Ibanez Steve Vai Signature Guitars Overview

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Shop Ibanez Steve Vai Signature guitars at Sweetwater 👉 www.sweetwater.com/store/sear...
Mitch Gallagher sits down with legendary guitarist Steve Vai for an inside look at his signature line of Ibanez guitars.
#Sweetwater #Ibanez
The Zoom F8N Multitrack Field Recorder was used to record the audio in this video, and can be purchased here: www.sweetwater.com/store/deta...

[@russelschultz]

9:05 Mitch: "Let me get that for you." Steve: "Not so fast, Mitch."

[@Nightshade1881]

Russel Schultz hahahahaha he really wanted to hold it

[@tjborekvideo]

LOL

[@commentfreely5443]

'i'm not as versatile as people think i am'

[@derekmc9580]

Man I love Steve vai interviews. He could make a living just talking lol.

[@valik-stu]

tbh also Mitch is great interviewer)

[@Bartockamus]

Exactly why I watched, Vai is so interesting!

[@christianfoster3806]

Steve Vai is the perfect ratio of talent to ego. So much of one, so little of the other. He never says a bad thing about anyone.

[@HarryStoneDotCom]

Steve always comes across as such a nice guy. I love that he never loses his enthusiasm.

[@cjcurcio]

He's a great dude!

[@paulcwyuen]

Sometimes it's more fun listening to Steve talking than his playing I mean it. It's such a no BS interview and a lot of meaningful and sincere thoughts exchanged between the two gentlemen. I really enjoy this interview.

[@jarydstewart1885]

Crazy to think steve is almost 60 years old and still has flawless, effortless flowing technique and such an expressive creative voice on the instrument, one of the greats for sure

[@jarydstewart1885]

@some random guy I disagree but each to there own I guess

[@GammaFZ]

true. Although if you keep playing everyday you don't lose the skills

[@ryanrobert4649]

I could see his heart stop when he said, “DOPE” 10:01

[@BFHPET]

what you mean

[@slipknot73745]

I love how genuine Steve is. All his interviews, too.

[@wannaberabbi9302]

I love how much passion you can see he has for guitars. That expression he had when he was talking about entering guitar stores, it’s like a kid getting candy!

[@PragmaticDany]

Damn, I love Steve. He is a living guitar legend and a great person.

[@jonpresley1163]

The old JEM purple multi-color swirl is still the sickest looking guitar I've ever seen.

[@kipponi]

True rare and collectible. Cost 10000$ and up?

[@BUNKERJR53]

Steve Via can not only play guitar he knows music and instruments inside and out! He is one of the greatest guitarist I have ever heard and I've heard a bunch! He is "Music"!!!!!!

[@christianfoster3806]

Not only that he knows about living life well and manifesting.

[@TobyKBTY]

I’m not even the biggest/most in depth Vai fan (Passion and Warfare is incredible though) but my favorite guitar find so far has been an Ibanez 1990 Greendot Universe and I can’t believe how right Steve and Ibanez got the very first mass produced 7 string. It is an absolute effortless beast to play and sounds like a monster The JEMs are wonderful guitars as well that play like a dream but the Universe models are very special

[@DeathBringer769]

There's a reason Korn picked up those original Vai 7 strings and started the Nu-metal legacy back in the day in the early 90s. Not only was it nearly the only 7 on the market at the time, but they were still badass guitars!

[@pvdguitars2951]

How can you not love Steve! So humble and down to earth. « Your passion is your guide and all the rest is a consequence of that ». I’m gonna use that for sure!

[@liamartinproductions]

Steve Vai is so humble

[@SteveKaynan]

Wow this is great! Sweetwater's interviews lately are amazing!

[@MarcioAugustoGuitarra]

Steve is incredible,the interview demonstrate the great guitar player and a great human people. How don't love Steve?

[@rustydodge6167]

Great interview Mitch! STEVE VAI is my undisputed All time FAVORITE!

[@James-hh1lq]

Doesn't write much albums compared to satriani

[@ludwiglanestudios]

Steve's way and subject matter of speaking is just as good as his technique. Masterful.

