Steve Vai's Guitar Rig for Metropole Orchestra Show 2023

Steve Vai's tech Doug MacArthur shows off Steve's rig for his 2023 shows with the Metropole Orchestra!
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#vai #stevevai #rigrundown

[@DesertDweller1]

My Steve Vai story: In 1999-2000, while I was in high school, my older brother found a CD on the ground in a supermarket parking lot. It was The Ultra Zone by Steve Vai. He said he listened to it, but it wasn't his thing, so he gave me the CD. That CD lead me on a course of discovery from Vai's time with Alcatraz, to DLR, and Whitesnake. Almost 20 years later, in 2018, I got to share the stage with Vai in a 4 person jam that included Larry Mitchell at the Jam-a-thon in Hollywood. This was pre-covid, so I even got to hang out backstage. It was surreal. -Peace, Love, and good happiness stuff.

[@Twobarpsi]

Cool story 🤘

[@robb4340]

Beautiful Story and Experience.

[@DesertDweller1]

@@robb4340 Thank you.

[@HarlanHarvey76]

Ok... this guy has been around Steve so much that his voice timbre and cadence have morphed into an image of Steve himself😮. I swear the first 30 seconds could have convinced me I was listening to Steve...

[@docdaytona108]

I was about to post effectively this exact same reply! It really is remarkable!

[@carstenaltena]

I thought "oh fun, the guitar tech is his son or nephew" or something.

[@andycummings-music]

You think that's something? You should hear Doug play 🔥

[@larsheuker]

Its a weird phenomenon, but this is how accents, language and culture develops

[@docdaytona108]

@@larsheuker No question. Still, it’s kind of amusing seeing such an immediate, blatant example including two unrelated people. It almost comes across as a perpetual impression!

[@user-go1iq3jg3s]

I will tell a little about my experience yesterday at the metropolitan theater...Absolutely everything was amazing, every song was unreal, truly amazing. After the concert I went with my best friend to the back exit of the Metropolitan Theater hoping to see him one last time after for the love of god...however Steve had a very nice surprise for us...even after the show, his incredible tour and even after giving his all on stage He stopped the transport and went down to greet us, hug us and sign shirts, guitars, guitar back covers (my case... and he also kept my bookmark hahaha incredible)❤ ...beyond the figure he projects as an artist, he is a loving person, very humble and wise...that is what has made him go so far accompanied by his incredible talent and virtuosity...That's Steve vai... Thank you very much teacher *we'll see you in Berklee*

[@RichardGarcia93]

When you’re around Steve so much that you even start to speak and have mannerisms very similar to him. Love it.

[@andycummings-music]

Nobody will believe Doug talked like that long before he met Steve 😅

[@walterevans2118]

@@andycummings-music Where I come from in the UK with 6 years of English Private Schooling EVERYBODY talks the SAME. Like some idealised character called ‘LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY BUSTARD BRAT’ where everyone sounds soo ‘FRAFFLY WELL SPAKEN’ and sounds like they were born with a silver spoon in their mouth (or with the boarders up their ass)

[@walterevans2118]

You just cannot IMAGINE how much I hated the English Private School system in the 1970s.

[@zekejeager2451]

Bro, even the way he walks and his hands move while doing and walking something. Damn.

[@RichardGarcia93]

@@walterevans2118 do tell?

[@BenJeva]

He looks like Steve and even has some of his mannerisms. You can tell they spend a lot of time together.

[@andycummings-music]

You should hear him play! He sounds like a cross between Steve Vai and Jeff Beck.

[@frankierodriguez8661]

This young tech is a great addition to the team. Well done Steve, young blood as you were with Frank back in the day !

[@Jmilillo]

This is gold. Thank you for sharing this with us, Steve!

[@rpproductions4445]

So cool! I absolutely love rig rundowns like this

[@danielluna1818]

Doug is such a nice person ! He gave me Steve’s set list from the Vegas House of Blues show in September! Didn’t get the set list from next night in Phoenix, but I tried . We hung out and waited for Steve cuz he told us Steve would come out and say hello before they left . Nice person for the tip and list .

[@Boldaslove71]

Maybe it's me but Doug almost sounds like Steve when he speaks.

[@DesertDweller1]

Yes, you're not crazy, his mannerisms are similar too.

[@patoapu]

I saw him live here in Argentina.. he walks just like Steve too! 😅

[@millerbeer8743]

Hey Guys, Doug here... Is this the love child he has with Schwarzenegger? 😮

[@andycummings-music]

​@@millerbeer8743 < not Doug.

[@dougmacarthur]

You guys are cracking me up! 😂

[@SeanCrowleyMusic]

Awesome, love what you guys do!

[@KSaw777]

Awesome!! I can't wait to see you guys again in July!! \m/

[@raymond2795]

Cheers, excellent video!

