EDDIE VAN HALEN EBMM EVH vs PEAVEY WOLFGANG vs EVH STEALTH USA
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- A beautiful all-around and full in-depth review of all 3 generations of Eddie’s main signature guitars.
00:41 Introduction
07:26 1991 EBMM EVH Overview
21:37 1997 Peavey Wolfgang Overview
36:46 2018 EVH Wolfgang Overview
51:43 All 3 together overview
1:00:53 Amp Choice & Settings
1:03:31 Individual feel & sound test EBMM EVH
1:13:47 Individual feel & sound test Peavey Wolfgang
1:22:38 Individual feel & sound test EVH Wolfgang
1:30:30 1 vs 2 vs 3 explanation
1:32:10 1 vs 2 vs 3 CLEAN BRIDGE PICK UP
1:34:36 1 vs 2 vs 3 CLEAN NECK PICK UP
1:36:18 1 vs 2 vs 3 BLUE CHANNEL BRIDGE PICK UP
1:38:00 1 vs 2 vs 3 BLUE CHANNEL NECK PICK UP
1:40:06 Final Thoughts and personal Eddie story…
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Thank you all for the incredible feedback. I am very humbled. Of all of my constant reviews this was truly a passion project. Enjoy your guitars in good health and PLAY them until they fall apart.
Do you come from Finland? Because of your accent.
@@bartobruintjes7056 Serbia :)
@@THEVATICANTS I was wrong. Thank you for your answer. By the way your English is very good.
@@THEVATICANTS p
Man I really enjoyed this. You have such great energy and good vibe dude! Thanks again and keep rocking my brother!
This is BY FAR the best video ever made comparing these 3 models of EVH guitars. I really appreciate you taking a lot of time taking about the fit, finish and feel of each guitar. No one has ever taken the time to do that. As a content creator myself, I can appreciate how much work it is to put together this type of video. Great job. Would love to chat sometime as one creator to another if you’re interested.
The Peavey Wolfgang is the most underated guitar in the world. Only because it says Peavey on it. I see it in other gutarist eyes when they ask what I play. I am glad I hoarded all the Peaveys 5 years ago.
I totally agree! I just feel like other guitarists are missing out because they didn’t give it a chance.
So right brother.amen for another SMART guitar player
Definetly have to agree, most people trying my 98 special or 99 standard fall in love with them... "but its a peavey" they say :D
Peavey..... With Eddy as your wing man all the way around and you still go broke?
@@nellawell4976 his royalty cheques pribably contributed, that's why he went with peavey
I used to own Peavey Wolfgang's (wish I hadn't sold them..) and now have 2x eVh Wolfies. I also briefly owned an EBMM EVH but sadly it arrived to me damaged (and was returned). IMO the Peavey guitars were just classier and made from much nicer woods (as well as a cool range of colour finishes).
A few minor corrections to your narrative:
1) The EBMM EVH preceeded the Axis. It wasn't a modded Axis. The Axis came about as a EBMM model post EVHs departure. EBMM made a few basic mods (e.g. control positions, belly cut etc) to differentiate them
2) All EVH guitars should have the Trem resting on the body. None have a floating trem. Eddie wanted them that way for tuning stability and better vibrational transfer to body. The D-Tuna only really works when the trem can't float. The Peavey Standard had a cutout in the arch top but the Trem still rested on the body. The Peavey Specials (flat top) had the same arrangement as the EBMM. My EVH Specials (MIJ & MIC) have a metal plate inside the Trem cavity for the block to rest against. This stops the face of the guitar being damaged by impact from the baseplate of the Trem
3) The D-Tuna arrived with the Peavey Wolfgang models and continued to the eVh line. Any EBMM guitars with a D-Tuna have had this retro-fitted
@Chris Murphy No. The stainless didn't happen until the EVH guitars with Fender. Depending on your playing, it may not matter. I have the original nickel frets on my EBMM from 1993. They've been dressed a few times; but they still play well.
Right on all 3 accounts.
The Ernie Ball Axis name did exist before the Ernie Ball EVH model. They were going to call the Albert Lee model the "Axis". But Albert loved that guitar shape so much, he made it his signature model instead.
I swear I have seen a picture of Eddie holding a prototype ebmm evh with the name Axis on the headstock. I thought it was some internal name but idk for sure.
What an incredible way to pay Eddie proper tribute via a comprehensive review! It's been one year after Eddie's passing - gets me in the feels. Enjoying Van Halen's incredible music is one thing, but to be able to play his music on one of his creations and feel the same passions as he did is one of the highest compliments we can pay him. I am eternally grateful for the incredible legacy he has left behind. Thanks, Eddie for my Peavey and Rock In Peace.
I have a 99 Wolfgang Peavey, it's the best guitar I've ever played, I have LP's Strats and SG's, but the ole Peavey is my go to guitar. The neck is the smooth, flat, and a real pleasure to play, sounds incredible, if I had only one guitar it would be the Wolfgang Peavey. Thanks for the video, very well done. R.I.P Eddie.