[@imoffendedthatyouareoffended]

I’ve been busting my ass to learn guitar and I’m about to buy one of his guitars very shortly here. There’s something so unique about his guitars. I have a double jet g5222 gretsch that sounds incredible as hell, but his guitar is what wer dreams are made of!

[@RockSensation119]

I have an Ibanez RG j-custom, its based on the jem, and it's incredible. I've played so many incredible guitars over the years, but that j custom plays in a way no other guitars do

[@christianfoster3806]

I've got an 87 RG 550, almost the same as a Jem: it has a standard 5 way, and doesnt have the trem rout scooped or the scalloped frets, but otherwise the only differences are cosmetic. It's a dream to play. I can go up a major third with a finger bend with no fret out, and about a minor third on the whammy bar. The action is

[@luroma69]

Steve, you are one of the biggest. and your humility says it all. Steve takes Vito Bratta out of the cave. We need virtuosos like you in this world.

[@geetarguy777]

You know a guitars going to be dope when Steve Vai is at enough of a loss of words to call something “dope” 😂

[@karemare6426]

"It's pretty... dope." Can't believe he actually said that, lol :D :D :D

[@NITE_SHIFTING]

Word.

[@krommetal]

yep, he was alluding to the Hydra :)

[@legoharry100]

I bought a used JEM77 on a whim and it’s my favorite guitar I own.

[@rapidreflex5525]

Always been a Jem fan. Spent years dreaming of owning one and now have 3 of them hanging on my wall, including the mirror finish 77BRMR. Only problem is deciding which one to play. But that’s a good problem to have. For those who love that light fast feel to your strat style guitars then definitely check them out.

[@tel5690]

We love Mr Vai.....Such a inspiring artist.🙏🙏

[@Hydrophish]

Love hearing him talk about the Hydra guitar being built

[@Sfbaytech]

I just can’t wait for the next record! :)

[@jasonstone8587]

Personally I do think Steve Vai is the best Guitar Player /Composer and Performer in the World today . He's taking it all to another level with instrumental music and designing a great Guitar for dynamic player.

[@jasonstone8587]

@Stephen Docherty Doinker

[@XaviorvorteX]

So fluid.... true master! Great guitars!

[@AndresYepez]

Sweetwater is one of the best retailers not only in the music business, but in all United States... Talk about caring 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@FiggisAgency]

AVOID SWEETWATER ^^^^^^^^ Im still in contact trying to get a playable JP Majesty.

[@FiggisAgency]

Will comeback to update. The process has been 3 months and on going.

[@Jaqen-HGhar]

Sweetwater in the US and Andertons in the U.K. for sure...

[@Silkaz7]

Add a sustainer to commercial jems please!

[@siewierap]

not every sustainer work so well, with every guitar, thats why...

[@stefanpalicki3538]

@@siewierap tell that to Schecter

[@russianconservative]

Idk, I really like evolution neck. Maybe there should be two separate versions

[@808zhu]

I love this guy. Met him in St. Louis. Got to lean on the stage the entire show 5 feet away from him while he played all my favorites. Had a JEM 10th for awhile - it was too damn nice to play, so I sold it. Still playing Ibanez (right now, in fact); have two RGEW521s - ZC & FM. My favorite guitars so far. Been playing almost 25 years. Damn!

[@i_live_pain8420]

Nice story bro, big Vai fan here as well. I saw him here in Atlanta back in 2012, and he did a half electric set for The Story of Light album, and half acoustic set. Venue was super small, general admission, we were right there in front, man. Magical night for sure, but nothing tops when we saw him in 2016 for the 25th of Passion. My brother and I and a friend bought silver body paint and painted our arms, necks, and entire faces just like the album I'm sure you know. He opened up with Bad Horsie that night, and it was fucking awesome! We got called out and he made a joke. We were the coolest mauhfuckas in there bro! Cheers!

[@aphelien5858]

Steve Vai is such an inspiration 😍

[@machidaman]

Got a ton of guitars but my 2 15 year old Jem 7V is still the go to. It is simply epic and the wizard neck is hands down the bet neck I've ever played. Only thing I dont like is the position of the selector switch, but that is an issue on most strat style guitars in fairness.