[@francesco_generali_composer]

I love that Steve Vai always surrounds himself with young guys and always uses new technologies and how he helps all those people introduce themselves into the music business.

[@walterevans2118]

Did you mean with his FAVOURED NATIONS label ? …yes, that’s how I discovered Mattias Eklundh,,,Greg Koch and Andy Timmons.

[@walterevans2118]

Yes it’s nice to have a musician friendly label….Yes.

[@jassguitarvideo]

​@@walterevans2118 me too, first i Discover Devin Townsend, wich change My life entirely, and then, other great musicians, like Zappa, Mike Keneally, Billy sheehan, Mattias Ia Eklundh, gregg bissonette,...

[@walterevans2118]

@@jassguitarvideo yes. I discovered Devin through the Sex and Religion album…When I heard his VOICE on that 1993 recording I literally could not BELIEVE what I was hearing.

[@walterevans2118]

@@jassguitarvideo Mike Keneally I first saw LIVE at the G3 concerts in 1996 switching from keyboards to guitar and choral sitar. I was totally blown away by his live contributions to the Attitude Song….Billy went right back to DLR in 1986 although I was aware of his writing in GP Magazine in 1985 and supporting VH in Talas in the early 1980s. Greg was mid 1980s too. Mattias’ FREAK GUITAR albums were just BONKERS good. As is his stuff with Freak Kitchen.

[@stanpacault93360]

Yeah 🤟 awesome rig !

[@Pat54guitares_Uku]

Oh I won’t miss to watch it ! 😍

[@oneboyband6554]

What a legend. One of the reasons i started playing guitar🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻🤟🏻

[@babybluesky9238]

I think it's amazing that Steve is playing with these guys again

[@EricJMyrick]

Go Steve!

[@Zerback]

I don't t think there is a more beautiful guitar that a jem floral pattern blue

[@Guitar-Ed]

That has to sound amazing!

[@driftstickrollinfs4117]

amazing bro ! 👍

Nice!!! ❤

[@atomnater]

Dante: look at my cool multi effect pedal!!! Doug: OUR multi effect unit ;)

[@manongdimboi]

the one and only!!

[@isaaccaravaca6467]

Yeaaa Steve

[@mrtnsnp]

The rig may be simplified, the concert was absolutely fantastic. Wonderful experience.

[@Pat54guitares_Uku]

Impressing ! I think the sound engineers and all the technical musical staff are as talented as the musicians because they do much about the show for the sounds, the technics to perform well, the instruments, the lights, and so on... Added of being musicians too.

[@gUstavoaNDrees]

Tech de steve vai !! Tech del mejor guitarrista de la historia de la.musica ❤🎉

[@jlgomezmarquezmusic]

Master 🤘🏻🎸 Steve Vai 🤘🏻🎸 🇻🇪

[@geezberry8889]

3:29 i know steve doesnt like noise gates but the FM3 has a really good one that would eliminate that hiss and not choke off notes.

[@ronnieparfait]

Doug has Steve’s mannerisms and demeanor, it’s kinda freaky. 🤘🏼✌🏼

[@nickcabrera3982]

So much gear... couldn't find a lav mic. ;) Great video!

[@gadymarcus2362]

Magnifico.💰💰💰💰💰💰

[@steveweilhart2359]

very cool set up

[@ReVeRbx-fe5wr]

The JEM77-FP2 is one of my absolute favorite JEMS!

[@one8s7n]

The white jem7 ibanez sells is my dream guitar. One of these days I'll save enough to buy one

[@edge3220]

Rigs and setups go way over my head, but it's still fun to hear talked about.

[@uncleremus64]

That's the same green on-off switch (above the volume pedal) that I use on my Christmas tree.

[@user-qr2nu1jn5d]

👏👏👏👏👏

[@randyhetlage9202]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@karineribeiroribeiro7373]

Wow😍So much talent hehehehe👏👏👏👏🌹❤

[@paki26th36]

Cool

[@kimr45]

Awesome video! I've been out of the Vai loop for a minute, did Thomas retire?

[@mladen777]

Super cool video! But what is that SSL audio interface doing on the cab there?

[@jorgemeneses9768]

Esperando mañana Perú.😊

[@Dan27105]

❤Fractal nature of the universe and everything in it 😁💚😇🦄

[@PrimitiveInTheExtreme]

✨🎸✨

[@willpaulosilwa]

Very good

[@andycummings-music]

Fun fact: Doug's all time favorite movie is Cape Fear starring Robert DeNiro, it's his Citizen Kane, his I Ching. Literally, he carries a copy of the script with him. So if you ever run into Doug, lay a Cape Fear quote on him and just watch his reaction ❤

[@andycummings-music]

@@dougmacarthur I learned that trick in prison, ya like?

