Maybe if Vai, an obviously great player, wasn't giving such a dickish sounding interview. When you disrespect the entire history of guitar and rock n roll, people are going to notice. And yeah I even know C minor.
As someone with a thorough understanding of music theory, I can tell you that many dislike Vai's style of play for legitimate reasons. Just because you like his style doesn't mean anyone who "know(s) what a C major is" is guaranteed to enjoy his whammy abuse.
@@marike1100 why? Because he has an opinion? Cmon. Personally I dont like Les Pauls. Im a nobody, but just like Vai I can have an opinion. Which is fine. I dont think he is not recognizing the history of rock and roll just because he doesnt like strats or les pauls...
i think thats the reason why Ibanez chose him and give him everything he wants. He's not just an innovator, he a freakin' monster when it comes to playing guitar.
Salvador C.C. I had an old RG550 DLX and the stock pickups were ok at best, but if you put some great pickups in then it wouldn't sound particularly thin. However these guitars don't really have their own sound, trying to be the best of both Fender and Gibson worlds. Satriani and Vai have their own sound but that's more about their ability than simply the guitar. So, I'd probably agree with you on that. I find PRS the same, they don't aprticularly have their own sound, a bit sterile, but that's just my opinion as there are plenty that love them.
I bought the flower pattern Jem in 1988 and after the initial hype wore off, I came to the realization that it was nearly unplayable for me, as the strings were spaced more widely (especially at the bridge) compared to guitars I had before. It took months of practice to adjust my playing to this new spacing. Eventually I traded it in for an Ibanez S-series and, although the string spacing was the same, it felt much more easy to play. Not to discount the fact that the S-series incorporated many of the innovations that the Jem introduced.
Just a thought, it seems to me every guitar has some some ethereal quality that gives it a unique personality. I have a 48 yo Strat, (bought it new), a Guild Bluesbird, Gibson Firebird, Les Paul Green Anaconda, Brownsville SG, Fretlight, and a B.C.Rich B-38 Acoustic, ( yellow to black burst, Brazilian Rosewood, crafted by Bernardo himself); each has its own voice. Carlos Santana has played Ibanez for decades. And what Jack White can do with that Airline, or any other instrument for that matter, is, I think, pretty awesome. My point is that I see nothing constructive about allocating time to criticize any particular guitar, and instead invest that irreplaceable time in looking, playing, listening and feeling the guitar in your hands. It could be one particular guitar would give you everything you need, or you may find the sound and feel of different types serves your needs, and enhances your joy in playing. There is no right or wrong, only what's right for you. John 5 fvors a Telecaster, and with respect for all, John 5 can outplay them all, any genre, is not pedantic or critical, and has managed to retain balance and perspective. Only my opinion of course, but I think John 5 is the 800 lb. gorilla in the room, and as good as Steve Vai is, Dweezil Zappa plays every bit as well, but with far greater depth of genuine feel, in harmony with the emotional content, and not just robotic technique. Perhaps a result of his own dedication, a touch of his father's seeming gift of empathizing with the emotional content of the music, and predisposition to make sure the music comes first. Of the some of the names I read, as good as they are, and they are good, I have their albums in my collection of LPS, not one of them are or will ever be the equal of the great Johnny Winter, Peter Green, or Terry Kath who blazed the trail and opened the doors, for them to follow. Respects to all
Love this guy. His playing style is fun to watch, and his sound is like no other. End of story, Right! No His knowledge of the recording studio is what blows me away. Would like to meet him, but I believe I would act like a fan boy.
The humbucker added to a Strat type body was an absolute game changer ! First photo I actually saw on an album cover was the band Starz /Attention Shoppers about 1977 ! I thought it was fascinating !
Austin J. Trevathan I have a few les Paul's and only one strat that I dont play, les Paul's have something to em to me BUT a strat and tele have a sound you cant put with anything else just like a lp I respect em for that
If you're looking for a true hybrid between the two, I highly recommend the Fender FSR American Deluxe MAHOGANY body strat. It's been my go to for 4 yrs now. These were a limited run around 2006 that featured a cherry colored mahogany body, locking tuners, roller nut, HSS config with a high output HB (humbucker). Played through a Marshall plexi style amp, it's much closer to a Les Paul on the HB position sonically than ANY Ibanez strat I've ever played. Switch to the tex mex singles and you will get an identifiable strat sound, only a lot thicker and less quacky than an alder or ash body strat. The locking tuners really help it stay in tune with the occasional whammy bend, but if you like dive bombing don't expect it to stay in tune like a locking tremelo.
Most of French Ibanez endorsees are well known for using Vigier guitars when in the studio or in private... Ever gave a try? If you want to listen to some Vigier gear, you can give a try with Shawn Lane, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Stanley Jordan, etc etc etc... Note that there are Fujigen Gakki (FGN is Ibanez's Japanese ghost-builder since 1972) guitars I truly love, some are Ibanez, some are non-Matsumoku Aria Pro-II, some are Roland's 80's G-synths, etc. In both the RG, as well as the JEM ranges, you may find really fine guitars as well as serious crap, the Cort-Indonesia ghostbuilding is often very dubious... I even was scandalized when I tried the JEM Bad Horsie : it looked good, but take a €250 Cort made of crate-wood (basswood, poplar...), put DiMarzio PUs and it's as good as this model... I long started to rely on small companies or artisans who are into high-end only...
