Steve Vai introduces the Ibanez JEM-EVO

Ibanez celebrates 25 years of Steve Vai's signature model JEM with the limited edition JEM-EVO.

[@Vizillar2505]

I love how vai puts his heart into everything he does

[@gameroftheyear1000]

This comment is so underrated because watching so many interviews and clinics of him from the 80s all the way to today(2020), his humble demeanor and overall heart in everything he does has never gone away.

[@floatleafmusic]

Im not a fan of his music but the amount of dedication and heart he puts into what he does is very very admirable

[@joelioes]

You can't end a video like that, Ibanez!! I wanna see more of Thomas's reactions..

[@HaystackGaming01]

To all the people saying "fake worn guitars are trash" and blah blah. Guys, it's a replica/collector's item.

[@palopo-t3v]

HaystackGaming01 It's like getting a replica of some famous guitar player's underwear with skidmarks included.

[@glennyeah]

palonazo yup, its just like that..

[@demifiendrussia]

@@palopo-t3v yeah, I would love to own Vai’s signature underwear

[@palopo-t3v]

@@demifiendrussia You have a problem. It's about music man, not about worshiping a human to stupid level.

[@demifiendrussia]

@@palopo-t3v what’s wrong with a fascination for a guitar idol? I’m sure, that Vai idolised someone growing up. And you seem to have problems with understanding humour:)

[@johnnypatterson77]

I just recently bought my first Ibanez which was an RG550 from the year 2000, and for being 20 years old this guitar blew me way, the sound of those pickups and the beautiful maple neck, the frets are flawless for being 2 decades old, but getting my hands on that super wizard neck it's like nothing I've ever played before so so thin, how could I ever play anything else again. And it also has the easy access neck joint which threw me off when first looking at it cause I had never seen an RG550 made between 98-2002, black with a chrome pick guard absolutely stunning it inspires me every time I pick it up, it's so elegant that I find myself just starring at it from time to time.

[@ralpherl5657]

Steve Vai is right, a guitar speaks for you. It says the things you can't say

[@lucaspires8833]

+Ralphie Leonard Totally true!!

[@CammojoDragon97]

Gilmour has a very similar sentiment as well; no surprise then that they're two of the most soulful, uniquely voiced guitarists to have ever walked to earth

[@swagaronimacaroni9054]

he's right, when i was going to buy my first real guitar i had been trying a jem jr in the store for a month and i loved it, sadly it was sold the day i was going to buy it. i'm selling my ibanez Roadstar II Steve Lukather now, and i know what to buy with the money, i love the Jem series

[@johncartelli]

mine shows me the stuff i cant play

[@oker59]

guitar evolution is fascinating! The great guitarists gave their input from the very beginning . . . all the way back to the delta bluesmen and even further back to renaissance and Arabian Spain guitarists and probably further back! Great vid! Thanks all Steve Vai and 'Ibaniz'.

[@incidentalist]

Want one of these so bad! Need a super strat! Love you Steve!

[@sike2805]

Making guitars is my hobby and I make 5 Jem guitars for now for myself.....This is true art and lot of dedication! Awesome job!!

[@Taldaran]

You could see how touched he was from the moment he first opened the case. Thanks for this video!

[@ricstormwolf]

I freaking love his tone and sound.

[@tonebox8205]

Humble artist ever ... More power to you mr vai... u inspired me a lot cheers...

[@jhphotography6477]

I can personally say, Ibanez Great quality guitars I’ve had my Ibanez rg370fmz for quite some time and I can’t stop playing it dawn till dusk No one does it like Ibanez Great guitars!😊😊

[@kernalsanders6538]

Phenomenal.... Ibanez is really a great company lots of variety, innovation, and quality. They really listen and seem to take pride in their associations with great players like Steve. Very impressive !!!

[@taufikkurrahman5728]

One word..."W.O.W"....thanks Steve....ivo lah gaddang kinni....

[@johnb2122]

today on pawn stars, somebody tries to sell a "genuine" steve vai guitar....

[@spiraldj]

Best I can do is five bucks and a hand job from Chum Lee. I'm taking a huge risk here!!!

[@MercilessOtaku]

@@spiraldj oh shit lmao

[@ricstormwolf]

@@spiraldj That's gross. Accurate. Funny. But gross.

