Ibanez Steve Vai JEM77P

This is the kind of guitar that speaks the amazing Steve Vai's expressive language fluently, with all the technical capability and sonic range that made his otherworldly playing style possible.

Ibanez JEM77: Steve Vai's Blue Floral Masterpiece Refined. There are signature guitars, and then there's the JEM77 - a guitar that's been battle-tested on the world's biggest stages and refined through decades of real-world performance demands. You'll recognize this guitar's innovative pedigree immediately - it's cut from the same high-performance cloth that enabled the amazing Steve Vai to push instrumental guitar into completely uncharted territories. But this isn't just a museum piece; it's a working musician's tool disguised as a work of art.

That Blue Floral Pattern finish is pure eye candy, but don't let the stunning aesthetics fool you into thinking this is all about looks. The pattern has become as iconic as Vai's playing style itself, instantly recognizable from the back row of any arena. It's the kind of visual statement that says you're serious about your craft while refusing to take yourself too seriously - a balance that's harder to achieve than you might think.

Here's where things get really interesting: that American basswood body provides what Vai calls that distinctive "out front" sound. Think about it - when you're sharing the stage with keyboards, backing vocals, and a rhythm section, you need a guitar that cuts through the mix without being harsh or abrasive. Basswood delivers that focused midrange presence that makes single notes sing while keeping chord work warm and musical.

The real magic happens when you dive into those DiMarzio pickups. Those Gravity Storm humbuckers aren't just hot pickups - they're specifically voiced for richness and depth, with mids and highs that maintain warmth even under high gain conditions. The Evolution single-coil in the middle position adds that traditional sparkle and clarity that works brilliantly on its own or in combination with the humbuckers. It's like having access to multiple guitars in one instrument, each optimized for specific musical situations.

That 5-piece maple and walnut Wizard neck tells its own story about performance under pressure. The multi-piece construction provides incredible stability - crucial when you're dealing with the kind of aggressive tremolo work and string bending that defines Vai's style. But it's the Wizard profile that really makes the difference. It's thin enough for lightning-fast runs yet substantial enough that it doesn't feel fragile during heavy rhythm work.

The Edge Zero II tremolo system with Zero Point System represents everything Ibanez has learned about floating bridge design over the past several decades. That knife-edge design with stud lock function gives you all the expressive capability you need for dive-bombs, flutter effects, and subtle vibrato while maintaining the kind of tuning stability that lets you focus on your playing instead of constantly retuning between songs.

What really sets this guitar apart is how all these elements work together to serve the larger goal of musical expression. That Tree of Life inlay running down the maple fingerboard isn't just decorative - it provides visual landmarks that help with position recognition during rapid runs across the entire neck. The 24 jumbo frets give you plenty of real estate for exploration, whether you're working out complex lead passages or stretching into the upper register for those soaring sustained notes.

The built-in Monkey Grip has been a Vai signature since the beginning, and there are practical reasons beyond just looking distinctive. It provides a secure handhold for those dramatic performance gestures that are part of his stage presence, but it also subtly affects the guitar's resonant characteristics by removing a small amount of body mass in a specific location.

That locking nut works in perfect harmony with the Edge Zero II bridge to create a tuning system that stays stable even under the most aggressive playing conditions. When you're executing the kind of techniques that made Vai famous - those impossible-sounding legato runs, dramatic tremolo effects, and percussive tapping passages - you need hardware that won't let you down in the middle of a performance.

The 5-way blade pickup selector gives you quick access to all the tonal combinations you need. From the warm neck humbucker to the sparkling middle single-coil to the aggressive bridge pickup, plus those in-between positions that create unique tonal blends, you've got a palette that covers everything from clean jazz-fusion passages to full-throttle rock mayhem.

What makes this guitar truly special is how it represents the evolution of Vai's requirements over decades of professional playing and recording. Every specification has been tested in the real world of concert stages and recording studios. The 15.7" fingerboard radius is flatter than vintage designs, making it easier to execute clean bends and maintain consistent string height during rapid runs.

That Cosmo black hardware against the blue floral pattern creates a visual contrast that's both elegant and aggressive. This isn't a guitar that relies on flashy gimmicks - its impact comes from the precision and purposefulness of every design element working in harmony.
The JEM77 proves that sometimes the most sophisticated approach involves perfecting every detail rather than relying on radical innovations. It's a guitar that adapts to your playing style rather than forcing you to adapt to its limitations, opening up musical possibilities you might never have considered exploring with a lesser instrument.

Guitar Features:
Gorgeous Tree of Life inlay on the rosewood fretboard
JEM Premium neck plays incredibly fast, perfect for frantic fretwork
Dual DiMarzio Gravity Storm humbuckers
One DiMarzio Evolution single-coil for rich, deep, wide-ranging tone
Built-in "Monkey Grip" handle - a mainstay on Steve Vai's guitars

General
Number of Strings: 6
Left-/Right-handed:Right-handed

Body
Body Type: Solidbody
Body Shape: Steve Vai JEM77
Body Material: American Basswood
Body Finish: Gloss Polyurethane
Color: Blue Floral Pattern

Neck
Neck Material: 5-piece Maple/Walnut
Neck Shape: Wizard
Neck Joint: Bolt-on
Radius: 15.7"
Fingerboard Material: Maple
Fingerboard Inlay: Tree of Life
Number of Frets: 24
Scale Length: 25.5"
Nut Width: 1.693"
Nut Material: Locking

Hardware
Bridge/Tailpiece: Edge Zero II
Tuners:Cosmo Black

Electronics
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio Gravity Storm
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio Evolution
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio Gravity Storm
Controls: 1 x master volume, 1 x master tone
Switching: 5-way blade pickup switch