Blown away...my all time favorite vid on YT. Beautiful build & incredible tone & masterful playing by Casey! I'm determined to build this exact guitar sometime, I absolutely LOVE IT! Congrats Brian 🤘🏻
@@BubbaZanetti_375 Well, it depends on which side of the argument you believe...but most people think the original was made with Swamp Ash. The first 5150 I built in a previous video series, I used basswood...and after feeling, playing, and hearing both the swamp ash is a much more resonant wood...at least for this application.
@@BubbaZanetti_375 Yeah, it’s honestly made me consider rebuilding my first 5150 with a new swamp ash body. I built this particular guitar for a very close friend…so it’s not mine. But, the one I built for my own collection is basswood…and now I’m jealous!!! 😆😆
Outstanding job, love how you made it look like it did on day one with no relic…so ironic I also used parchment paper to make my Frankenstrat, I used airplay on my iPhone and sent the image of the guitar to my tv and expanded the photo to the correct size…again great job and thanks for the video 👍🏼
That's awesome! Yeah, blowing it up full size and tracing the stripes is a great way to confirm the correct placement! Thanks for watching and commenting! I appreciate it very much.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 yeah I'm gonna build myself a few Frankies the Original, the Jump aka the Kramer beak, the Kramer Banana Headstock, and 2 5150s, I'll even build my own Frankie style guitars with the Gibson SG guitar body shape with the Floyd Rose fitted on all of them but I'll have to build the guitar bodies myself and they're gonna have to be thicker than most Gibson SGs so the Floyd Rose tremolo can fit but before I build the guitar bodies I need to get the machines and tools that I need to build guitar bodies and I'll also need to get the spray paints, masking tape, and all the hardware like the EVH Frankenstein pickups, the pots, the dummy pickups, the dummy 5-way blade switches, the birdseye maple necks with the locking nuts, the Floyd Rose double locking tremolo bridges, the tuners, the tone knobs, the jacks, the pickguards, and of course the 1971 quarters all that hardware is for my EVH Frankenstein SG guitars for the 5150 SGs it's just the pickups, the pots, the maple necks with the locking nuts, the Floyd Rose double locking tremolo bridges, the tuners, and the tone knobs. 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨 I think I said a little too much of my ideas for my EVH guitar builds. Also all the Floyd Rose double locking tremolo bridges are gonna be Originals because they're the best at staying in tune and holding the strings tight
@@allboutthemojo Thank you! Sorry I missed your question several months ago. At the time, I was using a Line 6 Helix Floor modeling unit. The speakers in the room for the WDW setup is a Friedman ASM-10 on the floor for the center dry, and two Rockville Audio 8" studio monitors for the stereo wet speakers. But, when we switched over to the direct recordings, it was also processed through the Line 6 Helix but only in stereo.
Dude! I put together a 5150 body and neck about 8 years ago. KNE is the bomb! Neck pocket fit nice and snug, and string alignment wasn't an issue. I was disappointed though that they don't offer necks any more. My neck is probably the best I've ever played! Edit: I see now where they're offering necks again. Hmm..... Another project is coming to mind..... Maybe a black and white frankie.......
@@1DerekMiracle The headstock decal was purchased on ebay. The 5150 decals and star decals were purchased from the EVH store. Hope that helps. Good luck.
It looks and sounds awesome! Great job done building it! Big shoutout to the player as well! He knows how to make this guitar come to life. Right guy for the job. Sound is just huge!!
what a fantastic video and excellent craftamschip!!! needless to say that ... at 13:39 you can hear the "hot for teacher drum intro" by that spray can!!!! Yeah I'm nuts, I know that!!!
You know what works the best as grain filler when painting a body,I found out when I built my first guitar drywall mud does a perfect job...fills grain..sands smooth and effortless..and won't cause a paint reaction when painted over..
I have the exact same KNE body and neck I built in 2013. Your sound is huge and I'm surprised because it doesn't look like you did anything to raise the pickup height. 🤔
Looks like KNE got the neck pocket depth right as well which most of these don’t. The fret hang of the neck should be very close to the body , like the old Kramer’s. I’m assuming the neck cavity in the body has a slight angle? Nice job! I’m sure it sounded a bit more punchy after the paint as well. Some paint in my experience is needed.
Thank you for all the info you provide. If you did it again would you do grain filler, then sanding sealer, then Wimbledon White, Torch Red, Black, then Minwax Clear Lacquer? It seems like all the lacquer products are the easiest products to work with as a beginner.
Thank you! Yes, that would be a proper order for the steps if you felt like it needed the grain filler. In the case of most basswood bodies, they are very smooth and have a very closed grain pattern (usually) so that's the reason why I didn't include that step here.
No, not at all. The black has to be sprayed on top...and the "overspray" of the black stripes on the side as well. It would be impossible to make it look right if you sprayed the black first.
Sir, great video. Thank you for sharing. I made 3 Franky’s out of kits but would love to buy some KNE gear!! Well done. Can I ask - as I don’t have the gear to provide the sounds you have: I read about the Friedman wedge monitor but can I ask what else you’ve used, from guitar output to the wedge to give you the sounds? I don’t know much about effects units and only have a Blackstar modelling amp and a small Marshall to practise with. Would be great to know exactly what kind of gear you guys have to priced all these lovely tones 🙏🏻 Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks for the comment! The signal chain from the guitar, went straight into the Line 6 Helix, then split into a Wet/Dry/Wet configuration through 2 - 8" stereo monitors, and the Friedman ASM-10 simultaneously.