Steve, 😌God luv him, just taking credit for designing: - • the superstrat • coil splits • scalloped frets So, I'll give him •24 frets • deep cutaways • monkey grip! • and angular strat design (tho, I dislike the latter. Round edge strats & jazzmasters are my absolutely favourite guitar body)
EVH trem doesn’t pull sharp. Steve’s claw dug out wood making it possible. The monkey grip. The 2 and 4 positions were new to H H guitars. Routing of the lower horn for better access to the higher frets is a mod Steve did to his “Green Meanie” Strat. The scalloping of the high frets is something you don’t see anywhere else. Fluorescent pink had never been incorporated in a guitar that did well. The vine inlay wasn’t new but it was new on a stock production guitar. 24 frets were somewhat new. The Jack plate location was new. The first guitar Ibanez sent to Steve (snakeskin) and the Jem clearly show the new innovations.
A lot of this argument is what is best for YOU and YOUR style and sound YOU want. Personally I love Stratocasters and SG's. I don't like Les pauls, I don't like the fact they are often heavy, awkward to play, sound too thick and are a pain in the ass to keep in tune or play in alternate tunings and to get up to the higher frets is a chore. I dont like Telecasters either, i dont like the way they look I hate the way they feel to play but they sound great. Ibanez guitars mostly look very very pretty, but I don't like their necks at all, like wafer paper and often really flat, but i can see why people like them. For me the guitar in that "modern or shredding kind vein i really dig is a hardtail charvel. they are wonderful guitars to play especially the new San Dimas ones released recently. Funny enough shredding is not my style, im a blues guy but I love the tones it has for blues they are very colorful and warm.
Les Paul is hard to play,but if you played a long time Les Paul after that when played another brand guitar that guitar it more easy to play. Fact that why I love Les Paul so much
Been playing guitar 30 years and have spent way to much and had way to much gear. Various guitars, pedals, rack gear, amps, combos, cabinets. Through it all I have finally figured out what I was always looking for. It’s what works for you period. No matter the hype, reviews and advertising. It’s what works for you. I have the most simple and bulletproof rig now and it sounds and works for me better than all the $1000’s I spent over the years. For me it’s...keep it simple stupid. Most of your sound comes from within yourself.
Steve is such a kind humble person. He signed my RG and put a wicked eye on it. I will say the RG does have Led Paul sound. The wizard neck is nice and thin like a 1960 les Paul classic. I did put a Ibanez performer in a les Paul. I love it. It is out of phase with the paf pro I have in the bridge position.
The guitar does not matter so much to me......I have a Squier Strat that sounds better than a Gibson LP.......pickups and amps matter most.....I think all guitars are fun to play.....strats, LP, super-strats, hollow and semi-hollows, teles.......all good. Feel is completely different...some guitars just feel good. Still, I love variety and different tones
A Squier that sounds better than a Gibson LP.........Sorry I don't believe you........You might not want to spend money in a high range guitar but a Squier will ever be a low quality guitar........save the money and buy the one you really want.
@@josemariacasaslentijo1588 ... Stock Les Paul Studios are not all that. They would be a lot better with modifications. I have owned a lot of guitars. I do side by side comparisons. My squire has all Seymour Duncan pickups and it sounded better than my stock LP Studio. I am just stating that cheaper guitars can sound pretty good and some expensive guitars are not worth the dime. I traded that Les Paul for a Charvel Pro-mod DK24. If you believe me or not is not really the point. My Gibson SG with mini humbuckers has a ton more balls than the Gibson Studio LP did. I love the look of Les Pauls, but most are not worth the dime.
How can you say Telecasters and Strats were not R'n'R when they were made just before R'n'R took off. Black Sabbath were Rock. I suppose many will value what he says because he's considered a great guitar player. Well there are pros and cons for most guitars.
I remember way back in the day, when G Center in San Jose had a Jem prototype with natural wood finish w/ a strait route handle cut that was about 10" long. They also had some of the first 50 signed green meanie's. But IMHO, I think the original floral pattern is bee's knee's if you're a wanker. I vividly remember the 1st Guitar Player magazine Vai cover, the first "Alien Love Secrets" newsletters, the "Tips n Tricks" lessons package, Pill, Flexable Leftovers, Salamanders sheet music, Stucco Blue Studio, etc. (I still have it all in a closet filled with boxes of the first 30+ years of GP mag and every guitar tab known to man) Those were "Good Times" for sure.
Santa Clause gave me a subscription to Guitar Player Magazine every year for 30+ years. (He had to of read my letter! How would he know that’s what I wanted for X-mas?) Then I bought the earlier issues from Dan at Guitar Showcase! They take up my whole closet. That’s why my clothes are always wrinkled.
