[Summary] Steve Vai's equipment and how to use it [Amps, guitars, effects]

In the world of guitar instrumentals,With his overwhelming technique and unique sound, he is unrivaled.

Steve Vai

His music goes beyond simple fast playing and acrobatic performance; it has an expressiveness that makes it seem as if the guitar is "singing."

In this article, we will thoroughly explain Steve Vai's guitar history and his latest rig, as well as the details of his equipment that reflects his musical philosophy, the situations in which he uses it, and the key points for sound creation.

This article is packed with valuable information for guitarists who want to recreate Vai's sound or for those considering purchasing a signature model, so be sure to read through to the end.

Steve Vai | Profile

Date of birth: 1960 year 6 month 6 day
Birthplace: Carle Place, New York, USA

Biography

Changes in equipment used

Steve Vai has evolved the equipment he uses over the years. In the early 1980s, when he began working as a student of Frank Zappa, he honed his skills using modified Stratocaster-type guitars (commonly known as "Green Meanies"). When he eventually joined David Lee Roth's band, he began to seek out a guitar that would fulfill his own ideals. As a result,1985In 2016, he collaborated with Ibanez to design a signature model, the Ibanez JEM.

The JEM is a guitar with groundbreaking features never before seen, such as a Floyd Rose floating tremolo and a handle called a "monkey grip" on the body, and since its release in 1987, it has become one of the most successful signature guitars in history.

In 1989, Ibanez released the world's first mass-produced 7-string electric guitar, the Ibanez Universe, and Ibanez himself used the 7-string guitar while in Whitesnake. The Universe was an innovative model that had a major impact on the new trends in heavy rock and metal (such as nu-metal) that began in the mid-90s.

Vai also sought his own unique sound from his amps. In the 1980s, during the David Lee Roth Band and Whitesnake period, he would take to the stage with a large-scale rig that combined modified Marshall and Bogner tube amp heads with a huge rack system and cutting-edge rack effects such as the Eventide Harmonizer. It is said that he operated one of the largest equipment groups in the guitar scene at the time, and used a dedicated foot controller with 24 switches to switch between complex tones.* Later, in the late 1990s, Vai, seeking an amp that suited his ideals, teamed up with amp manufacturer Carvin to develop the signature tube amp "Legacy" series.

1999Since the first Legacy was released in 13, Vi has used the Legacy amp as his main amp, achieving smooth, sustained lead tones. His collaboration with Carvin has lasted for over 3 years, and has even developed the third generation Legacy 3.

Steve Vai | Play&Music

Guitar battle scene from the movie "Crossroads"

This is the climax scene of the 1986 film "Crossroads" starring Steve Vai, in which he engages in a fierce guitar battle with the protagonist. You can enjoy Vai's overwhelming playing technique and stage performance, and it is a scene that is passed down among fans as a symbol of his charisma.

Steve Vai – “For The Love Of God”

"For The Love Of God" is a signature song by Vai from his 1990 album Passion and Warfare.A guitar instrumental masterpiece that symbolizes his careerThis sacred track epitomizes Vai's spiritual approach to guitar.

Steve Vai – “Whispering A Prayer” (Live At The Astoria)

This footage was taken in London in 2001.Astoria TheatreThis is a performance from a live performance at the venue. "Whispering A Prayer" is a ballad that features a particularly melodic and emotional guitar solo, even among Steve Vai's songs.

Steve Vai | Favorite Equipment [Guitar]

Ibanez JEM Series – Vi’s signature guitar

Ibanez JEMis Steve Vai's most famous electric guitar as his signature model.

Since its release in 1987, it has been a long-selling product that has been in production for many years, undergoing several model changes and new colors.This model was the prototype for the Ibanez RG series.There is also.

The biggest feature of JEM is its original design, which is packed with Vi's ideas.

The handle-like hole on the body, known as the "monkey grip," is not only visually striking, but also a functional beauty that makes it easy to carry the guitar when performing.

The 24-fret fingerboard features an ivy inlay and the top fret is shallowly scalloped, making it easier to choke and vibrato in the higher positions.

