“A semi-acoustic with aggressive character and punch that outshines many solidbody designs”: EVH SA-126 Special review
Wolfgang Van Halen’s new signature model ushers in a new era of the hot-rodded super-semi – and it might just be one of the most versatile rock machines on the market today
The EVH SA-126 Special is an impressively versatile electric that combines the dynamic responsiveness and “air” of a semi-acoustic with aggressive character and punch that outshines many solidbody designs, making it ideal for a comprehensive range of musical styles.
Pros
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An impressively wide range of tones.
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Stellar dynamic responsiveness and touch-sensitivity.
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No feedback even at high volume.
Cons
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Pickup height is moderately adjustable (however, height is ideally adjusted from factory).
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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.
(Image credit: EVH Gear)
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.
(Image credit: EVH Gear)
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.
Introducing the All-New EVH SA-126 | EVH Gear - YouTube
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.
(Image credit: EVH Gear)
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.
(Image credit: EVH Gear)
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)
Chris is the co-author of Eruption - Conversations with Eddie Van Halen. He is a 40-year music industry veteran who started at Boardwalk Entertainment (Joan Jett, Night Ranger) and Roland US before becoming a guitar journalist in 1991. He has interviewed more than 600 artists, written more than 1,400 product reviews and contributed to Jeff Beck’s Beck 01: Hot Rods and Rock & Roll and Eric Clapton’s Six String Stories.