I'm no Steve Vai... [ who is ? ] but an angled humbucker in a Strat changes everything... - stacked coils, hot rails or minibuckers are a revelation - run a 5 way in stock strat mode that splits the coils and recombines them as humbuckers - add a mini toggle to give yourself another 5 choices - 3 for HH Gibson and 2 for HSH Ibanez wiring choices
I've never played a Strat that I really loved. I've had a few great Les Pauls though. The best was actually a mid-range Epiphone LP. All that said, Ibanez is my brand. I've tried to step away and try something else for a while but I always come back. I used to have a couple of the John Petrucci Model Ibanez guitars and they were just amazing to play and sounded awesome. I'd love to get my hands on one of the RG-770FM Japan only models which were made from left over Petrucci Model parts.. I don't like Steve Vai's JEM Models only because I hate the middle pickups. That's just my opinion and I'm sure it's great for other players. I do LOVE the Dimarzio Evolution pickups though... come to think of it, does Dimarzio make a pickup that isn't awesome? If they do, I've never heard of it!
nobody says it does . but people who don't like Fender enjoy squawking about that . every player has their own preference , and it cant always be based on a fat Les Paul sound . but I do have a great 1971 Les Paul that is faded sunburst and I like it !
I really tried to be a Ibanez guy but those early rg Floyd's don't work I wish I knew that before I did a scallop and fret level in the end it was never even played once
you can always replace the floyd rose for another one. the top floyd rose trems are Ibanez EDGE, lo-pro EDGE or gotoh ge1996t. I heard schaller has a good floyd too. I myself use the gotoh ge1996t and oh boy does that trem work nice. think about it
Mot1onM4n93 I thought about it but with 7 other guitars it got traded for some fidelitron pickups sad cuz I really did want to do that but when I took the neck off there was cracking and when I put it back on it made cracking noise so I just stopped liking it all together
Funny how he mentioned strats not fitting the vibe of Black Sabbath when Tony Iommi's main guitar for the debut self titled album was in fact, a Strat, before it broke and he switched to the SG
lessies and strats are both imperfect and their popularity is probably more to do with legacy associations with classic historical acts - tele is a better design. And my favorite of all is the ES (though a smaller body 339 rather than 335) - after owning about 20 guitars i've ditched everything except 1 ES (339) and 1 tele [Japanese OEM - Fujigen - actually made in the same factory that makes Vai's and Satriani's signature Ibanez models.]
Single coils have a wider response. Not needed for a lot of styles like metal. But more headroom. So far noiseless single coils are a great middle of the road between the two.
Only guitar that I dont like is Gibson SG. My must have list is: One SSS style Stratocaster, One Super Strat with HSH and ES335 style. I dont care about brands. If I found good luthier I will order one of these to make me high quality instrument. Only thing that want to experiment on these are the different pickups. Want to try some active EMGs and etc. :)
If I was a better guitar player and had a signature guitar model, I would go with Ibanez. I would have the lion claw cutaway for the Floyd Rose. H-S pickup setup a telecaster neck pickup and a humbucker in the bridge. The body would be a jem body without the Handel. A kill switch button on the bottom horn. It’d be black body with mirror pickguard.
I've never really understood why a lot of guys come out with a "signature" guitar, then when you see them play live, their signature guitar has been modified even more. Why not sell THAT guitar?
Does anyone here know if the JEM can have just the neck and bridge pickups on together - seems to me that was always one of the flaws of the 5 way strat switch design. I'm thinking maybe Stve thought of that. PS. He seems like a very pleasant and well balanced guy. Great interview.
It's just how you solder it together to the switch, look up the wiring diagram for your model. What they did for steve is they split the coils and wired them together differently for the middle + neck/bridge half of the humbucker. Pretty ingenious actually. I'm about to rewire one of mine to just use the single coils in the 2 & 4th positions instead of combining them with the middle coil, just have to pick which guitar I'm going to play with.
I would love to hear these guys playthrough single coils without all the effects they play through like Blackmore does then we would see how good they really are you got to be on your A-game when your guitar doesn't distort and distort and distort just a thought don't get me wrong I love the way Steve plays
Darren Lay Blackmore is way off his A game these days...in fact tarnishing his legacy along with his big mouth. The new rainbow is so aweful from the band to B's weak sound and playing. Btw, imo he was one of the best....then.
Exactly, Blackmores playing is so precise, brilliant. Blackmore, Hendrix and Uli Jon Roth come to kind for whammy use on a strat back in the last 60’s & 70’s.
The 24 fret neck moves the pickup off the harmonic (at the 24th fret) And the double locking floating trem is a tuning pain in the arse. A 22 fret Jem with 3 single coils and a stock trem would be nice! You can call it the Vai Sky.
What's he talking about? The first Zepplin songs were recorded on a Telecaster, by Jimmy Paige! That was rock n roll. If it wasn't I sure don't know what was!!!
Wasn't the base Ibanez design already there when steve vai came around?. Did he really came up with the characteristic angular modern Ibanez design?, that standard recognizable Ibanez RG design?.
Bob Builder I have no problem whatsoever shredding on the PRS, most Ibanez feel like razor blades to me, nothing to hold on to, and the radius is way too flat, but all depends on your own comfort off course, I own multiple guitars completely different from each other and don't have problems playing any of them, but I don't have any Ibanez I admit, the brand I can never warm up to.
I personally like both strats and les pauls (although I would rather have a jazzmaster and an SG from those brands). But I hate the way PRS guitars play. I don't know what it is but something about the five or six I have picked up just repelled me. Of course this is personal preference, but that's the way it is for me. The best guitars I find to play are (rather controversially to the rest of the guitar community) are Chapmans, Agiles, Vintage (the brand) guitars and things like that. Just food for thought that people need to take into account is not everything works for everybody, and to stop critisicing other people's preferences.
