The Hydra: presented by Steve Vai and Ibanez

Artist: Steve Vai
Guitar: Ibanez “The Hydra”
“Teeth Of The Hydra” by Steve Vai
from the album “Inviolate” (Mascot/Favored Nations)
stevevai.komi.io
“The Hydra”
Executive Creative Director: Michael Mesker
Executive Producer: Patti Emery
yu+co:
Director/Creative Director: Garson Yu
SVP/Executive Producer: Carol Wong
Producer: Nicholas DeSantis
Editor: Sam Schlenker
Technical Director: Gregory Jones
Director of Photography: Wojciech Kielar
Design/Animation: Ali Sánchez
Design/Animation: Josh Smiertka
Asset Media Manager: Latoria Ortiz
The Hydra built by Ibanez:
Original concept by Steve Vai
Original design and first renderings by Mr. Moti Kashiuchi
Built by Mr. Kazuya Kuroki
Electrical engineering by Mr. Hirotada Nomura
Artist Relations: Mike Orrigo
#SteveVai #Ibanez #Hydra

[@JA-io8nx]

Very simplistic design, good to see him going back to the basics both musically and with equipment. 👍🏼

[@Anrheiner111]

🤣🤣🤣

[@user-cd5im5dd4z]

God that thing is ugly

[@machinebeard1639]

I'm not sure what the word, sarcasm means. Could someone help me out, please.

[@Vincemachado]

Hahahahaha

[@levis569]

For real

[@phootaphan9166]

Steve wanted to try the whole headless thing, but when they took the head off, his guitar grew two other guitars and a harp in its place.

[@thesunreport]

haha well done 😄

[@kylemorice4870]

Hence the name from the 12 labors of Hercules. Very good reference.

[@Casey3-P-O]

Lol truly funny. Nice one. Lol

[@Mark-db1ok]

FINALLY someone comes up with a guitar that's great for the studio, yet practical enough for the practice room, and portable enough to throw in the gig van and travel with!

[@grantlad5904]

@simonsquest wait you can but this?

[@CarlosSaulRodriguezA]

i wonder how much did they pay you xD

[@ghophuckurselves3562]

get a grip bro its buy the guitar or the gig van, no actual musician can afford BOTH.

[@josephmann6675]

Think more along the lines of - Mjollnir took the form of a guitar. It’s not meant for mortal hands.

[@pattyoneill91]

Bro. WHAT?

[@wurthit1239]

You just know the guitar is going to be badass with a button labelled “dragonizer”🤘

[@nicholascrow8133]

Don't forget the climax regulator!

[@hadeseye2297]

@@nicholascrow8133 That's when you play for women. ;)

[@andyharman3022]

It was the climax regulator I was most interest in. Must be better than thinking about baseball.

[@thomasgrabowski2202]

Bringing back the dragonnnnn 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[@pro3gamer685]

;)

[@JbfMusicGuitar]

He always find a way to become even more 'Vai' than before. Brilliant.

[@lexandrosphynx1049]

*VAI INTENSIFIES*

[@madarifin2892]

Right

[@sevensins3584]

Nothing gets in his vai

[@pfzt]

Always loved his guitars but this is truly the most Vai thing ever (harp?wtf?), seems like "it" has reached its final form.

[@JbfMusicGuitar]

@@pfzt I keep thinking he's reached final his final form then... well he does stuff like this!

[@mikep1530]

You very rarely see an instrument with a vintage three cathode-tube climax regulator AND an ethernet port. Bloody legend, Steve.

[@robertf6409]

What would the tubes be doing?

[@dankkgamerzz3223]

@@robertf6409 got a chance to see this guitar in person and Steve told me they’re just for show but what an amazing instrument

[@MetalMcfly]

@@TMJ0677 I just heard someone mention The Flux Capacitor. If only somehow I could get back to 1985.

[@David.C.Velasquez]

@@robertf6409 My best guess is, they are being used as a cascaded buffer, in the active preamp circuit. I use a similar configuration in a digital amplifier build, just to "warm" a typically sterile signal path... but yeah, just a guess.