AWESOME JOB...just wish i could finish my dream guitar build but cant due to terminal cancer!!!THIS IS SO FREAKIN RAD BRO!!!!GREAT JOB!!!Just a hint...if You didn't already ...if you want you can also apply a couple coats of Birchwood Casey's Gun Stock Wax to the neck and fretboard...it's a bit tedious due to having to completely dry the coats before 0000 steel wool and old t-shirt buff between coats ..but trust me...your neck and fingerboard will feel more like butter with every coat...Best thing I ever did to every neck I own after playing the EBMM EVH Sig series in the early nineties...the best feeling and playing necks I ever had the privilege to play...never went back to reg finished necks after that..even to the point of stripping the painted ones and refinishing with this technique....once again great job...if you ever want to help a fellow EVH / 5150 freak out with a paint job please lmk...just don't have the strength to do it anymore...that guitar and neck are a thing of beauty...the 5150 is my all time dream guitar since it came out in mid 83..but more so after my Pops got me the 5150 album and my first guitar a month before he passed away way too early at only 39 yrs old ..I was 13 in 86...so its a very sentimental issue for me...ya..if you ever could entertain that notion please get in touch with me..my FB is just my name..Randy Vertrees...throw me a friend invite ....once again BEST 5150 BUILD IVE SEEN ON TH-cam...IM IN AWE!!!
Thanks!! Source for the tape? I just ordered it from either Amazon or eBay depending on where I could find the correct sizes of each roll. I would highly recommend using something like the 3M Fineline products. Regular masking tape will "bleed". I've also seen other builders using a vinyl type of tape with good success too.
It's funny because Ed hated copycats and yet here he is making millions for Wolfgang after his death selling what he just thought was being an OG doing his own thing. So many copies. Only one original.
Every Jedi must build their own lightsaber. Every Van Halen guitarist must build their own Kramer 5150 clone. It's funny to see the meticulous care you took in painting and finish when Edward was painting his in his garage, smoking and buzzed and then had his guitar tech drag the Kramer 5150 behind his truck in the driveway to "wear it up" since Edward hated playing pristine guitars. lol The dragging behind the truck was probaby around 1985 or early '86 since the 5150 guitar was in pretty good condition during the 1984 tour, but looked much more worn for the 5150 tour.
Outstanding and excellent work and the sound is so dang awesome! What is the string height you set and brand of strings.Casey played amazing! Really enjoyed it so much!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 So that, is about 1.578mm? My EVH MIJ is set just a hair above that. No chance of it going sharp and trem is sitting on the body with 2 springs. Love the videos and looking forward to your next project.
How much would it cost to have one made also would it be cheaper if I provided the Kramer 1984 guitar in white ? Would be one less color for you to have to paint
It looks like you kept pieces of the tape (for the paint) on the guitar... Did you? Curious. Doing the black stripes looks tough so if there's a simpler solutions I'd love to hear it :)
Spectacular work. I just received my own body, pickup, bridge… paint is on the way, and neck will come in a month or two. I’m not going to do stripes, though- just the same paint as my car. Hope it sounds as good as yours. // But, hey-can you explain your system? Helix with wet/dry/wet? What speakers are you using? Maybe you have a video on this already. Sounds fantastic. I’m using a Kemper with a couple of monitors, but your setup sounds like it’s huge in the room.
Thanks for the compliments! Good luck on your project as well!!! Yep, Helix rig is W/D/W and I absolutely love it. I'm using a pair of 8" studio monitors for the "wet" stereo effects. They are Rockville Audio monitors (budget friendly). I'm using a Friedman ASM-10 wedge monitor on the floor to carry the "Dry" signal. The Helix has a very easy way to route all of these signals. I'm using a Soldano SLO amp model in the Helix with the official Celestion EVH 412 impulse response...and of course the micro pitch detune in stereo. ...and yes, it sounds MASSIVE in the room. The video doesn't really do it justice.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 I appreciate the reply. One question, though: how are the monitors and ASM-10 arranged? Are the monitors actually flanking the wedge, so you're getting wedge 'centered' and the two 'wets' are Left and Right for the player?
@@CentaurusRelax314 Yes, that's exactly correct. The studio monitors are on bookcases about ear level. The ASM-10 is on the floor with an upward angle like it's designed to project....in the center.
It's in the title of the video....KNE. But, you have to search for "KNE necks" to find the link to that particular neck...for some reason it's not easily found on their website!
Nice! Getting ready to start painting mine have an alder strat body routed right, Kramer style neck, Floyd Rose and EVH pickups but I’m going to do mine a bit different since Eddys bridge pickup never actually worked and put in a 3 way switch instead so I can have neck, bridge, and both.
Wet sanding is the final step before polishing. It’s used to get all the tiny scratches and swirls out of the clear coat and everything has to be completely cured before even trying it. We’re talking weeks, not hours. Sanding between coats is dangerous because one sand through and your paint job is ruined. Also, you don’t need full coverage on every coat. Thin coats because again, one drip and your project is screwed. Painting takes lots of patience. If your happy with the finished product, that’s what matters, I just see things you’re doing ( that I’ve done too) that won’t lead to the best results. If
Yes I agree, but painting a 5150 is different in a lot of ways, compared to a traditional base coat/clear coat process for "normal" guitars and cars. The wet sanding that I executed in this video was super light, and was only intended to knock down the edge of the stripes (mainly).
