EVH Frankie Relic 2020 - Is It Worth Buying?

[@smashdalde9713]

...the Millennium falcon of rock guitars...it will be mine,oh yes..

[@BigBKenobi-sd4jf]

Wait for a new production run. The 1st run has a routing error from the factory. They route the tremelo cavity too deep and the tremelo breaks the wood underneath the back edge.

[@smashdalde9713]

@@BigBKenobi-sd4jf Had problems with my Striped series bumblebee,nut screws were drilled a little deep and prevented proper clamping-had to file down the screws so they no longer protruded...plays lovely now,tho!

[@paulburton5150]

@@BigBKenobi-sd4jf yup. I have the routing problem on mine.

[@paulburton5150]

@@BigBKenobi-sd4jf hi. Regarding the routing issue on the Frankie... do you have any links/ references to this? If so I’d really appreciate you letting me know where you heard about it. I’m currently in dialog with the supplier about the issue on mine. Many thanks

[@BigBKenobi-sd4jf]

@@paulburton5150 My cousin had one. he had me check it out because he couldn't tune it. i found the caved in body under the trem...

[@Conkee1711]

The neck pickup is a working pickup. My tech wired it up and installed a push pull in the volume knob. Sounds great after some adjustments.

[@wolfik708]

im late and dont know if you will see this but can i use both pickups at the same time if i wire up the neck pickup? also is the neck pickup versatile? i dont know much about electric guitars and really like this one

[@sunsgettingreallow8318]

RIP Eddie I think this guitar is awesome, but in true EVH spirit I’d rather buy parts and make my own like he did

[@TomSarracino]

Nah, fuk that 😝

[@sunsgettingreallow8318]

@@TomSarracino that’s fair haha

[@polyrhythmicbug]

Thanks for doing some clean stuff in this demo. I think I might be one of the only “clean” players that wants one of these, lol. Sounds great with and without distortion. RIP Legend.

[@thefilthygringo9228]

Best guitar I ever bought. Well worth the 2,000. Just too quality from Mexico. I’m just amazed with the details, to feel and everything just blows me away

[@cali3168]

I got mine last week and personally I feel it's absolutely worth getting. Plays and sounds great, love the neck and the attention to detail is pretty amazing. My only 'gripe' is my neck is dark - it looks like it was pulled out of a fire at the last minute. I love the worn in vibe they're going for, but mine is almost too dark. It is a well built guitar and a blast to play.

[@juventinos81]

other than build quality one huge factor is how much a guitar inspires you to play it

[@cali3168]

@@juventinos81 Very true, and this one definitely does that.

[@mikew9788]

Next time you change strings either clean it with a mr.clean magic eraser or a little dish soap and you can slowly remove the relicing and make it look a lot more like the original. I had hoped for a dark one so I could lighten it to what I wanted.

[@cali3168]

@@mikew9788 Cool. I'll try it Mike thanks for the tip.

[@j_freed]

Mike Wolski - that's great advice. ... On my Bill Nash, a guitar tech smoothed out and cleaned up any rough or dark ageing, so it just looks and feels 70 years old yet not grungy. That's now my #1. If your neck is raw maple you can also use a light oil and wax gunstock treatment, it feels excellent like very smooth clean bare wood.

[@iwilrage]

Absolutely worth it now

[@Slears]

this will be one of the best selling guitars of all time..hell when I try to buy it, the shop just says "available in a couple of months" lol

[@J24777]

I got my EVH Frankenstrat! Last week! Awesome!! Action is great!

[@VinnieStone]

It looks great, It sounds great, and as you mentioned It's really a historical instrument. Nice video,nice introducing Bro, and your jacket is pretty cool!🎸😎

[@LtPuff]

Rip Eddie ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@darthvaydr]

I ordered one from Sweetwater and he told me it’s looking like summer before I’ll get mine. I figured if I don’t order it now, it’s just going to take that much longer to get one so I went ahead and pulled the trigger!

