Used EVH Frankenstein Relic Series Electric Guitar, Black

2025-06-25T12:55:48

Sounds great. Well built. Great value for the price.

MICHAEL O.

2025-06-19T08:01:37

Super happy with my purchase. Thanks so much

CASEY G.

2025-05-13T09:15:10

Absolutely amazing guitar and incredible value from Adorama! Thank you Adorama for sending me this beauty. Guitar action and sound was great out of the box!

TONY S.

2025-02-24T04:29:50

I have had plenty of guitars. I currently own 4. It may come down to tastes but this is the best sounding guitar I have ever owned. I love what used to be called metal and now called 80s classic rock and this guitar hits that sound perfectly.

DAVID M.

2025-02-22T17:54:14

It's a smokin' deal.

DEAN I.

2025-02-18T08:12:45

Overall a great Axe. It plays incredible. No complaints at all. A real beauty!!!! Great craftsmanship. Awesome Red Relic. Highly recommended!!!!

Bradford T.

2025-02-06T20:31:24

Well I've been eyeing this Red Relic EVH for over a month and I finally decided to pull the trigger and I've never been happier. Hands down one of the best Mexican made guitars I've ever owned. Including Fender Road Worns, Player, Deluxe, Vintage Gold Foil, Specials, Artist Series, Blacktops, and ranging from Strats, Mustangs, Jags, Teles to Jazzmasters. This EVH was exactly what I needed in a guitar. I already own a Gibson LP Standard 50s and the Alnico 2 sound clean and sweet on that baby but don't distort very well for fuzz tones I want. However, the Alnico 2 on the EVH does just the trick. They are twice as hot as my LP pickups and cut through the fuzz, Rat and Metal Zone without any issue. The Alnico 2 Wolfgang bridge pickup was one of the main selling points for me. I've dabbled with Alnico 5 both single and HBs, Ceramics, and Actives but at the end of the day Alnico 2 are just what I like playing and hearing through my amp. And this bad boy just cuts through the mix. In the clean settings it does sound a bit heavier than i would like but I'll just plug in my LP for those butter smooth tones. The neck on the EVH is just outstanding from the feel on the back to the jumbo frets. The radius is great as well. I can chord very well on the lower frets and move more freely on the higher ones compared to my LP. Also mine had no sharp frets. The neck relief was perfect, exactly to factory specs after using my feeler gauge. The action was spot on as well on both sides. After reading/watching videos of others experiences from purchasing EVH Relics and it requiring near full setup made me a bit skeptical but that didn't sway me from applying my learned adjusting skills over the years. I had a FR bridge years ago on a Jackson so I was familiar with how to adjust and tune it. Luckily the only thing that needed setting up and adjusting was the tuning and D tuna which all the info was provided in the manual and can also be looked up online via videos/articles. It took about 20 mins to adjust the whole guitar from the tuning the tuners, locking the nuts, fiddling with the fine tuning, then adjusting D tuna, stretching out the strings with the FR arm, retune, lock nuts, adjust the D tuna again and fine tune one last time. Until everything stayed in tune. Not bad for a first time D tuna setup and FR tuning in over 10 years. The intonation was also spot on. I checked all 6 strings before and after fine tuning and dropping to D with the tuna. None of them missed after fine tuning and even when using the FR arm. I plan to keep this bad boy as it is. I don't consider adding a neck pickup as that's why I have other guitars and it takes away from the charm the EVH relic has going for it. Maybe a pickguard in the future since the holes are already drilled on the guitar but I don't want to remove the pickup selector as it will likely bulge the pickguard. I may change my mind but for now, I'm keep it as is and rocking it until I knock out. Other pros include that the guitar is already relic, I don't have to worry about nicking it, scratching it, dinging it. Also, it's light, at a little over 7.3lbs and the truss rod wheel is easy to access. I guess some cons I've read and saw people have is the basswood. And I agree. I would have preferred an Alder body. That's for sure. Maybe even Ash. I've owned G&L guitars with Ash and those really resonated and felt solid and superior to some Fenders I've owned as well. The gig bag isn't the best and it isn't the worst. It has some padding but it does feel flimsy. Luckily I have an extra Gator deluxe bag that needs a snuggle buddy. Also there isn't much case candy besides the manual, Allen wrenches and inspection tag. Would have liked a EVH strap or maybe even some picks or Eddie photos (RIP). Regardless of the cons. Overall I think they dont outweigh the pros. The guitar is superior to any MIM guitars from Fender I've own in the past and the craftsmanship is on par with my MIA guitars. Hands down this bad boy is moving up as my 2nd behind my LP 50S. Lastly, I want to give props to Adorama for double boxing this bad boy and shipping it via UPS with Signature Required. FedEX tends to deliver my packages to other addresses and/or leave my packages in the lobby without buzzing my door. It arrived flawlessly that I couldn't stop playing it after letting it get adjusted to the temperature for a few hours. Luckily the outside temp and inside temp weren't that much off. Will definitely consider purchasing my next musical equipment from Adorama, regardless of sales price. I am glad they take time and make sure my package is secured properly before shipping it. Other companies just ship it in the stock factory box with no additional protection. Rock on everyone, M

