Steve Vai

Steven Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960 in Carle Place, New York, USA), is an American guitarist and composer. He is arguably one of the most talented guitarist virtuosos alive.

Equipment

Vai is an accomplished studio producer (he owns two: "The Mother Ship" and "The Harmony Hut") and his own recordings combine his signature guitar prowess with novel compositions and considerable use of studio and recording effects, such as the Eventide H3000 ultra harmonizer and Digidesign's Pro Tools Hard Disc recording system and plug-in effects architecture.

Related Topics:
Digidesign - Pro Tools

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Vai also helped design his signature Ibanez JEM series of guitars. They feature a hand grip (fondly referred to as a "monkey grip") cut into the top of the body of the guitar, a humbucker-single coil-humbucker Dimarzio pickup configuration, a double-locking Floyd Rose licensed tremolo system, as well as an elaborate and extensive "Vine of Life" inlay down the neck. Steve also was behind the seven string version of the JEM called the Universe. These instruments were later used by Korn and other heavy metal bands to create nu-metal sounds in the late 1990s.

Related Topics:
Ibanez - Humbucker - Single coil - Pickup - Floyd Rose - Korn - 1990s

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Steve Vai has also worked with Carvin Guitars and Pro Audio to develop the Carvin Legacy line of guitar amplifiers. Vai wanted to create an amp that was superior in sound, versatility, and affordability to any guitar amp he had previously used.

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