Few guitars in rock ‘n’ roll history have inspired more admiration and imitation than Eddie Van Halen’s iconic red, white, and black “Frankenstein.” With this guitar, Eddie not only revolutionized how people played the instrument but also the very guitars they used. Soon after Van Halen emerged, Frankenstein-inspired “Super Strats” with bold color schemes, hot-rodded electronics, and high-performance locking tremolo systems became the go-to choice for guitarists in hard rock and beyond.
Eddie built Frankenstein himself and modified it multiple times before it took its final form. Early photos show it with a white body before the band signed with Warner Bros.; it appeared with black stripes on the cover of their 1978 self-titled debut album, and finally, during Van Halen’s 1979 tour for Van Halen II, it assumed its most recognizable red, white, and black appearance.
Pickup Choice: The “Frankenstein” featured various pickups in the bridge position, but Van Halen ultimately settled on a “Patent Number” humbucker from his 1964 Gibson ES-335.
Tremolo Innovation: Originally equipped with a standard Fender Stratocaster bridge, the guitar was later outfitted with a double-locking Floyd Rose tremolo system, allowing Van Halen to perform his signature dive bombs without losing tuning.
Coin Detail: At some point, Van Halen screwed a 1971 quarter onto the face of the guitar.
The “Frankenstein” guitar stands as a symbol of creativity and innovation, reshaping both the sound and style of rock music.
