Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Superbooth 2026
  • Synths
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Heart of Gold
  • Vince Clarke's favourite synth
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The Beatles' medley masterpiece
  1. Guitars

EVH reveals new Circles finish for Striped Series guitar

News
By Michael Brown published 30 July 2014

New Unchained finish for Eddie Van Halen model

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

The Striped Series has been seriously in demand since its introduction in early 2013, and the fervour shows no sign of letting up with the addition of a whole new outlandish finish, named 'Circles'.

The design is based on Eddie Van Halen's 1981 guitar, which he used for live renditions of the drop D-tuned Unchained, and features a far-out black-and-white 'crop circles' graphic on the front, and a distinctive 'See Ya Later Bye' print on the back.

Elsewhere, the guitar is spec'd to the same rock-ready standards as the rest of the Striped Series, with a hand-rubbed oil maple neck and compound radius fretboard, EVH-branded Floyd Rose locking vibrato with D-Tuna, plus a single EVH Wolfgang humbucker. And yes, the tone knob is, of course, a volume knob.

Click through the gallery above for a closer look at the EVH Striped Series Circles, and head to the official EVH website for more info.

Page 1 of 8
Page 1 of 8
EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

Even from the rear, the Circles is unmistakably an EVH guitar

Page 2 of 8
Page 2 of 8
EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

One of the few departures from EVH's original is a correctly positioned jack socket; Eddie's was fitted upside-down

Page 3 of 8
Page 3 of 8
EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

The graphic gloss finish comes complete with a tone (ie, volume) knob turning suggestion

Page 4 of 8
Page 4 of 8
EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

True EVH nuts will want to remove the rear vibrato cover for maximum authenticity

Page 5 of 8
Page 5 of 8
EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH's D-Tuna allows easy access to drop D tuning – perfect for busting out Unchained

Page 6 of 8
Page 6 of 8
EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

The EVH logo adorns the Strat-a-like headstock

Page 7 of 8
Page 7 of 8
EVH Striped Series Circles

EVH Striped Series Circles

With a smooth, 'played-in' feel, the hand-rubbed oil neck is ripe for blistering riffs and solos

Page 8 of 8
Page 8 of 8
Michael Brown
Michael Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.

Read more
EVH Gear Wolfgang Special Baked Maple: the high-performance electrics are refreshed with baked maple necks, TOM bridges and Floyd Rose vibratos
Guitars Eddie Van Halen-approved baked maple necks? Check. Flagship pickups? Check. EVH Gear unveils stunning refresh of the Wolfgang Special
 
 
The Gibson Victory Floyd Rose was teased at NAMM and arrives in Iguana Burst, Deep Ocean Burst, and Translucent Ebony Burst finishes.
Guitars Do not adjust your set – Gibson just unveiled a doublecut shred machine with a Floyd Rose
 
 
Epiphone Futura Series
Guitars Epiphone’s Futura Series reimagines Gibson classics with Chromashift finishes, ProBucker Ignite 'buckers and stainless steel frets
 
 
Christian Andreu plays his Jackson signature Rhoads with a whole lot of pyro in the background.
Artists Jackson launches spectacular EverTune refresh of Christian Andreu’s signature Rhoads
 
 
Harley Benton goes for the '80s vibe as it refreshes its ST-80FR shred guitars in six Sparkle Burst finishes – including Hologram.
Guitars Harley Benton takes on the high-performance heavyweights with a Sparkle Burst refresh of its $400 Floyd-equipped S-style
 
 
Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian presents ZZ Top frontman Billy F. Gibbons with a custom Explorer that he designed and built himself.
Artists Gibson CEO Cesar Gueikian has made a stunning custom Explorer – and Billy Gibbons is playing it onstage with ZZ Top
 
 
Latest in Guitars
The Gibson Victory Floyd Rose was teased at NAMM and arrives in Iguana Burst, Deep Ocean Burst, and Translucent Ebony Burst finishes.
Guitars Do not adjust your set – Gibson just unveiled a doublecut shred machine with a Floyd Rose
 
 
PRS SE Rock Lady
Guitars “One of the most creative, out-of-the-box things we have done in a while”: PRS Guitars just made a signature guitar for an anime character
 
 
Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, Pick Withers, Zaal Lux, Herenthout, Belgium, 12th October 1978
Guitarists “You can’t put out a record about a trad band": the Dire Straits classic that's often imitated, but rarely mastered
 
 
LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 27: Brian May attends the "Masters Of The Universe" UK premiere at Cineworld Leicester Square on May 27, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Lia Toby/Getty Images)
Artists How Brian May ended up playing his 'Sword of Power' Red Special on the Masters of the Universe theme
 
 
The Ibanez Standard Series RGR431PB finished in Charcoal Gray Flat
Electric Guitars “Ibanez serves up another RG that’s built for stunt guitar, priced for virtuosos-in-training, and with enough sounds to please the fusion kid and headbanger alike”: Ibanez RGR431PB review
 
 
Fender Strobo-Sonic Tuner Pedal
Guitar Pedals "Where it truly triumphs is in its versatility and value proposition": Fender Strobo-Sonic Pro Tuner Pedal review
 
 
Latest in News
Anika Nilles of band Rush plays the drums at the KIA Forum on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Inglewood, CA
Drummers “The perfect choice for this!”: Mike Portnoy praises Anika Nilles’ performance at Rush comeback gig
 
 
The Gibson Victory Floyd Rose was teased at NAMM and arrives in Iguana Burst, Deep Ocean Burst, and Translucent Ebony Burst finishes.
Guitars Do not adjust your set – Gibson just unveiled a doublecut shred machine with a Floyd Rose
 
 
The fake Angine de Poitrine
Bands “They keep tagging the band”: Angine De Poitrine have acquired some Russian dopelgangers
 
 
PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 27: Group Dire Straits Concert at Paris Bercy Concert Hall, Paris, November 27, 1985. (Photo by Frederic REGLAIN/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)
Artists They might be Gen-Z's new favourite band, but the chances of a Dire Straits reunion are "nil"
 
 
PRS SE Rock Lady
Guitars “One of the most creative, out-of-the-box things we have done in a while”: PRS Guitars just made a signature guitar for an anime character
 
 
Dire Straits, Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, Pick Withers, Zaal Lux, Herenthout, Belgium, 12th October 1978
Guitarists “You can’t put out a record about a trad band": the Dire Straits classic that's often imitated, but rarely mastered
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...