Steve Vai is a virtuoso guitarist, visionary composer, and consummate producer who sculpts musical sound with infinite creativity and technical mastery. At age 12, he started taking guitar lessons from Joe Satriani. At 18, he began his professional musical career transcribing for, and then playing with, the legendary Frank Zappa. More than three decades, 15-million in album sales, and three GRAMMY Awards later, Vai has proven himself, in his own right, one of music's true originals.
Vai's work has been recognised with a long list of awards, including an even dozen from Guitar Player. Most recently, the TEC Foundation honoured him with the prestigious Les Paul Award, created in 1991 to salute those who have set the highest standard of excellence in the creative application of technology. Past winners include Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Herbie Hancock, Steely Dan, and Bob Clearmountain. In bestowing it on Vai, TEC noted, "Steve Vai's sheer breathtaking facility on the guitar is acclaimed in the rock world and beyond… Vai has dedicated his talents to creatively advance the language of music. While many artists fit easily into a single category, Steve Vai remains unclassifiable. He is a musical alchemist of the highest order."
Vai's signature instruments include the Ibanez JEM guitar, which he designed in 1985 with first-of-its-kind features including the floating tremolo and the monkey grip. The JEM is now one of the longest running, most successful signature series guitars in history, and for over a decade its sister model-the RG-is second in worldwide sales only to the Fender Stratocaster. Also for Ibanez, Vai designed "The Universe," the first commercial 7-string electric guitar. This instrument inspired a revolutionary metal subculture that started in the mid '90s. Among his many other innovative collaborations with equipment manufacturers, he designed the Steve Vai Legacy V3 series of all-tube amplifiers with Carvin Corporation.
The Ibanez PIA3761C features a 5pc Maple/Walnut neck provides tonal clarity and superior attack. Rosewood fretboard provides a well-balanced solid tone with a focused mid range. The newly designed PIA Blossom inlay is gorgeous, prominent, and elegantly imparts Steve Vai’s trademark style and artistic vision. For easier high note bending and tapping. The Alder body delivers a well-balanced bright tone, enriched resonance and sustain. Based on Steve's tonal preferences, DiMarzio® UtoPIA™ pickups are voiced for smoother highs, scooped mids and a more pronounced low-end. DiMarzio® UtoPIA™ pickups incorporate beautiful aesthetics and design elements meant to complement the cosmetic features of the guitar.
Gotoh® machine heads provide super precision, smooth feel, and minimal back lush. The masterpiece Edge bridge offers exceptional tuning stability, precise intonation adjustment, and playing comfort. A high pass filter on the volume pot maintains highs at low volumes. Exclusively designed for the PIA, the new Petal Grip offers a balanced, contemporary design aesthetic. It’s also meant to symbolize unity, companionship, and interpersonal bonds. The tremolo cavity plate is held in place magnetically, allowing for quick removal and reinstallation when changing strings or adjusting the tremolo system.
"Some guitars are built for performance, some for aesthetic. These instruments are the best of both worlds... and perhaps the universe!" - Steve Vai.
Features
- Alder body w/ Alder top & Blue Powder finish
- PIA 5pc Maple/Walnut neck w/ 648mm/25.5" scale
- Rosewood fretboard w/ 430mmR radius & PIA Blossom inlays
- 24 Jumbo Stainless Steel frets w/ Prestige fret edge treatment
- 43mm Locking nut
- Gotoh® tuning machines
- Edge tremolo bridge w/ Ultralite tremolo arm
- DiMarzio® UtoPIA™ (H) bridge and neck pickups (Passive/Ceramic), DiMarzio® UtoPIA™ (S) middle pickup (Passive/Alnico)
- Volume w/ High Pass Filter control, Tone control & 5-way Pickup selector
- Includes Hardshell case