S2000 squad Same for me on the PRS. I really wanted to like my CE-22, which was a beautifully made axe, but playability-wise it kinda left me uninspired. It's just a totally different beast. One big pro which I miss is the quick and easy restringing though. You can almost do it blindfolded with those tuners.
John Galt I have a fairly good and strong vibrato, but I find it’s quite hard to achieve it on a flat neck like Ibanez’s, compared to a Strat’s neck. Ibanez necks are really good for legatos though.
Shit, I have a 7 string Ibanez RG sitting next to me and until the end of the video didn't know how much of a hand you had in causing that particular guitar to exist
They just released the 25th Anniversary 7 Strings last year. Steve is the reason IMO that we got 7 strings on a mass scale at all. Very innovative guitarist. That Passion & Warfare album was fantastic. I got it the day it came out as Steve was my childhood guitar hero. Still admire the hell out of him to this day.
to sum up this vid : he wanted guitar that looks like a strat but with less rounded edges, sounds like a les paul and has a whammy bar. Hopefully I saved ya some time.
I respect his unique sound and with 12 inch fingers he can pretty much stretch from the 3rd fret to the 12th. The frail, whispy sound just never grew on me. It is like he is fretting on rice paper. Very light and he keeps his runs going too long without diggin in which makes his sound even more "delicate. Still he makes the best rock orgasm face there is.
Music Man Silhouette. Best solid body bolt neck guitar ever. I have 3 of them. All have maple fingerboards two are HSH. The 20th Anniversary has 2 humbuckers. I noticed he mentioned the RG. I have one of those with 2 humbuckers and the Ibanez licensed Rose bridge in the closet. I also have a Mexican Strat HSS that I fixed by polishing the frets and reshaping the neck. Now it feels like my Silhouette guitars except it has a 21 fret neck. My other electric is a brand new Phred Dockstar III. I am just getting used to it. So far I like it.
Starts cool, fun to play , but when you get on stage along with someone who can play ,you want the Les Paul, so much more balls, makes the Fender sound thin , light weight, if you're the only guitar player in a band, then a Strat sounds good, side by side is when you realize the sonic difference, sort of like having a good solid state amp, then someone brings a good tube amp to jam, and you suddenly realize how much better the tube amp is.
theres so many easy ways to thicken a strat sound, and youll end up with more note definition even if the strat has humbuckers too. "solid state vs tube" is a bad comparison too, because valve/tube amps objectively put out more power than solid state.
I know what you mean, when i've played live, I have always often used a Les Paul, there is something about the big balls sound!!! I always say I like bringing some thunder!!!
plus I have yet to unplug a strat by stepping on the cable. steve vai just took leo fender's idea and moved it around on the body, and calls himself a genius
Whammy on a Strat not being Rock n Roll? Has he never heard Hendrix Experienced Album? Ritchie Blackmore’s In Rock album? Uli Jon Roth’s Tokyo Tapes Album? Lmao TOTALLY KICK ASS!!
I have jumped ship from ibby and any other mainstream brand and use kiesel....they don’t look as nice as ibby RGs and JEMs, but stainless steel frets and and prices that meet the quality is enough for me
His ibanez must be the less mojo guitar ever created. It's estéril guitar. I will licked to see him whith another kind of guitar . Sorry my englesh im from Argentina
Hey Mr. Vai, we agree! Strats and Les Pauls are definitely “not Rock N’ Roll enough”. Signed: Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Holly, and almost every other guitar player from the 50’’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.
Guittard Axel funny how you left out ZAPPA, its irrefutable,if you disagree than you know nothing about guitar playing. If you never saw him than you wouldnt know.
scott clark Buckethead has better tone is faster more melodic and delivers far more memorable riffs. Bucket plays more memorable out of this world riffs in a 30 min pike then most guitar players play in a life time and a lot more material and way better melodies...SV yawn....
Lol!! I thought you were speaking of his real face... I see bucket every tour just seen him a couple weeks ago he unleashes Bucket takes you to another place he’s phenomenal he doesn’t just play the guitar he unleashes it!!!
Strats or Les Pauls?!
R&M News I love Strats!
Gibson L5
Super strats!
R&M News Both! Both sound different than each other.
Super strats..
I can’t trust the opinion of someone that lost a guitar duel to Ralph Macchio
😂😂😂🤣😂🤣
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Even you would lose to the karate kid.can you even play?
He lost to himself
@@alieffauzanrizky7202 He co-wrote a piece to kick his own ass with! lol. That'd be a lot of fun :)
I love how people who probably don't even know what a C major is are here insulting Steve Vai. Poor laughable lives
BerzerK A C major what? Chord or scale? :)
Maybe if Vai, an obviously great player, wasn't giving such a dickish sounding interview. When you disrespect the entire history of guitar and rock n roll, people are going to notice. And yeah I even know C minor.
As someone with a thorough understanding of music theory, I can tell you that many dislike Vai's style of play for legitimate reasons. Just because you like his style doesn't mean anyone who "know(s) what a C major is" is guaranteed to enjoy his whammy abuse.
"probably"
@@marike1100 why? Because he has an opinion? Cmon.
Personally I dont like Les Pauls. Im a nobody, but just like Vai I can have an opinion. Which is fine. I dont think he is not recognizing the history of rock and roll just because he doesnt like strats or les pauls...
