Edward Van Halen named his Wolfgang model signature guitars after his son. Now that Wolf has conceived his own EVH signature guitar, the SA-126 Special, he has returned the tribute by naming the model number after Edward’s January 26 birthdate.
Representing a new chapter in the evolution and future of the EVH brand, the SA-126 Special is Wolfgang Van Halen’s brainchild and the company’s first guitar developed without input from Ed, although the elder Van Halen’s spirit is present in the meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the guitar’s design.
Like Ed did with the original EVH Wolfgang, Wolf subjected the SA-126 to a prolonged period of rigorous road testing, playing a variety of prototypes with his band Mammoth WVH. It took more than two years for the SA-126 Special to reach the market, and the dedication behind the project truly shows in the final product.
The SA-126 semi-acoustic electric is a truly original model featuring numerous innovative details. Its construction is particularly individualistic. The body starts with a slab of mahogany with large acoustic chambers carved on either side of a partially raised section in the center running from the neck joint to the bottom strap pin. A “belly” contour is also carved out of the back to enhance playing comfort.
The flat maple top has a similar partially raised interior block carved down the center, with the “wings” on either side shaved down to about an 1/8-inch thickness. The top also has a single distinctive “E” hole cut out of the bass bout.
A slab of basswood is sandwiched in between the mahogany body and maple top center blocks, providing a lightweight, highly resonant conduit for top vibrations to transfer to the back. Each of the mahogany, basswood and maple center block sections appear to be equally thick (slightly more than ½-inch each – the body measures 1.75 inches deep).
With its asymmetrical design, the body looks quite large. Actually, it has about the same overall body volume (in terms of dimensions, not acoustic properties) as a 335-style guitar, but its upper bass bout cutaway horn extends further up the neck while the body’s width is about one inch narrower, making it better balanced and more comfortable to play than an old school semi-hollow.
Whereas traditional semi-hollow electrics with humbuckers usually have pickups floating in mounting rings, the SA-126’s bridge and neck humbuckers are mounted directly to the body’s center block with four screws, and the mounting rings seen here are purely cosmetic.
Designed by industry veteran Tim Shaw, the EVH SA-126 bridge and neck pickups are entirely new designs. These pickups sound quite bold and assertive, yet they deliver stellar definition and clarity whether played through a blazing high-gain amp with everything turned up to 11 or through a clean amp with the guitar’s volume controls backed off. The bridge pickup is slightly hotter and brighter than the separately voiced neck humbucker.
The SA-126 features a two-piece mahogany bolt-on neck with an ebony fingerboard, 22 jumbo frets, 24.75-inch scale and 12-16-inch compound radius. The neck has a slim EVH modified “C” shape profile that feels similar to the neck on the EVH Wolfgang USA.
The 3x3 headstock is slightly larger than a traditional Gibson “open book” headstock, with added mass that delivers enhanced resonance, dynamic response and tonal body.
Other notable features include a large EVH Harmonica bridge with stop tailpiece, EVH Keystone tuners, Graph Tech TUSQ nut, triple block fretboard inlays, single-ply bound headstock, 5-ply body binding, a 3-way pickup switch and individual volume and tone controls for each pickup with Fender amp-style skirted, numbered black plastic knobs.
The SA-126 can even deliver genuine country twang with the volume controls backed down
Sonically, the SA-126 Special is an aggressive beast. Compared to several classic electrics, its tone is the sonic equivalent of a 4K Ultra HD movie while the others are like a Standard Definition DVD.
There’s a distinctive Strat-like crystalline upper midrange that’s seamlessly layered with the throaty lower mid growl of a Les Paul/335 hybrid and the tight low-end punch of an Explorer.
The attack is instantaneous and punchy when played hard, transforming to a sweet swell with a lighter touch. The SA-126 can even deliver genuine country twang with the volume controls backed down.
Surprisingly for a hollow chambered guitar, it remains feedback-free even when using an amp dialed to extreme high gain and high volume settings.
Specs
- PRICE: $1,799
- BODY: Chambered mahogany with maple top and basswood center block
- NECK: 2-piece mahogany
- FINGERBOARD: Ebony
- NECK PROFILE: EVH Modified “C”
- RADIUS: 12-16-inch compound
- SCALE LENGTH: 24.75 inch
- FRETS: 22 jumbo
- NUT WIDTH: 1.75-inch
- PICKUPS: EVH SA-126 humbucking bridge and neck (individually voiced)
- CONTROLS: Bridge volume, bridge tone, neck volume, neck tone, 3-position pickup selector toggle
- BRIDGE: EVH Harmonica with stop tailpiece
- TUNERS: EVH Keystone
- CONTACT: EVH Gear