[@kevjp2424]

You very rarely see a fucking harp on a guitar😂

[@Jose-fm2zy]

1:15 Vai´s playing style is so sexy that his guitar needs a climax regulator.

[@thereverendofrock1863]

Only Vai could get away with something like this...... so awesome.

[@harounel-poussah6936]

Have you seen Metheny's "Picasso" [???] guitar [???]

[@SpedSpedding]

This is absolutely amazing. 🔥🤣 “Climax Regulator” one for Vai, one for the front row.

[@asdasdsa1998]

in russian "climax" (климакс) means "menopause"

[@eriktempelman2097]

If you have even seen Vai during a solo, then you know his climax cannot be regulated through mortal means :-)

[@bluespectralmonkey]

that’s the best part !!

[@thomasgrabowski2202]

rofl lolololol

[@RabeaMassaad]

That is completely and utterly insane and I can only image how much fun it would be to make Music with…. My god! Incredible work 🙌

[@johnmoser2689]

I'm not sure if I'm excited to try or frightened🤣

[@shawndouglass2939]

Well, if anybody else has the talent to play that beast, it's you Rabea😉

[@claudioconigliaro3302]

does it make cofee???

[@johnmoser2689]

@@claudioconigliaro3302 whoa there only expresso

[@bvyup2112]

imagine tuning it

[@alexandrehuat773]

Why make it complicated when you can make it simple? Because you're Steve Vai. Complicated is beautiful.

[@Dakota-cz5od]

This feels like an iconic piece of guitar and stringed instrument history. Looks like it's some ancient relic that came from another planet and simultaneously from the distant future. Absolutely nuts.

[@honigdachs.]

The design is hilarious and awesome. It looks like some piece of high tech built in a cyberpunk parallel universe, that ended up on the bottom of the ocean for hundreds of years where it mysteriously amalgamized into something else under the influence of some lovecraftian dark power.

[@nitromeda]

True.

[@hayios0]

According to the ancient Greek myth, Hydra lived in the swamps of a nearby lake. A snake with many heads. If a head was cut off, another two grew. Hercules with his cousin Iolaus managed to finally kill the creature. For me the image of the instrument, manages to reflect the mystery around the mythical creature

[@captaincrash9286]

'amalgamized' and 'lovecraftian'.... words worthy of this instrument

[@deebop4904]

That happened to whoopi goldberg also, except the decay is still on going...........

[@Anthraxxx999]

Damn, that description was almost poetic man

[@TheToddcole]

I feel like the track was actually made using this instrument, which I love. Expensive as all hell to restring all 36 strings (assuming Ibanez will sell the sets), utterly impractical, weight level scoliosis, and I want one desperately. It’s the delorean of guitars.

[@Mark-db1ok]

@Todd Cole "weight level scoliosis"... Ha! Quality humor sir! Yes surely one could get this beast all set up with a quick trip to guitar center.

[@dadecountyboos]

i am literally coveting this intstrument

[@carpediemarts705]

Weight level scoliosis, Its high time guitars get bolted to a Mic stand.

[@christopherdavidson6717]

@@dadecountyboos literally. Why literally?. Missed the pun.

[@l3gofilo808]

It is lighter than les paul

[@NickNeblo]

The only man who can play this guitar is Steve Vai!

[@anthonymanuel2911]

Michael Angelo Batio could shred on both necks at the same time.

[@mthw7046]

Thor & his hammer...

[@tomspalla5549]

Michael Angelo Batio fused 2 Hydras together to actually make it more challenging.

[@paullevine1813]

@@tomspalla5549 Plus he has the 4 neck ax he plays not to forget he plays both right & left handed . That's no small feat in itself. These are some awesome new players out there & it would be senseless to say Steve is the only one that could play this thing.

[@MLCrow]

@Nick Neblo I agree. That guitar suits only Vai (more or less)...everybody else (the most) would look like a clown or poser with it...but not Vai. The guitar suits his soul somehow.