[@ievabrice2587]

Love this guy - down to earth, humble and friendly !!

[@taftmcintosh]

It did, he switched necks later on, even the 7vwh ended up with different fretboard woods. it was the first alder bodied jem as well if i recall correctly.

[@halhamilton4113]

Absolutly awesome job on this repro! Not to mention an awesome guitarist...

[@TheMoonIsTheEnemy]

love how he slaps him away from opening the case at 4:37

[@ChrizRockster]

Hats off to those who put all that work into creating a replica of SV's guitar. They really did go down to what I call "Adam Savage" detail! 8o)

[@pauloamw]

30 year anniversary this year. Congrats, Steve!

[@RolanTHUNDER]

Of course the EVO replicas/clones would be perfect - they're made by the legendary Team J. Craft who makes his JEM as well as the Prestige and J.Custom lines :) They really know what they're doing. Such great craftsmanship

[@rickandersen5608]

Yeah the jem or just what there calked jem very nice playing and sounding guitars by 1 of the best players on the planet Steve vai!

[@godbelow]

"You should get this reaction." Covers up reaction with giant Ibanez logo, and then fades out.

[@anthonyspitery6332]

Check Out these Pickups......TAPE

[@chriskrausesmovie]

Its not a dean guitar...no crime has been committed

[@Soloist1983]

Ibanez should market and produce the backstop, that was such a great invention. That or, come up with a built-in system to block/unblock the Edge. The Edge is literally the best bridge on the planet, for a lot of us, but sometimes we want to be able to go fixed bridge on the same guitar...something to think about Ibanez

[@BillLarkinmusic]

Cheers for this Steve and IbanezOfficial .

[@niocitB]

*I* ❤ *IBANEZ*

[@JHotnuts]

Steves EVO has a black spring cover, the repro uses same as the pick guard material. I am surprised such a detail would be overlooked considering the level of detail that went into everything else. That being said I would love to have one of the EVO signatures to add to my collection. Also, for what its worth SV is a neat guy in person; very willing to talk with fans never had a bit of 'rock star attitude'.

[@davidatherley2873]

Good job , steve, your an amazing man , good job on working with Ibanez, I’m excited to get a gem , the new guitar for the new type of player ..it’s not all about fender or Gibson

[@MissDaniRocks]

Steven is my inspiration to keep playing

[@tgnz24]

I wish ibanez would make that black jem with the pyramid inlays again.

[@leonardokula5742]

I'm from the future and they done it last year actually!

[@stuntboy298]

Steve Vai is my hero!!! When I grow up I want to be just like him!!!!!!!!

[@jasonism123]

Ibanez, simply the best!!

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

Fantastic company... gonna have to disagree with you though! Many many many many many many... GUITAR COMPANIES! Ibanez are fantastic man. I own a couple in my guitar collection. Not as good as Jackson... my favorite guitar company. Not as good as BC Rich guitars, Deans, Washburn. I think I like ESP... (another Japanese guitar company) a little better than Ibanez. I love the body shape. (The whole guitar shape) of Ibanez. I jam on my blacked out Kirk Hammett built tribute RG a lot. It’s probably my 4 or 5th favorite guitar company. Man, i don’t even know. I know Jackson is my favorite. The looks, feel, sounds, everything about Jackson man. Ibanez just have their Jem Steve Vai, and RG that I love. Great company. Only those guitars by them I enjoy though. Keep jamming

[@Stephen_Lafferty]

What an amazing birthday present! Good luck to the 100 people who will get to own one of these EVO clones!

[@RockingAOTSwirled]

Happy birthday dude

[@jackko21]

The coolest guitar ever

[@stevenkoski228]

Vai is by all accounts the greatest living guitarist today. He’s a stratospheric layer above his teacher Satchmo. He simply plays humanly impossible arrangements, that simply dwarf conventional thinking. However the complexity of the late Shawn Lane, is still the best to be revered. Steve has some big hands with long fingers (almost freakish), that enable him to play to the degree that he does. Zappa May have never used drugs to expand his mind, but he inspired Steve to greatness.