Why is no one acknowledging his yngwie impression
I didn't know so many of the things I like about guitars came from him! He's truly an innovator
i think thats the reason why Ibanez chose him and give him everything he wants. He's not just an innovator, he a freakin' monster when it comes to playing guitar.
Blackmore's Strat sound wasn't particularly thin sounding - listen to how fat it sounds on 'Made In Japan.'
Ronnie Nose Right, Ibánez guitars Sound thin and sterile even with their humbuckers, IMO
Salvador C.C.
I had an old RG550 DLX and the stock pickups were ok at best, but if you put some great pickups in then it wouldn't sound particularly thin. However these guitars don't really have their own sound, trying to be the best of both Fender and Gibson worlds. Satriani and Vai have their own sound but that's more about their ability than simply the guitar. So, I'd probably agree with you on that. I find PRS the same, they don't aprticularly have their own sound, a bit sterile, but that's just my opinion as there are plenty that love them.
Ronnie Nose Ritchie did make a strat sound much thicker than just about anybody.
Hendrix's strat sounded pretty damn thick to me on Voodoo Child (Slight Return)...
@@ronnienose8608 yeah but you can switch pick ups in every guitar.
I bought the flower pattern Jem in 1988 and after the initial hype wore off, I came to the realization that it was nearly unplayable for me, as the strings were spaced more widely (especially at the bridge) compared to guitars I had before. It took months of practice to adjust my playing to this new spacing. Eventually I traded it in for an Ibanez S-series and, although the string spacing was the same, it felt much more easy to play. Not to discount the fact that the S-series incorporated many of the innovations that the Jem introduced.
Just a thought, it seems to me every guitar has some some ethereal quality that gives it a unique personality. I have a 48 yo Strat, (bought it new), a Guild Bluesbird, Gibson Firebird, Les Paul Green Anaconda, Brownsville SG, Fretlight, and a B.C.Rich B-38 Acoustic, ( yellow to black burst, Brazilian Rosewood, crafted by Bernardo himself); each has its own voice. Carlos Santana has played Ibanez for decades. And what Jack White can do with that Airline, or any other instrument for that matter, is, I think, pretty awesome. My point is that I see nothing constructive about allocating time to criticize any particular guitar, and instead invest that irreplaceable time in looking, playing, listening and feeling the guitar in your hands. It could be one particular guitar would give you everything you need, or you may find the sound and feel of different types serves your needs, and enhances your joy in playing. There is no right or wrong, only what's right for you. John 5 fvors a Telecaster, and with respect for all, John 5 can outplay them all, any genre, is not pedantic or critical, and has managed to retain balance and perspective. Only my opinion of course, but I think John 5 is the 800 lb. gorilla in the room, and as good as Steve Vai is, Dweezil Zappa plays every bit as well, but with far greater depth of genuine feel, in harmony with the emotional content, and not just robotic technique. Perhaps a result of his own dedication, a touch of his father's seeming gift of empathizing with the emotional content of the music, and predisposition to make sure the music comes first. Of the some of the names I read, as good as they are, and they are good, I have their albums in my collection of LPS, not one of them are or will ever be the equal of the great Johnny Winter, Peter Green, or Terry Kath who blazed the trail and opened the doors, for them to follow. Respects to all
I think you should asked him of what he didn't like from Ibanez 😁.
Ibanez be like "whooaa Steve you moving against our contract boi" lol
ibanez does whatever he wants them to do, though.
@@Mephilis78 : and he's not even asking 'em for too fancy things : just look at what Ron Thal asked from Vigier!
Location.
Everytime I listen to Steve he comes-off as SO down-to-earth...a pleasure.
A real arrogant Snob.
So down To Earth huh ? Right.
Its Alright youre right.
Just depends on the style you play
Love this guy. His playing style is fun to watch, and his sound is like no other. End of story, Right! No His knowledge of the recording studio is what blows me away. Would like to meet him, but I believe I would act like a fan boy.
The humbucker added to a Strat type body was an absolute game changer ! First photo I actually saw on an album cover was the band Starz /Attention Shoppers about 1977 ! I thought it was fascinating !
Gotta say I am definitely a Les Paul player for sure. Always loved the look of a Tele though.
Try a Tele, They are unique!
Austin J. Trevathan I have a few les Paul's and only one strat that I dont play, les Paul's have something to em to me BUT a strat and tele have a sound you cant put with anything else just like a lp I respect em for that
Thank you Steve Vai for bringing us the RG!!!
If you're looking for a true hybrid between the two, I highly recommend the Fender FSR American Deluxe MAHOGANY body strat. It's been my go to for 4 yrs now. These were a limited run around 2006 that featured a cherry colored mahogany body, locking tuners, roller nut, HSS config with a high output HB (humbucker). Played through a Marshall plexi style amp, it's much closer to a Les Paul on the HB position sonically than ANY Ibanez strat I've ever played. Switch to the tex mex singles and you will get an identifiable strat sound, only a lot thicker and less quacky than an alder or ash body strat. The locking tuners really help it stay in tune with the occasional whammy bend, but if you like dive bombing don't expect it to stay in tune like a locking tremelo.
