Steve Vai

Birth name: Steven Siro Vai
Born: June 6, 1960
Carle Place, New York, United States
Genres: Instrumental rock, hard rock, heavy metal, progressive rock, progressive metal, experimental rock
Instruments: Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
Years active: 1980–present
Labels: Favored Nations, Relativity Records, Urantia Records, Akashic Records, Epic
Associated acts: Joe Satriani, Frank Zappa, John Petrucci, Alcatrazz, Orianthi, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, Dream Theater, Travis Barker, Eddie Van Halen, Ozzy Osbourne, Zappa plays Zappa, Billy Sheehan, G3, Bad4Good, Incubus, Devin Townsend

 

Notable instruments

  • Ibanez JEM
  • Ibanez Universe
  • Tom Anderson Drop Top Classic
  • Carvin Legacy

 

BIO

Steven Siro Vai (born June 6, 1960) is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. After starting his career as a music transcriptionist for Frank Zappa, Vai recorded and toured in Zappa’s band for two years, from 1980 to 1982. He began a solo career in 1983, has released eight solo albums and won three Grammy Awards. He has also recorded and toured with Public Image Ltd., Alcatrazz, David Lee Roth and Whitesnake. Vai has been a regular touring member of the G3 Concert Tour which began in 1996. In 1999 Vai started his own record label Favored Nations, intending to showcase as he describes, “…artists that have attained the highest performance level on their chosen instruments.” more at Wikipedia…

 

Websites

 

GEAR

Harmony Hut studio in Los Angele
PG’s Rebecca Dirks is on location at Steve Vai’s Harmony Hut studio in Los Angeles. In this video, Steve shows you which of his signature Ibanez guitars he’s taking out on tour and which made an appearance on his latest album, how he uses his signature Carvin Legacy Amps, and why the Axe-FX II has replaced most effects in his rig.

 

GUITARS

Click here to view Steve’s Guitar Gallery

 

All About EVO

 

 

LIVE GEAR

View photos of the Live gear list below at

ALCATRAZZ USA & JAPAN TOURS 1984-1985:

  • Touring guitars
    • blonde Fender Stratocaster that Steve used throughout the Zappa years
    • DeMini electric
    • Performance Custom hand-built by Steve and the Jerry Jones coral sitar (which belonged to Frank Zappa)
  • Amps
    • Carvin amplifiers not only throughout the Alcatrazz tour, but also with Frank Zappa in the early 80′s
      • output is switchable 60W/100W
      • upper two heads are connected to a Roland SDE-3000 digital delay
      • bottom Carvin is a spare
      • Carvin cabinets were customized with green grille covers (green covers were also on his custom cabinets on the Fire Garden tour)
    • Marshall amps wired to a wireless system
  • Effects rack
    • 2 Roland SDE-3000 delays
    • Lexicon PCM60 digital reverb
    • 6-channel mixer
    • Mutron Bi-Phase pedal
  • Floor Effects
    • Pedalboard
      • custom clean/dirty switch
      • 2 DC-8 switching units
      • delay hold pedal
    • Simple pedalboard
      • BOSS SD-1 Super Overdrive pedal
      • Carvin footswitch controlingl his amplifier
      • custom-made clean/distortion switch
      • Crybaby wah pedal

Coming Soon

THE  REAL ILLUSIONS TOUR EUROPE 2005:
THE ULTRA ZONE TOUR, SOUTH AMERICA 2000:
FIRE GARDEN WORLD TOUR / G3 TOURS 1996-1997:
SEX & RELIGION WORLD TOUR 1993-1994:
SLIP OF THE TONGUE WORLD TOUR 1990:

View Steve’s studio at https://www.vai.com/the-studios/