[@samfrenchguitar]

Awesome guitar (waiting for mine in the UK!), great video and I enjoyed your playing... find it frustrating to watch knowing this is a customers guitar though. I can’t say I’d be too happy as a customer with my new EVH being used for a video and played by someone with a cough and a jacket on after I bought it... hope they were aware before receiving it otherwise not a good look as a business. As a video however, very useful!

[@samfrenchguitar]

@@OliRoyer fair enough! Thanks for the reply

[@stuartmiller7419]

"...played by someone with a cough and a jacket on..." 🤣 That's a hilarious comment. You're talking about a heavily reliced guitar with dents, scuffs, holes and "dirt" deliberately rubbed into it. What did you think his jacket was going to do to it? As for the cough, are you SERIOUS. Man, that's the funniest thing I've read on YT for a while. 😂 [Thanks for the review, Oli, btw.]

[@TriSticle]

I'd have to go out and buy cigarettes to add the finishing touches on the head. As well as the reflectors he had on the back of the body.

[@Mike_VH]

Conveniently EVH sells reflectors (although not correct). Almost like they want you to go out and spend more money, cause $2k isn’t enough for them to include the plastic reflectors.

[@joqu6971]

Oli can play, this is a serious musician.

[@lapzival0]

I'm a huge metal fan, also i love eddie van halen 🙂 should I buy the frankie or the ltd kh 602?🤔

[@viniciusmarcilio3194]

Hi Oli. Great video. I just received my Frankie after a long long wait. One thing I can't get right is the d-tuna angle. It touches the body and it lifts the bridge when it's not engaged. I've noticed in your video that yours is spot on flush with the body. How did you do that? Are you using some kind of tremolo stop lock? Thanks.

[@viniciusmarcilio3194]

The bridge design doesn't help and my action is a little higher than the factory settings, so that makes the bridge more "angled" too. Unless I use very low action, it's virtually impossible to have it flush with the body. The other solution I guess would be to use a coin like Eddie did 😅

[@rickdougherty8058]

Got it backwards dude the body eddie got was a second they had a pile of guitar bodys and he asked what they where and they told him they where seconds and eddie ask why and they said because they have knots and blems in the body so he asked how much for the second and they sold it to him for 50 bucks ash body and he paid 80 for the neck...

[@bigt6889]

Very true

[@MethodOverRide]

@@OliRoyer There is an old interview with EVH on YT where he talks about it.

[@clintwilson6380]

The neck he bought have frets?

[@docsworld1369]

Boogie Body for body and Charvel neck. Charvel and Warmoth we’re together back then. Now Charvel is under Fender in Corona, CA and Warmoth is making very nice gear for making or repairing geetars.

[@cooprcyt2201]

Every time I walk by that guitar at sound centre I wanted a pro to demo it. Rock on m8 🤟

[@lilcar9406]

Great review!!!!! Mine comes in the mail today!

[@hvideosmore9526]

Great video! Quick question, Which strings gauges did it come with? 09-42 or 09-46? Thank you

[@alpa4736]

46

[@al6377]

Great video, thanks, Oli

[@doedesjel]

Are the pickups customized at the point that they're alchemy-modded? 😝 I don't know what it is....

[@mariopetri448]

ordered mine today from sweetwater, back ordered til march but im ok with that. I dont have access to a garage where i can paint a body and beat it to crap like it deserves so this will have to do lol. RIP King Eddie

[@kolchak357]

Certainly looks and sounds the part. A bit pricey, but I’m sure collectors and Eddie fans will swallow them up quickly. 👍 🎸

[@theblackcardinal]

This is such a good guitar! I swear to god it plays itself. Easiest guitar I’ve ever played/owned. Worth the money. Just unfortunate there’s the one pickup- but it’s a legitimate replica (minus the quarter and reflectors).

[@doak1851]

Great review on the Worlds best Guitar! Long Live Van Halen

[@Dakahrii]

Why didn't they put the Frankenstein pickup in this instead of the wolfgang pickup?