How long after application is it safe to sand the MinWax clear? I'm doing a Jake E. Lee inspired strat and applied my semi-gloss yesterday. I'm anxious to complete it, but don't want to ruin my work thus far. Using an old Starcaster body matched with a Squier neck that I've sanded and used Tru-Oil.
Awesome build, video shows how meticulous you are which shines through in this build. This is the standard I’m gonna set to my next project. Props for not relicing this beauty. 🤘🏼✌🏼
@@CoffeeDrinker71 building your own guitar is a lot cheaper than buying one from a company… this same guitar would sell for a lot more if a retailer sold it
I found your page looking at musikraft necks, then I found this video. I went to KnE website but didn't find this. Is this something I need to call about to get the proprietary neck profile? Here I am trying to find a neck for an old Barretta and now wanting to buy a whole kit now.
this video is absolutely magical as a proud Gen Zer, i've got a very low attention span lol but you got me hooked throughout the entire video! i love seeing all the steps of you building it and then the guy testing it at the end, absolutely awesome! GREAT sounding guitar!
My God that guy has Eddie’s soul inside him or something. I just got the PodGo which can load the Helix presets (I think?). Where can I get them? If you don’t mind me asking?
Thank you very much! You'll need 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", and 1/2" tape to do this properly. Also, the black stripes range between .650" to .700" in some areas. Most guys custom cut those pieces or use some other template to create the wider stripes.
At first I was watching this I thought well that's close enough for Disco🤣 after listening to & watching homeboy play it's got the 80s tone in it" and can handle any music from that era not just Van Halen🤘 not including paint and labor what was the total in parts if you don't mind me asking? Just wondering from DFW
Hey Brian thanks for the instructional videos on re-creating eddies 5150 Kramers… Question, out of all of the different 5150 Kramer bodies you have built which one would you recommend to go with regardless of the price of the different kits. I’m concerned with which one you feel is the most quality and period correct as far as the correct headstock body shape etc. Thanks in advance...🤟🏼
Thanks for the kind words!! :) There are only 2 brands to consider, honestly. Either KNE or Locke. They are both fantastic and I would give them my highest recommendation over any other “kit” brand out there. Lately, Locke has really been stepping up the game tremendously by offering a variety of period correct options depending on the era of 5150 you are aiming for. For example, they now offer an option to have the forearm grain pattern engraved into the body just like Eddie’s. They are also offering necks with the infamous 7th tuner on the headstock. It’s insane the level you could take it nowadays. I would highly recommend jumping into some of the builder groups on FB specifically for the 5150 replicas and take a look around (if you haven’t already) and see these different options on other people’s finished guitars. You will be amazed. Hope this helps!!
Also keep in mind, you could always order a body from either KNE or Locke, and then build your neck to custom specs at Musikraft. That way you would have a little more control over things that matter mostly to you as a player, like fret size, nut width, type of woods used, radius of fretboard, rolled edges (or not), and an endless variety of back profiles!!! So, don’t rule that out either. Musikraft makes some of the best necks on the planet. I have one on my first Locke project body. They mated perfectly together.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 hey that’s awesome thanks for the advice... regarding MusiKraft necks, I noticed in another video the musikraft banana head shock was tilted back like a Gibson headstock and I didn’t think Eddie’s headstock was tilted back are you saying I can get musikraft to make it straight versus tilted? Eddies neck wasn’t tilted was it?
@@kerneypeart Yes, you will need to get the banana headstock without the tilt. If you look at their website, by default, the banana headstock is NOT tilted. So, whichever one you saw previously must have been a custom order??? But you are correct, the headstock needs to be flat...
Correct, I did not use any grain filler on this body. The grain on this particular body was tight enough that I felt like it didn’t need any, however you’ll notice after I painted the white base I ended up “spot” filling some grain that was starting to become visible through the paint. Yes, if you apply your grain filler to your body, go ahead and sand it nice and flat/level before you apply the sealer. I show this process in greater detail in my latest series on the “Bumblebee” project! Thanks for watching!
I think you are seeing the plug. The truss rod adjustment IS at the heel of the neck where it's supposed to be. Notice the "notch" carved into the body at the neck joint to access the truss rod in the neck heel.
@@MichaelGuy I traced it out by hand. I projected the image of the actual 5150 guitar onto the wall in 1:1 scale, then traced the pattern on this paper.
@@xtremewarboy5757 Great question. At the time of building this one, I’d estimate around $900 to $1,000. Body and neck combo were around $500…Floyd was around $150 (used), pickup around $100, then tuners and other hardware around $75…and finally, about $100 for paint supplies. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.
hey I was just wondering how long you let the white coat dry before applying the tape ? also how long did the paint set before spraying the clear? I’m planning on painting one of these and I want to try to get as much references as possible, thanks.
Yes, it was the DupliColor Automotive "Lacquer" series paint in gloss black. It was the leftover can I had from my previous video from the '78 B/W Frankenstrat. It comes in a larger can than the Perfect Match series of paints and it's cheaper...but same quality. Freeze the frame at 24:49 and you'll get a decent look at the can. Hope that helps brother!
I love when I see other people make replicas of Ed's guitars with stripes, and you're one of them!
Thank you so much! :)
@@CoffeeDrinker71 You're welcome.
If I bought the kit and sent it to you and paid you would you build this?
Great Build! Always Loved the "Kramer " Hockey Stick headstock! EVH 5150
Thank you!
