EVH Wolfgang Standard Neck vs. EVH Wolfgang Special Neck (My First Post!)

[CatchAsCatch]

Hi everyone. Been reading here for quite a while but this is my first time posting. Read a lot of good tips in the guitar forum from a lot of you guys, so thanks!

I had an observation I wanted to share and get input on.

Over the past couple years I went from owning zero EVH Wolfgangs to now being lucky enough to have three! A standard and two specials.

The standard has one of the best necks I've ever played. It's roasted maple, feels great and fretwork is perfect.

The two specials on the other hand both have a little fret sprout/sharp fret ends. Not just one but both!

It got my curiosity going so I went to guitar center that had both special and a couple standards in stock and found the same thing to be true with those. The standard fretwork was great and the specials had the sprout/sharpness.

It seems really weird to me and I was wondering if any of you guys that have owned one or both had noticed the same thing?

(Also since this is my first post just want to say I'm here for the same reason you all are. Because Eddie Van Halen and his music meant a lot to me. Thank you Eddie!).

[edwardv]

Post more!

[ScottyBHarris]

I have not had the same experience. I’ve had many Wolfgang Specials over the years (I currently have 3 - 1 MIJ and 2 MIM). I’ve only come across one that had fret sprouts. I got it in the winter here in Texas, and it seemed to me that the issue was weather related, but I returned the guitar because of the issue.

I actually prefer the Special necks, over the Standard, because of the width of the neck.

[Little Intruder]

I have a Fender Strat, Ibanez Prestige, BC Rich Warlock and Gibson Explorer. But still no EVH Wolfgang! My dream guitar has always been a vintage Les Paul but I really want the one Edward uses here:

[Jedi McFly]

Welcome! Glad you're posting.

It could be any number of factors. Fretting process, climate of the country of origin vs. your climate, and just plain luck. The Standards aren't slouches though, and are great bang-for-your-buck instruments.

[rvk5150]

Yeah it is funny how that is isn't it? I have an EVH Signature, a 1997 patent pending, a MIK Special, and a Standard I had some mods done to with the baked maple neck. Each play and sound different...I think my favorite neck is still the original; the 1997 patent pending. Just seems to fit my hands better.

[CatchAsCatch]

Thanks for the replies and for the welcome!

Yeah it's weird. Maybe just bad luck! TBH I didn't know there was a difference in specs on the special vs. standard neck until you guys mentioned it.

This has probably been talked about before, but you guys that have played or owned both (special & standard) have you noticed a big difference in the pickups? I assume they're made in different countries/factories but the specs are supposed to be the same as far as I know. They both sound pretty good to me. I haven't noticed a huge difference.

[joezlo]

My #1 has been a slightly modified Standard from when the 1st batch came out in 2015.
Changes:
-Brass block
-titanium saddle inserts
-Brass trem claw
-Switchcraft 3 way toggle
- Double Volume

It makes an appearance in this dorky ACDC cover (as do my other wolfs).

And its the only guitar used on my goofy Joe Z ii album.

I'd say it has been my favorite neck, though Pete at Loudo Guitars set it up, which is a really good setup.

I would say just now, closing in on ten years, it might need a fret dress and I'm tempted to just replace them with stainless when I finally get around to it.

I love that guitar, affectionately dubbed "Smoke"

[ScottyBHarris]

The pickups do vary from model to model, slightly.

My MIJ has EVH USA pickups in it, and those aren’t as hot as the MIM Wolf’s pickups. I would say the Standard pickups are very close to the MIM Specials though.

[ScottyBHarris]

https://reverb.com/p/peavey-evh-wolf...ith-floyd-rose

Here you go Little Intruder

[Little Intruder]

Hell yeah! I've always loved the black EVH Wolfgang and have made it my mission to get one. I've been saving up but damn bills keep getting in the way!

[CatchAsCatch]

Hell yeah! I've always loved the black EVH Wolfgang and have made it my mission to get one. I've been saving up but damn bills keep getting in the way!

That is nice. I love that one too.

I'm not a huge fan of the changes they've made to the Wolfgangs over the past 5(ish) years. The early Fender/EVH models all looked great imo. They just looked "right". Since they started all the black hardware and some of the other changes they just look... weird. As far as I'm concerned, if it has Eddie's name on it it needs chrome hardware! The ebony necks were hard enough to get used to. lol.

I am hoping at some point they'll do a reissue of the early models (including the flat top/MIJ specials). I'd love to see them make the white one he used on the 07 tour again. I'd love to see them do one based on the "#4" black prototype he used on the 07 tour also. Maybe not a replica but just offer that kind of stripped down version as an option. I saw someone do a replica of that one on Reverb years ago. Probably not much of a market for that I guess.

[nobozos]

There are two major factors that I can see that may cause the difference you are experiencing.

First is that you stated the Standard has a Roasted Maple neck. Whether or not it is snake-oil, I will leave for others to debate, but the claim is that by roasting the neck, it stabilizes the wood to make it less susceptible to environmental shrinking and swelling and more stable.

The second major difference is the country of origin. Standards are made in Indonesia, and the Specials are made in Mexico. Could be differences in wood storage at the factories, where each factory sources its wood, etc...

Fret sprout doesn't make it a bad guitar. Some are more susceptible than others, especially with unfinished necks.

[CatchAsCatch]

There are two major factors that I can see that may cause the difference you are experiencing.

First is that you stated the Standard has a Roasted Maple neck. Whether or not it is snake-oil, I will leave for others to debate, but the claim is that by roasting the neck, it stabilizes the wood to make it less susceptible to environmental shrinking and swelling and more stable.

The second major difference is the country of origin. Standards are made in Indonesia, and the Specials are made in Mexico. Could be differences in wood storage at the factories, where each factory sources its wood, etc...

Fret sprout doesn't make it a bad guitar. Some are more susceptible than others, especially with unfinished necks.

Should a luthier be able to get rid of the fret sprout?

Reason I ask is I took the first special I got to a local shop to asked them to address the issue but I could still feel the tang part coming out past the fretboard. I took it back and he did it again but I still feel it there. So I don't know if that's an "as good as it can get" thing?

[LilDreamer81]

It happened to me like 2 years ago, I got the stealth EVH guitar. Frets were like thorns! I wanted to love that guitar so badly and sold it within a month. Tuning issues too