, Eddie said, “"During the last show, I actually tried to break a Wolfgang, and it wouldn't break. I picked it up and I couldn't break the damn thing. I threw it up in the air, and later put it out in the rain. I picked it up half an hour later, and it was still in tune."
But in the end even being left out in the rain didn’t ruin that trademark Wolfgang guitar tone and sound. And if the Wolfgang guitar tone could survive on the road with that guitar maniac, Eddie Van Halen, then is should be durable enough for even the hardest of guitarists.