The bridge is equipped with an Ibanez Edge-style floating tremolo, which provides stable tuning even with intense arm movements, enabling Vai's dynamic arm playing style.

The pickups are in an HSH configuration, and include the high-output "Evolution" humbucker developed in collaboration with DiMarzio, and are tuned to produce a thick, sustained tone.

The JEMs that Vai actually uses on stage and in recordings have nicknames, one of which is "Evo."と“Flo” is particularly famous.

The Evo, a JEM7V model with a white body and gold parts, has been used heavily as the main guitar since around 1993."My most beloved guitar"It is even called.

The Evo is equipped with DiMarzio Evolution pickups, jumbo fretwire (made from EVO Gold alloy), and is set up in standard tuning with a fine gauge (.009-.042).

On the other hand, “Flo” is a JEM that features a black body and a mirror pickguard, and was originally used by Vi in the 1990s with a sustainer added on later.

The Flo was revived in recent years with a new neck, and its successor, the Flo III, has been the main guitar since the late 2000s.

The basic specifications of the Flo III are similar to those of the JEM7V, but it has some fine customizations, such as a shallow scalloped neck and EVO Gold frets.

Vai himself said, "The one I've used most frequently over the last 10 years is the Flo III (with sustainer), and the other one I often pick up is the Evo (without sustainer). These two are basically the same guitar, but the sounds are quite different." This shows that he uses the JEM differently, including due to the difference in sound with and without the sustainer.

In addition to this, there are many other variations in the JEM series.

How to use:JEM777(Early model neon color series), with impressive floral graphicsJEM77FPVai uses a variety of JEM collections on tour, including the JEM77 “Floral Pattern” and the mirror-finished prototype model “Bo” (the prototype for the JEMXNUMX “Blue Floral”).

Ibanez PIA Series – Latest Signature “Paradise in Art”

The Ibanez PIA is Steve Vai's new signature model, released in 2020.

PIA is an acronym for "Paradise in Art" and also comes from the name of Vai's wife, Pia.

The basic concept follows the JEM, but various parts have been brushed up. The biggest difference is the handle part of the body, which has a curved design called "Petal Grip" instead of the JEM's monkey grip.

The fingerboard inlay has also been changed from the traditional ivy pattern to a new design with a petal motif, giving it a more elegant and modern look. The pickup is equipped with a DiMarzio UtoPIA pickup.

This is Vai's latest signature pickup, which follows in the Evolution tradition, and the name is a pun on the words "utopia" and PIA.

The frets are made of stainless steel, which means they are resistant to wear even with long-term use and maintain a smooth feel.

The basic structure is just as robust and highly playable as the JEM, so it can withstand the extreme arm movements and high-speed playing that Vai demands.

"Onyx" is a PIA with a black body, while "Envy" is a vivid emerald green PIA, the latter of which has been modified to have LEDs embedded in the fingerboard so that the position marks light up.

According to Vai's guitar tech, this Envy is set up specifically for playing his signature song "Bad Horsie," and is equipped with a slide bar (bottleneck) on the back of the headstock.

Vai's attention to detail in optimizing his guitar for each song is apparent in the way he incorporates slide playing into the song. Vai has been using a JEM with a Fernandes sustainer system (see below) for many years, but the PIA also has a model with a new experimental sustainer pickup called Sustainiac.

In this way, the PIA series can be said to be Viny's current main guitar, inheriting the lineage of the JEM while incorporating further technological innovations and ideas.

Ibanez Universe (7-string guitar) and other guitars used

Ibanez UniverseThe was the world's first commercially available 7-string electric guitar, designed by Vai, a pioneer of the 7-string guitar, and was released in 1989.

Although the basic design of the Universe is similar to that of the JEM, the pickups and neck rigidity have been optimized to accommodate the addition of bass strings (7 strings).

Vai himself played the heavy seven-string riff on songs such as Whitesnake's "Judgement Day," and later used it in parts on his album Passion and Warfare (7).

