Fadeding Finish on EVH's ...

[PRSPlayer]

Fading Finish on EVH's ...

As some may already know, I've been shopping around for an EVH. I can't help but notice that most of the finishes on these models have faded severly. Especially the purple ones.

This really doesn't bother me because the guitar I buy will be played, not displayed. But I do take care of all of my guitars and it does raise some questions ...

1) Does EBMM acknowledge the problem and have they done anything to correct the problem?

2) Does this only happen to certain colors, or do they ALL eventually fade?

3) Does anyone have one that has COMPLETELY faded to a natural? (if so, please post pics. I'd love to see it)

4) Has anyone successfully re-finished their guitar due to this problem? And if so ...

a) Who did it?
b) How much?
c) How's it holding up?

And finally, will refinishing an EVH decrease the value of the instrument?

If this has all been covered before, I apologize.
Go easy on me ... I'm a newby

 

[OrangeChannel]

Hey PP....there was a pic of one,methinks an Axis Sport that Royal Music has, theyre selling it as a LTD ED finish: Purple Fade....redonkulous...considering it faded from sitting in the sunlight of the display window at their shop. Seems that purple is a pretty easy fade based on it's propensity to UV damage (the color in general....I've had hats, t shirts, rugs....things like that get damaged from it.

http://www.gbase.com/guitar_pics/302/501723.jpg

http://www.gbase.com/guitar_pics/302/501723b.jpg

 

[PRSPlayer]

PRS had the same problem on their earlier guitars ... specifically "blue" (I think). The contributed it to the dyes they were using at the time and said they have since corrected the problem. I dunno ...

I own a PRS Singlecut Trem Artist Package in grey/black ...
The flame is absolutely gorgeous, but unfortuately, the finish is too dark and kinda takes away from it. I've even gone as far as to put it in my bay window during the day in hopes it WOULD fade, but no such luck. Having said that ... I guess they really DID correct the problem.

 

[hbucker]

I'm by no means an expert on this. But the purple EVH's are the only ones I've heard of that fade under normal use. And they were notorious for this. IMO it was a major mistake on EBMM's part to put out guitars with this glaring flaw. I've never heard the official company statement on this though.

Having said this, some of the faded purples are hauntingly beautiful.

 

[PRSPlayer]

I Agree ... SOME of the faded tops are beautiful.

 

[ernie1966]

The trans-black fades into an awesome emerald greenish color, very nice indeed!

 

[PRSPlayer]

How about a pic?

 

[ernie1966]

Here's faded Trans-Black:

http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=195241&img=evh6.jpg

Trans-Purple:

http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=195242&img=evh1.jpg

Faded Trans-Purple:

http://www.savepic.com/freepicturehosting/is.php?i=195243&img=evh2.jpg

 

[power108]

Mine, a 1992, faded like this:

http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jimmyb/evh5.jpg

http://img2.photobucket.com/albums/v11/jimmyb/evh2.jpg

Very cool.

 

[dwf1004]

OK, now's where I have to act like I know something here.

Black, purple, blue and (I believe) pink were the colors that gave EBMM trouble over the course of EVH production, as well as carryover into the Axis phase of this guitar. 'Tis the same reason PRS quoted, and EBMM has switched the dye that they use. For purple, most specifically (because I inquired about my purple EVH), the dye used up until its demise from the EBMM color chart was better, but darker.

EBMM would restain my purple, but it would be about $600+ and much darker than the original stain. As far as value, it could drop it, simply because once you restain, it's not "all original". If you're not displaying, as you mentioned, PRS, and you don't plan on selling it, etc. then go for it (once you grab one). However, if it's to be treated as/considered collector's material, etc. then leave it original.

Since everyone's sharing baby pictures, here's MY purple, some fading, but overall not too bad (dated pics, yes I know about the broken A string...I was jazzed about my dig. camera at the time, shot these before the string change!)

http://homepage.mac.com/dfulwilder/images/evhp_body.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/dfulwilder/images/evhp_full.jpg
http://homepage.mac.com/dfulwilder/images/evhp_headstock.jpg

 

[OrangeChannel]

I'm guessing with how cool the fades look, that dudes are gonna start taking their axes to the beach....starting a rash of faded finishes....ooh look there's a relic. yeah!

 

[SGMan88]

dwf thats a beautiful EVH, I love the purple finish...I'm jealous

 

[lock-ny]

Actually my first MM guitr was a trans black EVH and it was really that dark green, I think tht is how they looked without any fade, the real trouble is with the purple ones for some reason -

 

[Top_Michael]

Hello there. I'm new on this forum!

I saw this topic on Faded EVH!! Well, i got one.

Its original color is Translucent purple and now, it looks like this;

I had the choice between an amber top or this one. I choose this one because of its color that i had never seen before! I emailed EB and gave them the serial number and it appeared that it's a 95' model.

 

[OrangeChannel]

That Is Hottt!