Been playing some for of RG since 99. Before that I used all sorts of gear but to this day, never found anything as easy to play and sounds as good.
Most of French Ibanez endorsees are well known for using Vigier guitars when in the studio or in private... Ever gave a try? If you want to listen to some Vigier gear, you can give a try with Shawn Lane, Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Stanley Jordan, etc etc etc...
Note that there are Fujigen Gakki (FGN is Ibanez's Japanese ghost-builder since 1972) guitars I truly love, some are Ibanez, some are non-Matsumoku Aria Pro-II, some are Roland's 80's G-synths, etc.
In both the RG, as well as the JEM ranges, you may find really fine guitars as well as serious crap, the Cort-Indonesia ghostbuilding is often very dubious... I even was scandalized when I tried the JEM Bad Horsie : it looked good, but take a €250 Cort made of crate-wood (basswood, poplar...), put DiMarzio PUs and it's as good as this model...
I long started to rely on small companies or artisans who are into high-end only...
I've had my red Japanese RG560 for 28 years now,, love the Wizard neck
Regardless, Vai is a Guitar God ! His days hanging out with Zappa surely influenced his style , approach to the guitar and strangeness !
Yes, Zappa’s, “What’s new in Baltimore” sounds similar to Vai’s “Sisters”
Steve, 😌God luv him, just taking credit for designing: -
• the superstrat
• coil splits
• scalloped frets
So, I'll give him
•24 frets
• deep cutaways
• monkey grip!
• and angular strat design
(tho, I dislike the latter. Round edge strats & jazzmasters are my absolutely favourite guitar body)
Steve IS SO AUTHENTIC. ALWAYS A CLASS ACT. 🤘
With great difficulty he allows himself to give some credit to King Edward
Shieldk1 Lothbrook : Steve also took some "inspiration" from yngwie.
Shieldk1 Lothbrook he's been saying how great Eddie is as soon as he heard him, he's always talking about other great 🎸 ists
How can one NOT give credit to the great EVH?
He came up with everything on the guitar, evh says the same thing, and many others. Funny how they all came up with these cool features
EVH trem doesn’t pull sharp. Steve’s claw dug out wood making it possible.
The monkey grip.
The 2 and 4 positions were new to H H guitars.
Routing of the lower horn for better access to the higher frets is a mod Steve did to his “Green Meanie” Strat.
The scalloping of the high frets is something you don’t see anywhere else.
Fluorescent pink had never been incorporated in a guitar that did well.
The vine inlay wasn’t new but it was new on a stock production guitar.
24 frets were somewhat new.
The Jack plate location was new.
The first guitar Ibanez sent to Steve (snakeskin) and the Jem clearly show the new innovations.
I look at the strat and I see a kind of classic cool 50's car vibe, that kind of classic look & feel. It's something that has aged like a fine wine.
A lot of this argument is
what is best for YOU and YOUR style and sound YOU want. Personally I love Stratocasters and SG's. I don't like Les pauls, I don't like the fact they are often heavy, awkward to play, sound too thick and are a pain in the ass to keep in tune or play in alternate tunings and to get up to the higher frets is a chore. I dont like Telecasters either, i dont like the way they look I hate the way they feel to play but they sound great. Ibanez guitars mostly look very very pretty, but I don't like their necks at all, like wafer paper and often really flat, but i can see why people like them. For me the guitar in that "modern or shredding kind vein i really dig is a hardtail charvel. they are wonderful guitars to play especially the new San Dimas ones released recently. Funny enough shredding is not my style, im a blues guy but I love the tones it has for blues they are very colorful and warm.
Les Paul is hard to play,but if you played a long time Les Paul after that when played another brand guitar that guitar it more easy to play. Fact that why I love Les Paul so much
Been playing guitar 30 years and have spent way to much and had way to much gear. Various guitars, pedals, rack gear, amps, combos, cabinets. Through it all I have finally figured out what I was always looking for. It’s what works for you period. No matter the hype, reviews and advertising. It’s what works for you. I have the most simple and bulletproof rig now and it sounds and works for me better than all the $1000’s I spent over the years. For me it’s...keep it simple stupid. Most of your sound comes from within yourself.
He says him doing a split pick-up was unique, but didn't Jimmy Page's Les Paul have them too way back when?
Steve is such a kind humble person. He signed my RG and put a wicked eye on it. I will say the RG does have Led Paul sound. The wizard neck is nice and thin like a 1960 les Paul classic. I did put a Ibanez performer in a les Paul. I love it. It is out of phase with the paf pro I have in the bridge position.
I don't see how one can't like the Les Paul, but whatever his reason, he obviously knows what works for him. He's a genius on guitar.
He said he liked the les paul tho, they just didnt feel right in his hands.
I like all guitars and want them all. Cars too.
The guitar does not matter so much to me......I have a Squier Strat that sounds better than a Gibson LP.......pickups and amps matter most.....I think all guitars are fun to play.....strats, LP, super-strats, hollow and semi-hollows, teles.......all good. Feel is completely different...some guitars just feel good. Still, I love variety and different tones
A Squier that sounds better than a Gibson LP.........Sorry I don't believe you........You might not want to spend money in a high range guitar but a Squier will ever be a low quality guitar........save the money and buy the one you really want.
