Wolf Van Halen & EVH Master Builder Chip Ellis Talk Designing SA-126 Semi-Hollow Signature Guitar

Full Rig Rundown: https://bit.ly/MammothWVHRR Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube The Mammoth WVH leader and Eddie Van Halen's go-to luthier Chip Ellis detail his signature SA-126 semi-hollowbody signature guitar for EVH. The basis for Mammoth WVH’s core guitar tone was formed around a Gibson ES-335. Wolf tracked with that guitar the most and it helped him find his own sound, separate from his father’s. But wanting to keep things in the family, he and longtime Fender/EVH master builder Chip Ellis aimed to put the 335 heartbeat into a Wolfgang package. Some notable Easter eggs in the guitar’s design are fret inlays that appear as M (looking down the neck) but also work as W—or E— depending on your eye angle. The SA-126 model name honors Eddie’s birthday (1/26/55). The f-hole is actually a subtle e-hole, and these guitars feature eye-hook strap buttons. (The first prototype had standard strap buttons and a side-mounted input jack, but has since been changed.) Each one of the guitars you’ll see have different neck profiles, pickup voicings with varying heat levels (although all are humbuckers), tonewoods, and finishes. It’s worth noting that the pickups Wolf and Chip are enjoying the most are not the hottest. They said in the video that dialing back the output allowed the instrument to have a fuller, wider sound. Additional known specs (which could change at any minute) include quilted maple tops (but standard maple on this one), ebony fretboards, brass harmonica-style bridges, and 24.75" scale lengths, and for this run all the prototypes took EVH Premium Strings (.009 –.042). (D’Addario manufactures all EVH-brand guitar strings.) This guitar is the third prototype and was special for Wolf and Chip to put together. Eddie’s main live axe during Van Halen’s last tour was a white relic’d Wolfgang model, so they wanted to do something honoring his legacy. “It was emotional, and it felt great to build this guitar,” declares Ellis. “It was a full-circle kind of moment for me.” Full Rig Rundown https://bit.ly/MammothWVHRR Win Guitar Gear: https://bit.ly/GiveawaysPG Subscribe to PG's Channel: http://bit.ly/SubscribePGYouTube Don't Miss a Rundown: http://bit.ly/RIgRundownENL Merch & Magazines: https://shop.premierguitar.com PG's Facebook:   / premierguitar   PG's Instagram:   / premierguitar   PG's Twitter:   / premierguitar   PG's TikTok:   / premierguitar   [Brought to you by D’Addario XS Electric Strings: https://ddar.io/XSE.RR] #rigrundown #guitar #guitarist #guitarplayer #guitargear #mammothwvh #evh