You and me both man, it was my first real guitar and I’ve kept mine all this time. No matter what guitar I buy I always go back to playing the Wolfgang
In 1998, I played Ed's #1 Wolfgang at Greatwoods in MA. The 3 things I remember are how low it was on me once I strapped it on. I almost had to hold it up while standing. The next thing was the custom strain relief for the cord was like an antenna that protruded from the guitar. Lastly, and I'm not sure how to say this, was how filthy the guitar was. The neck had so much Ed jizz on it that it actually slowed my left hand down. Ed called it "schmutz" which he wouldn't allow his tech to clean it.
I’m a bit late but, how low was his action? I’ve heard he kept it high but I wanted to know for sure!
@@chasethetone I don't remember thinking the action was uncomfortably high. It was hard to gauge, even in hindsight, with all the processing I was doing.
@@guitartecIf you felt how dirty the fretboard was, I'd assume the action was low.
Maybe I’m weird but the EVH Wolfgang has this “boxy/brittle/honky” sounding mid tone that I really don’t care for… I like the neck pickup on the Peavey Wolfgang but I prefer the bridge pickup on the Music Man though I will say both Wolfgangs sound like they resonate much more than the Music Man. I personally wouldn’t play power chords to judge the clarity of a neck pickup but that’s just me. Whenever Eddie switched to the neck pickup on the Live Right Here Right Now album he made it sound pretty fantastic… That 90s/Balance era tone is by far my favorite and personally I feel Eddies tone changed for the worse after Humans Being and Me Wise Magic. It was WAYYY too mid focused and sounded thin and shrill live. Anyone else???
Couldn’t agree with you more. And the switch to ebony fretboards was surprising. I LOVE the all birdseye neck on the Ernie Ball.
To me, the EVH Wolfgang sounds like a tin can... but I Love the MM
I honestly have NEVER liked his Peavey 5150's & later EVH 5150 3's which are just fizzy awful amplifiers!!
I myself own & use old mk2 Marshall Superlead head's & they're AWESOME!!
I completely agree - that "boxy" tone is my pet peeve and seems to show up in a lot of modern guitars, pickups, and amps
@@martymcfly002 yeah I don’t really understand why that’s a popular tone… I love high gain but not when it sounds like a tin can. Pretty much everything Eddie did with the Peavey 5150s sounded great! As soon as he went to Fender I lost interest in keeping up with his rig. I saw him twice in Milwaukee 2004 with Sammy and I think 2007-8 with DLR. His tone was piercing.
The reason the headstock was finished and the neck wasn't was the design was for the natural oils in your hands would treat the wood on the neck. Eddie liked the feeling of that natural hand finish from sweat, oil & dirt vs any lacquer or nitro finish. The headstock was finished because your hands wouldn't touch it as much as the neck would be. The wood can dry out or absorb moisture so that headstock is finished & the player finishes the rest of it naturally. I've changed two other VH style guitars with maple necks to the same specification of my EB Axis to match that finish. Message me directly if you want the recipe or steps and product needed to get that finish
I also own the 3 models...and always prefered the Peavey. The Peaveys sound a bit more agressive and I really like it !
I've had the FMI/EVH and the Peavey. Sold the Peavey, bought the USA EVH, regretted selling, repurchased the Peavey (for a *steal* on Reverb), and sold the EVH. Peavey just feels more alive. My EVH, though built like a tank with high quality materials, was not as resonant as the Peavey. Also, I prefer the arching on the Peavey and the less ostentatious binding. I do prefer the feel of the neck on the EVH over the Peavey, but both necks are great.
I've played my Peaveys for about 20 years and fortunately I've never seen such problems with the frets. Actually I also own 2 fender custom shop and the frets were dead in a year... It's a shame.
The frets on the EVH striped don't seem to be better...
@Satanic Panic Fun and Games if I had that problem with a guitar I love as much as this one, it’d be worth the cost to have it refretted. Get stainless steel and forget about ever refretting again.
i had a 97 pat pending peavey wolf that i regret selling..but my favorite was his EBMM
I've still got mine thank god number 553😆 patent applied. ..stands up against any guitar period
I know the feeling! I had a 98 Wolfgang Special. I hadn't played in over a year so sold it. I regretted selling it within weeks of the sale.
I may have the saddest story of all. I bought the first peavey Wolfgang to arrive in Mississippi music the day it arrived in 1996. Quite possibly the first ever sold. It was an archtop quilt sunburst. I had been inquiring about it because I saw Eddie on Oprah (via satellite) with it and I had to have it. Well, I don’t have it anymore but someone out there does. lol I also had a prototype with no serial # that was built on July 4 1997 months before they started production on them. It was a cherry flame top deluxe and the born on date was written inside the guitar under back plate. I don’t have that one anymore either. 🤦
Fender might have done the most tweaking to get the Wolfgang perfect, but it was Peavey that did all the footwork to make the Wolfgang what it is. Before Eddie's association with them I laughed at Peavey. I now have tremendous respect for what they got accomplished together with the amps and the guitars, and it seems EVH Fender has stolen Peavey's thunder a bit. Also, it is only natural that you no longer saw Eddie playing Peavey or Ernie Ball once he started EVH. He was trying to sell current products. Anyway great video and comparisons, thank you.