Martin B.

2025-02-05T04:22:56

Really fantastic guitar especially for the price. The neck feels broken in already and the pickup is amazing. The guitar comes with the single coil in the neck that isn't wired up, however it is a great sounding and functional pickup. Add a switch and wire up the pickup for additional tones! Great guitar and fast shipping!

CHET G.

2025-02-03T05:19:43

Wow wow wow fantastic guitar out of the box!! Very cool looking relic"ed on this model, it's not overdone or cheesy like other models and it doesn't scream EVH, who I love but I don't want the EVH stripes on my guitar The guitar itself is FANTASTIC- the neck is so comfy and easy to play and the pickups (yes I wired the neck!!) the bridge is big warm juicy rocking pickup and the neck pickup actually sounds good. I hooked it up because it makes the guitar more useful and versatile, the Floyd Rose works just fine no issues.. I own 3 other Floyd superstrats (USA Charvel, Japanese and Mexican model) and this is just as good as any of them it's on the lighter side and just a joy to grab and play. I cannot stress how great the neck and playability of the guitar truly is I don't want to sound like I'm holding Pom-Pom's for the guitar but it is REALlY fantastic.. if I had a *minor* complaint I wish it was $200 less but other that DO NOT hesitate guys it's a great lightweight super Strat!

TOM B.

2025-01-17T07:09:50

I got this on a steal. It plays so well!

ZACHARY L.

2024-12-27T16:16:21

Felt like a Mexican Strat to me

ALEX L.

2024-12-25T09:56:37

These made in Mexico EVH guitars are pretty damn good. I own a handful of different ones and the base is a good start. The Wolfgang pickup is always great too!

Billy P.

2024-10-30T08:06:06

Amazing feels, amazing sound. Great product at a great price.

STEVE G.

2024-10-15T04:18:07

Excellent guitar and excellent service. I had a small problem with the first guitar they sent and they quickly replaced. This one is perfect.

DAVID D.

2024-09-12T11:49:14

I found the guitar tuna / Tremolo much more stable than most Floyd rose. Guitar is simple and get the van Halen sound you are looking for.

TAREK S.

2024-08-29T08:39:54

Eddie Van Halen would be proud! I just received this EVH Frankenstein relic today 8-29-24 and love it! Adorama sent this double boxed. The Evh box and Adorama's shipping box which help to prevent any damage while in transit. I removed the guitar and only had to make a couple of adjustments such as to the tremolo post to help with string height and of course tuning the guitar. The neck is nice and smooth and the weight of the guitar is just right. It feels and sounds like Eddie's frankenstrat and at the special sale price of $799 at Adorama, it was hard to pass up this deal. It's the same guitar as the striped series but without the markings. Love this guitar!! Thanks Adorama!!

JOHN S.

2024-07-02T10:36:52

Best deal online for one great guitar! Plays awesome right out of the box. Feel of the relic paint and the unfinished neck makes it feel like a guitar you've owned for years. Wasn't necessarily in the market, but I just had to jump with the deal they were running on these. Fast shipment. Very satisfied with my purchase. The included gig bag wasn't that bad, but I wanted the EVH case to go with it.

MATTHEW S.