Blown away...my all time favorite vid on YT. Beautiful build & incredible tone & masterful playing by Casey! I'm determined to build this exact guitar sometime, I absolutely LOVE IT! Congrats Brian 🤘🏻
Ah, thanks brother! I appreciate that very much!!! Yeah, Casey is an INCREDIBLE player! I'm so glad he dropped by to give this a test drive!!! ;)
@@CoffeeDrinker71 one question, why the decision to go w/ swamp ash over say, poplar? Regardless, the tone is monster.
@@BubbaZanetti_375 Well, it depends on which side of the argument you believe...but most people think the original was made with Swamp Ash. The first 5150 I built in a previous video series, I used basswood...and after feeling, playing, and hearing both the swamp ash is a much more resonant wood...at least for this application.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 agree w/ you, the swamp ash sounds incredible. Even better in the room I'm sure! Thanks brother!
@@BubbaZanetti_375 Yeah, it’s honestly made me consider rebuilding my first 5150 with a new swamp ash body. I built this particular guitar for a very close friend…so it’s not mine. But, the one I built for my own collection is basswood…and now I’m jealous!!! 😆😆
Excellent!! Fabulous playing!!
Outstanding job, love how you made it look like it did on day one with no relic…so ironic I also used parchment paper to make my Frankenstrat, I used airplay on my iPhone and sent the image of the guitar to my tv and expanded the photo to the correct size…again great job and thanks for the video 👍🏼
That's awesome! Yeah, blowing it up full size and tracing the stripes is a great way to confirm the correct placement! Thanks for watching and commenting! I appreciate it very much.
@CoffeeDrinker71 great build 👏 and it sounded just Awesome! Can you tell me which modeling unit and assuming you were using an FRFR speaker?
@@CoffeeDrinker71 yeah I'm gonna build myself a few Frankies the Original, the Jump aka the Kramer beak, the Kramer Banana Headstock, and 2 5150s, I'll even build my own Frankie style guitars with the Gibson SG guitar body shape with the Floyd Rose fitted on all of them but I'll have to build the guitar bodies myself and they're gonna have to be thicker than most Gibson SGs so the Floyd Rose tremolo can fit but before I build the guitar bodies I need to get the machines and tools that I need to build guitar bodies and I'll also need to get the spray paints, masking tape, and all the hardware like the EVH Frankenstein pickups, the pots, the dummy pickups, the dummy 5-way blade switches, the birdseye maple necks with the locking nuts, the Floyd Rose double locking tremolo bridges, the tuners, the tone knobs, the jacks, the pickguards, and of course the 1971 quarters all that hardware is for my EVH Frankenstein SG guitars for the 5150 SGs it's just the pickups, the pots, the maple necks with the locking nuts, the Floyd Rose double locking tremolo bridges, the tuners, and the tone knobs. 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨 I think I said a little too much of my ideas for my EVH guitar builds. Also all the Floyd Rose double locking tremolo bridges are gonna be Originals because they're the best at staying in tune and holding the strings tight
@@allboutthemojo Thank you! Sorry I missed your question several months ago. At the time, I was using a Line 6 Helix Floor modeling unit. The speakers in the room for the WDW setup is a Friedman ASM-10 on the floor for the center dry, and two Rockville Audio 8" studio monitors for the stereo wet speakers. But, when we switched over to the direct recordings, it was also processed through the Line 6 Helix but only in stereo.
@@wolfgangwolfdogplaysguitar701 yeah, it requires a laundry list of parts (for the Franky). Good luck with your projects and thanks for watching!
I love that he is playing Van Halen esq sounding riffs, but they're his own. Sounds great!
Dude!
I put together a 5150 body and neck about 8 years ago.
KNE is the bomb!
Neck pocket fit nice and snug, and string alignment wasn't an issue.
I was disappointed though that they don't offer necks any more.
My neck is probably the best I've ever played!
Edit:
I see now where they're offering necks again.
Hmm.....
Another project is coming to mind.....
Maybe a black and white frankie.......
I agree, but I also think they are still making necks??? I would email Mitch to find out. They are still listed on the website.
That tone is sooooooooooooo good I can feel my brain tingling!
Thanks!!! :)
Fantastic video as always, Brian. It‘s always a pleasure to watch your videos. Thanks 👍🏼
Thank you Peter! I appreciate it very much!!!
That came out beautiful. Cool going with a factory finish. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you like this version!
Beautiful guitar! and superb guitar playing!
Thank you so much!
Killer job ,King Edward would be happy to play that bad boy.
Thank you so much!!!
Absolute fantastic playing !
Thanks!! Casey is an amazing player!!!
This video is making me wanna do a build project with a kne kit! Very well done, sir!
Thank you very much!
This makes me wanna finish mine after 10 years of having it in base white.
Outstanding build and playing.
Such a great sound!
Thank you so much. Good luck with your project as well.
Heck yeah, I thought he looked familiar, Great player, I saw the Warrior kings play this summer. Kudos for a great build too.
Thanks!!! Yeah, Casey is a phenomenal player!!! ;)
That is awesome!
I’ve been thinking of building one for some time. This may have pushed me over the edge.
Go for it!!! You will not regret building one!!!
Incredible, I truly envy you. A job well done!
Thank you so much!
Did you buy the decals? Or did you make them? I’d love any advice you could give me on this build. I’m going to make my own very soon.
@@1DerekMiracle The headstock decal was purchased on ebay. The 5150 decals and star decals were purchased from the EVH store. Hope that helps. Good luck.
Thank you for the info!
That guitar is badass for sure but I would love to see a video about your cool little spray booth!