[@observinghumanity3034]

Can’t wait to see what Steve and Ibanez come out with NAMM 2020!!! Time to start saving up.

[@screamndemon6094]

Observing Humanity like 5k lol

[@rollipollirock]

If Joe Satriani and Synyster Gates can have their signature guitars come stock with a sustainer?... I’m sure Steve can work something out with Ibanez...

[@olafvanrijnsbergen1177]

Steve doesn't want that. So yes he can. But no he won't

[@abdelrahmankhaled8239]

@@olafvanrijnsbergen1177 why tho? My dream guitar is pretty much a white jem with a sustainiac

[@dantesaliba8533]

Abdo Khaled you can get one fitted if you want

[@bagaswahyuillahi6009]

IDK Maybe Because Steve Using Fernandes Sustainer While JS & Syn Was Sustaniac.

[@storm-sf5rj]

i have always been a Strat Guy but have just bought a Left Handed JEM jr Love it and Steve Vai

[@davidbloom2373]

Beautiful guitar

[@rickyjones7282]

Now the Ibanez Jem is a classic in its own right!!!

[@mickmiddss5613]

The Master both Steve and Ibanez those jem guitars are special hey Steve any chance of a crossroads sequel.

[@lstarrtna4288]

He's like a nice jazz musician these days lovely really.

[@NITE_SHIFTING]

Awesome guy. Awesome player. Awesome guitar.

[@ksw9722]

I think it might be more fun for me hearing him talk about guitars and his passion for music than listening to the music it's self

[@kearonandrewobrien7460]

It's amazing how the tremolo works on the Jem, Thanks for the Laugh.. Thanks Steve Via Thanks for the information 💜 I wish I could afford a real Jem Every Guitar is different Sweetwater what a beautiful name. Many Thanks

[@jonduke3919]

It’s nice to be a product of the 70s and 80s because I got to grow up watching the grates get grater.🤘🎸🎼🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@Orschd]

I'm glad got an UV7 Jem in 2018, before it became "Prestige". I truely would miss the last four scalloped Frets.

[@johnmoser2689]

I always loved the all flames guitar

[@ducamuk]

I love listening toThe Master Jedi Vai. 🙏

[@SDH2023]

Got mine. Love it.

[@cjcurcio]

Steve is such a nice person!

[@flybynight1929]

Steve's are heavily modded, with the sustainer pickup, the sleeved trem arm, and those knob style tuners for starters. It always amazed me that he has a thousand ot these guitars (est.) and only actually plays a handful.

[@JoeHeisler]

The ultralite trem arm is actually included in the Japanese model

[@kylegushue]

Mitch has become a master interviewer

[@santoshlimnuhanglimbu2206]

Wow!! Steve vai signature ibenaz 🎸 guitar.this guitar is a historical and forever

[@SSN70]

Still and always the of the best !

[@PetraKann]

Down to earth musician....

[@vladzubac5360]

for the price...you should be able to have the option to Add or exchange the neck pickup for a Sustainer...especially now with the PIA model

[@BillDerBerg]

Onboard FET preamp is what he's referring to about the Performance Strat. I wish he would market an FET preamp

[@Skwirl719]

Ibanez Jem and Universe guitars are my favorite guitars in the world. I've been using them for a long time. Although they've been popular and iconic, they are very underappreciated guitars.

[@ericcrittenden2166]

great interviewer.....nicely done.

[@agungwayne3090]

Amazing

[@NotBCT]

Has a floral JEM in the background, doesn't even bring it out once.

[@BFHPET]

is this an speciel guitar?=

[@snowman9362]

He can really feel the Sa ra ga ma pa....

[@BillDerBerg]

Recessed bridges like the Edge/Floyd Rose are a deal killer for me. I hate the sunken feel of it... I want my Floyd to be set high up over the top of the body and blocked for downward pressure only.

[@cali_swaki204]

What's the name of the opening song I'm a huge Vai fan and can't find the song I hear him play this on a lot of his I interviews

[@truescotsman4103]

its dope

[@Metlupass2]

Look up the cool story told by Tom Anderson how he built a guitar for Steve during that time he mentioned.

[@mjoforiam]

THE ENDING...... wow.

