EVH Guitars Release Japanese Series Guitars As Tribute To Eddie
via EVHgear / Youtube
EVH has updated its MIJ Series by introducing the Signature Wolfgang electric guitar. This particular model fills the gap between the high-end USA version and the more affordable Mexican-made version of the Wolfgang guitar.
What makes this version of Eddie Van Halen‘s signature guitar noteworthy is not just its reasonable price and faithful specifications, but also its Japanese origins. Japan has a strong association with Van Halen and his guitars, as he played various models built at the Fujigen factory throughout his career.
Some examples of his Japanese-built guitars include the bolt-on Flying V and Ibanez Destroyer, as well as a variety of Japanese Strats.
Van Halen-Inspired Design and Features
For Van Halen fans, this MIJ Wolfgang carries even more significance. It comes in classic Ivory and Stealth Black colors, just like the USA Edward Van Halen Signature model. The MIJ version features the same basswood body with a Big Leaf maple top and a bolt-on quartersawn maple neck. The neck profile has been carefully crafted to Van Halen’s specifications, and it is paired with a 12″-16″ compound radius ebony fingerboard adorned with 22 stainless steel frets.
It’s important to note that the Ivory version has pearloid block inlays, whereas the Stealth Black version has pearloid dot inlays. Other similarities to the top-of-the-line Wolfgang include the EVH-branded Floyd Rose locking tremolo with EVH D-Tuna, R2 locking nut, heel-mount truss rod wheel, and a 25.5″ scale length.
In terms of electronics, the MIJ Wolfgang is equipped with EVH Wolfgang Alnico 2 bridge and Alnico 3 neck humbuckers, which can be controlled using a three-way toggle switch and a kill switch. The volume control features a low-friction pot and treble bleed circuit, while the tone knob has a high-friction pot to prevent accidental adjustments.
The release of the MIJ Wolfgangs has been highly anticipated, as EVH co-runner Matt Bruck mentioned the brand’s plans to revive its Japanese connections. Bruck highlighted Van Halen’s history with Japanese guitars, which predates Van Halen’s records. Bruck shared:
“He played a bolt-on Flying V and an Ibanez Destroyer during the club days, which were both built by Fujigen. People also don’t know that Ed did a lot of experiments on Japanese Strats before and after the first record. We’re super-excited to do something with Fujigen and for the Japanese market. People in America and around the world will be able to access those models, too.”
As previously stated, the MIJ Signature Wolfgang costs $2,699. This places it between the $4k USA model and the $750 Mexican version. For more information, visit EVH’s website.
