NGD: EVH Frankenstein Relic Series Vintage Sunburst

[schemers]

Thought I'd share this as well. Picked this up recently since I love the neck/vibe of the Frankie and thought it would make a quick and easy mod platform like the Charvel Henrik Dhanages. Thought about doing it when the white, black, and red ones came out, but the new bursts ones pushed me over the edge.

Did a black HS pickguard with DiMarzio Area 67 in the neck (along with 470K resistor), and a 3-way selector switch.

The pickguard was too high to fit under the neck, and the neck pickup was also too big, so had to hack things quite a bit. Some pickguard screw holes also didn't really line up, but I just closed my eyes and drilled it in. Definitely a benefit of mucking around on a relic/frankenstein.

Might redo at some point, but seems to be fine

 

[Fro68]

Looks good. Maybe cut the pickguard off at the top neck pickup route to give it more of a hacked up look.

 

[schemers]

Looks good. Maybe cut the pickguard off at the top neck pickup route to give it more of a hacked up look.

Good idea, I think I might do that!

 

[dan5150]

Where did you source your pickguard from? I want to do the same with my white Frankie relic,

 

[schemers]

I normally use WDMusic, but for this I went with Warmoth. There might have a better choice, I’ll attach my order.

 

[Andy Eagle]

You can usually find a pick guard with no holes easily on EBay but making it fit is quite a skilled job., particularly with no templates and hand tools.

 

[Tonedeaf]

Like your version better, but then I never liked Frankies, despite being a huge EVH fan. My avatatr is the closest I have of one.

 

[R.D.]

I just wish they'd made the w/ Ash bodies ! Or at least as an option ....

 

[scottp]

Where did you source your pickguard from? I want to do the same with my white Frankie relic,

Warmoth is a good source for pick guards.

 

[Andy Eagle]

Warmoth is a good source for pick guards.

The pickup position is none standard.

 

[SonVolt]

There’s something special about those necks. Does any other guitar have that exact same neck profile? My Charvelles feel a little bit different.

 

[Andy Eagle]

They are nice , not quite a Charvel.

 

[dan5150]

Thanks @schemers !

I reached out to both EVH and WD Pickguards, and EVH just pointed me to a list of authorized Fender service centers, and WD doesn't have a specific template for the EVH Guitars.

The Warmouth pickguard works great. I have the white EVH Relic, so went with the tortoise shell option, using basically the same specs as you provided. I used the existing guard as template to drill my own volume control hole. Like you, I also had to do a little bit of shaping with my Dremel to get it to fit around the neck. I stuck with the existing single coil in the neck position and used a black fender pickup cover and hit it with some steel wool to dull the shine like what is done to the stock Wolfgang HB. It sounds just fine.

@Andy Eagle - if you choose the "slanted HB with cover" option in the Warmouth pickguard builder, it fits fine.

I did also my standard upgrades to a Floyd by adding a big brass block and noiseless springs, and replaced the fine tuner knobs with brass ones, just to add to the "look".

It looks and sounds great!

 

[Andy Eagle]

Thanks @schemers !

I reached out to both EVH and WD Pickguards, and EVH just pointed me to a list of authorized Fender service centers, and WD doesn't have a specific template for the EVH Guitars.

The Warmouth pickguard works great. I have the white EVH Relic, so went with the tortoise shell option, using basically the same specs as you provided. I used the existing guard as template to drill my own volume control hole. Like you, I also had to do a little bit of shaping with my Dremel to get it to fit around the neck. I stuck with the existing single coil in the neck position and used a black fender pickup cover and hit it with some steel wool to dull the shine like what is done to the stock Wolfgang HB. It sounds just fine.

@Andy Eagle - if you choose the "slanted HB with cover" option in the Warmouth pickguard builder, it fits fine.

I did also my standard upgrades to a Floyd by adding a big brass block and noiseless springs, and replaced the fine tuner knobs with brass ones, just to add to the "look".

It looks and sounds great!

View attachment 149814

Ed never used a big brass block, it’s not better.,

 

[schemers]

if you choose the "slanted HB with cover" option in the Warmouth pickguard builder, it fits fine.

nice! I'll keep that in mind if I do it over and/or get another relic.

I ended up cutting off the top-left part and kinda like the look.

 

[Fro68]

It looks much better with the top part cut off. It looks more "right or correct" for the theme.

 

[papajuice]

Thanks @schemers !

I reached out to both EVH and WD Pickguards, and EVH just pointed me to a list of authorized Fender service centers, and WD doesn't have a specific template for the EVH Guitars.

The Warmouth pickguard works great. I have the white EVH Relic, so went with the tortoise shell option, using basically the same specs as you provided. I used the existing guard as template to drill my own volume control hole. Like you, I also had to do a little bit of shaping with my Dremel to get it to fit around the neck. I stuck with the existing single coil in the neck position and used a black fender pickup cover and hit it with some steel wool to dull the shine like what is done to the stock Wolfgang HB. It sounds just fine.

@Andy Eagle - if you choose the "slanted HB with cover" option in the Warmouth pickguard builder, it fits fine.

I did also my standard upgrades to a Floyd by adding a big brass block and noiseless springs, and replaced the fine tuner knobs with brass ones, just to add to the "look".

It looks and sounds great!

View attachment 149814

I really dig this one. Would be kinda cool to add a neck pickup and get the Mick Mars look.