The EVH has so many problems with the quality of components that IMO Eddie and Fender cheaped out and increased the price. I have a Japan and Mexican model, I've owned a USA EVH and they are just inconsistent on setup, Floyd saddle quality and all sorts of inconsistencies in pickup tone. Every single PV or EB I've picked up are almost dead on the same and the quality has held up over the years. Each to his own I suppose but I just don't see the EVH's as being the next step forward, they were a step backwards.
@@jumbowolfe84 Love the Peaveys. Even the Korean EXP was a great guitar imo.
@@jumbowolfe84 of course the EVHs vary, they are at multiple price points, and as thus have different Floyd models on them. My EVH Special (Mexican) has an original German Floyd swapped in by the previous owner with titanium screws and brass block, claw, and trem stopper. Noiseless coated springs too. Guitar now resonates tremendously.
@@kitoyobeni1 I'm fully aware of that. I'm talking even the USA models. They arent up to Peavey quality, and that is my opinion of course which I'm sure some will disagree with. Ive played USA models off the shelf with horrible setups and those do not resonate "stock" the same as the Ping Floyds put on the Peavey's. I don't want to throw shade on anyones EVH axe, I do own two with mods, but I will say there are all sorts of tolerances between EVH's (USA to USA, Mexican to Mexican, etc) that did not occur with EB or Peavey. We're also talking about USA EVH models that are 2x the price point of the original Wolfies, Wolfgang Specials. Also, I don't buy into quaterswan is better, birdseye is of course a more expense maple and thats why ultimately the USA EVH's don't have birdseye. No slamming to Ed, but Fender cheaps out consistently as well on their other models. Jim DeCola hit a homerun for PV and Ed, based off the EBs as version 1.
@@jumbowolfe84 I'm not into the politics of it all. I bought an EVH second hand because it was upgraded and very affordable. The MM doesn't appeal to me at all with that flat body. PV and EVH are essentially the same design, if not quality. That said, I doubt I would find a nice PV for around $600.
I really enjoyed your video, thanks for this great comparison. I agree with others that I believe the Peavey Wolfgang is one of the most underrated guitars in history. I went to a music store when they first came out to play it simply because Eddie had his name on it. I was playing mostly Les Pauls at the time and didn’t expect much from a Peavey....but I sat and played it for hours. I’ve never had such an immediate connection with a guitar....before or since.
The pickup selector switch is reversed so when Eddie would tap he wouldn’t switch to the neck pickup by accident. Remember him stating this in an interview.
I changed mine back to 'normal'.
I have a 98 Peavey EVH Wolfgang Special USA Tobacco Sunburst. No tone control. It's a beast.
...interesting. Live the Ernie Ball guitar 1995 sounds amazing....If you listen to VH live in 1995, the guitar sounds great. One of my favorite sounds.
Your passion and heart is so inspiring to me I thank you for the journey through 3 generations of Mr Van Halens guitars.
Thank you for confirming that the Axis already existed in prototype form before Eddie had anything to do with it. Most people think that he designed this guitar, it even says it in one of that adds "I endurced the last guitar I used to play, I designed this one. Big difference!" He designed the pickups with Demarzio, cloned the back neck shape from the 5150, and chose the switch location. The body shape and everything else already began being designed. As I said it was a prototype. I don't think it was even supposed to have a Floyd Rose, because the nut shelf is short and and the locking nut was adapted to fit, just like the Kramer necks that were designed for a Strat type nut. That's why the locking nut hangs off the edged of the shelf. It's not a bad thing, and is stable with the back mounted bolts, but I wouldn't top screw mount it. If you notice guitars that were designed to have a Floyd rose the locking nut fit's perfectly on the nut shelf. I love Eddie, but he really was a shit talker. The neck shape on the ebmm is supposedly exactly like the 5150 was. I had Red Axis about 20 years ago and sold it like a dummy. I think I paid $1350 for it back then, but I had the same problem the EVH model had. The High e string would get caught under the lip of the pickup. It was fine if you didn't dive bomb it to far, but it kinda defeated the purpose of an Eddie Van Halen guitar if you didn't dive the Floyd playing around. I got tired of snapping the high e string all the time. I do wish I had kept it now though.. They're $3000 guitars now, which I don't think they're worth. The tops on the new Axis's aren't as nice as they used to be. I had a 1986 American Kramer baretta that I sold as well. I really wish I never sold that one..It was white with a dark rosewood fretboard. In the mid 90's Kramers became pretty much an embarrassment to have. They were everywhere and really cheap. No one wanted them. Especially the Pacer imperials with the flip flop paint jobs. They're coming back into style now though. The new ones aren't even close to what the older ones were. They were really well make guitars. I know esp made them and they were just assembled in Neptune. They may have even been made by what the ESP custom shop Is now. If you wan't the Stealth wolfgang signature, get the Made in Japan model. I've played both and the Made in Japan one was better in my opinion. The neck felt much nicer.
I remember playing these when they first came out and Guitar Center carried them. It was like WOW the oiled super comfy neck, hot pickups, sustained for days. Was way different than the Charvels, Ibanezes, Gibson, Fenders of the day. Good times.
I enjoyed your comparison of the 3 different incarnations of this Eddies stellar vision. I am partial to the Music Man because it feels better on me and I believe it’s built like a rock and sounds incredible through any amp, not just 5150 ‘s . It’s way more versatile than the other 2 and feels better to me. Choice of woods and Quality is staggering and consistent. But let’s be honest they are all friggin amazing , find the one that suits you the best and play with passion! Thanks for your review!
