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The History and Importance of the Wolfgang Guitar

Eddie Van Halen created a legacy in the rock and roll industry that cannot be overlooked, and what he created extended well beyond what he added to the music itself.  The long list of Van Halen imitators wouldn't be able to fit on this page, because since 1978 when Van Halen really hit the scene, people have tried to mimic his style.

One of the major things that people started to imitate was his style of guitar and the way he played it.  The prominence of simple, one pickup and knob guitars grew to out of the extraordinary proportions thanks to his use of it.  The whammy bar became far more prominent.  Then, Van Halen created the guitar known as the Wolfgang in cooperation with instrument designers.

Designers commented on his intense involvement and the two years of serious research and fine tuning with the instrument.  The EVH Wolfgang was the result of something truly extensive – a “pursuit of perfection.”  Dozens of parts were tried for each slot, and more than 75 pickups were given a go before the right lineup was found.

Eddie himself stated that "Every aspect and component of this guitar has been examined and upgraded to the highest standards possible.”  He continued by saying “We redid everything on this guitar.  The only similarity to the previous Wolfgang is the body shape, and even that’s changed.” He concluded, after making a long list of upgraded features, that “We left no stone unturned.”