Eddie Van Halen signature guitar announced

Eddie Van Halen has teamed up with the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation on a limited-edition signature guitar. Fender has produced a replica of Van Halen's original "Frankenstein" guitar, which he used on the band's early albums and tours. The re-creation of the red guitar with black and white stripes is exact, down to the aging on the neck, the cigarette burns, the damage to the body, the use of a 1971 quarter under the bridge, the single volume knob that actually says "tone," and the second pickup and the selector switch that don't work, just as they didn't on the original. Buyers will also get an aged case for the guitar, which is the first in an expected line of EVH guitars, amplifiers, and musical products.

Van Halen appeared at the annual NAMM music instrument retailers convention in Anaheim over the weekend, and he used one of the guitars and a prototype EVH amp to play segments of Van Halen hits including "Eruption" and "Hot For Teacher." Video clips are available on YouTube -- just search for "Halen NAMM."

Pricing wasn't announced, but the Fender Custom Shop will only make 300 "Frankenstein" copies, so be prepared to spend a pretty penny to get your hands on one.

The original guitar was modeled after the Fender Stratocaster, but this marks the first time Van Halen has officially been involved with the company.

Van Halen will tour this summer, and it's rumored that David Lee Roth will be the singer. It's unknown when the dates and the band lineup will be announced.

The band will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in March, along alongside Patti Smith, R.E.M., the Ronettes, and Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five. The ceremony takes place March 12th at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City.
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