Thanks for taking the time to do a video like this. very informative and absolutely very cool look forward to many more of your videos!!!
I have a black patent pending Peavey. It’s the one guitar I would never sell. Have had it for over 20 years. It’s a tank. Rock solid. Best neck I’ve ever played.
same and birdseye neck
I have a gold top patent pending Wolfgang. It's the best I guitar that I have ever owned and I've tried them all. I wish that I owned more of them.
One more thing that occurred to me. You are comparing pickups on an amp that was being designed at the same time that the Fender Wolfgang was being developed. So those pickups were taylor made to work with that amp. Whereas the Musicman was designed to work with the Soldano/original 5150 amps. And the Peavey Wolfgang was developed around the time they started developing the 5150 2 amps. So again, those pickups and amps were tweaked to work best when paired together. So I would be interested to hear how the Musicman guitar played through an original 5150 amp compares to the Fender Wolfgang played through a 5150 3 amp. And the Peavey Wolfgang played through a 5150 2 amp.
I have the purple quilt EBMM and i will never ever let it go i will leave it to my son to do what he will with it. Very bright sounding guitar but the neck is silky smooth i love it its my favorite of the 3
Very informative, I learned a few things. I like your appreciation & respect for these guitars without going into fanboy territory. Very good stuff, man. 👍🏻
For the Peavey USA standard model: the all black and all white guitars are ALL basswood bodies, no maple cap. The only solid colors with the maple cap were the vintage gold and seafoam green.
Great video. I disagree on your assessment that the EVH is better than the PV's or the EB's, but everyone has an opinion on these and I respect that.
Great review. Love these long detailed videos. Thanks a lot for taking the time out to do this.
17:07 The reason the nut looks like that, is because the guitar was originally designed with a Fender-type bone nut and cutting a shelf for an R2/3 Floyd nut, leaves some of it sticking out. Anybody who has converted a normal Strat to a Floyd knows this. Obviously they weren't going to re-design the whole neck just for the Floyd, since they also made versions of the guitar with standard bone nuts. This is just how companies manufacture things and to try to keep costs down, they re-use parts or modify them. The Wolfgang models were designed from the ground up with Eddie, so those kinds of things didn't happen.
It is the guitar design or just the nut design that Gotoh made for EBMM (back when everything still had to be licensed)? It's been forever since I've seen either an EVH or an Axis; seems like all I ever come across are Axis SuperSports (and the occasional Sport). But that lends some credence to Sterling Ball's discussion of how this was a Dudley Gimple design that hadn't been prototyped until Ed came on board with them and was modified with his suggestions, while the original Wolfgang wasn't started until Ed moved over to Peavey so he had input from day 1.
When I was a child my uncle bought a music store and at age 5 I am told I picked up a guitar and started playing it. It wasn't a song anybody could identify but it wasn't noise, it was an actual chord progression, that was 1972 and I still play to this day. I barely remember that but I remember working in that music store sweeping and as I got older I got more responsibilities, unpacking guitars when they came in and setting them up to put them in the showroom, working behind the counter and running the register, doing sales and delivering pianos. When he finally bought the truck that had a hydraulic lift on the back of it was probably the happiest day of my life up to that point LOL and never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine myself having anything but a Les Paul and a Marshall. I have a couple EVH guitars in my collection but stayed loyal to Marshall until a friend of mine just about had me talked into buying a Peavy amp. Then I read an article about the way PV went out of business I know the owner was on a show called undercover bosses, I'd never heard of it but because of what I'd read in the article I checked it out and he's walking through the factory making all these promises to all these people I don't remember if one of the people had a special needs child or something but he pretty much told him they had job security and everything would be all right and then at the end of the episode the producer of the show I had a black student haircut right now the owner, few weeks after filming this just shut the place down never fulfilled any of his promises to any other employees so I refuse to buy anything with the name peavy on it ever again. Having said that...
I am glad you changed the music in the beginning, you are right "Ain't Talking About Love" would have been loudly inappropriate considering the circumstances but I do want to commend you on choosing the perfect song, well, in my opinion not so much the perfect song but the perfect PART of the song for the beginning of this video. It fit perfectly. I cannot think of any other snippet of any other Van Halen song that could have been better. Very tastefully done. Thank you.
Thank you so much for doing this, one of the best comparisons of the EVH stuff I’ve seen, now that Eddie is gone I think it’s so important for people to know what his life‘s work was all about. Took my time to watch this video over a couple of days during Christmas, there’s a lot to unpack here. I plan on visiting and watching this again, just got my first Wolfgang and I feel terrible that I didn’t know more about these wonderful guitars , Thanks again
I think the Peavey one is a true masterpiece.
So many subtle improvements that made this guitar jump from great to unique.
Eddie was a f*cking genius, thank you for this great GREAT review Marko !
I have 2 of the EBMM 's and the Fender Wolfgang. Have had the EBMM's for over 25 years,, they aren't going anywhere. I like my Wolfgang as well, they all scream. But will always prefer the EBMM
As a Strat and Les Paul fan, I always thought that I would never have a guitar with a Floyd Rose system. But these EVH guitars are really temptations.
