'78 Eruption Relic
On the cover of Van Halen’s 1978 eponymous debut album, Eddie Van Halen thrusts his black-and-white striped instrument towards the camera as if he’s showing you the future. He played this guitar on his unprecedented and mind-blowing instrumental track “Eruption,” hence its nickname, and almost immediately, this monumental instrument became a timeless icon, symbolic of a paradigm shift in guitar-driven rock and roll.
While many a fan has attempted to duplicate his guitar over the past 40 years, for the first time ever, EVH Gear has recreated Eddie Van Halen’s hand-built axe right down to every nick and scratch, as well as his period-correct case and case candy items.
Limited to only 30 guitars worldwide, the '78 Eruption Relic model features all of the original specs including an ash Strat® body, bolt-on maple neck with oiled back finish, straight 12” radius maple fingerboard with katalox face dots, black side dots and 21 mowed-down jumbo frets, hand-cut black pickguard, EVH Frankenstein humbucking bridge pickup, vintage Fender® Stratocaster® bridge with a Kluson® brass block and Schaller® tuning keys. Its white-with-black stripes motif paint job has been reliced to match the wear and tear from the band’s first-ever world tour, and is stylishly finished off with distressed eye-screw strap hooks and a 61071 stamped neck plate.
In a true homage to this pivotal period, EVH has also recreated Eddie Van Halen’s original G&G case (with reliced handle and latches) and loaded it up with the very items used by him at the time, such as '70s-era Fender Super Bullets strings, Van Halen '70s tortoiseshell picks, '78 chain strap and 3-in-One oil can. This model is also accompanied by an exclusive collector’s booklet, a backstage pass vinyl cloth sticker, 8"x10" 1978 concert photo of Eddie Van Halen, signed certificate of authenticity and an autographed vinyl copy of Van Halen.
- Limited to only 30 pieces worldwide
- 25.5” scale length
- Ash Strat® body
- Bolt-on maple neck with oiled back finish
- Straight 12” radius maple fingerboard with katalox dots and black side dots
- 21 mowed-down (fretless wonder) jumbo frets
- Hand-cut black pickguard
- EVH Frankenstein humbucking bridge pickup
- Vintage Fender® Stratocaster® bridge with a Kluson® brass block
- Eye-screw strap hooks
- Schaller® tuning keys
- Reliced white-with-black stripes hand-painted lacquer finish
- 61071 Stamped Neck Plate
CASE CANDY: - Autographed Van Halen vinyl
- Custom-made period correct G&G case with reliced handle and latches
- Exclusive Eruption Collector’s Booklet
- '78 chain strap
- 3-in-One oil can
- Signed Certificate of Authenticity
- Two packs of '70s-era Fender Super Bullets strings in recreated packaging
- Van Halen '70s tortoiseshell picks
- Backstage Pass vinyl cloth sticker on the case plus one unused sticker inside
- 8”x10” 1978 concert photo of Eddie Van Halen
- Color Black and White Stripes
- Model 5107878000
- Series Limited Edition
-
United States of America $12,500.00 EST. U.S. STREET
Features
Bolt-On Birdseye Maple Neck
Bolt-on is a type of neck construction that joins the maple neck to the body of the guitar with screws or bolts, resulting in a pronounced tone with more control. Graphite-reinforcement rods flank the truss rod for even more increased neck stability. Highly prized, birdseye maple is extremely hard, very dense and makes for a fast-feeling fingerboard.
12" Radius Maple Fingerboard with 21 Mowed Down Jumbo Frets
The higher the radius, the flatter the fretboard. At 12”, this flat maple fingerboard allows for easier chording and feels great for rhythm playing, but can also still handle bends during lead playing. Maple is a dense wood that produces bright, snappy tones, articulate notes with bite and a tight low end. Like most vintage guitars at the time, this Eruption tribute features a 21-fret design. The jumbo fret wire slightly increases the distance between string and fingerboard for seamless and comfortable bends. To mirror the wear and tear of Eddie’s Eruption guitar, these frets have been mowed down.
Direct Mount EVH® Frankenstein® Humbucking
It’s alive! This direct mount EVH Frankenstein humbucker is wound to the exact specs as the original pup in Eddie’s cherished Frankenstein. This humbucker cuts through the mix with dynamic harmonics, shimmering highs and gritty mids that retain their authoritative tone under high gain.
Vintage Fender® Stratocaster® Bridge with a Kluson® Brass Block
True to Eddie’s original Eruption guitar, this instrument features a six-screw vintage style Fender Strat bridge with a Kluson brass block, which incorporates a distinctive, piano-like cadence to your overall tone and increases sustain.
Unique Appointments
This white with black stripes Eruption tribute model also features unique appointments such as Schaller® die-cast tuners, 61071 stamped neck plate, eye-bolt guitar strap hooks and brass nut.
Gallery
Specs
General
| Model Number | 5107878000 |
|---|---|
| Series | Limited Edition |
| Color | Black and White Stripes |
| Number of Strings | 6 |
| Orientation | Right-Hand |
Body
| Body Finish | Thin Nitrocellulose Lacquer |
|---|---|
| Body Shape | Sharp Radius Stratocaster® |
| Body Material | Ash |
Electronics
| Bridge Pickup | Direct Mount EVH® Frankenstein® Humbucking |
|---|---|
| Pickup Color | Black |
| Controls | Volume (500K EVH® Bourns® Low Friction Pot) |
| Pickup Switching | None |
| Pickup Configuration | H |
Neck
| Neck Material | Birdseye Maple |
|---|---|
| Neck Construction | Bolt-On with Graphite Reinforcement |
| Neck Finish | Oiled |
| Neck Shape | Custom |
| Scale Length | 25.5" (648 mm) |
| Fingerboard Radius | 12" (305 mm) |
| Fingerboard Material | AA Birdseye Maple |
| Number of Frets | 21 |
| Fret Size | Mowed Down Jumbo Frets |
| Nut Material | Brass |
| Nut Width | 1.685" (42.8 mm) |
| Position Inlays | Katalox Dot |
| Truss Rod Nut | Vintage-Style Butt Adjust |
| Truss Rod Wrench | 2.5 mm Hex |
| String Trees | Butterfly |
| Headstock | Licensed Fender® Stratocaster® |
| Neck Plate | 61071 Stamped Neck Plate |
Hardware
| Bridge | Vintage Fender® Stratocaster® Bridge with a Kluson® Brass Block |
|---|---|
| Hardware Finish | Relic'd Chrome |
| Tremolo Arm | Vintage Chrome with Cream Tip |
| Tremolo Block | Brass |
| Tuning Machines | Schaller® Die-Cast |
| Pickguard | 1-Ply Black |
| Control Knobs | Aged White Stratocaster®-Style Skirt (Labeled "Tone") |
Miscellaneous
| Strings | '70s-Era Fender® Super Bullets (.009-.040 Gauges) |
|---|---|
| Strap Buttons | Eye Hook |
Accessories
| Case/Gig Bag | Custom-made Period Correct G&G Case with Reliced Handle and Latches |
|---|---|
| Included Accessories | Tremolo Arm, Hex Keys & User Manual |