[@ethanelijahmusic]

Given this guitar is a grand. I was wondering the same thing.. but that being said I'm guessing it's budget..

[@skylineXpert]

Just ordered the 71' quarter drilled and everything. Need reflectors and then i can aim for this axe. Found a few custom shops for sale on ebay from 35.000 usd to almost double

[@alexanderwhedon6654]

Thanks for the video! Subscribed!

[@Dakahrii]

That neck looks a lot darker than some of the other Frankenstrat's that I've seen. I wonder if the 2021 are different.

[@Ace-is2om]

I already own an EVH 5150 and two EVH Wolfgangs.... Not sure if I should get a Frankie.

[@zedddddful]

I have an old Korean evh special I really like playing so I'm considering getting a frankie to go with it I think it looks rad.

[@bigdaddycool4242]

Korean?!?

[@zedddddful]

@@bigdaddycool4242 yes indeed it's a early peavey Wolfgang first run before the signature was burned in so quite rare.

[@bigdaddycool4242]

@@zedddddful ahhh, you’re talking about the EX.

[@zedddddful]

@@bigdaddycool4242 hang on a minute I'll grab it out the case once I finished having a dump 👍

[@zedddddful]

Yeah it's a peavey evh Wolfgang special from 1998 I think roughly.

[@s.macmillan460]

How many Frankie's did they make in 2020...or 2021?

[@mikeconey85]

More fun to build your own

[@cmikesmith664]

Definitely

[@JWCFB]

Very nice review, thank you.

[@jamesavdelis6610]

Sounds great, looks great, & you're a great player. RIP TO ELVH. 🥍🥍🤟🤟🙏🙏

[@squeelerjakeaxcradle7095]

Hi, great video clip of this amazing axe l love and glad l just received my own Frankenstein relic this morning. Will play it later and record, I’m sure this will inspire me too. I didn’t buy just to do van Halen music but any style because it’s superb. Regarding that negative guy raving on about your cough, was a pointless comment. Negative people these days is getting worse and unnecessary. I hope your cough is sorted l hate the damn this and ironically everyone gets them even Mr No cough 🥴 Keep up the great videos and explanations about whatever your subject. Great vids 👌👌👌🎶🎶🎶

[@jeremylivingston5299]

Got mine on order from sweet water let the wait begin

[@Tatted-ne7tu]

EVH vs Snakeskin??????? Your picks?

[@Toquelibre]

The only 3 Types of EVH guitars that are worth the quality & money are the EVH wolfgang USA, original USA 84 Striped Kramer 5150, and the Charvel Art series that were made in USA. I personally have a hard time paying anything above $500 for a mass production Mexican made replica, but that's just me. I own several custom made Guitars, including a Custom Shop fender and there's a huge difference in quality and workmanship. I'm actually thinking of ordering an Ash body and a Birdseye Maple Neck from Warmoth to create my own version of the Bumblebee guitar. It will probably run me close to $2500, and will probably be closer to the Custom Shop EVH's that are selling for $25,000.

[@mikew9788]

I have the usa wolf signature series, the charvel art series, and a peavey wolf usa deluxe and this thing is surprisingly good. Way better then I ever expected. The neck and fretwork are great. BTW the charvel is my favorite.

[@lanatrzczka]

I wish there was a little more discussion on the clean sound. Examples of different tones with the volume knob at various positions.

[@rrguitar1]

The wait on the backorders goes for months on these and most of the EVH guitars. I just ordered 5150 striped and it's not going to be here till Jan at the least

[@darthvaydr]

I ordered one of these EVH Frankie relics from Sweetwater about a week ago and they told me it’s looking like early summer before I get it. I figured that if I don’t order one now, it’s going to be that much longer before I get it so I went ahead and pulled the trigger. I can’t wait to get one of these awesome axes. Been a big fan Halen fan since the diver down album came out!