[@walterevans2118]

That was a creepy remake of the Robert Mitchum one…Some of it made me feel ill.😢

[@WutipongWongsakuldej]

I'm surprised Steve still using the Gemini. When it firstly came out I thought he's gonna use it only for a few gigs.

[@KKplaysit]

RG752AHM Royal Plum Burst in the backgroun there too =)

[@Jordy666sic]

What's the song playing in the background? Sounds amazing!

[@cortarelva]

What are the speakers in those "rented cabinets" and are they going to be used in the show?

[@walterevans2118]

They are MARSHALL 4 x 12s I think cortarelva.

[@Mr.Scary5150]

where is thomas????

[@wireman24]

I see the green Ibanez Ep7 acoustic in the guitar vault. Is Steve using that model again?

[@JeroenN657]

Steve wanted to try it and maybe use it for the Fire Garden suite, but he opted eventually not to.

[@paulbucci4126]

Doug, What are all those Blue Guitar Picks on top of the speaker cabinet ??

[@dougmacarthur]

We played around a little recently with going back to a lighter gauge pick, so I grabbed some of the 1.0mm tortex, for Steve to play with. At the moment though, we’re using a cross between his normal 1.5mm touring picks, and a custom Dunlop 1.14mm pick. Hope that helps, thanks

[@philnicol8072]

Anything with a fixed bridge ? ( Highly unlikely ) 😁 *Steve has total control over the electric guitar* He can make the instrument do anything! 🎸 👍

[@jeremythornton433]

This makes me wonder why anybody needs a huge rig live.

[@celiomanzanete9474]

S E N S A C I O N A L

[@yoyoyuyu234476]

What's with the green guitar?

[@firewalker6712]

How is Steve going to play in that little space? He likes to move around a lot when performing.

[@gunturpahlawan]

i think that's some important leaks 👌

[@tonyfernandez9188]

Awesome. I’m starting to really believe he’s not feeling the PIA’s. He rarely uses them live.

[@billzakill1257]

This was a small performance and o think he just prefers to play guitars he’s sentimental with like the bad horsie, Flo 3 and evo

[@ElZorrotruck]

Thomas is still around, right?

[@TWDub]

Yes. He's still around. He likely wasn't available for this occasion/interview, as he does other things besides working with Steve.

[@Jmilillo]

I believe Steve just has two guitar techs now

[@Liam20067]

Retired I thought

[@JeroenN657]

Thomas doesn't tour with Steve anymore, that's now being taking care of by Doug, who was guided into this work by Thomas.

[@chriscarol4965]

I was also wondering…. Last year he has been on tour with Steve, but this year it seems Doug took over?

[@gab.lab.martins]

I’m really surprised Steve isn’t using the Morley wah anymore.

[@kipponi]

The fan also plays an important role for the hair 😂😎.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

The Rented Cabinets cried when he said they're not important. Lol

[@bsjeffrey]

he sure uses a lot of music stands.

[@readygo6509]

Hi steve

[@markbirchette8740]

What gauge strings?

[@dougmacarthur]

9-42 on Evo/Flo, thanks

[@quentinjorstad6211]

Lately, I noticed with Steve Vai’s set up he is using the fractal axe three with the FM9 which is weird to me because aren’t they both technically the same unit ? Is he just using the FM9 as a foot controller for the Fractal axe 3? Not sure what’s going on there.

[@JeroenN657]

It's an FC-12, not FM9.

[@quentinjorstad6211]

But I don’t see an FC-12 in this video

[@JeroenN657]

@@quentinjorstad6211 Sorry - thought you meant his regular touring rig. This is an FM 6 with an FC 6 (not yet in this video, it came the day after we shot this) - the FC6 was used by Doug to switch patches from his guitar Booth. No AxeFX III in this setup.

[@quentinjorstad6211]

Ahhh gotcha good to know! I’m slowly putting together Steve’s rig at home just got Fryette 2/90/2 and Synergy Rack! Just need the Brains (Fractal3). Also planning to do the evo experience backstage and go through a guided tour of his rig.

[@-plexico-]

Ah, would we share FM3 presets if we promise to like, share and support?

[@adreenal]

Yeah, but does it chug! 🧐

[@jhonemilecuriantun8360]

todavia no se que potes ponerle a mi POSITIVE.. !? se los cambie 4 veces.. ahora estoy con unos miniaturas chinos.. y antes tenia di marzio.. pero pierden ganancia.. esta todo soldado no falta nada .. en ( black box) .. pero los potes son malos .. a veces uno les pone marcas grossas.. pero tampoco sirven... te puedo mandar una photo de mi circuito .. !?

[@MuadDib1402]

Look at the state Evo is in! lol

[@cdnpunk2270]

Is there a reason why he now prefers the Lo Pro Edge as opposed to the original?

[@PooNinja]

I use the same push button extension cord!!!!