[@charles_wren_films]

This is absolutely incredible. In a world full of vanilla signature series cash ins, Vai brings this to the table? Absolutely stupendously brilliant.

[@SmokeIfYouGotEm]

Steve just made a guitar that made all the djent 18 and 20 string guitars look like pansies. Bravo! Can't wait to see some performances on that monster!!!

[@Insill]

Unlike those 18- and 20-string guitars, this looks really stylish and versatile.

[@Easy_Skanking]

@@Insill And actually playable.

[@thetheoristtranscriptions]

Those guitars are made for wide intervallic tapping music . Two different designs.

[@AhYesIndeedItsFunTime]

they already looked like that before this was made

[@ongkhuongduy3498]

The perfect poster for "Because we can, practicality be damned". That aside, this piece would fit right into any art museum collection.

[@rootboycooks]

I can't live on this earth any longer without a "Dragonizer" on my guitar.

[@brucebowling6032]

Excited to see him live this fall. He is always amazing.

[@JTCGuitar]

Needs more necks. What a legend! 🙏

[@normanhacker3588]

At least 2 more@

[@Talismantra]

at least a keyboard neck and a drum kit neck

[@Metallian81]

I look forward to seeing the 6 neck version for Micheal Angelo Batio! 😆

[@u.v.s.5583]

@@Metallian81 The spider destroyer :D

[@shawndouglass2939]

I would like to see the case for it😁

[@DimiKaye]

Up until now we couldn't play Stevie's songs because of lack of technique. From now on we won't be able to play them because of lack of proper instrument 😂 LEGEND! Only Vai can create such an instrument and feel completely on brand for him!

[@harounel-poussah6936]

You can ask a good luthier to do something with similar functions... There is nothing new onboard, he's doing the triple-neck thing again, with all bells and whistles seen elsewhere compiled onboard. I'd recommend to use a brass-bell plate, just like Vigier does for decades, for the fretless-guitar portion. Leduc did hybrid fretted/fretless necks DECADES ago too... I'd also strongly recommend to fit some MIDI switching and pilot that stuff with your MIDI-pedal: there are WAY TOO MUCH knobs. BTW, I"d didn't tried to play any of Steve's songs 'coz he's rarely interesting for more than 30 seconds as we get sub-Zappa or bad hard-rock. He did interesting stuff when Frank used to write his solos... I may envy his ears, but having perfect pitch and doing some Dorian after 45 years as a professional guitarist is really really boring... Sorry, always preferred Holdsworth, Belew, Fripp, Shawn Lane.

[@lolipoable]

It must be good feeling when you can virtually get anything you imagine. Good for you Steve.

[@AlexanderLevicoMusic]

I saw you live at the E-Werk in Cologne in the early 2000s. An amazing concert. When I first played the Jem in May 2000 I knew this guitar was designed and built for me. I play it for 22 years now. The Hydra is a beautiful monster. Can't wait to check it out and write songs for it. Best Wishes from Panamá! Alex Levico

[@RSW033]

i just realized this is th ENDBOSS of all guitars - what a BEAST!

[@bastiroxx9545]

Steve Vai is the one human being that should live forever! Man, what a musician….

[@RobWence]

He more than likely already has the secret to immortality from his Alien friends

​@@RobWence legend has it the devil made a contract with Vai to learn the secret of his alien music

[@JDC3166]

The Hydra guitar is a thing of beauty: equal parts wondrous fine art and mythical beast. I was privileged to hear, see and review Mr Vai when he played with G3 (Vai with Satriani, Petrucci) at Melbourne's Palais Theatre several years ago, and retain fond memories of that evening. Congratulations and all the best.

[@harls7317]

There’s so many cool concepts here you could make tons of new instruments from. Half fret less necks? Dual guitar bass necks? Other built in effects on the guitar? So cool!

[@Bielzingt]

I'm already waiting for a video of you playing this spectacular guitar!

