5150 build.

[Harrassment]

Contrary to popular opinion, the iconic and legendary fencepost was not invented by Gibson. They had, in fact, been in use holding up fences for several years before Gibson came a long.

But Gibson will be first to market with a reissue fencepost!

 

[Andy Eagle]

Body finished!

 

[Andy Eagle]

Conclusive proof the original is basswood;


And the real one;

 

[Budda]

Incredible attention to detail. Someone should let Wolfgang know this exists imo.

 

[OrganicZed]

Are you not going to add the holes?

 

[Andy Eagle]

Are you not going to add the holes?

No, and no cigarette burns either.

 

[Rex]

But Gibson will be first to market with a reissue fencepost!

And in the spirit of Gibson’s “historic spec bumblebee capacitors,” the reissue fenceposts will have reliced wood veneer over a plastic beam.

 

[State of Epicicity]

Dude, this is epic. Congratumotherfuckinlations!

 

[Andy Eagle]

Dude, this is epic. Congratumotherfuckinlations!

Thanks.

 

[EVH~5150]

Absolutely incredible build, and unmatched attention to detail. I've spent a TON of time in the various FB groups dedicated to "5150" replicas and in other forums as well...and I can honestly say this is one of the best recreations I have seen. I've built a handful myself (documented a few on my YT channel) and would be hard pressed to even get this close. Bravo, sir! Your work is very inspiring.

 

[[EOCF] Tim]

Conclusive proof the original is basswood;


And the real one;

I've read all 39 pages again to enjoy, it's great to see the latest updates, thank you for sharing.

It's been years since we had the "Forensic Sample taken" on "Good authority" quotes from various sources across the internet that said it was indeed Swamp Ash. I see that we still have no master build replica from Fender/EVH or are any closer to finding out where that rumour came from. The closest we got to a name was George Felise saying 5150 was Swamp Ash and HFT was Basswood some time ago on a FB group I believe.

Anymore news on this forensic sample business and where that rumour came from? I noticed on Chris Locke FiftyFifty (updated 12/21) page it still says Swamp Ash to get as close to the original.

 

[Andy Eagle]

I've read all 39 pages again to enjoy, it's great to see the latest updates, thank you for sharing.

It's been years since we had the "Forensic Sample taken" on "Good authority" quotes from various sources across the internet that said it was indeed Swamp Ash. I see that we still have no master build replica from Fender/EVH or are any closer to finding out where that rumour came from. The closest we got to a name was George Felise saying 5150 was Swamp Ash and HFT was Basswood some time ago on a FB group I believe.

Anymore news on this forensic sample business and where that rumour came from? I noticed on Chris Locke FiftyFifty (updated 12/21) page it still says Swamp Ash to get as close to the original.

It’s basswood all the evidence says it is. EVH have even said it. George may well miss remember because he painted a LOT of bodies for Ed and nobody knew what one ended up as 5150 until it became famous. When he painted it it was just another striped body.

 

[Andy Eagle]

There will be a couple more updates in due course.

 

[[EOCF] Tim]

It’s basswood all the evidence says it is. EVH have even said it. George may well miss remember because he painted a LOT of bodies for Ed and nobody knew what one ended up as 5150 until it became famous. When he painted it it was just another striped body.

That makes sense yeah. In your latest picture, is it the grain I'm looking at or the colour or both that conclusively proves it's Basswood? I literally have no idea what to look for there. Thanks.

 

[Andy Eagle]

That makes sense yeah. In your latest picture, is it the grain I'm looking at or the colour or both that conclusively proves it's Basswood? I literally have no idea what to look for there. Thanks.

The grain structure.

 

[[EOCF] Tim]

Just goes to show how important it is to go with the actual proof, it's over 40 years ago so people would have forgotten important things. Unkert said all the the striped Kramers were Poplar, Felise said Swamp Ash for 5150 and Basswood for HFT. But the actual proof looks like it's full circle back to Basswood. Thank you.

What's your opinion on Jim DeCola's claim that the EVH Wolfgang pickup has the exact same specs as the Peavey one (which was the copy of the broken JB)? The EVH has a Alnico 2 instead of 5 and not a nickel baseplate which is all very confusing again. Maybe a Alnico 5 magnet swap into the Wolfgang would be the exact same? Or maybe the very first EVH Wolfgang models had Alnico 5 to start with although I can't find anything on that.

 

[Andy Eagle]

Just goes to show how important it is to go with the actual proof, it's over 40 years ago so people would have forgotten important things. Unkert said all the the striped Kramers were Poplar, Felise said Swamp Ash for 5150 and Basswood for HFT. But the actual proof looks like it's full circle back to Basswood. Thank you.

What's your opinion on Jim DeCola's claim that the EVH Wolfgang pickup has the exact same specs as the Peavey one (which was the copy of the broken JB)? The EVH has a Alnico 2 instead of 5 and not a nickel baseplate which is all very confusing again. Maybe a Alnico 5 magnet swap into the Wolfgang would be the exact same? Or maybe the very first EVH Wolfgang models had Alnico 5 to start with although I can't find anything on that.

I have disassembled some of Ed's personal back up striped Kramers and ALL are basswood. Production Sports bodies are all Maple to start with and then they swap in around 83 to all poplar . Felise can't remember is my guess and Unkert had left Kramer before 5150 was built. Unkert left some necks that he had converted from ESP beaks/strats necks and sanded the finish off the back (badly) and one of those is used on 5150. The PV Wolfgang pickup was designed to mimic the broken JB not copy it exactly. The PV and the EVH versions are identical speck with the magnet swap that you mentioned. My guess is Ed took the parts away that he had Felise paint and assembled them himself. Some of the work done already but the final assembly (fit tuners, string tree etc) done by Ed.

 

[[EOCF] Tim]

I have disassembled some of Ed's personal back up striped Kramers and ALL are basswood. Production Sports bodies are all Maple to start with and then they swap in around 83 to all poplar . Felise can't remember is my guess and Unkert had left Kramer before 5150 was built. Unkert left some necks that he had converted from ESP beaks/strats necks and sanded the finish off the back (badly) and one of those is used on 5150. The PV Wolfgang pickup was designed to mimic the broken JB not copy it exactly. The PV and the EVH versions are identical speck with the magnet swap that you mentioned. My guess is Ed took the parts away that he had Felise paint and assembled them himself. Some of the work done already but the final assembly (fit tuners, string tree etc) done by Ed.

You hit the nail right on the head. It's fascinating. You get all the details right that so many have gotten wrong so many years. Especially the colour and type of paint! Some are so far off. Very much appreciated to have everything in one thread and that you took time to document it all.

 

[Sorenspete]

This is one of the most insane builds of any guitar I've ever seen. My favourite thing about 5150 is the font of the titular sticker - screams American Football and the 1980's!

 

[Andy Eagle]

This is one of the most insane builds of any guitar I've ever seen. My favourite thing about 5150 is the font of the titular sticker - screams American Football and the 1980's!

They sold them on stands in petrol stations in the 70s.