Eddie Van Halen's Frankenstrat Miniature Guitar

Hi, and welcome to my model page. To see this and many more guitar models like it, please come see mine and ML Innovations collection of guitar models and accesories using this link below: https://makerworld.com/en/collections/5352306-wallymocha-ml-innovation

If you like this project and want to support me, click the Boost button!

This latest addition to the collection is easily one of my favorites. Eddie Van Halen revolutionized rock guitar playing, and his primary weapon of choice was the Frankenstrat (also known as "Frankenstein" or "Frankie"). Hand-built by Eddie in his garage in the mid-1970s, this DIY masterpiece forever changed instrument design and birthed the modern "Superstrat". Below is a little bit of history on this remarkable guitar.

Technical Specifications & Assembly

• The Body & Neck: Eddie bought an unfinished Northern Ash Strat-style body and a maple neck from Charvel/Boogie Bodies for around $130. He purposely chose a body with a cosmetic wood knot because it was cheaper. 
• The Electronics: He used a hammer and chisel to carve out the bridge cavity to fit a high-output Gibson PAF humbucker taken from an ES-335. He screwed the pickup directly into the wood and simplified the wiring to a single master volume knob. He even labeled the volume knob with a dial that said "Tone".
• The Dummy Elements: To confuse competitors and copycats, he installed a non-functional neck single-coil pickup and a broken 3-way selector switch into the middle slot, neither of which were actually wired to anything. 
• The Tremolo System: Originally built with a standard Fender tremolo, Eddie worked closely with inventor Floyd Rose in 1980 to implement the revolutionary Floyd Rose dual-locking tremolo. This allowed Eddie to perform his signature, pitch-dropping "dive bombs" without falling out of tune. 
• The 1971 Quarter: Eddie famously screwed a 1971 quarter directly into the guitar's wood underneath the back of the bridge to act as a physical stop, preventing the tremolo from pulling up.

Evolution of the Iconic Paint Job

The Frankenstrat's aesthetic evolved over time using strips of masking tape and layers of standard spray paint:

1. Black and White (1977–1978): The original coat was painted black. Eddie applied masking tape lines and sprayed over it with white paint. When the tape was peeled away, it left a striking geometric design. This version is featured on the cover of the 1978 debut album Van Halen. 
2. The Red Overwrite (1979): As other guitar manufacturers began copying his black-and-white design, Eddie decided to change it. He re-taped the body and sprayed it with red Schwinn bicycle paint

To make this model complete. I made a guitar stand to go with it: https://makerworld.com/en/models/3040915-evh-guitar-model-stand#profileId-3419416

For best results. I recommend using a High Flow nozzle (I use 0.4mm HF). And a supertack cool build plate from Bambu or Biqu. These are what I recommend for best adhesion and best speed.

I have made a general video describing my many techniques of making these guitar models. I use mostly just super glue, flat file, sand paper and a select size of drill bits to build them. And I use 0.25mm fishing line to add the strings to the model. I go over this in fine detail, just follow the link below for more:

If you like my models and would like to support me directly by buying me a coffee. Please follow this link: https://buymeacoffee.com/waldek911ws. Any support is greatly appreciated and helps me print more models to share. :)

I am still very new to this hobby. Especially with BambuLab. If you ever experience any troubles with my prints. Please do not hesitate to contact me directly in the Makerworld chat. I will troubleshoot to the best of my abilities and as promptly as I can. Thank you, and happy printing my friends.

Wally