Nice job! Cheers from Brazil.
Abrir no Google Tradutor
This was wonderful! I need to check your band out! I’m by no means a technical person on guitars! I’ve just loved Eddie’s unique talent and his search for the sound and tone- just the coolest innovator ever! This taught me a lot! Thank you! I just saw Wolfie and his band earlier this month- of course he was using his Dads brand of speakers and the Wolfgang guitars!❤
Actually, the original Ernie Ball prototype had a slight recess for the trem. But, when they changed trem brands to the Gotoh Floyd, the recess went away. Ed wanted the trem in contact with the body. I have interviews with him from back then addressing questions about the body contact with the Floyd. He wanted it that way at the time. I've had mine for 26 years and still have no damage to the finish from diving.
Exactly.
He also gave interviews about his amp mods that were false and destroyed a few amps.
@@pdk213 He was just protecting his tone recipe. It didn't occur to him that a bunch of nuts would go out and without question try the same "mods".
You’re right on the pickups.
Fret size: not big jumbos but especially on the EVH/Fender. What are the fret sizes on the other models?
Fender seems to have a predilection for smaller “vintage” sizes. Eddie also pressed down really hard on the strings. Smaller frets helped for more in tune chording. Apparently, his tech also said he detuned some strings so Eddie would play in tune.
What are the EBMM and Peavey fret sizes?
Edit: great story at the end.
That Stealth is incredible. I have a Standard Exotic Burl. Even an entry level guitar by EVH is staggeringly good. I've owned everything and I believe EVH are the pinnacle in guitar quality. And at the $600 level market there really is nothing that comes close to what EVH has. Great video here.
I have a 2009 Wolfgang. Just found a 2002 Axis and can’t wait to get it. Had one before and sold it. Regretted that. Glad I found another one.
I preferred the EBMM guitar over the other brands..
same here but the EVH Wolfie seems to be the most accessible
Appreciate this video my dude. Just ordered a USA Wolfgang in the 3-tone. Gonna take nearly a year to get to me, but your video has only cemented my choice. I think the greatest tribute we can give to Eddie is to play the instruments he created. Cheers, sir.
EBMM all day....no comparison! I’d even go as far to say the EBMM is the best 6 string electric ever built. Mop.
Please don't dislike me for my opinion but that guitar had the worst sounding pickups I've ever heard. Eddie was the only man who could make that guitar sound good through his 5150s. Plug that guitar in, play it, & really listen to it objectively. You know those pickups sound terrible
@@adozensparrows if you're throwing in words like "objectively" and phrases like "you know," it really stops sounding like a *reasonable* opinion
Peavey
The EBMM is fugly, though typically is the case with "prototypes". The Peavey iteration is the best looking by far. The recessed trem is not only functional, but adds a premium appearance with its flushness to the body. The scalloped headstock and the body proportions were just done right. This guitar plays just as good, if not better than guitars that cost twice or more than its price.
@@mattmattmatt8984 The Peavy is a sexy looking piece I agree. But I love the simplicity and clean look of the EBMM.
What a great video I really appreciate you posting this. Thanks so much and I’ll definitely have to check out your band. Cheers.🤘
I have a Peavey Wolfgang special. The most stable guitar ever for me. Thanks for the video!
I own a green peavey wolfgang deluxe standard and its my number 1. The thing with Eddie is that he was always chasing tone and he was always looking for something new. You can see that with each gen of his signature guitars and even with his amps. A mean he played maple necks for the longest time and then he switched to ebony fingerboards because he was liking the tone of it better. He loved new experimenting and trying new stuff. Rip to a legend
19:40 The reason the Wolfgangs have a recessed Floyd is because the guitars are carved tops and aren’t inherently a flat surface for the bridge. The Wolfgang Standard models see flat tops like the EVH EBMM thus are mounted directly to the body. All of Ed’s guitars until the Wolfgang has the Floyd mounted on the body with no recessed route. The Floyd was designed to align perfectly with a typical Fender style neck pocket and neck and so mounting the bridge on a flat top, allows the strings to ride naturally down the neck. If you were to recess it, you would have to make all kinds of modifications to the neck and the neck pocket and again, the EBMM guitar had other versions of it besides the Eddie Van Halen version and for modularity and manufacturing reasons, they didn’t not want to modify anything.
My friend, I can't thank you enough for this side-by-side comparison. Your authentic delivery, passion and specification accuracy is greatly appreciated. I bought the EBMM Axis in 2011 brand new. Still, I love it, but now I know exactly how far it stands behind the EVH Stealth. DAMN! Now I have to cost justify parting with $3k+ before Christmas!! Hahaha, thanks man.
The neck, sound and feel of the EBMM is unbeatable. Although the Peavey and EVH are fine guitars as well.
I agree with you completely. Of the three, the EBBM is the best and unmatched.
man I never realized how thick the fretboard was on the Peavys. Fantastic video by the way!
CRUNCH PORNOGRAPHY!!!! Brilliant review! I don't have the EVH Model but I have the other 2 and this was a true love letter! Thank You!
Also, from EBMM, 4+2 tuner layout and a non-setback headstock, to 3+3 and a slight setback headstock angle in the Peavy! HUGE difference!