Thanks...and that's a good idea!
It looks and sounds awesome! Great job done building it! Big shoutout to the player as well! He knows how to make this guitar come to life. Right guy for the job. Sound is just huge!!
Thank you so much! Yeah, I agree, Casey really brought this thing to life!!! He's a monster player!!! ;)
Beautiful build man...that thing sounds awesome. Love the swamp ash. Great playing and great tone.
Thank you so much! :)
what a fantastic video and excellent craftamschip!!! needless to say that ... at 13:39 you can hear the "hot for teacher drum intro" by that spray can!!!! Yeah I'm nuts, I know that!!!
Hahaha!!! That is so cool!!!! :) Thanks for pointing that out!! Cheers!!
Man I have watched this video about 30 times. Not only does this guitar look good it sounds phenomenal ✊🏼 Great job
Thank you very much! ;)
right back at you this is the best looking and sounding kits iv'e ever seen on youtube great job man🤘🤘🤘🙂🙂🙂
@@judequinnell3631 Thank you very much!!! I appreciate i!
Nice seeing you here sir!
Wow.... Just frick'n wow!
Top notch vid!!!
Thanks for watching Jesse! :) I really appreciate the compliments!
I’ve been wanting to recycle some salvaged vintage Kramer hardware and one of the KnE “kits” might be the way to go. Awesome project.
Wow , amazing !
Thank you!!!
Killed that one!
Thanks!!! ;)
Now that's a tribute .nice axe work sir.
Thank you very much!!!
thanks, i am building a flying v with tath pattern but i prefer blue instead of red
You know what works the best as grain filler when painting a body,I found out when I built my first guitar drywall mud does a perfect job...fills grain..sands smooth and effortless..and won't cause a paint reaction when painted over..
That's interesting!! Good tip! Thanks for sharing!!
I've been watching this video over and over again recently as I am currently building my own guitar which has similar specs to the 5150.
That is very cool! Thanks for watching! Good luck with your project as well! Cheers!
I'm on my 8th guitar build! I've did 5 strats,1 tele,2prs style guitars! Lots of fun and headaches! But very rewarding when job turns out nice!
I have the exact same KNE body and neck I built in 2013. Your sound is huge and I'm surprised because it doesn't look like you did anything to raise the pickup height. 🤔
Thanks! You are correct, the pickup is just mounted to the floor of the cavity as it was designed to do.
Great video...very nice build, very nice
Thank you so much!
Can you make it again and sell it? The Sound is GREAT!!! I Love it, Thanks for The Video, Cause we can see it and hear it All The Time..
Thanks for watching! I typically only build these for personal projects.
Looks like KNE got the neck pocket depth right as well which most of these don’t. The fret hang of the neck should be very close to the body , like the old Kramer’s.
I’m assuming the neck cavity in the body has a slight angle?
Nice job!
I’m sure it sounded a bit more punchy after the paint as well. Some paint in my experience is needed.
Yes, KNE does a fantastic job on these "KPAC" kits. Yes, there was a slight angle in the pocket. I appreciate you watching and commenting! Cheers!
Perfect job, but... the video should have been 51 minutes and 50 seconds lol
I LOVE THAT IDEA!!!!! Maybe for the next one!!! Thanks for watching!!!
Very nice build!!!totally awesome!
Thank you so much! Cheers!
Absolutely ( SWeeeeeeeeetttt!) !!!🙏 Great work, I really appreciate you sharing your build with us...
Thank you so much!
Would love to interview you on the channel
Oh wow! It would be an honor.
I just ordered a Locke body, I’ll be building one over the summer
Awesome!!!!
Thank you for all the info you provide.
If you did it again would you do grain filler, then sanding sealer, then Wimbledon White, Torch Red, Black, then Minwax Clear Lacquer?
It seems like all the lacquer products are the easiest products to work with as a beginner.
Thank you! Yes, that would be a proper order for the steps if you felt like it needed the grain filler. In the case of most basswood bodies, they are very smooth and have a very closed grain pattern (usually) so that's the reason why I didn't include that step here.
Great job! It would've looked killer being all natural!
Thanks! Yes I agree! It had a beautiful grain pattern!
Wouldn’t it be easier to paint it black first tape then white then the red
No, not at all. The black has to be sprayed on top...and the "overspray" of the black stripes on the side as well. It would be impossible to make it look right if you sprayed the black first.
Sir, great video. Thank you for sharing.
I made 3 Franky’s out of kits but would love to buy some KNE gear!! Well done.
Can I ask - as I don’t have the gear to provide the sounds you have:
I read about the Friedman wedge monitor but can I ask what else you’ve used, from guitar output to the wedge to give you the sounds?
I don’t know much about effects units and only have a Blackstar modelling amp and a small Marshall to practise with.
Would be great to know exactly what kind of gear you guys have to priced all these lovely tones 🙏🏻
Thanks again for sharing.
Thanks for the comment!
The signal chain from the guitar, went straight into the Line 6 Helix, then split into a Wet/Dry/Wet configuration through 2 - 8" stereo monitors, and the Friedman ASM-10 simultaneously.
Awesome thanks for replying…good to know and thank you for sharing 💪🏻☺️
Man I finally got my swamp ash body and the grain and everything is identical to this one
That is so cool! Good luck with your project!!