Seven-string guitars were rare at the time, but by the mid-7s a new generation of bands such as Korn were increasingly adopting them, and Universe had an influence on a new trend in heavy music.

Since then, he has continued to include the 7-string model in his lineup, and in recent yearsIbanez JEM7V7He uses 7-string guitars when necessary, such as the 7-string JEM (a 7-string version of the JEM) and a prototype XNUMX-string JEM (known as "Zeus") that he made in the past, for live performances.

Another guitar worth mentioning is the Hydra.

Hydra is a custom guitar created by Vai for his 2022 album "Inviolate," and has a very unique concept. It combines a 7-string electric guitar, a 12-string electric guitar, a 4-string bass, and a harp into one guitar, creating an astonishing visual with three necks (and two heads).

Each neck/string has its own pickup and output, and the sound is individually tailored via a dedicated rack system.

The Hydra is a one-of-a-kind art guitar designed primarily for the song "Teeth of the Hydra," but it symbolizes Vai's insatiable curiosity and playfulness with equipment.

In addition, on recent tours, it has been used as a signature model by jazz guitarists.Ibanez JSM100 (John Scofield model)She also shows her flexibility by incorporating unusual guitars in order to find the best tone for each song, such as using a custom painted semi-acoustic guitar for the song "Little Pretty."

Steve Vai's guitar history has centered around his own signature models such as the JEM/Universe, but he is also not averse to other models and custom-made guitars when necessary.

Steve Vai | Favorite Equipment [Amplifiers]

From Marshall to Bogner (80s to early 90s)

Vai's amplifier history is linked to the music scene of the time.

From the time of his debut until the 1980s, the high-gain Marshall sound represented by Edward Van Halen was at its peak, and Vi is said to have used a modified Marshall 100W head, among other things.

There is a theory that the guitar tones on David Lee Roth's albums "Eat 'Em and Smile" (1986) and "Skyscraper" (1988) were created by combining the distortion of a Marshall-type amp with BOSS overdrive/distortion.

From the late 1980s to around 1990, I also used amplifiers made by Bogner, a boutique California manufacturer.

In fact, during the 1993 tour in support of his album Sex & Religion, Vai was recorded using a Bogner Ecstasy head and a 4x12 cabinet as his main setup; it's also said that he used both a Marshall and a Bogner on his US tour, but only a Bogner on his Japan tour.

The guitar sound of this period was clear even in the midst of intense distortion, and combined with the stereo effects provided by the Eventide H3000 harmonizer and Lexicon reverb built into the rack, it was characterized by an extremely rich, spacious tone.

Carvin Legacy: Signature amp designed exclusively for Vai

In the late 1990s, Vai began developing his own signature amp head, which he produced in collaboration with Carvin.Legacy SeriesThe first Legacy (VL100)1999It was released in as an all-tube amp head with 100W output.

Vi wasn't particularly satisfied with the Marshall sound, and he says that the Legacy was "the perfect amp for me" and "it's still my favorite amp."

Legacy has thick, smooth distortion and a rich midrange, providing the infinite sustain and lustrous tone required for lead playing.

In fact, when combined with Vi's Ibanez JEM, it is said that simply increasing the gain gives you long sustain without the need for a sustainer pickup, allowing the sound to continue to grow and feedback to be freely controlled.

The clean channel also covers a wide range of tones, from crystal clear clean tones to bluesy crunch, supporting Vi's diverse playing style.

The Carvin Legacy series continued to be improved, with the **Legacy II (2009)** increasing the number of channels and the **Legacy III (2012)** becoming three channels and becoming smaller and lighter.

Despite its compact lunchbox size, the Legacy 3 delivers high performance with 100W output, and the output can be switched to 50W or 15W using the switch on the back. It also has modern features such as MIDI compatibility and built-in reverb.

The chassis is decorated with Vi's trademark triangular motif and LED illumination that changes color for each channel, giving the design a playful feel.

