EVH Wolfgang Special

The EVH Wolfgang Special was designed by Edward Van Halen and the team at Fender to bring a lower priced Wolfgang to market that offered all of the great feel and tone of the $3,000 American made model, but at a price point that the younger generation such as myself could afford. This model streets at about $1,300 and is made in Japan. It features a basswood body with maple top, maple neck with 22 vintage style frets, two EVH humbuckers, a locking tremolo system with D Tuna and a set of Gotoh 3 on a side tuners. Here is the full list of specs:

EVH Wolfgang Special Solidbody Electric Guitar Features:
Body: Basswood with Maple veneer top
Neck: Quartersawn maple
Fingerboard: AA birdseye maple; compound radius - 12" to 16"
No. of frets: 22; Vintage Style
Scale length: 25.5"
Nut width: 1-5/8"
Hardware: Chrome
Tuning keys: EVH-branded Gotoh tuning machines
Bridge: EVH-branded Floyd Rose locking tremolo with EVH D-Tuna
Pickups: Two EVH humbuckers, hard-mounted
Pickup switching: 3-way switch
Controls: Bourns low-friction pots (1x250k, 1x500k)
Case: SKB case with molded stripes

UTILIZATION

I've always liked the design of the Wolfgang, and this special is no exception. The general feel of the Wolfies that Ed has released over the years has always worked well with me. I actually slightly prefer the flat top models to the carved top ones, so that's a plus that the Japanese ones have over the USA models for sure. The design is definitely ergonomic. The guitars aren't featherweight, but they are light enough that it's comfortable to play and hold for extended periods. Checking out a few different ones showed that the weight really didn't vary much from guitar to guitar which was good. The upper fret access on these guitars is great as well, no real issues for me there.

Getting a good sound out of these guitars is not difficult... when you find a good one. I've tried a few of them and they're wildly inconsistent in how they sound. The best of the bunch was a black one that had that KILLER brown sound on the bridge pickup... but the neck pickup didn't work. The other two I tried seemed progressively muddier and weaker sounding and didn't have any of the even order harmonics that I so love about Van Halen's tone. Oh well, c'est la vie I suppose.

SOUNDS

I've tried these guitars through mostly British voiced high gainer amps overall. The clean tones are decent enough out of these guitars. They aren't nearly as nice as many other guitars, but there's a promising sparkle that's hidden in there that can be coaxed out with the right settings and the right amplifier. The neck pickup has some good jazzier flavours and (in the right setting) the bridge pickup can get some twang for country chickin' pickin'. However, the point of these guitars for myself and nearly every other user is to get some raunch on the go. When these guitars are on, they do not disappoint. The best of the MIJ Wolfgang's I've tried had a very spongy feel that gave the tone a nice brown sound type sag, almost as though a variac was dimming the amp's voltage a-la Ed. However, too many of the ones I've tried have had a bit of a muddy characteristic to the tone and pickups... so I have to question their QC and consistency at this factory. When they're on they're great but you may have to play a few to get there.

OVERALL OPINION

All in all the EVH Wolfgang Special is a great guitar for someone who wants that great Van Halen rock tone on a budget. They're still not cheap guitars at about $1,300 new, but if you find one that sounds and feels right to you, snag it. I've tried a few and they don't always feel/sound right, but when they do, there's not much that will top it in that particular price point.

Oh yeah, it also comes with a really awesome SKB striped case... how cool is that?

There are several Wolfgang mine is a Made In Japan.

The finish not change a bad model to another in what I've seen here and even within a single production unit. So mine has a key bird eye rather loaded and the neck is flamed, you can not see the table (very fine) maple because it is painted black.

For basic feature (pitch microphones etc) all said I think in prior reviews.


There is no bevel to the forearm or back to accommodate the body of the guitar and the top is flat unlike the US models. This is important because the floyd is on the table and can not go beyond a certain point .... logic.

UTILIZATION

I love this guitar! The handle and the distance between the strings over the frets vintage gives it a very particular that all will not like feeling.

On the first frets it seems a good vintage Tele neck but the closer you get the higher frets over the handle becomes suitable Shred flatter.

The body is not welcoming but the guitar is super light and adorned tiny.

I wish to make a private conversation when I had the new skyscraper .... it was ABSOLUTELY not set anything ..... shit .... alignment string to the handle for example I'm not going to list it would be too long a time, but all I really set a low action, like a skyscraper that agreement after the worst Dive Bomb nikel!

SOUNDS

A guitar to rock, the spirit of its EVH even in the detail! and it does not stop at the reverse switch ....

An example: I was surprised to have a neck pickup that sounds louder than the bridge, and curiosity pushed me to measure the pickups I found 14K for the bridge and 14.6 for the handle ... I was intrigued and after research on US forums I found that it was voluntary as EVH making these guitars ..... and saw that the pickups are referred to the body and that in practice it works well why no.
So its clear the position for me is that of mileu and I find the sound rather slamming the somewhat deaf to the clear neck pickup position not only for me for leads in satu .... and I find overkill and bassy !

This guitar definitely has character!

OVERALL OPINION

Super scratch! Yes I've already said I really like it I think it is less than the US mole just by the table ... any place but Japan although longer manufactured are really not bad for the price!

Another detail: The handle is plain for maintenance just a little soapy water on a cloth (not wet the handle Heins!) And avoid playing with ropes too oxidized and it will keep a gorgeous look in time for the handle This guitar is awesome!

Basswood body
Table in maple veneer
Piece maple neck quatershawn
Maple fingerboard "birds eye"
Scale: 648mm
Width at Nut: 41mm
22 frets Vintage (small frets)
Switch 3 position type "Lespaul" inverted
2 humbucker EVH
EVH Floyd Rose tremolo with built-tuna
EVH chrome Gotoh mechanical with pearl buttons
Hard Case SKB EVH
made in Japan by factories and distributed by jackson fender

UTILIZATION

The handle is it enjoyable? Of all good, a mix between a strat neck and ibanez. Rather thin, flat and small, as saying the handle promotes fast play and rhytmiques equally nice with a beautiful flecked appearance.

Access to acute (recent freight) is it easy? Nothing hinders access to the latest frets and bends are not difficult. (To see for small hands)

Ergonomics is it good (in terms of shape, weight ...)? Necessarily mean that less light guitar ibanez saber but enough so that the weight does not make it feel too, forms tightly fitting body. You can play like crazy with floyd and nothing moves, the tuning is very stable.

SOUNDS

I play many different styles and the guitar is pretty versatile while keeping its well-typed.
I plug it into an amp Peavey Classic VTX (1980) and no doubt the plug on an old peavey tube like mine or a fender and found the famous brown sound of EVH. Paradise! I also tested on a ENGL all lamps and the sound was not bad at all.
As for sounds, there was a mixture Fender / Gibson and good resonance. A wide range of options is available with the pickups and switch positions. We spend the fat in a clean and slamming to a distortion in the treble well detached.

Just one thing we must manage its settings the bridge pickup is loaded into acute and can easily become garish.

OVERALL OPINION

Bought recently without really trying, but no disappointment undoubtedly a very good choice.
I tried many models ibanez prestige and premium fender.

Most? Versatility microphones, sustain, and held floyd agree, the handle, the sunburst finish very pleasing to the eye, the knobs volume and tone and finally the bar trusroad directly accessible at the bottom of the handle without having to relax the strings.
The least? The guitar does not forgive errors game (this is a blessing in disguise) and height not adjustable microphones.

Both say report quality / price, my store vendors have struggled to believe it!
Fly box with a very classy bonus. A choice as it looks.