AWESOME JOB...just wish i could finish my dream guitar build but cant due to terminal cancer!!!THIS IS SO FREAKIN RAD BRO!!!!GREAT JOB!!!Just a hint...if You didn't already ...if you want you can also apply a couple coats of Birchwood Casey's Gun Stock Wax to the neck and fretboard...it's a bit tedious due to having to completely dry the coats before 0000 steel wool and old t-shirt buff between coats ..but trust me...your neck and fingerboard will feel more like butter with every coat...Best thing I ever did to every neck I own after playing the EBMM EVH Sig series in the early nineties...the best feeling and playing necks I ever had the privilege to play...never went back to reg finished necks after that..even to the point of stripping the painted ones and refinishing with this technique....once again great job...if you ever want to help a fellow EVH / 5150 freak out with a paint job please lmk...just don't have the strength to do it anymore...that guitar and neck are a thing of beauty...the 5150 is my all time dream guitar since it came out in mid 83..but more so after my Pops got me the 5150 album and my first guitar a month before he passed away way too early at only 39 yrs old ..I was 13 in 86...so its a very sentimental issue for me...ya..if you ever could entertain that notion please get in touch with me..my FB is just my name..Randy Vertrees...throw me a friend invite ....once again BEST 5150 BUILD IVE SEEN ON TH-cam...IM IN AWE!!!
Thank you so much for the compliments brother. Yep, I love using the Birchwood Casey wax after the Tru-oil treatment. It makes a world of difference!
You have that striping down to an art form. :)
What is your source for the tape, and are there any full-size striping templates available these days?
Thanks!! Source for the tape? I just ordered it from either Amazon or eBay depending on where I could find the correct sizes of each roll. I would highly recommend using something like the 3M Fineline products. Regular masking tape will "bleed". I've also seen other builders using a vinyl type of tape with good success too.
It's funny because Ed hated copycats and yet here he is making millions for Wolfgang after his death selling what he just thought was being an OG doing his own thing. So many copies. Only one original.
Every Jedi must build their own lightsaber. Every Van Halen guitarist must build their own Kramer 5150 clone.
It's funny to see the meticulous care you took in painting and finish when Edward was painting his in his garage, smoking and buzzed and then had his guitar tech drag the Kramer 5150 behind his truck in the driveway to "wear it up" since Edward hated playing pristine guitars. lol The dragging behind the truck was probaby around 1985 or early '86 since the 5150 guitar was in pretty good condition during the 1984 tour, but looked much more worn for the 5150 tour.
Thanks for watching!
Outstanding and excellent work and the sound is so dang awesome! What is the string height you set and brand of strings.Casey played amazing! Really enjoyed it so much!
Thank you so much! I usually set the string height around 0.060" at the 15th fret. It might have been slightly lower on this one though.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 thanks Brian! What strings do you typically use? These seems to ring out very nicely.
@@brianhutson2337 I prefer Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9-42's. ;)
@@CoffeeDrinker71 wonderful and reliable strings.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 So that, is about 1.578mm? My EVH MIJ is set just a hair above that. No chance of it going sharp and trem is sitting on the body with 2 springs. Love the videos and looking forward to your next project.
Epic build!!! I want to build one like that! You did an amazing job man! I could listen to Casey jam all day.
Thanks so much! I agree...Casey makes it look so easy! Check out his band "The Warrior Kings" or search his name on TH-cam for more videos of him. ;)
How much would it cost to have one made also would it be cheaper if I provided the Kramer 1984 guitar in white ? Would be one less color for you to have to paint
It looks like you kept pieces of the tape (for the paint) on the guitar... Did you? Curious. Doing the black stripes looks tough so if there's a simpler solutions I'd love to hear it :)
All of the tape eventually comes off. It depends on what stage of painting you are currently in. The black stripes are tricky to get placed correctly!
Absolutely brilliant
Thank you so much!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 just subbed too
Brian would love to have a parchment diagram like yours.
I actually traced mine out by projecting a full scale image onto the wall, then I traced all the lines by hand with a pencil.
Spectacular work. I just received my own body, pickup, bridge… paint is on the way, and neck will come in a month or two. I’m not going to do stripes, though- just the same paint as my car. Hope it sounds as good as yours. // But, hey-can you explain your system? Helix with wet/dry/wet? What speakers are you using? Maybe you have a video on this already. Sounds fantastic. I’m using a Kemper with a couple of monitors, but your setup sounds like it’s huge in the room.
Thanks for the compliments! Good luck on your project as well!!! Yep, Helix rig is W/D/W and I absolutely love it. I'm using a pair of 8" studio monitors for the "wet" stereo effects. They are Rockville Audio monitors (budget friendly). I'm using a Friedman ASM-10 wedge monitor on the floor to carry the "Dry" signal. The Helix has a very easy way to route all of these signals. I'm using a Soldano SLO amp model in the Helix with the official Celestion EVH 412 impulse response...and of course the micro pitch detune in stereo. ...and yes, it sounds MASSIVE in the room. The video doesn't really do it justice.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 I appreciate the reply. One question, though: how are the monitors and ASM-10 arranged? Are the monitors actually flanking the wedge, so you're getting wedge 'centered' and the two 'wets' are Left and Right for the player?
@@CentaurusRelax314 Yes, that's exactly correct. The studio monitors are on bookcases about ear level. The ASM-10 is on the floor with an upward angle like it's designed to project....in the center.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Thank you, sir.
@@CentaurusRelax314 Absolutely, my pleasure. I recently thought about making a short video showing this WDW configuration. ;)
Yo, nice build. Where'd you get the neck and body btw? I'm mainly looking for a neck that has that type of Locking nut system and can't find one.