[@gamingwithdakotaandmore4546]

I got one. It's coming on Friday!

[@Hoscitt]

I reckon the quality of these is gonna drop significantly. There'll be a huge spike in sales and they'll rush loads out

[@J24777]

Warren De Martini! Guitar in the background. Nice!

[@cmikesmith664]

*Yes!!*

[@nbdysfool3]

Yes.......that’s why those that can afford it bought one!

[@allendean9807]

Is the tone vastly different from a Wolfgang?

[@unnickshorts7877]

I have just one question can you pull the whammy down to raise the pitch?

[@ericblair6984]

No. The Floyd Rose is blocked. So it is dive bombs only. The positive is that the guitar almost never goes out of tune. One of the best guitars I've ever played or owned.

[@unnickshorts7877]

​@@ericblair6984 so are you saying that this floyd type is better than the normal ones?

[@ericblair6984]

@@unnickshorts7877 They're the best of both worlds. Since it is blocked, it will stay in place like a fixed bridge if you are not using the bar. Install the bar, and you can still do dive bombs and vibrato. It will not go out of tune if you want to drop-d or any other non-standard tuning.

[@unnickshorts7877]

@@ericblair6984 Thanks man.

[@richfiryn]

As of me typing this there are 19 left to pre order from Chuck Levin's Music. And that is all they have left out of the 40 they have coming in for shipping in December.

[@stemu166]

RIP Eddie man, fuck. Love that guitar while you can

[@switch625.]

How, he passed the day after this video came out

[@joesified]

Crazy that you posted this the day before he died 😔

[@MsChocolate226]

Thank you Steve Vai but I didn't know you were a Eddie Van Halen fan

[@searaydrivingguy]

only 6 for sale in Canada i bought one of them. my guess one day these will go up in value

[@bobbyblue2632]

Lots now. 15 stores in Ontario have some. Don't know about the rest of Canada. Cheers!

[@robertkorn]

It's pretty obvious that the 5 way switch is not in the signal chain on this guitar. There's no wires connected to it.

[@thomaswhite2700]

I want this 2020 version as a lefty made guitar..the other lefty franky guitar looks plastic compared to this...does anyone know if this 2020 version is or ever will be available for leftys?

[@ahadfkhalid89]

Same question so if anyone can answer it would be great

[@danny29x]

Is this guitar a limited run?

[@mulfss]

I don’t think so.

[@piranhakeet]

Bro, are you really playing guitar while wearing a jacket with zippers in the sleeves?

[@burningdaylights]

I'm ready for the down votes, but the necks on these are way too dark.

[@diegolopezlira3267]

I totally agree with you

[@williamlayton1827]

Was thinking the same too overdone

[@mikew9788]

You can easily lighten it to your liking.

[@toddprater14]

Also the top horn is kinda wrong red stripe thru 1st black tape line/paint then white immediately to the right of that look at Ed’s original not so busy in that area they are doing this to differentiate these 1700 guitars from the 07 25,000 ones guaranteed...all you would have to do is add quarter,old pick guard screw holes ,erase evh headstock logo, eye bolts &cigarette burns etc...every review on these 2020 frankies the top horn is slightly different ...

[@jstrat121]

$3000 Aussie dollars........$1700 in US......when “ in stock”

[@zakkcovers18]

👌🎸

[@aaronmcbryer4362]

And, please brother, get yourself a bottle of water.

[@solarismoon3046]

NO!! The BODY was a seconds quality. I remember him telling the story of it. The neck was a standard Fender Stratocaster style of the 70's! It was just an ash body - no reference as to what type it was. Probably more likely swamp ash. Either way I wish that he never repainted it red. Oh, well. Thanks for sharing any way.

[@conpappas1066]

It's a great guitar feels and plays great. And you can still modify it. RIP Eddy.

