Although the annual NAMM show is going to look quite different this year, the characteristic tide of new gear announcements is still comfortingly rolling in. This week, EVH joins the wave, unveiling its updated lineup for 2021 which includes revamped 5150 series models and two new Wolfgang guitar models.
5150 Series
The 5150 series guitars feature a Strat-style body shape with a deeper upper body carve and are constructed of basswood. They're married to a bolt-on quartersawn maple neck, carved to Eddie Van Halen's own specifications, with a 12 to 16-inch compound radius fretboard and 22 frets. And capping the necks off is a hockey stick-style headstock, complete with a small EVH decal.
All of the 5150 models are outfitted with direct-mounted EVH Wolfgang humbuckers in the bridge and neck. Control-wise, players get a three-way toggle, volume control, treble bleed, and a tone pot. These models are also equipped with a heel-mounted truss rod adjustment wheel, top-mounted EVH-brand Floyd Rose, a locking nut, and EVH-branded Gotoh tuning machines.
There are three main 5150 models, as follows, available in various finishes:
- 5150 Series Deluxe Poplar Burl featuring a poplar burl top is available in Aqua Burst or Black Burst for $999.99 USD (available in April)
- 5150 Series Standard Maple featuring a maple neck with black dot inlays is available in neon pink with chrome hardware for $899.99 (available in February)
- 5150 Series Standard Ebony featuring an ebony fingerboard with cream dot inlays and black hardware is available in Ice Blue Metallic or Stealth Black for $899.99 (available in February)
Wolfgang Series
Next, the Wolfgang line is broken into two new model families, the Wolfgang Special and Wolfgang WG Standard. The Wolfgang Special line features a different look and body shape than the Strat-adjacent 5150 models but shares a lot of the same features, like basswood bodies married to quartersawn maple necks carved to Van Halen's specs.
Wolfgang Specials
The Special models likewise feature a 12 to 16-inch radius, 22 frets, heel-mounted truss-rod adjustment wheel, top-mounted EVH-branded Floyd Rose, locking nut, and EVH-branded Gotoh tuning machines.
Though the Wolfgang Specials also feature the same control layout of a three-way toggle switch, volume control, treble bleed, and tone pot, they further differentiate themselves from the 5150 models tonally with different pickups: direct-mount Wolfgang Alnico 2 humbuckers. Find the available model variations below.
- Wolfgang Special featuring a maple neck with an ebony fretboard and perloid dot inlays, black body binding with matching headstock, and black hardware will be available in Miami Blue for $999.99 starting in February.
- Wolfgang Special QM featuring a baked maple fretboard and neck with black dot inlays, cream body binding, and chrome hardware will be available in Charcoal Burst or Chlorine Burst for $1,099.99 starting in March
Wolfgang WG Standards
The other line of Wolfgang guitars is the Wolfgang WG Standard and is the most affordable line that EVH is unveiling for early 2021. Like the others, these models also feature basswood bodies and, similarly to the 5150s, are also outfitted with EVH Wolfgang pickups controlled by a three-way toggle switch, volume control, treble bleed, and tone pot.
The neck of the WG Standard models is baked maple and features 22 jumbo frets with black dot inlays and a heel-mounted truss rod adjustment wheel. It features an EVH-branded Floyd Rose Special and R2 locking nut and comes in a variety of available finishes below.
- Wolfgang WG Standard Exotic Bocote features a naturally finished bocote top with natural binding and will be available for $699.99 in February
- Wolfgang WG Standard Exotic Koa features a naturally finished koa top with natural binding and will be available for $699.99 in February
- Wolfgang WG Standard QM features a Transparent Green finish and black headstock, a maple top, and black-chrome hardware and will be available for $699.99 in February.
- Wolfgang WG Standard is finished in Silver Sparkle with a black headstock and black hardware and will be available for $649.99 in February.