It's in the title of the video....KNE. But, you have to search for "KNE necks" to find the link to that particular neck...for some reason it's not easily found on their website!
Does sigma no longer sell that patch?
Last time I checked it was no longer on their website! :(
what if you put a d-tuna on ALL of the strings? would it even work? cuz imagine going from e to d standard in like 20 seconds without 2 guitars
That would be pretty wild! I wonder if they would all fit? LOL. Probably easier to buy a Digitech "Drop" pedal. ;)
@@CoffeeDrinker71 ya probably but it wouldn’t be as funny. Its more of a for shits and giggles than practicallity
@@Anonymouspersoniguess You're right, that would be hilarious though! 🤣
Nice! Getting ready to start painting mine have an alder strat body routed right, Kramer style neck, Floyd Rose and EVH pickups but I’m going to do mine a bit different since Eddys bridge pickup never actually worked and put in a 3 way switch instead so I can have neck, bridge, and both.
Wet sanding is the final step before polishing. It’s used to get all the tiny scratches and swirls out of the clear coat and everything has to be completely cured before even trying it. We’re talking weeks, not hours. Sanding between coats is dangerous because one sand through and your paint job is ruined. Also, you don’t need full coverage on every coat. Thin coats because again, one drip and your project is screwed. Painting takes lots of patience.
If your happy with the finished product, that’s what matters, I just see things you’re doing ( that I’ve done too) that won’t lead to the best results.
If
Yes I agree, but painting a 5150 is different in a lot of ways, compared to a traditional base coat/clear coat process for "normal" guitars and cars. The wet sanding that I executed in this video was super light, and was only intended to knock down the edge of the stripes (mainly).
How long after application is it safe to sand the MinWax clear? I'm doing a Jake E. Lee inspired strat and applied my semi-gloss yesterday. I'm anxious to complete it, but don't want to ruin my work thus far. Using an old Starcaster body matched with a Squier neck that I've sanded and used Tru-Oil.
Any type of lacquer dries very quickly. I would say by now (since it's been 2 days) it should be safe! Good luck!
Great job! What black paint did you use?
Thank you very much. I used the Duplicolor Lacquer in gloss black.
I was wondering if I had to route a pocket for my floyd rose and I see you did not.
Correct, it should be a top mounted floyd...no recess necessary. ;)
Awesome build, video shows how meticulous you are which shines through in this build. This is the standard I’m gonna set to my next project. Props for not relicing this beauty. 🤘🏼✌🏼
Thank you for the comments! I really appreciate it. Good luck with your project!!!!
Amazing build it sounds awesome! If you don’t mind me asking how much did the whole build cost?
Thanks!!! It cost around $1100-$1200 for all of the components.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Quality!!!
@@briandietrich1373 Thank you sir!!!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 building your own guitar is a lot cheaper than buying one from a company… this same guitar would sell for a lot more if a retailer sold it
@@bunghole1968 not really- the 84 or baretta from kramer is less $$
I found your page looking at musikraft necks, then I found this video. I went to KnE website but didn't find this. Is this something I need to call about to get the proprietary neck profile? Here I am trying to find a neck for an old Barretta and now wanting to buy a whole kit now.
Ha! Thanks for watching! Yes, I would suggest emailing them. Here is the page with their neck options:
www.kneguitars.com/necks/neck_index.htm
KNE makes good parts!!
this video is absolutely magical
as a proud Gen Zer, i've got a very low attention span lol but you got me hooked throughout the entire video! i love seeing all the steps of you building it and then the guy testing it at the end, absolutely awesome! GREAT sounding guitar!
Thank you very much for the kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed it. 😎 Cheers!
What song are you playing at 46:18?
I'll have to ask Casey. He was just jamming...possibly just improvised that!
Cool, that looks like a labor of love. I repainted my first guitar to look like Frankie when i was about 16-17. Many years ago now
That is awesome to hear! :) Yeah, it's totally a labor of love....indeed.
When u ordered the body did the neck come with it? Or is the neck bought separately?
No, the neck does not come with it automatically. You have to order them separately. Thanks for watching!
My God that guy has Eddie’s soul inside him or something. I just got the PodGo which can load the Helix presets (I think?). Where can I get them? If you don’t mind me asking?
Casey is an unbelievable player!!! Thanks for watching! Cheers!
Beautiful build and great video. What size tape did you use for the stripes? 1/2 and 1/8?
Thank you very much! You'll need 1/8", 3/16", 1/4", and 1/2" tape to do this properly. Also, the black stripes range between .650" to .700" in some areas. Most guys custom cut those pieces or use some other template to create the wider stripes.
what brand knob did u buy? is it a dunlop Mxr replacement knob for a pedal or the fender jazz bass knobs? those r the only 2 i can find
I used the Fender Jazz bass knobs!
great looking and sounding guitar! and man that guy can really play!!!
Thanks!!! Yeah, Casey is a phenomenal player!!! :)
Can you let me k iw what ash body you bought exactly. They have 2 differnt ones.
Swamp ash!
need the 1984 floyd
At first I was watching this I thought well that's close enough for Disco🤣 after listening to & watching homeboy play it's got the 80s tone in it" and can handle any music from that era not just Van Halen🤘 not including paint and labor what was the total in parts if you don't mind me asking? Just wondering from DFW
Hey Brian thanks for the instructional videos on re-creating eddies 5150 Kramers…
Question, out of all of the different 5150 Kramer bodies you have built which one would you recommend to go with regardless of the price of the different kits. I’m concerned with which one you feel is the most quality and period correct as far as the correct headstock body shape etc.