[@chuwy2k]

I’m wondering if Mr. Vai grab a JEM Jr in a emergency case? 🤘😎🤘 keep on rocking legend.

[@rollipollirock]

0:58 Steve is SOOO done haha good sport.

[@edwincrain986]

Remember the guitar handbook...Just wondering if anyone read that.I did. Steve takes it far beyond that.

[@SKARKIBANEZ]

IBANEZ is the BEST guitars EVER (to me) Sweet soft heavy crunchy ALL OF"EM ;)

[@siegmac3267]

Agree! I like PRS now but ibanez is my first love guitar.

[@SKARKIBANEZ]

@@siegmac3267 I have A GRG 🎸🇬🇷🇬🇷

[@siegmac3267]

@@SKARKIBANEZ i have RG 7620 and still a killer guitar though its 90s made.

[@fernandes5986]

I agree I have many guitars but my RGs are the best. They're incredibly versatile, they can mimic any other axe....except a tele.

[@TheNormanduartetolle]

Hello comrade.

[@GhostWarmth]

Please make the designs available!

[@garrettsanford1493]

Anybody find a remake of the jem with sustainers

[@laurifinlandia]

steve really loves that shirt.

[@kapteinrdskjegg5285]

Steve , Hell yeah

[@guitardave]

I wonder what the new Jem will be next year? A single coils model? Or just another new aesthetic?

[@Nightshade1881]

The Home Guitarist it’s actually gonna be a bit more strat like and your correct about the single coils :)

[@mattdag69]

Wait steve grew hair again?

[@donnythei]

Yep for 2 years now actually

[@mattdag69]

@@donnythei awsome he looks better with long hair. Short hair doesn't suit him

[@thuugzsheewnk9091]

Zack and yngwie donated some of their hair for bald vai

[@BillDerBerg]

RG stands for Roadstar Guitar that name preceded the Jem

[@Vodatrio]

Seeing Steve Vai with long hair I though the clip was done 20.years ago or so, he hasn't changed a bit, did he really fail at that guitar battle in Crossroads :D?

[@spectorgaming6997]

Yo said I can grab it if you want and Steve was like get your greasy fingers away from my baby 😂😂

[@saddad6601]

HI, this is Julian Assange for Sweetwater!

[@kennhern]

Steve always leaves out the story of his "Green Meanie" guitar. It was the guitar where he tried the cutaway thing and "Lion Claw" that he has on the JEM. Sadly, it "died" before their show in Madison Square Garden, and was decommissioned from his rig. Also, it was not the JEM that we know was given to Steve, it was a 24 fret guitar with a deep bottom horn cutaway with snakeskin finish. He liked that someone listened to his idea and went on to develop what we know as the JEM. Details of it were in a documentary on KZbin called "Story of the JEM", I don't know why Steve doesn't mention that.

[@MrWolf5150]

He also forgets to mention that Tom Anderson did a lot of work on his guitars and was involved in the design of the Jem.

[@kennhern]

@@MrWolf5150 Yeah, he kind of goes with a press release kind of story, the one where he makes it look like it was only him and Ibanez and nothing else. But there's more events that happened that led to the JEM. He used a modded Strat with humbuckers in Alcatrazz when he replaced Yngwie. He used the Green Meanie Charvel with David Lee Roth's band and some tracks on Flexabe.

[@markusantonio4866]

@@MrWolf5150 Did he build the heart guitar?

[@stevemineer2857]

The guitar he used in Alcatraz is the Green Meanie. It was originally a cherry sunburst Charvel that he borrowed from Grover Jackson and never gave back.

[@kennhern]

@@stevemineer2857 Thanks for the correction. But still, why does Steve leave that part out?

[@Diogofm01]

This is Fuzz?

[@abbasgapuri]

It's a guitar I can pick and "be Steve Vai" 😂😂😂😂😂😂 11:40

[@robg8784]

Just Love My Jem!

[@TiteTrax]

I always hate these interviews because as a musician, I REALLY just want to hear a legend like Steve Vai do what he became a legend at. Of course it's nice to hear them articulate their views on various things even unrelated to music, but they USUALLY don't play enough for me and I end up feeling frustrated. Once, I was caught in a really bad traffic jam due to a multi-vehicle pileup when I was on my way to a Guitar Center showcase with George Benson. I arrived right when George literally played his LAST chord. That's how these interviews make me feel.