[@irishRocker1]

And i bet he will use every damn part of that guitar too! Harp, fretted/fretless 12 string, fretted/fretless bass, and of course the seducer and climax regulator lol

[@theharvardyard2356]

@@irishRocker1 he mentioned on his blog post he wrote "teeth of the hydra" specifically to use every string!

[@PTguitars]

"Seducer", "Dragonizer", "Climax Regulator" plus Ethernet ej45, Lamp outlet, old time Fuses and green power tubes ?? I have to doubt that it is more than a well done animation. It is probably a marketing test to see how far you can go with strange products. And I can feel mr. Vai's humor is prevalent.

[@PTguitars]

What a fool I was - now we all have seen him play the thing - amazing.

[@bentessier635]

That's a piece of art with many dimensions....just amazing!!!

[@JB101works]

Looks like we're ready to fight the Covenant with this.

[@jakojames5754]

You could spend a lifetime learning to play an instrument like that.. And after that lifetime you would've only scratched the surface of what that instrument could really do.. Amazing

[@Xabi_MM]

"Just" this song in playing in the background is gorgeous. Can't wait for the full album.

[@akinnon2000]

OMG that is the sickest guitar i've ever seen. That steampunk look OMG. What a dream

[@pro3gamer685]

This is not guitar-This is Masterpiece

[@fluoridevolcano8746]

My neck hurts just imagining how heavy this is.

[@Cancun771]

Oh did they forget to mention it has antigrav hoverlift units?

[@dimkalas5206]

@@Cancun771 ΗΑΗΑΗΑΗΑΗΑ

[@haywoodjablowme699]

Yeah, his too.

[@davedaveleadguitar]

LOl!! Wonder what the case looks like???

[@Cancun771]

@@davedaveleadguitar If you leave the hoverlifts on idle, it will float after you like a little floating puppy.

[@BogoRath]

That's a piece of art that even non-musicians can appreciate.

[@space.midnight.cowboy]

Looks like trash

[@mark6302]

no musicians appreciate this

[@J0SHUAKANE]

its the coolest cooler of guitars.

[@theawesomer]

Incredible! If anyone has enough dexterity to play this, it's Steve.

[@thomasgrabowski2202]

Song kicks serious behind LOL and that guitar is just out of this world....Wow.

[@12ealDealOfficial]

The whole buildup and arrangement of this track is classic Vai. I'm in love!

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I will NOT have my climaxes regulated. ;)

[@ussrfilms162]

OMG! This is dopest guitar ever. I want to hear how sounds this unbelievable creation.

[@hfled]

Oh, by the way…that awesome “background music?” That’s Steve Vai…Alone…playing this amazing instrument. Let that sink in…

[@MoniqueSvazlianTallon]

Right? This is beyond human comprehension and ability. He’s the most under rated artist of our times.

[@maxxblack1525]

I have one of those from back in '79. It's out in the garage. I have 7 necks, 9 rotating pickup's that imitate the planetary rotation of the galaxy, bluetooth mind jack with a multimodal vibration spreader. It' s nice that Steve trying to catch up, this thing is a fun way to start.

[@Ruzzmeister]

Incredible, I can't wait to see Steve creating art with that instrument.

[@petroskarantonis143]

Criation...so beautiful. Give thanks

[@wrguest9064]

I can't wait to get "hydrated"!!!!! Steve, no one else can be the man, YOU are the man!!!

[@SanfilippoAngelo]

Steve Vai's music is always magic

[@Pedro-ld5ys]

Amazing. Now let's wait to see the master make otherworldly sound.

[@chriskanemeier]

Hopefully we'll be able to see this baby in action on the InVAIolate tour! Excited to see what you can create with this

[@voguart]

Qu'est ce que c'est bon de t'entendre Steve, ton âme musical à l'état pur, cet instrument te va comme un gant !

[@miguelsequeiraguitar]

This is insane! I am in love! Love it! Amazing work!

