Van Halen Frankenstein Electric Guitar
date: label: date made
content: 2007
name: label: user
content: Van Halen, Edward
label: maker
content: E.L.V.H., Inc.
notes: label: Description
content: This Fender Masterbuilt Custom Shop guitar was played by Dutch-American musician Edward “Eddie” Van Halen ( 1955-2020) while on tour in 2007-2008. It is a replica of the guitar built by Van Halen in 1977 and named “Frankenstein” by fans (the guitar is also referred to as "Frankenstrat" and "Frankie”).The self-taught performer’s colorful, virtuosic style made him a premier guitarist of his generation and one of the most emulated musicians in rock history. In 1974, brothers Eddie and Alex formed the band Van Halen, whose innovative California-influenced heavy metal and pop sounds continue to inspire global audiences.
label: Description
content: In 1975 Eddie Van Halen realized that no existing guitar had the features that he needed to create his signature sound. A constant tinkerer, he set out to construct a guitar to fit his standards, needs and playing style, combining different elements of long-established guitar designs into one instrument. By 2006, the original “Frankenstein” guitar had been in service for more than 30 years and was retired from performances. Chip Ellis, a master guitar builder at Fender, replicated every detail of the original guitar, which, when presented to Eddie Van Halen, appeared to be indistinguishable from the original. During the Van Halen 2007-08 North American tour with original lead singer David Lee Roth, Eddie Van Halen used this replica guitar, nicknamed “Frank 2,” for the majority of the performances.
topic: label: Subject
content: Music
setName: label: See more items in
content: Culture and the Arts: Musical Instruments
label: See more items in
content: Music & Musical Instruments
label: See more items in
content: Guitars
label: Exhibition
content: Entertainment Nation
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of Eddie Van Halen through Jeff Cary, Senior Vice President, Fender Musical Instruments Corp.
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2010.0246.01
label: accession number
content: 2010.0246
label: catalog number
content: 2010.0246.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: guitar
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: paint (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: red (overall color)
label: Physical Description
content: black and white (overall single or multi-hued designation)
label: Physical Description
content: wood (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 39 in x 12 3/4 in x 5 in; 99.06 cm x 32.385 cm x 12.7 cm
label: Measurements
content: overall: 39 3/4 in x 12 11/16 in x 3 7/8 in; 100.965 cm x 32.1945 cm x 9.8425 cm