@@josemariacasaslentijo1588 ... Stock Les Paul Studios are not all that. They would be a lot better with modifications. I have owned a lot of guitars. I do side by side comparisons. My squire has all Seymour Duncan pickups and it sounded better than my stock LP Studio. I am just stating that cheaper guitars can sound pretty good and some expensive guitars are not worth the dime. I traded that Les Paul for a Charvel Pro-mod DK24. If you believe me or not is not really the point. My Gibson SG with mini humbuckers has a ton more balls than the Gibson Studio LP did. I love the look of Les Pauls, but most are not worth the dime.
Strat for the feel, Les Paul for the sound. That's why I have an Ibanez Jem and a Suhr Pete Thorn 😜
Sooooo many critical comments, yet not a one from a guitar player anyone has ever heard of...
rapid13 just cause someone is not as accomplished as someone else doesn’t mean they can’t give criticism
fame doesnt mean credibillity, E.g the kardashians
@@bt3743 Probably a good thing I didn't say "famous" then, eh?
Man I really do wish manufacturers 20 years later would stop putting the first volume knob right where you would strum.
No more picked pinky volume swells with delay?
How can you say Telecasters and Strats were not R'n'R when they were made just before R'n'R took off. Black Sabbath were Rock. I suppose many will value what he says because he's considered a great guitar player. Well there are pros and cons for most guitars.
I think he was referring to their thinner sound, in witch case he ain’t wrong, you’ll certainly get a chunkier harder tone with a les Paul/Sg
I remember way back in the day, when G Center in San Jose had a Jem prototype with natural wood finish w/ a strait route handle cut that was about 10" long. They also had some of the first 50 signed green meanie's. But IMHO, I think the original floral pattern is bee's knee's if you're a wanker.
I vividly remember the 1st Guitar Player magazine Vai cover, the first "Alien Love Secrets" newsletters, the "Tips n Tricks" lessons package, Pill, Flexable Leftovers, Salamanders sheet music, Stucco Blue Studio, etc. (I still have it all in a closet filled with boxes of the first 30+ years of GP mag and every guitar tab known to man) Those were "Good Times" for sure.
Its a 103° today... make me wish i was in Redwood city
i still have those too lol
Santa Clause gave me a subscription to Guitar Player Magazine every year for 30+ years. (He had to of read my letter! How would he know that’s what I wanted for X-mas?)
Then I bought the earlier issues from Dan at Guitar Showcase!
They take up my whole closet. That’s why my clothes are always wrinkled.
I'm no Steve Vai... [ who is ? ] but an angled humbucker in a Strat changes everything...
- stacked coils, hot rails or minibuckers are a revelation - run a 5 way in stock strat mode that splits the coils and recombines them as humbuckers - add a mini toggle to give yourself another 5 choices - 3 for HH Gibson and 2 for HSH Ibanez wiring choices
my Les Paul is 90% perfect but my ibanez s470 has an awesome neck joint and high fret access.
I've never played a Strat that I really loved. I've had a few great Les Pauls though. The best was actually a mid-range Epiphone LP. All that said, Ibanez is my brand. I've tried to step away and try something else for a while but I always come back. I used to have a couple of the John Petrucci Model Ibanez guitars and they were just amazing to play and sounded awesome. I'd love to get my hands on one of the RG-770FM Japan only models which were made from left over Petrucci Model parts.. I don't like Steve Vai's JEM Models only because I hate the middle pickups. That's just my opinion and I'm sure it's great for other players. I do LOVE the Dimarzio Evolution pickups though... come to think of it, does Dimarzio make a pickup that isn't awesome? If they do, I've never heard of it!
the guy who taught me to play had an ancient gold top. He called it Fred because it had one Dimarzio pickup in the bridge position.
Dimarzio pickups are underrated.
Eddie created the Super Strat and Vai made it readily available to the masses.
I think SRV might show you that strats can sound FAT
for me the fattest sounding Strat goes to Ritchie Blackmore
Alex Jackson not as fat as a humbucker you know that.
You damn right about that! I seen the night he unfortunately passed which happens to fall on this day! Wow weird how it connects some times!
nobody says it does . but people who don't like Fender enjoy squawking about that . every player has their own preference , and it cant always be based on a fat Les Paul sound . but I do have a great 1971 Les Paul that is faded sunburst and I like it !
SRV was the ultimate in 'punchiness' with those 0.13's.... but it is not fat.
had strats..have a les paul and its great..
that being said i prefer ibanez's and always will
"And here comes the ICEPICK IN THE FOREHEAD!"
I really tried to be a Ibanez guy but those early rg Floyd's don't work I wish I knew that before I did a scallop and fret level in the end it was never even played once
you can always replace the floyd rose for another one. the top floyd rose trems are Ibanez EDGE, lo-pro EDGE or gotoh ge1996t. I heard schaller has a good floyd too. I myself use the gotoh ge1996t and oh boy does that trem work nice. think about it
Mot1onM4n93 I thought about it but with 7 other guitars it got traded for some fidelitron pickups sad cuz I really did want to do that but when I took the neck off there was cracking and when I put it back on it made cracking noise so I just stopped liking it all together
And then there's AZ
Funny how he mentioned strats not fitting the vibe of Black Sabbath when Tony Iommi's main guitar for the debut self titled album was in fact, a Strat, before it broke and he switched to the SG
lessies and strats are both imperfect and their popularity is probably more to do with legacy associations with classic historical acts - tele is a better design. And my favorite of all is the ES (though a smaller body 339 rather than 335) - after owning about 20 guitars i've ditched everything except 1 ES (339) and 1 tele [Japanese OEM - Fujigen - actually made in the same factory that makes Vai's and Satriani's signature Ibanez models.]