[@MsChocolate226]

You did this video 2 days before he died

[@mrsunshine9948]

If you are thinking about buying one, you should maybe check out Dillon Mills Custom Guitars! I bought 3 Frankies, his are identical to Eddies, even more than the 300 replica's that cost 35,000. Dillions looks spot on and is less expensive than this EVH hunk,,,Dillion ages the neck and fret board making it look old...Go Check it man! Put that name in the youtube search and scroll through to the Frankie and you can see how he does it.

[@mountain7777]

How much? I believe this is 1400 USD.... Thanks

[@domesticengineerlifecoach6938]

Neck plate says MADE IN MEXICO. Bitchen guitar. I'm getting one👍👍👍👍R I P MR. EDDIE!!!

[@rikjones5924]

Finally got mine,love it! Only thing I'm not happy with is the last 3 stripes on top horn on front..should be black,white then black..mine is black,white and white..sounds kinda anal but for 2 grand and trying to copy a legendary guitar I fell they sorta dropped the ball. Some are correct some are not.im not concerned about actual stripe sizes,just those misplaced colors lol.. sorry

[@docsworld1369]

Sweet Frankie, sweet Warren D snake and sweet jacket!! Give up the smokes too!! The coughing is bad for you and very distracting. I quit smoking 12/03/2018. You can do it brochacho!!

[@philipdesailles5286]

Is made in America or Mexico

[@jasonpost1771]

Eddie Van Halen! The modern day Paganini

[@darthvaydr]

Dude keeps coughing like he has the “rona” 🤣🤣

[@Gma7788]

You have the sounds of electrical faults all throughout this video but you don't have enough knowledge to realise it. You also have the problem of electrical mis-tuning sound. Physically, it's in tune, but electrically, it's out of tune.

[@norskyver]

Can't believe what this thing costs being made in Mexico 🤦🏼‍♂️

[@TheJackalAngler]

Paul gilbert on guitar guysss

[@nellawell4976]

Van who?

[@autodidacticprofessor869]

Dude, these are $1699 everywhere online. $3k???? You guys are gouging people.

[@cscoioscscoios2768]

Great review, but someone get this guy some water please!!

[@dsvet]

Banana headstock would make it so much better

[@lukeabrahamsen-collins808]

I always prefer them too

[@plpinkham]

EVH does make a striped "5150" replica guitar with the banana headstock.

[@raymondlugo9960]

In the 80s I didn't know the Frankenstrat was a different guitar than the 5150 or the other Kramer featured in the "Hot for Teacher" video. Which neck should be on a Franky replica could be a whole video.

[@xavierortiz2690]

Original body was a 2nd

[@lesliethomas7786]

You’re good oh, shown oh cool born OK?jax boy

[@thegoverner100]

Bass wood body.. for a three grand guitar..

[@EOHRyan]

Eddie used Basswood bodies on most of his guitars, albeit with a maple cap. Loads of guitars that cost 2-3x this have Basswood bodies.

[@Swanlord05]

That neck is too grimmey for me

[@apostle7772]

Jesus christ is coming repent choose him today, he loves you

[@bluematrix5001]

HOW THIS GTR COMPARES TO A CHARVEL PRO MOD OR SAN DIMAS AND TO THAT SNAKE CHARVEL.... AND WONDER HOW IT COMPARES TO A 5150 ...COOL VID

[@deleted-8]

Wait 1 day before Edward die ok

[@mpmonzon]

you did this before he died i guess...

[@rjmaksym7692]

Oli Royer I had a similar coincidence was annoying my friends playing blackhole sun on my acoustic, next day Chris Cornell was dead, RIP Eddie he will be missed

[@rickdougherty8058]

Whats with the little baby whimpy sort of little girl fake cough cough

[@jakespeare3864]

Guitar good - Playing bad

[@docsworld1369]

I thought he played well. I like that he didn’t edit the hell out of it. I like seeing people miss a fret or go sharp or flat.

[@wolfgardener9471]

@@OliRoyer yes I agree not everyone can play like EVH nice to know what it's like in the hands of a everyday player like me, good down to earth demo 👍👍