Still Halloween and even scarier, the Frankenstrat

while famous frankentele is Steve Morse‘s, the Frankenstrat is Eddie Van Halen’s creation. The name itself comes from the combination of Frankenstein name and Stratocaster, a famous Fender guitar model. for your information it is a american national treasure, “Frankenstrat” copy can be found at Washington D.C.’s American History Museum.

The Frankenstrat is Van Halen’s effort in combining the Fender appearance with classic Gibson guitar tonality. It was Gibson PAF humbucking bridge pickup, Floyd Rose tremolo and chrome hardware installed on ash Stratocaster body, maple neck and fretboard. Eddie painted it several times, and the now famous color combination is red body with white and black stripes.

the Frankenstrat

what he did is a heavy-modification. The Frankenstrat neck was continually being changed over times. and The first bridge was ’58 Fender tremolo then he changed it to Floyd Rose bridges. The placement of the 1971 quarter was a spontaneous addition when it was recruited to keep the Floyd Rose bridge flush on the body. even he took truck reflectors and put them at the rear of the body just for his fun moments, so is an eye hook to secure the straps.

now, is this scary enough for your Halloween?

here i share guitarworldvideos about van halen’s frankenstrat, a deep intimacy of van halen’s interview about it (go here for fender stratocaster highway one review)