[@doublelifeatributetothecar2185]

Really? There are LOTS of videos of Steve playing live and in gear demos. If that's what you want to hear, go find them. Complaining that an interview is mostly talking instead of playing is like complaining that you didn't find enough apples in an orange grove.

[@dumpygoodness4086]

COUNT ME among those who really hate Vai's TONE (the generic distortion tone)..... but when he plays the NECK pickup here... OH YEAH! MORE OF THAT, DUDE!!!!

[@leetattoo1976]

A full neck scalloped 7v would be a great addition to the Jem series!!

[@ConstantineRiffItUp]

Too bad they didn't talk about that jem with the maple neck that's on the background.

[@Zebula77]

Yeah, so damn beautiful. :D

[@RivaldoRamli]

@@tonedef2380 I have it and it's amazing, many people underestimate the premium series

[@5urg3x]

3:40 -- Notice the finish crack in the neck pocket. Good 'ol Ibanez! LoL

[@The_Lord_Of_Confusion]

how this guy composed for piano is a mystery to me.. I mean - there ´s no floyd on a piano.. xD

[@1976oswald]

korg has a very interesting tremolo.... that goes in 4 directions

[@fernandes5986]

Maybe he shakes the piano : )

[@paulcwyuen]

Maybe add a whammy bar (pedal) at the bottom. It's technically doable but of course only a weirdo would buy it.

[@umangwav]

Prolly did it on a keytar, like Jordan Rudess. xD

[@vintagev8muscle721]

The Lord Of Confusion Keyboards (not regular pianos) have had a wiggle stick option since the 80’s. I’m not sure about the 70’s. I have a full size 88 key keyboard with one. Very fun to use.

[@Black_Jesus3005]

So Steve Vai is responsible for the RG body? Never knew that. Love the RG

[@Skwirl719]

Sort of. The RG as we know it today was introduced the same year as the Jem was. It had the same overall body shape and funtional features, but without the Jem-specific accoutrements and DiMarzio pickups. The RG models continued to evolve from there.

[@DerpDart]

Didn't Seymour Duncan put replacement pickups in Hendrix strat in 68? Steve's the man!

[@kennhern]

He did, but Dimarzio was a mass market product since their introduction of the Super Distortion. Seymour Duncan was more of a custom shop back then.

[@DerpDart]

He just said DiMarzio was the first. I'm sure Steve has custom wound DiMarzios also. He'd laugh at you if you handed him a mass produced package of DiMarzios.

[@kennhern]

@@DerpDart He'd laugh at you too, because the original JEM had the PAF Pro and Tone Zone, both mass market pickups.

[@hesch-tag]

Hendrick?

[@Sanjarih]

What a God

[@draper858]

Steve / ibanez listen...... if ya want to sell some more jems, make one that is 6 string but has the looks and features of his black jem 777 with the mirtor pickguard and pyramid logo, and a reissue the florescent green with the pyramid inlays.... they will fly off the racks! You heard it here... ;)

[@kipponi]

In the beginning I liked he missed one note. So he is not Alien ha ha. Now I have dilemma Jem or JS. I have played both and I like JS sound more but Jem ergonomy is better for me. Arrgghh. I want JS/JEM. Or Ihave to buy both...Jem is what Ibanez has sold most? Signature guitars?

[@fredericadda]

"You will see at NAMM 2020". And then Corona stroke. Also funny that he's already referring to Hydra.

[@truckercowboyed2638]

Its hard to tell if he missed a note or not because he makes even sounding mistakes sound pleasing.

[@joshuakulwant6269]

I love Vai, the reason i pushed myself to learn to play. But as time went by i have a bone to pick. His signature guitars are not an honest representation to the fans who buy them. He uses sustainers, backstops, madhatter system that are not in the sale models. This is a crappy thing to do. Unlike Satriani, Timmons & etc that sell the same stuff that they actually use. And before i get any backlash, i do own 3 jems so dont be quick to judge or give a comment like you can mod those to the jem that we purchase.

[@Liyingbemo]

🤝