EVH Striped Series Shark | EVH Gear

Eddie Van Halen is known for infusing his iconic guitars with their own identity. With his visionary hands-on approach to personally modifying his style and tone, Eddie has created some of the most memorable guitars in rock 'n' roll history.

One of those guitars became as iconic to Van Halen's sound as tapping was to Eddie's playing. Aptly named the "Shark," Eddie took his angular offset axe and sawed a chunk out of the body, leaving jagged edges in the wood that resembled teeth. After applying a coat of silver paint, Eddie added tape in his famed striped pattern and then grabbed a rattle can of burgundy Schwinn bicycle paint to finish the job. The final striped creation was initially seen live during the first Van Halen World Tour in 1978, but became more widely known and adored by fans after appearing on the back cover of Van Halen's 1980 album, Women and Children First.

[FrankSpeer]

I've been playing for 45 years and have owned many guitars, while I'm not in love with the looks of this guitar, I own it and I have to say in all honesty it's one of the greatest rock guitars I've ever played! The short scale gives it such a slinky feel and the tweaked Wolfgang pickups are outstanding!

[MrSpeed-ltgr]

Would love a release of the Shark in it's original state. I know it couldn't look exactly like the Ibanez Destroyer, but something similar would be awesome.

[DaveRodriguez]

As always, awesome playing from Frankie. Sounds great!

[DeputyVanHalen]

Excellent guitar, and killer playing! I know that the Shark didn’t have a Floyd Rose, would like to see an option available with one though. I know that one could always be added but nice to have it OEM.

[JimMcD]

Great guitar, with a tone of its own that stands out amongst Eddie’s other guitars. Nice playing too.

[theeobeastone]

Riff has a splash of GNR’s Night Train

[joebungus]

Hasn't a "striped series" shark been out for years now? What's different about this release? New pickups?

[coldragoon]

What's the song called? Love it 🤘🏽

[TVD]

Gorgeous, faithful recreation but I don't really understand why every guitar in the lineup has a Wolfgang pickup in it. Sure, they are great and I love them to bits on my Wolfgang but they aren't period correct shall we say.

[michael]

Wow, now I see Michael Bolton with different eyes man

[danielduberry]

Eddie used a chain saw on his destroyer and was somehow surprised he ruined the tone...these guys at EVH used a CNC machine and solid ash and guess what the tone is incredible love my shark. and the creativity Ed put into the design is there just none of the chain saw splintering and ruining the integrity of the wood. i honestly believe he would have played one of these on his post 2015 tours but unfortunaly it was not to be.

[jorgeocampo]

I have the shark guitar and I can tell you it’s so much fun to play on a sidenote forgive my ignorance, but who is the guitar player that’s demonstrating?

[bdubz]

No rosewood fretboard? Whats the body? Plywood slathered in fillers? Basswood or poplar? My guess is the body is not black limba either.

[TommyToboggan]

Don't get this one, he didn't like it after he did this

[buedavis]

Ed hated this guitar after he cut it up, the tone was irreversibly damaged