Since the 2000s, Vai has stacked these Legacy amps on stage to create an iconic wall, actively utilizing the rich harmonics and feedback that come from playing guitars at high volume. The Legacy cabinet is a 30x4 cabinet equipped with four Celestion Vintage 4 speakers, and is fitted with a custom grille and other details.

Vi's long-standing collaboration with Carvin has been very fruitful.The Legacy series is at the core of his sound..

Latest Live Rig: Hybrid System with Synergy Module and Fractal

In the late 2010s, Vai further upgraded his equipment.

With Carvin downsizing its amplifier business, in recent years he has been building a hybrid rig for live performances that combines Synergy's modular preamp system with a rack-type digital processor.

Synergy is a system that provides preamp circuits in removable modules, and Vai has installed four preamp modules, including his signature circuit "VAI module", in the rack.

Specifically, two Synergy SYN-2 preamp racks are connected together, and two VAI modules (for main distortion, one with a low gain setting) and two Fender B-Man modules for clean are installed.

It has a flexible configuration that allows you to use multiple channels, from clean to distorted, depending on the song, and you can instantly switch between them using a foot controller (RJM Mastermind LT).

The post-preamp stage is equipped with the Fractal Audio Axe-Fx III, a state-of-the-art digital multi-effects/amp modeling rack.

The Axe-Fx III is primarily used to process time- and spatial-type effects such as delay, reverb, and chorus, and by calling up carefully programmed patches for each song, it always creates the optimal acoustic space.

Vi's rig has a stereo output, and the left and right stereo signals from the Axe-Fx are amplified by power amplifiers and sent to the cabinets on stage.

The power amplifiers used are Fryette vacuum tube stereo power amplifiers (LX-II 50W x 2), two of which are used to drive the main 2 x 4 cabinets and the stereo monitors placed at the front of the stage.

The main cabinets continue to be Carvin Legacy 4x12s, placed on either side of the stage, and while they are based on the legacy sound of the past, they incorporate the latest technology in preamps and effects.

As described above, Vai's current amp/rack system is a cutting-edge rig that combines the natural thickness of a vacuum tube amp with the flexibility and reproducibility of digital equipment.

The sound of the Legacy amps that have been used for many years has been maintained by the Synergy module and Carvin cabinets, while the configuration increases convenience with the addition of the latest, lightweight equipment.

The stage is lined with huge racks and countless cables neatly organized, and although the intricate system may seem complex at first glance, Vai and his team use it to produce a consistent tone at every show.

Steve Vai | Favorite Equipment [Effects]

Morley / Bad Horsie Wah

Ibanez / Jemini Distortion

DigiTech / Whammy DT

Fractal Axe FX Ⅲ

MXR / Phase 90

BOSS / BF-3

BOSS / TU-3

Summary | Steve Vai's favorite equipment

Looking back at the equipment Steve Vai uses, you can see the uncompromising selection and ingenuity in every guitar, amp, and effect.

As exemplified by the Ibanez JEM/PIA series, he has been personally involved in the development of equipment and has brought innovative products to the world.

The impact that his signature model has had on the music industry is immeasurable, including the popularization of the seven-string guitar and the establishment of the modern superstrat.

Furthermore, his dedication to using equipment bearing his own name, such as Carvin Legacy amps, for many years shows his deep trust and affection for the equipment.

While his recent live rigs have incorporated the latest systems such as the Synergy module and Fractal Axe-Fx III, his underlying philosophy of sound creation has remained consistent, and he selects only the equipment necessary to realize the sound he wants to express.

The key to Vai's choice of equipment is whether it can bring his imagination to life.

Rather than going for fancy looks or specs, we focused on what makes sense in terms of actual sound and performance.

That's why guitars with such unusual ideas as the Hydra can be born, while at the same time the basic 6-string JEM can be used for decades, allowing guitarists to move between these two extremes.

Steve Vai's insatiable curiosity and respect for equipment has allowed him to remain the object of admiration for guitar kids throughout his life, and his sound will never fade.

There is no doubt that fans will be keeping a close eye on him to see what new equipment he will acquire and what kind of sound world he will create in the future.