[@PooNinja]

I’m pretty sure it activates the fan. 🪭

[@walterevans2118]

@@PooNinja ‘poo Ninja’ ? ….Is that ‘everybody was Kung Fu Farting’ ?

[@davenelson8187]

…and I thought hooking up my 5.1 home theater system was a chore 😮

[@kingvkelly2313]

is it just me or is he like a young wise steve vai

[@FrancescoCristian]

What about PIA?

[@bsjeffrey]

i didn't know christian slater was a guitar tech.

[@JohnWiku]

Steve has run every rack effect and pedal in existence, still hasn't discovered noise gates 😂😂😂

[@andylaw4988]

Says he doesnt like them as they choke his tone. Also in a recent tech video, this dude said that all his subtle.nuances are lost of he uses a gate. I kind of agree that the gates are very much a choke

[@TheGgreen100]

There's no way this isn't Steve's son.

[@thembarrai8766]

1.1k 127 views We are in wrong era

[@SubhadeepDas]

Why isn't he using the new Pia guitars?

[@JeroenN657]

He is, on his regular tour. For this gig, he only brought two guitars.

[@edhinoamusoffa4893]

Where's Thomas Nordegg?

[@gtrplyr67]

LOL 4:00 the guitar has a built in handle and he still grabs it by the horn 🤣

[@sethkaicer319]

Steve Vai and I resurrect The evil Dead and make fun of them. 😂😂😎

[@walterevans2118]

I don't understand ?

[@Cristiangioful]

what happened to tomas?

[@JeroenN657]

Thomas has retired from touring with Steve and introduced Doug to the Vai team. Thomas has s done a few short tours with Lindsy Buckingham but I guess his main focus these days is his 'exodus' to Vienna.

[@dengrowsana4444]

Sampurasunn Vaii Idola gueee semoga mualaf

[@slapitman]

"...just some rented cabinets, not that important"....Ok so the stuff the sound comes out of after the amp produces it from the artists hand. Sounds kind of important to me, no?

[@tymanngruter1808]

Steve keep on innovathe, the music was that good, not of this earth!

[@gtrmusic69]

Very low volume in this video

[@Breegr]

He has the Vai mannerisims and phonics down pat. talk about an echo chamber...

[@dougckelly]

I see that you've solved the issue of losing picks... Just have a metric crapload of them on hand... problem solved!

[@damianneve]

Myself and others like me could really use help from legend like you. The system has destroyed my career as well as many others. Since 2000 I've hit every terrible issue the business could provide. Work stolen, socials deleted, cheated every way possible, the works. I was essentially an orphan so they got away with it. It doesn't matter if your a virtuoso in this age it only matters who is protecting you. If you heard my story you would be sick. There has to be thousands like me that need help. It would be great while you're still alive to organize those on your level to stop the abuse of those coming afterward. I got to play your guitar with your blood in it on this single I just released recorded at sound factory in nc, but I can't show anyone because they deleted everything my life again. All I have left is this account for work which is restricted and a soundcloud with film scores and some metal. That was my last push and the system has won. Please save the next generation. 🙏

[@walterevans2118]

1:26 ‘some rented cabinets but they are not very important’ ? 😮😮😢But they are MARSHALL 4 X 12s ….They’ve always been important…Jim Marshall and his products led the way evolving the sound of rock guitar from the 1960s onwards…E.V.H wouldn’t have liked that dismissal. Nor would Yngwie Malmsteen….and why can’t we see the Marshall logos ? I know Steve Vai always preferred other amps like Carvins but this is just silly….Great to see the faithful EVO and FLO after all these years though.

[@JeroenN657]

They were rentals. One without a logo, the other with half a logo. Neither in particular prestine condition....Doesn't look professional on stage, so taped off....

[@walterevans2118]

@@JeroenN657 My Marshall logo fell off one of my 4 X12 cabs once but thankfully I stuck it back with superglue…What was funny was when people like Lemmy from Motörhead would have bits of the logo on the cabs or amps and they would read like comical anagrams…. like ‘M- SHALL’ …..or ‘ ASHA’ …..or my personal favourite - ‘ARSA’ ….lol

[@walterevans2118]

No disrespect to JIM MARSHALL…..He was an innovative GENIUS.

[@NicoMeijer74]

That and also: what speakers? Asking for Glenn Fricker. Speakers matter _big_ time.

[@walterevans2118]

@@NicoMeijer74 Yes of course. I remember Marshall used CELESTION speakers but I remember hearing way back that when a sound man checked out Jimi Hendrix's Marshall cabinets the Celestions had all been changed to JBLs....Glenn Fricker was one of the guys emphasizing speaker quality for TONE ? .....Wasn't there controversy about his views from players though ?

[@istillsuckatguitar]

Awesome. Does he use the Drop side of the Digitech Whammy? Thanks.

[@verbotenco]

Oh no...another classical concert with the Hollander... yawn...