Thanks in advance...🤟🏼
Thanks for the kind words!! :) There are only 2 brands to consider, honestly. Either KNE or Locke. They are both fantastic and I would give them my highest recommendation over any other “kit” brand out there. Lately, Locke has really been stepping up the game tremendously by offering a variety of period correct options depending on the era of 5150 you are aiming for. For example, they now offer an option to have the forearm grain pattern engraved into the body just like Eddie’s. They are also offering necks with the infamous 7th tuner on the headstock. It’s insane the level you could take it nowadays. I would highly recommend jumping into some of the builder groups on FB specifically for the 5150 replicas and take a look around (if you haven’t already) and see these different options on other people’s finished guitars. You will be amazed. Hope this helps!!
Also keep in mind, you could always order a body from either KNE or Locke, and then build your neck to custom specs at Musikraft. That way you would have a little more control over things that matter mostly to you as a player, like fret size, nut width, type of woods used, radius of fretboard, rolled edges (or not), and an endless variety of back profiles!!! So, don’t rule that out either. Musikraft makes some of the best necks on the planet. I have one on my first Locke project body. They mated perfectly together.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 hey that’s awesome thanks for the advice... regarding MusiKraft necks, I noticed in another video the musikraft banana head shock was tilted back like a Gibson headstock and I didn’t think Eddie’s headstock was tilted back are you saying I can get musikraft to make it straight versus tilted? Eddies neck wasn’t tilted was it?
@@kerneypeart Yes, you will need to get the banana headstock without the tilt. If you look at their website, by default, the banana headstock is NOT tilted. So, whichever one you saw previously must have been a custom order??? But you are correct, the headstock needs to be flat...
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Thanks for clearing that up...it must have been special order. 🤔
Great Job Man!
Thanks!!!
Hi, you did not used any grain filler stuff? If i need to use, shuold i sand between the grain filler and the sanding sealer?
Correct, I did not use any grain filler on this body. The grain on this particular body was tight enough that I felt like it didn’t need any, however you’ll notice after I painted the white base I ended up “spot” filling some grain that was starting to become visible through the paint. Yes, if you apply your grain filler to your body, go ahead and sand it nice and flat/level before you apply the sealer. I show this process in greater detail in my latest series on the “Bumblebee” project! Thanks for watching!
Friend, do you know what the specific name of this red paint is? for me to buy at the paint store
@@roguitarrista10 Yes, it’s called “Torch Red”. Pause the frame at 18:24 for a photo of the can. Thanks for watching.
It’s too bad that they put the truss rod adjustment at the headstock. Otherwise this would be nearly 100% accurate. Fantastic paintwork.
I think you are seeing the plug. The truss rod adjustment IS at the heel of the neck where it's supposed to be. Notice the "notch" carved into the body at the neck joint to access the truss rod in the neck heel.
You are an outstanding human being showing us how to make our dream guitars. God bless you for sharing. WOW!
Thank you brother!
@@CoffeeDrinker71 where do you get the tracer template?
@@MichaelGuy I traced it out by hand. I projected the image of the actual 5150 guitar onto the wall in 1:1 scale, then traced the pattern on this paper.
beautiful! thanks for making this!
Thank you very much! Cheers!
As always, you deliver the goods!
Thank you!!!! ;)
Where do i get the tape template to follow along with?? and what color black was used for the stripes?
Duplicolor universal black is all you need. Are you referring to the photo templates? Those are available online.
Hey man just wondering but how much do you think this whole project cost you? Great job btw it sounds killer
@@xtremewarboy5757 Great question. At the time of building this one, I’d estimate around $900 to $1,000. Body and neck combo were around $500…Floyd was around $150 (used), pickup around $100, then tuners and other hardware around $75…and finally, about $100 for paint supplies. Hope that helps. Thanks for watching.
@@CoffeeDrinker71 Thanks brother I appreciate it
Fantastic!!!
Hell of a job brother hell of a job 🤘🤘 looks and sounds fantastic
Thank you so much! I appreciate it!!!
Can i ask for the shaft height of the pot sir., TIA
hey I was just wondering how long you let the white coat dry before applying the tape ? also how long did the paint set before spraying the clear? I’m planning on painting one of these and I want to try to get as much references as possible, thanks.
I don't think the white set for more than a few days. Lacquer paint dries really fast! Same with the red and clear...maybe a few days max.
Are you the same guy that build them simpson guitars?
No....but I love the Simpsons! If you find that video, send me the link. I'd love to check it out.
Do you remember the black you used? I see it’s Dupicolor.
Yes, it was the DupliColor Automotive "Lacquer" series paint in gloss black. It was the leftover can I had from my previous video from the '78 B/W Frankenstrat. It comes in a larger can than the Perfect Match series of paints and it's cheaper...but same quality. Freeze the frame at 24:49 and you'll get a decent look at the can. Hope that helps brother!
Do you sell these? Would love a Bumblebee model : )
No, I do not. I'm actually working on a Bumblebee series as we speak...in a tutorial format though.
What song is playing on the 45 minute mark?
I wish I knew....Casey was just jamming around. I can ask him! ;)
Screw Wax is for woodworking?
I've been using it wrong.
Hilarious!!! 😅😆
Can anyone tell me what tune he's playing at 44:26?
He said he was just jamming...I don't think it was anything specific.