EVH Wolfgang & WolfgangSpecial - Manual

Thank you for choosing a Wolfgang.
I’ve been building guitars all my life and hands down this is the best guitar I’ve ever built. There are no
special modifications done to mine. Yours is identical to mine. General care instructions are included in
this manual, however the way you care for your instrument is a matter of personal preference. What I do
is very basic and simple. I never clean my guitar, I never clean the strings. Dirty strings tend to have a
warmer tone. Brand new or cleaned strings have a brighter sound–again, it depends on your preference.
I especially never clean the neck. I prefer my natural skin oil to condition the neck as opposed to mineral
oil. It will take longer for your natural skin oil to condition the neck versus using mineral oil. Like fine
wine, it takes time. Depending on how much you play, if you play a lot, in about 8 to 10 months you will
have the smoothest playing neck you’ve ever laid your hands on. I don’t polish my guitars either because
I prefer the guitar to age naturally. I basically restring it, intonate it, make sure the neck is straight,
and make damn sure the strings are fully stretched before locking down the nut. Then I do what I love
most….PLAY! I hope you enjoy your new Wolfgang
®
as much as I do, and thanks again…..
NOW GO PLAY!
EVH ® Wolfgang ® GUITAR OWNER’S MANUAL
CONTROLS
1. VOLUME CONTROL: This knob acts as the master output of the guitar. Rotating the knob clockwise
will increase the volume; counterclockwise will decrease the volume - DUH!
2. TONE CONTROL: This knob acts as a high-frequency roll-off. With the knob turned fully clockwise, all
frequencies are present. When the knob is turned counterclockwise, the higher frequencies are rolled off,
giving a more muted tone.
NOTE: The EVH ® branded signature volume pot used in the Wolfgang ® is a low-friction and of the
highest quality available to ensure smooth taper, speed, reliability and longevity.
3. PICKUP SELECTOR SWITCH/TOGGLE SWITCH: IMPORTANT NOTE: The switch on the
Wolfgang ® has an opposite orientation to most standard guitar toggle switches.
UP: Bridge (lead) pickup
DOWN: Neck (rhythm pick-up)
MIDDLE: Both pickups together
BRIDGE
EVH ® edition Floyd Rose ® w/D-tuna. Hardened steel baseplate, EVH ® branded, exclusive to Wolfgang ® .
NOTE: The EVH Floyd Rose
®
is not set up to float . The non-floating set up is concurrent with Eddie Van
Halen’s set up specs. The non-floating set up allows the bridge to sit flat on the body, which maximizes
the resonating capabilities of the instrument.
NOTE: For more information, technical tips and help, visit www.mrgearhead.com.
RESTRINGING THE DOUBLE-LOCKING TREM
1. Loosen the locking nut using the correct sized 3mm Allen key (supplied).
2. Loosen the string at machine head.
3. Loosen the string clamping screw at bridge using the correct size 3mmAllen wrench (supplied).
4. Unless you are cleaning the fret board, EVH brand recommends that you remove and change one
string at a time for string changes.
5. Cut the ball end off the new strings.
6. Insert the string between the clamping block and the saddle.
7. Tighten the screw to lock the string in place. Do not overtighten!
8. Insert string into tuner.
9. Tune to pitch, stretch string with thumb and fingers, retune and repeat several times until the string
will not detune.
10. Repeat this process for all strings before locking down the lock nut and fine tuning.
SET UP
This is the one step that will determine the feel or “action” of your guitar. A few things should be taken
into consideration before setting the intonation. What type, brand and gauge strings are you going to
use? How high do you want the strings from the fingerboard? These will need to be determined before
you start.
1. Strings: Any variation will alter the overall action and intonation, so be sure to settle on and
consistently use a particular gauge and brand of string. FYI, your Wolfgang
®
comes set up with EVH
®
brand strings gauged (high to low) .009, .011, .016, .026, .036 and .046.
2. String Height: Your EVH
®
Floyd Rose
®
pivots on two mounting studs that go into the guitar body. An
3mm Allen wrench (supplied) is used to raise or lower the bridge. Adjust it too high and you lose tone
and intonation; too low and the frets will buzz and the pickups will rattle—not too cool.
3. Spring Tension: As noted, the EVH
®
Floyd Rose
®
is deliberately set up so you can only dive the
strings down rather than pull them up.
Players prefer a variety of spring tensions. It’s up to you and your taste. Here’s how to set the tension as
light as possible—then adjust to your preference:
• Set the spring tension just tight enough for the bridge to sit flat on the body when the guitar is
tuned to pitch.
• Then bend the high E and the B as far as you physically can and adjust the spring tension so
the bridge does not raise up off the body while you do so.
