Attention all Van Halen enthusiasts! Get ready for a nostalgia trip with the return of two iconic guitars: the Shark and the Circles, also known as the Unchained Guitar. These classics, unveiled at NAMM 2024 by EVH Gear, are a must-have for any serious collector.
EVH Shark and Circles
The Shark guitar, a standout piece from the 1978 Van Halen tour, showcases Eddie Van Halen’s innovative guitar modding skills. It’s an Ibanez Destroyer transformed with a bold DIY approach, featuring a unique silver and burgundy finish achieved with Schwinn bicycle paint.
UnChained
On the other hand, the Circles guitar, with its distinctive “crop circle” black and white design, is a tribute to Van Halen’s 1981 era. Known for its S-style shape and notable performances with the song ‘Unchained’, this guitar was later owned and modified by Dweezil Zappa into the Rasta guitar.
The Shark boasts a quartersawn maple neck with 22 jumbo frets and an ash body, maintaining the original’s distinctive jagged edges. Its unique sound is enhanced by a brass nut, a chrome-plated solid-brass harmonica-style bridge, and EVH Wolfgang Shark humbuckers. It’s a premium model priced at $1,899/£1,499.
Bye see ya later
The Circles guitar, priced at $1,399/£1,299, features a basswood body with a bolt-on maple neck, a Floyd Rose vibrato, and an EVH Wolfgang humbucker at the bridge. It’s designed for efficiency with only a master volume control and sports the classic “Bye see ya later” decal.
Both new EVH Gear models are set to hit stores in April 2024. For more detailed specs and images, visit EVH Gear’s website. Whether you’re a die-hard Van Halen fan or just a guitar aficionado with a passion for the ’80s, these reissues are a perfect blend of EVH history and performance.
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