GREAT video Marko!
Thank u Bro this made my SAturday night i sawEddie 5 times live and i been wanting an EVH guitar for awhile! thanks Again
The story goes that Eddie wanted the current headstock on the Peavey, but Hartley wanted it to look more in line with the other Peavey guitars, and ge thought the cutout at the top would look too aggressive. So they made a deal, Eddie got ownership of the cutout headstock, and peavey obviously got ownership of the headstock that ended up being used.
I have an EBMM Axis and a Peavey Wolfgang, and even though I agree with every single flaw you mentioned about the EBMM, I still think the neck feeling is unbeatable, and I prefer it over the peavey which has a noticeably thicker neck. By the way, the EBMM neck IS asymmetrical, its a computerised copy of his Kramer 5150 neck
The headstock is the only part of this guitar that you can trademark. Eddie wanted a Gibson Flying V looking headstock and Hartley sanded the top corner scoop to the " Flying V" looking headstock. That is where here Peavey headstock came from. then when he went to Fender they cut the sanded scoop out and that is where EVH got their " bottle opener" design
@@KurtS5150 Yes, but the patent with the scoop cutout (current Wolfie headstock) was filed in Eddie's name in 1995, 12 years before it appeared on the first Fender Wolfgang
Incredible comparaison, so many thanks for this video, and this nice return in the past with these historical pieces of art thanks to our great idol vision and imagination.
My all time fav is the Peavey Wolf! Great review. Thank you!
Thank you for taking the time to do this 🤟
I'm lucky enough to have bought a Patent Pending Black Peavey back in '96. Worked at Chick-fil-A all summer to save the cash. I still play it nearly every day and can confirm that neck is something special. It's such a fast neck but still meaty enough so you can really grab your bends. I put 10 gauge strings and tune down to Eb - to me that's the sweet spot on this guitar. I also have the red, purple, sunburst, and gold quilt tops. but that's another story :) - great video. much appreciated
What a great comparison video. You deserve these beautiful guitars - it's truly evident how much you revere and appreciate the craftsmanship. Great information on the historical trajectory too. Nicely done.
Just came across your channel and loved your review on the EVH guitars and your music is absolutely mind-blowing. Thanks for sharing to the world.
Great video review and very informative as usual. Feeling teary myself at the end there!
Van Halen one was the first album I ever bought I was 10 living in California and was hooked and have remained a van Halen fan, edd was phenomenal .
It's is so so amazing to see his music live on in the younger generations he is truly timeless.
loving watching your clips...very cool to see the differences...EXCELLENT job!
Hello, I had a used first run Peavey Wolfgang (unknowingly). I had called peavey to advise on how to set up the “de-Tuna” and I actually spoke to the tech that set mine up when new. It was a purple quilt top, birdseye maple neck. How ended up with it, I was at a store trying out a newly released marshall TSL 100 at the time and didn’t have one of my guitars with me. (Les Paul, Strat, etc.) It was nearby on the wall and had humbuckers so I grabbed it to try the amp. After about 20 mins of clean, dirty and lead playing I had to have both! The sales guy was thrilled of course. It had been there a while so they cut me a deal.
With the amp I payed $750.00 for it...I know. Was my main guitar in a cover band for 3 years. For the record, it was the best sounding, versatile and also stable guitar I have ever played live to date. Awesome from clean to heavy drive. Can’t say enough good. One thing though, These EVH models must be even more amazing. If possible I would like to know how the new stealth would hold up to a Charvel Guthrie Govan model? May be a dumb question but materials seem similar. Sorry so wordy.
I sold my EBMM natural, which was in mint condition, for $600 and I never felt bad about it. I just never liked it. It sounded alright, but nothing that was so much better than anything else. It was a relatively small guitar. The bridge is a lot closer to the back than most guitars. The one thing I absolutely hated about, and all Les Pauls and carved tops, is the lack of a forearm contour. Of course I knew that going into buying it, and I bought it anyway because it came from Eddie, but I can't see playing all night with that hard edge digging into your right forearm.
Thank you for this amazing review.
I remember being young in Brazil and dreaming about a Peavy Wolfgang which was so freaking expensive back in 90's, way more I could afford for sure.
Years later now, leaving in US and having a better financial condition (lol) your review gave me the push to make my teenager dream coming true - I trade some unused gear on a EVH Wolfgang Standard which I loved - awesome guitar. In fact, I got so satisfied with the sound and feel playing it that I also got an EVH Wolfgang Special which I'm waiting to be delivered.
Thanks for the push and keep rocking!!!
What can you say about the sound and the quality? I'm having a hard time deciding between Standard/Special... or a Music Man :D
I'm a die hard Musicman fan & as an owner of a EVH MM
I understand the issues with the pickups so that's why they're now Bareknuckle VH2's in mine!
Too me it's the perfect ROCK super Strat come Tele!!!
Not taking anything away from any of them as they're all AWESOME!!!
So much fun watching this video.
This review was fantastic!! Thanks for sharing!!
Just picked up up today and excited to hear your reviews!!! Kind of dove into the he purchase I fell in love with it!
Great video. I have an 09 evh Wolfgang. Love it. Just ordered a 2019 standard in ziricote. Can’t wait. Rock on!