[@travismontgomery]

Incredible looking instrument! The whole thing is a work of art. Really digging this track as well. Can't wait to hear it and the rest of the album.

[@jackbutler2732]

What a monster! Love it. Could only come from Steve and Ibanez.

[@LowDragLifestyle]

I remember seeing Steve Vai at a G3 concert years ago with Satriani and Robert Fripp. He walked on stage and sat down. Then someone came out and handed him a three necked guitar. Pretty good... then they turned the wind machine on to get his hair to go the full Vai! So yeah, I saw this coming around 15 years ago! Haha

[@salvadoralvarezmcanally8626]

Can’t wait to see you play this thing!!!

[@user-wf4nl2yy8x]

I'm not sure how I feel about it, but I'm so happy for Steve Vai. You are a true inspiration.

[@karemare6426]

dude, these are words extracted directly from my mind !!!

[@DennisWilkinson61]

Man alive, I can only imagine what adventure you're in for when it comes time to change them strings. I bet the case for it is bigger than the kitchen table.

[@PureJadeKid]

Fully expected the post date to be April First. Steve Vai you are special human being! (Are you human?) Much love!

[@Angel-fz8dr]

You need to be Steve Vai to be able to maximize this guitar's potential. This is such an overkill.

[@erockscott1184]

He got the bass built on it for Billy Sheehan to play with him at the same time.

[@kara-patri-astral-maps]

Unless..you figure out how to use it..guitars need to evolve..badly.

[@Angel-fz8dr]

@@kara-patri-astral-maps why do you think they need to evolve?

[@kara-patri-astral-maps]

@@Angel-fz8dr I've been playing guitar for 50 years..I'm up for a challenge...plus..my last two bass players are Capricorns..this instrument would have saved me a lot of um..difficulty.. one of them is now the vocalist for Yes.

[@Angel-fz8dr]

@@kara-patri-astral-maps Planning on growing two more hands?

[@crissvis9204]

WOW, amazing 🙌🏻 Only Vai can be more Vai that Vai himself.

[@adamhawkins3036]

Thats sick AF!!! I need to see this monstrous lookin jewel played

[@johnstitt2615]

Ideas popped into Steve’s head.......Hydra guitar. Taking us away in our minds just when we needed it.

[@jakew2111]

Steve must be getting deep into greek mythology. First it’s Zeus In Chains, Now The Hydra. Can’t wait to see Steve blazing thru some sick solos on that beast. 🎸🤘🎸

[@What.The.Fluff.]

Can't wait to see the Medusa! 🪱😵‍💫☠️

[@BH2547]

Just Wow...incredible creation!! Can't wait to hear the new album!

[@erockscott1184]

Its the first stratovarious of our generation to be dug up out of the dirt 1000 years from now to be restored and played by a Chinese genius.

[@sgtcaco]

There is going to 3 new albums, One of them got recorded in orbit.

[@NERGYStudios]

This right here, is the most intricate guitar ever made.

[@jamestravenetti7970]

Always the cutting edge. Good on you Steve. Junior brown on mescaline !!!!

[@jackliras7706]

Es impresionante, se ve de lujo sr. Vai!. Me gustaria verlo interpretar uno de sus temas con el instrumento!. Saludos.!

[@Vaiattitude]

Incredible alien guitar from Steve ! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@ernestopizarro6705]

What a unique,rare triple neck guitar! Cant wait for the demo of this instument! 🎸☝️👍🤟🎶🎹🎼

[@martijnverwoerd8439]

Ok the melody from 0:19 to 0:43 is really out of this world yet absolutely mesmerizing….

[@heberbrizola]

12 cordas - 7 cordas - baixo 4 cordas - harpa 13 cordas. Muito foda!

[@theharvardyard2356]

This is the greatest, it reminds me of the one on Strong Bad's album cover. I spent a while trying to figure what everything did just from the picture, so this video came at the perfect time! The Dragonizer is still a bit of a mystery though 😂

[@jamesperrymusic]

If it were Strong Bad's guitar, there'd be a BURNINATOR control instead of a Dragonizer. TROGDOR!!!!!!