Need help? Check out our Tech Tips at www.mrgearhead.com
FACTORY SPECS
The following are EVH ® factory string-height settings. The specs are measured by the distance between
the bottom of the string and the top of the 12th fret. Please note that any problems that may arise from
lowering the string action below our factory specifications will not be covered by the EVH ® warranty.
TREBLE SIDE BASS SIDE
1.5mm 1.5mm
The EVH ® Wolfgang ® guitar comes with the following string gauges:
1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th
.009 .011 .016 .026 .036 0.46
PICKUP ADJUSTMENT
The custom-voiced, custom-wound EVH ® humbucking pickups in your Wolfgang ® are hard-mounted to
the body, with foam rubber under each pickup to allow very minor adjustment only. Also, there are two
screws on both sides of each pickup that allow adjusting the top surface of each pickup parallel to the
strings.
NECK ADJUSTMENT
This adjustment comes before any others and must be done for proper action, intonation and fretting.
This is done with strings tuned to pitch. Fret the instrument at the 1st fret and at the body/neck joint.
The space between the top of the 8th fret and bottom of the string should not exceed .010 mm. The
Wolfgang ® has a compound radius so the neck can be set dead flat with very low action and no buzzing.
Neck adjustments should be done in 1/4-turn increments.
INTONATION
Be sure that all of the aforementioned adjustments have been done before setting the intonation.
First, make sure the locknut is loosened. The object is to adjust the string length to ensure accurate
intonation. This is achieved by ringing the harmonic at the 12th fret and matching it to the fundamental,
fretted note at the 12th. This should be done with an electronic tuner to get an accurate reading. If the
note is sharp, move the saddle back. If the note is flat, move the saddle forward. Remember the simple
rule: flat forward, sharp back. For more information please visit www.mrgearhead.com.
GENERAL CARE
These are a few guidelines to keep your new EVH ® Wolfgang ® Guitar in top form. While frequency of
cleaning the guitar is personal decision, the body, neck and headstock can be wiped with a light, guitar
cleaning solution and a clean, soft cloth after every use, if you so desire. Do not apply guitar polishes
directly on the hardware, as this will cause unwanted residues to build up on the surfaces that will in
turn, need to be cleaned as well.
The frequency of cleaning the fretboard is a matter of personal preference. Do not use anything to
clean the fretboard other than a light, guitar cleaning solution and a clean, soft cotton cloth. If you
opt for cleaning the fretboard at a moderate to high rate of frequency, Oiling the neck twice a year is
recommended to prevent the fingerboard from shrinking and cracking, causing the frets to rise and
become unlevel and unplayable. Applying a minimal amount of furniture paste wax after oiling will help
maintain the original factory feel of the neck. There are many great oils made just for fingerboards, so
ask your local dealer for more information. Furniture paste wax is available at most hardware stores.
EVH
®
Brand also recommends keeping your guitar in its case when not in use. This minimizes the
chances of your guitar becoming negatively affected by environmental hazards.
The hardware can be cleaned with a dry rag. If you have acidic perspiration or perspire excessively,
please keep the hardware well oiled, or it will rust and corrode. Several guitar cleaning and
maintenance tips are found online at www.mrgearhead.com
The EVH
®
Wolfgang
®
Guitar you’ve chosen is a fine musical instrument and, like any high-quality
product, care and regular maintenance should be a priority to help your instrument last a lifetime; also,
be sure to read the care suggestions listed below. Thank you for choosing EVH ® —we appreciate the
opportunity to serve you. Please take a moment to fill out the enclosed owner registration card and
return it to us so that we can better serve your needs. For further help, visit www.mrgearhead.com.
Thanks!
For your own records, in case of loss, theft, etc., please fill in the following information and store it in a
safe place.
MODEL:__________________________________________________________________________
COLOR:__________________________________________________________________________
SERIAL NUMBER:_________________________________________________________________
DEALER:________________________________________________________________________
PURCHASE DATE:________________________________________________________________
CARE SUGGESTIONS
• NEVER store your guitar/bass in a hot car trunk! Heat will severely damage your instrument.
• Always clean your strings after every use.
• Change strings at least every 20 playing hours.
• Wipe down the guitar with a clean, soft cloth after every use to keep funk from building up.
• Clean fingerboard every time you change strings and oil it at least twice a year.
• Do not over-tighten any of the screws on the instrument. Snug is usually best.
• For air travel, be sure to detune strings one whole step. Have an agent check your guitar before
locking the case and tape the case shut to prevent tampering.
• Instrument adjustments may necessary in varying climates, altitudes and humidity levels.