Love this! I wanted the Axis since seeing Ed on the magazine cover in 1991/92?? Finally got one in 2004 and a couple of re-frets later, still playing the hell out of it. THE most toneful, resonant and reliable guitar I've ever owned. No matter where I take it or what I plug it in to, THAT tone is there everytime. I do agree they're not the most comfortable. I've never played a Wolfgang but I've often fancied...... Now this HP2 :-o
Great review. And a heart felt ending there which made me smile. I have a PV wolfgang pat pend. It's warm when played clean and aggressive when played dirty. I did a direct wiring switch via a push push volume pot and coil splitting switch via a push push tone pot to get even more options out of the PV wolfgang. I try not to get too dependent on it as it's 15 inch fretboard radius is real easy way to get around on the fretboard. So I tend to play with the other guitars more. But the sound of the PV wolfgang into my raging Marshall 6100 half stack is my idea of a good time.
Really liked this, just a geek talking about some classic and modern classic guitars. Took me 3 nights to get through it all but worth it! Cheers
Really fantastic comparison. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Well done indeed mate! 👍
I have a 2023 EVH Wolfgang Special built in Mexico. I freakin love it.
I'm glad you mentioned the birdseye necks on the EBMM VH models. Mine was almost unplayed for 25 years because the damn tuning stability was so bad. And high e string has a tendency to slip off the fretboard. Supposedly, this was fixed on the axis but the Quilt amber one I bought in 1999 was no different then the VH signature. My later Peavey USA Archtop and specials were good workhorses but I'm with you that the Fender EVH's are outstanding, even the Strat style ones made in Mexico.
I've owned the Ernie Ball and Peavey. The Peavey Wolfgang sound is burned into my brain and I know that sound like the back of my hand. I haven't owned the EVH version.
I can tell you that the Ernie Ball neck was the smoothest neck I have ever played. "Plays like a dream"? I think the marketing material was? I do agree. The neck to me was just such a great feel. You have to also understand that most necks back then were lacquer finished and sticky. Add to the things Eddie taught all of us about how a guitar should sound and feel.
I had the cream Peavey Wolfgang Standard. It was a much darker sound, but sounded great. I wasn't as much of a fan of the 15' radius, but the birdseye was so gorgeous. I wish I had gotten one early enough to get the quilted maple tobacco top. So gorgeous. After that it is was all match top maple. The sound is amazing for the Peavey. Very versatile. My biggest issue with the Peavey's was cheap hardware with the bridge and nut. The damn screw holes kept stripping out on me (I owned 3) and there was not a direct replacement for them, even going through Peavey. If it had solid hardware, it would have been a perfect guitar able to play many genres.
Although I have not owned the EVH Wolfgang, it sounds as if the pickups are a refinement between the Ernie Ball and Peavey. As Eddie says "start here, turn it up to 11, then dial it back a bit" which is what it sounds like he did. I am sure with Fender the hardware issues are corrected. It sounds more like a blend between the Ernie Ball and Peavey with better craftsmanship.
Thank you for this video.
Edit" Worst mistake I ever made was selling that Ernie Ball EVH :(
Excellent Marko! Thanks for sharing these beauties, really enjoyed your stories as well, greetings from Seattle! 🤟🤟
Great review. Thank you!
Great video, answered a lot of things people want to know. His choice to go full Peavey must have been an extension of his 5150 amp line. Ed went with who he knew, and Peavey seemed to be the right choice. The Vandenburg gutars were also very awesome and not like the rest of their line. The JSX was another time that Peavey really got it right. I find the coolest thing about his time at Peavey was the custom USA line. It was...unbelievable. Check those guitars out!
When Hartley still ran the company he gave his artists full rein to do what they want.
This was an excellent and very interesting presentation. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thankyou very much.
Damn it, now i want to buy an Evh USA Wolfgang stealth. I already have my dream guitar an Adrian Smith USA Jackson San Dimas 2021 model with the truss rod wheel. I love the ebony fretboards on maple bolt on necks.
Great video. I have a 96' pat pend Peavey USA in white, a 2012 EVH USA in Dark Cherry with ss frets, 2011 MIC EVH in quilted tobacco sunburst. All 3 are just amazing guitars and I was lucky enough to get these a few months before EVH passing so I got them for very fair prices. Now they are gone up so much.
I've got a Peavey Wolfgang Special and I absolutely love it. I need to dial in the D-Tuna. I too got caught off guard at first with the reversed pickup selector.
I traded my evh Wolfgang usa yesterday and took the peavey usa in part exchange before playing this video, I was really surprised how good the peavey is I was going to sell it on quickly but it might be a keeper, I prefer the neck pickup in the stealth so maybe swap the neck but I prefer the bridge in the peavey from your video thanks for sharing.
26:50 you adjust the play in the whammy by tightening or loosening the nut at the collar you screw it into to. :)
Awesome video, im saving up to a EVH wolfgang special at the moment, great vid :)
Killer video! Thanks for this!
I got a 2005 USA HP Special Custom which they started making when Eddie left. It’s basically the Wolfgang but a nicer (in my opinion anyway) more strat like shape. Utterly brilliant guitar. The pick ups are fantastic. Wish I could get those pick ups for one of my other guitars.
