Eddie Van Halen Black & White Guitar Signature Models Announced – ’78 Eruption, Relic, SUPER ’78

Eddie Van Halen:  “Of all the guitars I’ve ever built, the white and black guitar will always be my favorite because it did all the things I needed a guitar to do, which prior to that guitar, did not exist.  So much changed because of it.  I recorded the first (Van Halen) album with it and did the first world tour with it.  The ’78 Eruption Tribute is as close to my original sound and feel as humanly possible.  I’m incredibly proud of it.”

On the cover of Van Halen’s 1978 eponymous debut album, Eddie Van Halen thrusts his black-and-white striped instrument towards the camera as if he’s showing you the future. He played this guitar on his unprecedented and mind-blowing instrumental track “Eruption,” hence its nickname, and almost immediately, this monumental instrument became a timeless icon, symbolic of a paradigm shift in guitar-driven rock and roll.

While many a fan has attempted to duplicate his guitar over the past 40 years, for the first time ever, EVH Gear has recreated Eddie Van Halen’s hand-built axe right down to every nick and scratch, as well as his period-correct case and case candy items.

Limited to only 30 guitars worldwide, the ’78 Eruption Relic model features all of the original specs including an ash Strat® body, bolt-on maple neck with oiled back finish, straight 12” radius maple fingerboard with katalox face dots, black side dots and 21 mowed-down jumbo frets, hand-cut black pickguard, EVH Frankenstein humbucking bridge pickup, vintage Fender® Stratocaster® bridge with a Kluson® brass block and Schaller® tuning keys. Its white-with-black stripes motif paint job has been reliced to match the wear and tear from the band’s first-ever world tour, and is stylishly finished off with distressed eye-screw strap hooks and a 61071 stamped neck plate.

In a true homage to this pivotal period, EVH has also recreated Eddie Van Halen’s original G&G case (with reliced handle and latches) and loaded it up with the very items used by him at the time, such as ’70s-era Fender Super Bullets strings, Van Halen ’70s tortoiseshell picks, ’78 chain strap and 3-in-One oil can. This model is also accompanied by an exclusive collector’s booklet, a backstage pass vinyl cloth sticker, 8″x10″ 1978 concert photo of Eddie Van Halen, signed certificate of authenticity and an autographed vinyl copy of Van Halen.

78′ ERUPTION RELIC
Limited to only 30 pieces worldwide
25.5” scale length
Ash Strat® body
Bolt-on maple neck with oiled back finish
Straight 12” radius maple fingerboard with katalox dots and black side dots
21 ,owed-down (fretless wonder) jumbo frets
Hand-cut black pickguard
EVH Frankenstein humbucking bridge pickup
Vintage Fender® Stratocaster® bridge with a Kluson® brass block
Eye-screw strap hooks
Schaller® tuning keys
Reliced white-with-black stripes hand-painted lacquer finish
61071 Stamped Neck Plate

CASE CANDY:
Autographed Van Halen vinyl
Custom-made period correct G&G case with reliced handle and latches
Exclusive Eruption Collector’s Booklet
’78 chain strap
3-in-One oil can
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
Two packs of ’70s-era Fender Super Bullets strings in recreated packaging
Van Halen ’70s tortoiseshell picks
Backstage Pass vinyl cloth sticker on the case plus one unused sticker inside
8”x10” 1978 concert photo of Eddie Van Halen

SUPER ’78 
Limited to only 8 worldwide pieces
25.5” scale length
Ash Strat® body
Bolt-on maple neck with oiled neck back finish
Straight 12” radius maple fingerboard with katalox dots and black side dots
21 mowed-down (fretless wonder) jumbo frets
Hand-cut black pickguard
EVH Frankenstein humbucking bridge pickup
Vintage Fender® Stratocaster® bridge with a Kluson® brass block
Eye-screw strap hooks
Schaller® tuning keys
Reliced white-with-black stripes hand-painted lacquer finish
61071 Stamped Neck Plate
CASE CANDY:

Eddie Van Halen played “Eruption” and signed the back of the headstock on each of the Super ‘78 guitars, which was filmed & will be placed on an EVH thumb drive for the instrument’s future owner
Autographed Van Halen vinyl
Autographed Van Halen rare original Looney Tunes Merrie Melodies vinyl
Custom-made period correct G&G case with tour-worn outer treatment and distressed latches
Exclusive Eruption Collector’s Booklet
’78 chain strap
3-in-One oil in its period-correct can
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
Two packs of ’70s-era Fender® Super Bullets strings in recreated packaging
Van Halen ’70s tortoiseshell picks
Backstage Pass vinyl cloth sticker on the case plus one unused sticker inside
Signed 8”x10” 1978 concert photo of Eddie Van Halen

’78 ERUPTION 
Limited to only 40 pieces worldwide
25.5” scale length
Ash Strat® body
Bolt-on maple neck with oiled neck back finish
Straight 12” radius maple fingerboard with katalox dots, black side dots and 21 jumbo frets
Hand-cut black pickguard
EVH Frankenstein™ humbucking bridge pickup
Vintage Fender® Stratocaster® bridge with a Kluson® brass block
Eye-screw strap hooks
Schaller® tuning keys
White-with-black stripes hand-painted lacquer finish (pristine condition)
61071 Stamped Neck-Plate
CASE CANDY:

Van Halen signed vinyl
Custom-made period correct G&G case
’78 chain strap
3-in-One oil can
Signed Certificate of Authenticity
Two packs of ’70s-era Fender Super Bullets strings in recreated packaging
Van Halen ’70s tortoiseshell picks
Backstage Pass vinyl cloth sticker on the case plus one unused sticker inside
8”x10” 1978 concert photo of Eddie Van Halen
Exclusive Eruption Collector’s Booklet