Eddie's deal with Fender?

**bcgvh** · 03.02.07, 06:19 AM

I don't know if this has been mentioned or not (it probably has), but with all this 'new' gear that Fender is about to be throwing out with Eddie's name on it, you can't help but to wonder if any of it will sell at all any more. I mean, Ed is DESTROYING his reputation as a guitarist, and a human being for that matter...the guys at Fender have got to be upset over all the negativity surrounding the Van Halen camp right now. What looked like a good deal for them is turning sour fast.

**h*bunter** · 03.02.07, 07:06 AM

I can see some merit in that. However, they did sell out on the Frankenstrats.

**darthadv** · 03.02.07, 07:23 AM

Originally Posted by h*bunter

I can see some merit in that. However, they did sell out on the Frankenstrats.

exactly... 300 of them at $25M a pop (that's $7.5MM)... and most of the people that bought it are just going to hang it on a wall... don't know what residual products they're putting out beyond this with his name on it, but i was surprised when people thought he had it together during his fender demo...

**Zahzoo** · 03.02.07, 08:43 AM

The Frankie replicas were sold to dealers. They haven't been shipped nor are they available for retail sales yet. In other words... "people" have not had the opportunity to purchase these yet.

**steve1984** · 03.02.07, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Zahzoo

The Frankie replicas were sold to dealers. They haven't been shipped nor are they available for retail sales yet. In other words... "people" have not had the opportunity to purchase these yet.

I can make one for about $500.00 Bucks

**gproud5150** · 03.02.07, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Zahzoo

The Frankie replicas were sold to dealers. They haven't been shipped nor are they available for retail sales yet. In other words... "people" have not had the opportunity to purchase these yet.

'Tis true. Pre-orders to the dealers were 'sold out' at the NAMM show. That's not to say 250 won't be hanging in music stores for the next 10 years.

**NDL** · 03.02.07, 09:29 AM

Originally Posted by bcgvh

I don't know if this has been mentioned or not (it probably has), but with all this 'new' gear that Fender is about to be throwing out with Eddie's name on it, you can't help but to wonder if any of it will sell at all any more. I mean, Ed is DESTROYING his reputation as a guitarist, and a human being for that matter...the guys at Fender have got to be upset over all the negativity surrounding the Van Halen camp right now. What looked like a good deal for them is turning sour fast.

Hey, is it only me, or did the NAMM scene look well controlled? Seemed like an awful lot of representatives in the background, while EVH introduced the guitar. Didn't someone cut Ed off, at one point?

Just a thought...

Either way, I can't imagine Fender being happy with the current situation of things. It's a shame too, for Fender 'finally gets it'...

**darthadv** · 03.02.07, 10:12 AM

i see... i thought individual buyers were also snapping these up... well if retailers bought them, they sure must be pissed now, because how much of a markup could they possibly charge since the price point was so high to begin with?

**RAGEN_40** · 03.02.07, 10:30 AM

What corporate rep would take the chance with Ed at this point. His reputation for as a spokes person for anything has been tarnished. He's been a wreck for the last 10 years. I quess the people over at Smoking Loon must be very happy though. But as far as endorsements and public appearances are concerned. I would think that Ed is pretty much done.

**ED-A-HOLIC** · 03.02.07, 10:56 AM

if it's a good product it will sell.

**nast2112** · 03.02.07, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by bcgvh

I don't know if this has been mentioned or not (it probably has), but with all this 'new' gear that Fender is about to be throwing out with Eddie's name on it, you can't help but to wonder if any of it will sell at all any more. I mean, Ed is DESTROYING his reputation as a guitarist, and a human being for that matter...the guys at Fender have got to be upset over all the negativity surrounding the Van Halen camp right now. What looked like a good deal for them is turning sour fast.

He screwed Peavey with the Wolfgang, didn't he? During the whole time when they were making and selling the Wolfgang what did he do? One crappy album (VHIII) and one tour? You want the person whose model you're selling to put albums out and do tours to increase sales. That didn't happen. Peavey got the short end of the stick in that deal. Fender shouldn't expect much more (probably even less) from Ed with this venture at this point.

Chris

**twonabomber** · 03.02.07, 05:44 PM

Wolfgangs were around when Balance came out.

**homeunit** · 03.02.07, 05:59 PM

Originally Posted by twonabomber

Wolfgangs were around when Balance came out.

He was playing prototypes on that tour, and only for a few songs. It was still the EBMM at that point.

AT · 03.02.07, 06:22 PM

Ed didn't play a Wolfgang until mid-summer '95 during the Balance tour, and his contract with Ernie Ball didn't end until September.

Hartley Peavey once said (off the record, about Eddie): "I've never known someone to ask for so much and give back so little." I'm unsure of the context, but I think he was referring to Ed's constant demands for gear and (more) money when he had hardly been on tour or "out" promoting the products. Still, the Wolfgang was and is still Peavey's #1 selling guitar. And even though Peavey knew their association with EVH was going to end in December '04, they still put out tons of promo stuff with EVH during the '04 tour.

No matter what is happening with Van Halen the band, Ed's gear has always been top-notch; the Peavey 5150 amps, the EBMM EVH guitar, the Wolfgang guitar, the Charvel Art Series (though over-priced), and the new Fender amps and guitars are sure to be very well made. Van Halen's lack of visiblity in recent years I'm sure affects sales to some degree, but having Ed's name on a guitar product is still a big deal for a big company like Fender, I'm sure.