Steve Vai Guitars

 

POSTED BY THE EDITOR OF ‘COOL N WACKY’ ON JANUARY 1, 2010.

Steve Vai, born Steven Siro Vai, is an American guitarist and composer, born June 6th, 1960 in Long Island, New York (making him six years old on the sixth day of the sixth month in 1966, as he noted in the introduction to his guitar transcription book of Frank Zappa). Vai is best known for his self-composed, performed and produced guitar instrumental music, but he has also played on the recordings of several other rock acts.
Steve Vai made his name playing ‘stunt guitar’ with the legendary rock performer, composer, music producer, and publishing mogul Frank Zappa. In the early 80′s he replaced Yngwie Malmsteen (a good friend) as lead guitarist in Graham Bonnett’s Alcatrazz. Then he joined former Van Halen front man David Lee Roth’s group to record the albums Eat ‘em and Smile and Skyscraper. Vai also stepped into guitarist Adrian Vandenberg’s shoes to record with British rock legends Whitesnake (after Adrian Vandenberg injured his wrist due to some exercises he found in a book and tried out) shortly before recording was due to begin for the album Slip of the Tongue.
Ibanez Jem 77GMC
No Serial Number

Ibanez Jem 77 Prototype
Prototype, Serial #883372

Ibanez Jem
Serial #882041

Ibanez Jem 7PBK Prototype
Serial #: 916238

Ibanez JEM7RB Prototype
Serial No. 870039

Ibanez Universe UV77MC
Serial # SV01

“For The Love Of God”
Ibanez Universe Custom
No Serial Number

Ibanez Universe
Prototype, Serial # 895414

Ibanez Universe Custom
Serial No. SV02

Conklin 7-String Custom
Serial #SV04

Ibanez Jem Tripleneck
Serial # LA060493

Ibanez Heart Tripleneck Guitar
Serial # A800050 / A800208

BC Rich Doubleneck guitar
No serial number

Jem Custom Guitar
No Serial Number

Despagni JEM “Zng Zng” Custom
No Serial Number

Jem Custom Guitar
No Serial Number

McSwain Custom Carved Guitar
No Serial Number

Jerry Jones Electric Sitar
Serial #1088

Performance Jem Custom
No Serial Number

Steve Vai continues to tour regularly, both with his own group and with his one time teacher and fellow Grammy award winning guitar instrumentalist friend Joe Satriani (on the G3 series of tours). Steve recently teamed up with former David Lee Roth band member Bassist Billy Sheehan for a world tour. G3 2003 features Steve, Joe Satriani and Yngwie Malmsteen.

Steve Vai’s music has featured in a number of feature films, including Dudes, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey and Ghosts of Mars. He appeared onscreen in the 1986 Ralph Macchio vehicle Crossroads, playing the demonically-inspired Jack Butler. At the film’s climax, Vai engages in a guitar duel with Macchio (with Ry Cooder dubbing Macchio’s part). The 32nd note quick tempo pseudo-classical-baroque track (entitled Eugene’s Trick Bag) with which Macchio wins the competition was composed by Vai, heavily based on Paganini’s Caprice Op. 1 # 5, and has become a favorite apprentice-piece among many guitar students. Vai received a Grammy Award in 1991.
Jackson Soloist
Serial #: J0334

Charvel Custom Electric
The Green Meanie”
No Serial Number

Tom Anderson V.A.I. Prototype
No Serial Number

Taylor 615C Acoustic
Serial Number 16280

Fernandes Travel Guitar
No Serial Number

Ibanez Universe 90th Anniversary Prototype
Serial #: F9822053

Ibanez Jem 77FP (with synth controller)
Serial #: 262339

Ibanez Jem “Strat” Prototype
Serial #: LA090898

Ibanez Universe DNA Baritone Custom
Serial #: LA02190

Ibanez JEM7VWH 2003
Serial #: F0228369

The “Ultra Zone” Guitar
No Serial Number

Ibanez Jem Acoustic Prototype
No Serial Number

Where Vai’s contributions to others’ material has been constrained by the largely rock or heavy-rock style of those bands, his own material is considerably more esoteric. Vai is an accomplished studio producer (he owns two: ‘The Mother Ship’ and ‘The Harmony Hut’) and his own recordings combine his signature guitar prowess with novel compositions and considerable use of studio and recording effects.

Steve Vai owns ‘Favored Nations’, a recording and publishing business which specializes in looking after both newly discovered and already high profile recording artists from around the world.

Vai is married with two children (Julian Angel & Fire) to Pia (former Bassist of All-Female Group ‘Vixen’, which can be seen in the movie ‘Hardbodies’). He also enjoys keeping bees, which regularly produce a crop of honey that Steve sells for his chosen charity every year through his web site.

Vai also helped design his signature Ibanez JEM series of guitars. They feature a handgrip cut into the top of the body of the guitar. They also use a humbucker-single coil-humbucker pickup set-up and a locking tremolo bar.

---

Steve Vai is an incredible guitarist with a unique guitar collection; to say the least.  His shredding style is all his own and he’s developed his own guitar style that is recognized by high profile recording artists from around the world.  I like to listen to all types and styles of guitarists in a effort to help build my own personal guitar style that will eventually become my signature.

I also love to collect guitars, but the more traditional type such as Gibson Les Paul's and the BB King Lucille, a Hamer Quiltop Double-Cutaway, multiple Fender Stratocaster’s, Paul Reed Smith Model’s “Starla” and “Singlecut”, various Godin Models, an Ovation Acoustic-Electric and a Line 6 Variax Acoustic Electric Modeling guitar. If you’ve followed along with my travel back into the music world/business, you’ve read all about my guitar collection, so you should have a good idea of what I’m talking about. 

For me, each guitarist that I have an opportunity to watch and listen to becomes my instructor.  Some of them in broad ways, and some of them in one key riff or technique.  My advice to every serious student of the guitar is not to overlook any artist because you think they are not your style; you might miss the lesson of a lifetime if you do.

Until next time ~

Musician By Night . . .