[@gamingforfun4554]

amazing guitar from mr Steve Vai

[@sadia2028]

I can't wait to see this being played live

[@jayluck8047]

Steve can shred so fast he doesn’t need the Mr. Fusion and Flux Capacitor to go back in time.

[@kanalR3DX]

only Steve Vai can play like Steve Vai with this guitar for Steve Vai... not even Chuck Norris can do it.

[@diegogarcinuno891]

ralph machio can do!!!!

[@jamesha175]

@@diegogarcinuno891 but not chuck norris

[@gofixmix]

Nah, it was originally built for Chuck, like ALL instruments, but the "climax regulator" kept exploding when he touched it. Chuck usually just hangs his grand piano on a guitar strap..

[@digital360]

MacGyver could make it work.

[@u.v.s.5583]

@@diegogarcinuno891 Zabka would kick his ass, both solo and in team.

[@ErwinOliva]

this is an utterly beautiful creation--and the names of those buttons/switches? Dragonizer!? Steve, this is a work of art in itself!

[@MrStaticstu]

This is perfectly Steve. It’s pushing past the edge as he always has. 7 string guitars anyone? 🤘It’s great to see that even 30 plus years into his career he continues to innovate and inspire. Love it or hate it, it’s the perfect embodiment of all things Vai. Looking forward to seeing it on tour hopefully.

[@mitsanut5869]

True. But it doesn't change the fact that this "guitar" is very, very ugly. It's just for show. Narcissist's dream. Impractical. Somehow, Steve graduated to realization that it's all about him and he desperately wants to let others know theres no one like him. Look at me. I am Steve Vai HIMSELF. Thanks but no thanks That comes from a former huge fan of his. I moved on.

[@PaulMulhearn]

The guitar case would also have to be a work of art!! 😮

[@BigDees19]

imagine carrying it

[@ivorharden]

When you think Steve has hit his peak when it comes to his gear, he brings out something more insane

[@lasagnasux4934]

Now I can't wait to see him play it. I don't think I've ever seen Vai on a bass, so that part I'm really interested in

[@borasumer]

This is the level of Ibanez. Unbelievable art...

[@progste]

Perfectly normal instrument, not crazy at all...

[@sgtcaco]

That is something I would say. A little English humour there.

[@RiffsAndBeards]

Where's the flux capacitor?

[@SergioAlves_GT]

Only you, Master, to play such things magnificently.

[@TedCornish]

I want one. Gorgeous instrument

[@devilboner]

A steampunk - I mean Stevepunk guitar... sick!

[@12ealDealOfficial]

We have a duty to make this top comment! You at least get a gold star from me for "Stevepunk."

[@johntnguyen1976]

The most "vai" instrument to ever have been made and played by vai. Would love to see this in action.

[@pihermoso11]

There's the 'ultrazone' guitar, unfortunately Vai does not use it often

[@n3tfury]

I love it! Total Vai-esque

[@ghostofgar]

This truly is the Homer-Mobile of guitars.... and I love it!

[@michaelmetal71]

So I guess this is the new signature model? I’m thinking $15,000 for the American version of it and $8000 for the import import version lol anyway really cool guitar and a playable piece of art look forward to a video of you playing this Steve you’re one of my biggest influences you and joe are the reason i started playing 36 years ago 🎸🤘🏻🎶

[@darkallyrecordings4931]

I was thinking 25k.

[@RobVollmar]

Now we know what happened to Steve's shoulder...

[@matiasruizdiaz514]

Everytime you are a crazy. Beatifull madness!!! I want to see you play this thing

[@juanduplays]

Absolutely ludicrous, love it!

[@Karlgolden]

My god that's a BEAST!!!!

[@zxbc1]

Guys, I think Steve is having a late-late-mid-life crisis.

[@DarrellS54]

What gets me is the optional lamp input and 4- way ethernet jack. This thing is sick!

[@AntalopeAUT]

Glorious !