I got one of those too, great guitar
I preferred the EBMM for looks and sound. I think that high, sometimes shrill tone is part of Eddie's signature sound. That guitar breathes, and sounds alive, thrilling. The other guitars are very good. The Stealth stands out clearly the most "perfectly" made. But, I don't play guitar guitar because I want to play a perfect instrument. I enjoy playing the guitar because its idiosyncrasies, peculiarities, and bad behavior. To me, a refined, well-behaved guitar is about as interesting as a synthesizer, blah. The Stealth reminds me of a PRS - Incredibly well made, balanced, elegant, but as lifeless as a mannequin. That's not what I hear in Eddie's paying, nor do I want it in mine.. Thanks for the excellent in-depth comparison. I really enjoyed it.
I've had 2 usa problems customs, and agree.
They're so perfect that they had no personality.
Sold/traded both
I couldn’t put my finger on it but you just help me to realize why I love playing my USA Peavey Wolfgang special deluxe versus my EVH USA Wolfgang Edward van Halen signature. The peavy is by no means perfect and dialed in like the EVH but it’s so much more alive and fun to play.
Others may have pointed this out already, but on the Peavey Wolfgang, you *could* have the tremolo arm tight if that's what you wanted.
The guitar shipped with a thin metal wrench you could use to hold the arm housing in place while you screwed the arm in. And the housing itself could be adjusted to spin as loosely or as tightly as you wanted by going in through the back and adjusting the tightness of the nut on the back of the housing.
There were other earlier Peavey guitars that used the same design. I don't know if that aspect of the trem design was Peavey's doing, or Ping's (who I understand actually made the trems).
Edit: I see you corrected yourself at 1:18:28. Well done. :D
Awesome video. Just picked up a Gold top Peavey Wolfgang standard
Nice! I had a chance to get a gold top Peavey Wolfgang at a pawn shop in Norman, Oklahoma for $600 and kick myself for not getting it.. I had no Job and my 3 year old daughter needed medicine so that guitar went with someone else.
(BRAVO: Tremendous Applause & Standing Ovation) Wow this is the absolute best video with regards to ALL of the EVH guitars.
I am not a guitar player I am a semi professional drummer who has been a Van Halen fan since 1979. I never understood the difference in the various guitars at Eddie Van Halen got involved with but always wanted to know. I can't thank you enough for this informative and awesome video clip.
Marko.Wow,here it is,a couple years later.I was only a Bass player that played an acoustic on occasion.After Eddie's passing,I really wanted to know what it felt like to play some of his riffs.co last December I purchased my first electric guitar.I got a Wolfgang standard made in Indonesia.Cream with a black headstock,and gold logo.That's what I could afford,and I love it.I want to thank you for the inspiration.This is such an awesome video.You have a nack for being behind the camera.You have 3 beautiful Wolfgang's.Hope I'm able to own a U.S.A.Stealth oneday.Thankyou Eddie!!!He was always my favorite.Thanks, Daus Black.
Good video. Thanks for making this. A couple things to point out…the neck on the EBMM is indeed asymmetrical. And the neck pickup was never meant for rhythm tones. Eddie never even used a neck pickup until that guitar. He used it for buttery smooth leads. You’re the first person I’ve ever heard say they don’t love the neck pickup, but again, it’s for leads, not rhythms. It’s killer! Really a special pickup (both are), and the prices of used ones proves it. The pickups are so great that Eddie tried to take them to Peavey when he left EBMM, but Sterling worked out an exclusive deal with Dimarzio that wouldn’t allow Dimarzio to sell them to anyone else.
Also, I’m sure EBMM would have built Eddie whatever he wanted. Really the only thing he didn’t come up with was the body shape. Everything else from pickups to neck carve to the lack of a belly cut and tone knob were all Ed. EBMM actually made several changes to the guitar once they parted ways with Ed. So I don’t buy that Ed couldn’t do what he wanted. He did.
Great video thanks for the comparisons. I have learn something new about all three models. Great job and awesome playing
I have a WG standard and a MIJ SPECIAL HT. Incredible guitars for the money. Really enjoyed this video, thx!
Nice comparison. Thanks! Don't be surprised about the Peavey guitars. USA Peaveys are great guitars. Jim DeCola who is at Gibson now designed the guitar with Ed and Hartley at least as I've read in different places.
Lost track of how many times I've watched. Always wanted the EBMM, but maybe the EVH but after watching and listening, I actually wanted the Peavey. I prefer that scooped tone to the mid heavy EVH. So I found a Peavey Wolfie Standard and I absolutely love it. I'm lucky enough to have some great guitars, but the Peavey (yes Peavey) might just be the best sounding easiest to play of the lot. Thanks for such a great vid. really helped me make the right decision for me.
Love that EBMM! Thank you for the video
I just unboxed my new 2021 EVH WOLFGANG SPECIAL BOMBER BLACK STEALTH ITS DEFINITELY A FIGHTER JET COMPARED TO A FERRARI. MY NEXT WILL BE A PEAVEY. THANKS FOR YOUR INSIGHT. LIKE EDDIE WOULD SAY KEEP PLAYIN MAN. NEW SUBSCRIBER.