Questions for the EVH aficionados.

[HomespunEffects]

Did he actually like the pickup selector in the Les Paul position (on the top instead of by the volume control)? Is it because it’s out of the way and less likely to be accidentally switched? Or did he actually never use the selector or neck pickup?

Did he actually ever use the tone control?

 

[FuzzyAce]

Did he actually like the pickup selector in the Les Paul position (on the top instead of by the volume control)? Is it because it’s out of the way and less likely to be accidentally switched? Or did he actually never use the selector or neck pickup?

Did he actually ever use the tone control?

He used the neck pickup as years went on. I'm sure he liked the selector on the upper horn since it was put there?

 

[HomespunEffects]

… I'm sure he liked the selector on the upper horn since it was put there?

I’m wondering if it’s because the selectors in the Strat position get in the way.

 

[FuzzyAce]

I’m wondering if it’s because the selectors in the Strat position get in the way.

Could be. I love it in the standard strat position but I'm also not an avid trem user either.

 

[Chocol8]

Did he actually like the pickup selector in the Les Paul position (on the top instead of by the volume control)?

Considering he tweaked anything and everything with his personal guitars and the EVH line and was meticulous about small details, I think it is safe to say he put the switch exactly where he wanted it. He also pulled the blade switch out of his Strats so it's a safe bet he did NOT like that position.

 

[HomespunEffects]

Considering he tweaked anything and everything with his personal guitars and the EVH line and was meticulous about small details, I think it is safe to say he put the switch exactly where he wanted it. He also pulled the blade switch out of his Strats so it's a safe bet he did NOT like that position.

Yeah but wouldn’t the switch get in the way with his right hand tapping technique?

 

[Chocol8]

Yeah but wouldn’t the switch get in the way with his right hand tapping technique?

I don't think so, but the possibility that he could bump it is probably why he wired them so up was bridge.

 

[Eagle]

Yes he liked it and for anyone that doesn’t know it’s wired back to front.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I don't think so, but the possibility that he could bump it is probably why he wired them so up was bridge.

That’s what I was thinking but if he bumped it while trapping why not move it to the better and obvious place? The unused tone control hole.

 

[Chocol8]

That’s what I was thinking but if he bumped it while trapping why not move it to the better and obvious place? The unused tone control hole.

I don’t know what Ed was thinking, but the original Music Man version had the switch under the neck pickup, and he moved it when he redesigned it for Peavey. When they redid everything for Fender he kept the switch position basically unchanged.

As for the tone control, he asked Fender to make it a stiffer turning pot because he was accidentally bumping it. Don’t ask me how, but that must be why he didn’t want a switch down there. And that is a perfect example of the level of detail he cared about. He was tweaking the friction on the volume to be lower and tone knobs higher, moving pickups tiny fractions of an inch etc. so you know the switch is exactly where he wanted it.

 

[HomespunEffects]

I don’t know what Ed was thinking …

That’s where so want to go with this thread. I was never much of a fan but the guy had quite an ear and was precise with every decision. I was hoping the fans would know the minutia.

 

[joezlo]

The axis had it on the lower horn for a concern of switching the pup while tapping (hitting the selector with his forearm) I also wonder with the Axis if the concept of having the selector & pot in the same cavity was considered a way to cut less wood out of the body.

Ed said in 91 he really enjoyed the guitar and was using the neck pup (which he called the front pickup) more since it was created to his specifications and he was happy with the sound.

Peavey Wolf - the pickup selector was moved to the standard LP spot, but it is upside-down as Eagle said (up is bridge, down is neck) which prevented a tapping forearm from switching the pickup (supposedly). Tone knob was added, though I don't think Ed ever touched it live, and he gravitated toward the flat top specials with the maple caps mostly (which only had a volume pot) live as time went on. (A Peavey wolfgang Special is the only guitar I've ever left stock. It never needed anything except a fret dress & a NOS bridge as I played it so much my sweat rotted the saddles some how)

EVH Wolf - Addition on low friction volume pot (which I do not personally like - just my preference) EVH branded Floyd rose & slight movement of pickup cavities. As a guitar mod junkie, I prefer the standards.