[@theogtommygunnxxx8971]

Love the jem’s

[@MrUltraworld]

I saw this guitar up close at a before show meet & greet. The body is cracked down the middle with a metal rod holding it together. It had a Jem Jr neck on it, he said it's had many necks on it.

[@epinedas]

My favorite guitar

[@kayokk-]

Great job, Ibanez! If Stevo is happy then I am too👍

[@rickyraven3734]

I´ve Played both, the original and the replica...they´re so fuckin´ awesome Ibanez you are great! Love Ya!

[@dkyelak]

The Velcro back plate with tissue paper seals the deal lol. Simple but brilliant!

[@lpgoog]

I just wrote them a letter and they are really responsive. Interesting products. I'll be ordering a Mag-lok for my JEM immediately :-)

[@lpgoog]

Thank you. Since that isn't available, I may look into the Super-Vee Mag Lock I've been reading about.

[@AnarchyBand01]

Happy Birthday Steve!!!

[@ArnarFreyrJonsson]

It would have been funny if they had put a piece of tissue into the spring box on the replica.

[@jland12]

yeah, or a tampon

[@sbrave]

Looked like a maxipad to me..haha

[@Chanets]

a used one!

[@miguelcarballal2648]

Let's put proper shit spread tissue in the box!

[@sweetbilly]

It's easy to be a nice guy when everyone loves you...

[@brenangalang8241]

I love Ibanez guitar. And i got one of this.😊

[@JSkateKoolKid]

EVERYONE! Steve Vai's house is in Carle Place, NY! The tree Outside his window in the video is in the same picture of his wiki page saying he lives in carles place

[@pedcie]

can u imagine one day when he's gone, how much the guitar is gonna cost ..but sorry no i cannot imagine him being gone. he's just amazing.one of a kind !

[@billygraham1907]

I wish Ibanez would make a replica of the for the love of God guitar , it would be awesome to have a piece of history from the Steve Vai collection I know I would want one

[@picazzo5150]

Sounds good. It's got a nice open sound.

[@OliverJunior]

Amazing vintage guitar.

[@MCFletchFletch]

Such a nice project! Even as a huge SV fan, I'd probably never buy one, but it's still so interesting!

[@joeylodes]

I own #7 from the original Limited Edition 777 LNG JEMs made … It's STILL a killer guitar … something very special about it Joey Lodes

[@stitcha123]

4:37 oh vai you ego maniac. he was only going to open up the case lol

[@anthonyspitery6332]

In retrospect, if a guitar company marketed my exact guitar in MY image, id be excited and want to open it up myself too.

[@aerahtv0000]

the whole fun is to open it like a treasure chest )

[@sebastianrhoads3810]

I love Steve Vai. In my opinion the music is not "the best". But love his character and the whole package. Very inspiring personallity.

[@nocobratar1]

I want one just like Evo and Flo

[@DennyLynn29]

It is really worn tape. He put it there to prevent the high strings from catching under the pickup during heavy whammy usage.

[@joelioes]

@rogerthehat That's why they put that 'back-stop' on the spring in the back of the body so that if a string broke,it can at least help the bridge stay steady for some time... And those things are not cheap..about $75-100 a piece from what i understand Hope that helps

[@glzhorik7223]

I think that is a great thing what they did, so the people (who can afford it) can feel the joy to play on Steve's guitar....and he doesn't need to borrow it to everyone

[@MarkThomasMusic]

Was at the shop when one came in yesterday. OMG... it's the real deal. Not for the player on a paper route salary tho. BUT.. AMAZING non-the-less

[@billdncn]

Even has the stress fractures in the neck pocket. Love it... Frog tape! Lol

[@stevemaddock5139]

Such a great guy....

[@JacksonGuitarsPlayer03]

Deserves more views

[@TheJohnrob3]

Steve Vai is the Man!!

[@akmetalme]

check out between 1:38 to 1:40. It all comes down to rock n roll in your heart

[@Radekomejko]

yeah i have seen one on sale and they are not cheap !!! about 7000 Euro and its called as a premium class Guitar

[@BaneOfXistence4]

I have seen so many JEM signatures go by and I would eventually like to buy one. But seeing as I'm not freakin' rich I think it's out of the question for now.

