EVH and Peavey part ways

[Stys]

PEAVEY PARTS WITH EDWARD VAN HALEN:
World-famous manufacturer launches 6505™ amplifiers, Carina™ guitars - December 21, 2004 - Peavey Int'l. Headquarters—Peavey announces it has parted with Edward Van Halen after a 13-year partnership. Peavey collaborated with the guitarist on his signature-model Peavey Wolfgang® Series electric guitars and Peavey 5150® Series amplifiers.
According to the company, Van Halen retains the rights to the names 5150 and Wolfgang, as well as certain design elements of the Wolfgang guitar, but the 5150's circuitry and tone will remain in the Peavey family as the 6505™ amplifier. Peavey will launch the new 6505—named in celebration of Peavey's first forty years, 1965 to 2005—at the Winter NAMM (International Music Products Association) Expo, Jan. 20-24, 2005, in Anaheim, Calif.
Peavey will also debut its Carina (Italian for 'beautiful') guitars to replace the Wolfgang. Carina™ Series guitars highlight many of the Peavey innovations used in the Wolfgang and other Peavey guitars, including computer-shaped necks that ensure all Carina guitars exhibit a consistent, comfortable neck radius and superior playability.
The hugely successful 5150 Series guitar amplifiers and Wolfgang electric guitars, which launched in 1991 and 1995, respectively, have become staples of modern rock music. Endorsers ranging from Ted Nugent, 3 Doors Down and Default to underground metal heroes Atreyu, Darkest Hour and God Forbid, and even power-punkers such as Visqueen, have lauded the contributions these Peavey products have made to rock 'n' roll.
"I'm very proud of the work we accomplished with Edward," says Peavey founder and CEO Hartley Peavey. "The 5150 Series has earned its place as a rock guitar standard, and the Wolfgang is a staple in the pantheon of rock instrumentation. They're both well respected pieces, and I'm glad we could bring those to life.
"As we enter our fortieth year of building innovative instruments, amplifiers and sound equipment, we're more focused on the future than ever," he remarks. "We've pioneered a lot of 'firsts' in this industry, including making guitars using computer-controlled machines, and even with more than 130 patents behind us, there's plenty of fertile ground ahead of us. It's an exciting time for Peavey."

[Dave K]

Wait a minute! Has anyone else put two and two together? EVH is a free agent now, and TAG has a new model coming out that Tom is very coy about?
The TAG EVH model !! NOT!!!!!! :D

This is actually old news by now. Hartley was the one to end it.Would you wanna be the one to try and deal with EVH these days?

[brian b]

Well seems Charvel is with his custom shop models. I just could see the new model or any other TAG with stripes on them. :p

[King Cobra]

Wait a minute! Has anyone else put two and two together? EVH is a free agent now, and TAG has a new model coming out that Tom is very coy about?
The TAG EVH model !! NOT!!!!!! :D

This is actually old news by now. Hartley was the one to end it.Would you wanna be the one to try and deal with EVH these days?



Well..........Hartley also made a TON of Ca$h off eddie and now is going to try and sell these same products without having to give Eddie a red Cent. Looks like it was more than just a personality clash............ :rolleyes:

[King Cobra]

Well seems Charvel is with his custom shop models. I just could see the new model or any other TAG with stripes on them. :p


:D I'd buy one!!

[michaelomiya]

:D I'd buy one!!

I had the pleasure of experiencing the elusive red/black/white model, which EVH was disapproving of, due to the "tomato" red finish. Aesthetics aside, it has a 1.625" nut, oiled neck, fairly even taper, and does "Unchained" as well as any of my Custom Wolfies. That said, for the $$$ that FMIC is asking for, I'd buy another Andy!

[BoraBora]

That said, for the $$$ that FMIC is asking for, I'd buy another Andy!

I'm with you Michael. As much as I love EVH, it's amazing to me what some of these guitar companies are charging for an "artist model" these days. I was looking through a guitar buyer's guide the other day and I was floored by some of the prices I saw. I'm sure the EVH Charvel is a nice guitar, but I would much rather order an Anderson to my own specs than buy an overpriced "artist model". :)

[guitarzan]

Also, the EVH Custom Shop was asking stupid high prices for the custom models. They wanted to charge close to list on a Koa top custom. After adding inlays, black hardware, and the Koa top, it was up near $3500. And something tells me, it still gets built by a bunch of different Peavey jobbers who clock in and clock out with no love for luthiery.
Along this same line, it's outrageous to see what some other "custom" guitar manufacturers are charging for nothing more than assembly of aftermarket parts. I've seen one guy charging 6-8k to build guitars for guys. When I asked a guy at his shop how "custom" they were, he said they assemble, wire, and paint them.

Hmmm, let's see... 1 Warmoth All-Parts guitar for 8k, or 3 and a half custom-ordered Andys or 7 ebay Andys...

gosh, tough call.

[michaelomiya]

Also, the EVH Custom Shop was asking stupid high prices for the custom models. They wanted to charge close to list on a Koa top custom. After adding inlays, black hardware, and the Koa top, it was up near $3500. And something tells me, it still gets built by a bunch of different Peavey jobbers who clock in and clock out with no love for luthiery.


I own 2 Custom Shop wolfgangs.

They are definitely a step up from the production or "Standard" Deluxe (archtop) models. It's less of a build issue, and more of a wood selection issue. Granted I didn't opt for a koa topped, alder-backed, chambered model (which Tim, Mike, Chris & Co. could've built before 12/21/04). However, these folks (the Custom Shop guys) are true luthiers, with a love for guitars, guitar building and tone. Moreover, they ABSOLUTELY respect Tom Anderson and his products.

Tim and I struck up a great friendship as a result of my TAG experiences. He was extremely interested to understand what I loved about Tom's wood selection and the build consistency.

I know that artist models and Peavey have a real negative public perception, especially w/ discriminating gear folks like us. That said, the Wolfgang is a very unique instrument, that really does work in a myriad of different situations and contexts. I recognize it may not be everyone's "cup of tea". But as someone who's fallen for buying the "artist model" axes, I will say that IMHO the Wolfgang's are definitely an instrument "unto themselves" and stand on their own, with or without, the guy who's name's on the headstock.

(all that said, I love my Andy's more!! :cool: :D )

[guitarzan]

I stand corrected on my Wolfie CS speculation.

For me, it's tough, though. It's hard to look at production guitars the same anymore. I just can't see how asking an arm and a leg for a production guitar or even what some companies call a Master Built guitar is rational compared to what you get by having someone handmake a guitar to your exact specs. And don't get me wrong, I'm an EVH nut. I've had the same bible since I was in high school and for the last 15 years it's had the same bookcover that I made for it with red construction paper, black electrical tape, and white athletic tape. It's freaky how big of a nut I am about Eddie and Co.- and I'm actually bitter that the Wolfies cost what they do. I want one but I just can't warrant spending that kind of bread on what I could get a used Cobra for. Once I got an Anderson, it made me more aware of what I COULD get for my money.

[michaelomiya]

For me, it's tough, though. It's hard to look at production guitars the same anymore. I just can't see how asking an arm and a leg for a production guitar or even what some companies call a Master Built guitar is rational compared to what you get by having someone handmake a guitar to your exact specs....- and I'm actually bitter that the Wolfies cost what they do. I want one but I just can't warrant spending that kind of bread on what I could get a used Cobra for. Once I got an Anderson, it made me more aware of what I COULD get for my money.

GZ, I couldn't agree more!! :p