It is often overlooked and misunderstood about Eddie’s use of the Ibanez Destroyer, nicknamed “the Shark”. Indeed, Eddie was not 100% satisfied with just one sound on the recording of the first Van Halen album. So instead, he relied on a stock Ibanez Destroyer to create a slightly different sound when required on the album.
This guitar is as important as the Frankenstrat when it comes to the early Van Halen sound.
Picture courtesy http://www.vhnd.com/2011/06/02/search-and-destroy/
Ibanez Destroyers have been around since 19751 and they were a relatively new addition at the time. It made perfect sense for Eddie to use the Destroyer on the first Van Halen album to vary the sound somewhat. It is often overlooked in the Van Halen cannon this guitar, so it is well worth noting about. Edward’s son Wolfgang referred to the Ibanez Destroyer as simply, “My favourite”2.
Ibanez is one of the most popular heavy rock guitar brands internationally.
Picture courtesy http://grandcentralmusicstore.com/about/product-lines/
Little is known about this particular guitar, but what is confirmed is that Eddie did use the guitar on much of the early Van Halen work more than people realise. For example, on the first Van Halen album Eddie used it on roughly half the tracks: Runnin’ with the Devil; You Really Got Me; Jamie’s Cryin’; Feel Your Love Tonight and On Fire. Basically early on, he used his Destroyer on any track that did not require the tremolo arm on his Frankenstrat, instead opting for the heavier sound of the Ibanez Destroyer when necessary.
However, shortly after the recording of the first Van Halen album, Eddie became interested in modifying the guitar and carved out parts of it. He also removed the pickguard, painted it striped in red and white, placing a Les Paul style volume knobs on it, filling in a hole for the middle knob and a rear cutaway that Eddie completed with a chainsaw.
Eddie indeed, loved using the Destroyer, even after the heavy modifications.
Picture courtesy http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/0b/fb/5a/0bfb5a8337515aaf3e0a342e5fd19ad5.jpg
The result was, however more visually impressive, was a negative one. It reportedly destroyed the tone of the guitar, making it less sonically pleasing to Ed. However the guitar meant something to Eddie, as he posed on the cover of the 1980 Women and Children First album with it. Indeed without the Ibanez Destroyer that Eddie used throughout early Van Halen recordings, much of what we recognise as the Brown sound would have been lost.
You can still find Ibanez Destroyer guitars (although without the EVH modifications) available today.
Picture courtesy http://georgemangos.com/destroyer/index.htm
Still, Ibanez sell Destroyer guitars to this day. There are two models, one retailing at $1199.00 (DT520FM) and another more expensive model at $1895.00 (DT520) and are worth checking out if you are keen on one. Listed below are the details of the more expensive model, courtesy of www.ibanez.com:
Finish: Black
Neck type: Destroyer 1 piece Mahogany set-in-neck
Body: Mahogany body
Fretboard: Rosewood Fretboard
Fret: Jumbo Frets
Bridge: Tight-Tune Bridge
Tailpiece: Tight-Tune Tailpiece
Neck pickup: DiMarzio® Air Norton™ Humbucker Neck Pickup (Passive/Alnico)
Bridge pickup: DiMarzio® The Tone Zone® Humbucker Bridge Pickup (Passive/Alnico)
Hardware colour: Chrome
Neck dimensions:
Scale – 628mm/24.75
- Width at Nut – 43mm
- Width at Last Fret – 57mm
- Thickness at 1st Fret – 20mm
- Thickness at 12th Fret – 22mm
Radius: 305mmR
Features: DiMarzio Pickups; Tight-Tune Bridge and Tailpiece
For all of those in the knowhow of Eddie Van Halen’s music and curious to explore some of the earlier, heavier sounds present, this guitar is well worth checking out.
The Ibanez “Shark” Destroyer is on the cover of Women and Children First.
Picture courtesy http://jasobrecht.com/eddie-van-halen-complete-1979-interview/
References:
- Ibanez Official Website. 2014. Electric guitars – Ibanez Destroyer. http://www.ibanez.co.jp/products/eg_page14.php?year=2014&area_id=2&cat_id=1&series_id=32&data_id=264&color=CL01
- Van Halen News Desk. 2011. Search and Destroy. http://www.vhnd.com/2014/07/27/aap75/
Project EVH 