[@diggingwithmartin]

I would hope for that price they at least have the ebony fret board like the one I have that he played & signed in Hollywood, I love that guitar!!! I would love to have one of these too but I would want it to have the ebony fret board and gold hardware like most of his other EVO models and my signed model does. Ibanez makes great guitars!!!

[@taylormzalewski]

Steve prefers the rosewood fretboard and all his jems have rosewood, besides any maple necks that used to run. I think they just ran the ebony lines for the japanese cuz they prefer expensive stuff

[@llukeschwarzz]

my local guitar shop has one of these its pretty nice.

[@ZerosystemRider]

happy birthday! and venus transit

[@yungsoo]

I SAW ONE AT A GUITAR SHOP NEAR WHERE I LIVE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@deathscythekim729]

oh my..look at Thomas' reaction!! it's all wow

[@Driftuner]

omg...... Vai had his hands on the Evo serial number 1???? i had the Evo serial number 1 on my hands yesterday!!!! its selling on a store called Session music in Frankfurt close to where i live (germany)!!!!! and it was the number 1!!!!!!! woooow...i feel stupid now for not knowing it when i had the guitr on my hand.....have to go back there...

[@Thelearner1000]

Fender did the same for Yngwie and its selling on the Ibanez side now for Steve. Anything sells!

[@123sambryant]

What an old war horse. I love it!

[@pugilat123456]

"Idiosyncrasie" - steve vai

[@canbluesoul]

happy birthday :-)

[@AlexisAlways1]

Sweet! I get why Steve had Ibanez make the EVO just like his. It's very personal and special. To a guitarist, your guitar is your best friend, girlfriend, mistress, etc. The same is with female guitarists It's your friend, boyfriend, lover, girlfriend, etc. I understand that he wanted to share with the world all the cracks, scratches, lines, wear and tear, etc., which to a guitarist is oxygen not ego per se. Sure, If your a professional guitarist you have to have ego or the other professional guitarists will eat them for a snack or a meal. Personally, I still like the JEM. I have a question that's off topic, Does any fan of Steve Vai's have the official music video for "The Audience is Listening?" I did a search here on KZbin, but I can't find it. Thanks.

[@guitarplayer4422]

"Because I can" in the words of Steve Vai.

[@wsdasda]

Thanks that help i did lower down middle pick up

[@RastaSaiyaman]

When Ibanez send Vai the very first prototype of the Jem (Lime green, pink pickups and a maple neck with "disappearing pyramid" inlays) the first thing Vai did was take a screwdriver and took it apart completely. He did that to check if they indeed used top grade components: the guitar better be top class if he were to put his name on it.

[@Masterskipworth16]

velcro? how about some sort of magnet or pickup or something that could be flipped on/off and will modify the body tone? that would be cool

[@bamahi7142]

The dude must have felt like crawling under a rock not even knowing he was just about to steal Steve's moment.

[@trainspotted11]

You create your own story starting with a new guitar as your starting point. It's like painting a picture. A brand new guitar is your blank canvas and after years of playing it tells your musical story. Even the real EVO started out as a brand new guitar, now look at her.

[@Fyre904]

I get the status of the guitar as made famous by Vai. However, if I wanted that sound I would do it in a brand new version. That way it will tell my story over time in its dents and such...

[@fanqueen]

I love you steve!!!

[@93fishi]

I want one.

[@grimoire1879]

great job ! ! !

[@Cobfan990]

You know what I would really love to do? Get one, strip it down of all it's superficial features, and recover over the paint/cracks etc. That would be a really sweet guitar.

[@amandalively1]

He looks good

[@MrUltraworld]

Evo had a Ebony fret board. It;s has had a dozen different necks attached to it. Evo's body is cracked pretty bad. A steel bolt runs through the body to keep it from falling apart. I also notice that the gold hardware is gone as well. You know it's going to cost $15k.I'd rather look for a early model with the Ebony board for a lot less money,

[@keitha7767]

Legend

[@TotalEvo7]

That solo is from "Tender Surrender"

[@frusch88]

if a movie is made about steve's life, robert sean must play as him.

[@evaculautarii]

DA!!!!buni!!!!foarte buni!!!cei mai buni!!!!

[@tb21666]

Preloaded maybe, I bought my first one in high school around '91 or '92 to install in my old RG540PII which didn't come with one! 8-(