Single coils have a wider response. Not needed for a lot of styles like metal. But more headroom. So far noiseless single coils are a great middle of the road between the two.
Only guitar that I dont like is Gibson SG. My must have list is: One SSS style Stratocaster, One Super Strat with HSH and ES335 style. I dont care about brands. If I found good luthier I will order one of these to make me high quality instrument. Only thing that want to experiment on these are the different pickups. Want to try some active EMGs and etc. :)
“Input jack” :D
If I was a better guitar player and had a signature guitar model, I would go with Ibanez. I would have the lion claw cutaway for the Floyd Rose. H-S pickup setup a telecaster neck pickup and a humbucker in the bridge. The body would be a jem body without the Handel. A kill switch button on the bottom horn. It’d be black body with mirror pickguard.
I've never really understood why a lot of guys come out with a "signature" guitar, then when you see them play live, their signature guitar has been modified even more. Why not sell THAT guitar?
Does anyone here know if the JEM can have just the neck and bridge pickups on together - seems to me that was always one of the flaws of the 5 way strat switch design. I'm thinking maybe Stve thought of that.
PS. He seems like a very pleasant and well balanced guy. Great interview.
It's just how you solder it together to the switch, look up the wiring diagram for your model.
What they did for steve is they split the coils and wired them together differently for the middle + neck/bridge half of the humbucker. Pretty ingenious actually.
I'm about to rewire one of mine to just use the single coils in the 2 & 4th positions instead of combining them with the middle coil, just have to pick which guitar I'm going to play with.
I would love to hear these guys playthrough single coils without all the effects they play through like Blackmore does then we would see how good they really are you got to be on your A-game when your guitar doesn't distort and distort and distort just a thought don't get me wrong I love the way Steve plays
Darren Lay Blackmore is way off his A game these days...in fact tarnishing his legacy along with his big mouth. The new rainbow is so aweful from the band to B's weak sound and playing. Btw, imo he was one of the best....then.
Exactly, Blackmores playing is so precise, brilliant. Blackmore, Hendrix and Uli Jon Roth come to kind for whammy use on a strat back in the last 60’s & 70’s.
Les Paul axcess is with a floyd rose...
The 24 fret neck moves the pickup off the harmonic (at the 24th fret) And the double locking floating trem is a tuning pain in the arse.
A 22 fret Jem with 3 single coils and a stock trem would be nice! You can call it the Vai Sky.
set it up right, problem solved
I like a superstrat with les paul humbukers
an Ibanez advertisement
Thnx for changing your voice
Does anyone know the model name of the light blue one he's holding?
Any guitar I'm having a good time with is my preference.
What's he talking about? The first Zepplin songs were recorded on a Telecaster, by Jimmy Paige! That was rock n roll. If it wasn't I sure don't know what was!!!
Steve did mention that in this specific video, he isnt ignorant
Michael H to be honest...I heard that and turned it off. Seemed like a really stupid thing for him to say!
Wasn't the base Ibanez design already there when steve vai came around?. Did he really came up with the characteristic angular modern Ibanez design?, that standard recognizable Ibanez RG design?.
The Rg came out of the jem
That's why there's PRS
Bob Builder I have no problem whatsoever shredding on the PRS, most Ibanez feel like razor blades to me, nothing to hold on to, and the radius is way too flat, but all depends on your own comfort off course, I own multiple guitars completely different from each other and don't have problems playing any of them, but I don't have any Ibanez I admit, the brand I can never warm up to.
I personally like both strats and les pauls (although I would rather have a jazzmaster and an SG from those brands). But I hate the way PRS guitars play. I don't know what it is but something about the five or six I have picked up just repelled me. Of course this is personal preference, but that's the way it is for me. The best guitars I find to play are (rather controversially to the rest of the guitar community) are Chapmans, Agiles, Vintage (the brand) guitars and things like that. Just food for thought that people need to take into account is not everything works for everybody, and to stop critisicing other people's preferences.
S2000 squad Same for me on the PRS. I really wanted to like my CE-22, which was a beautifully made axe, but playability-wise it kinda left me uninspired. It's just a totally different beast. One big pro which I miss is the quick and easy restringing though. You can almost do it blindfolded with those tuners.
John Galt I have a fairly good and strong vibrato, but I find it’s quite hard to achieve it on a flat neck like Ibanez’s, compared to a Strat’s neck. Ibanez necks are really good for legatos though.
PRS makes gorgeous guitars. They're just not my taste, so I own none of them. I love all guitars. Except acoustics. Yuck.
Shit, I have a 7 string Ibanez RG sitting next to me and until the end of the video didn't know how much of a hand you had in causing that particular guitar to exist
They just released the 25th Anniversary 7 Strings last year. Steve is the reason IMO that we got 7 strings on a mass scale at all. Very innovative guitarist. That Passion & Warfare album was fantastic. I got it the day it came out as Steve was my childhood guitar hero. Still admire the hell out of him to this day.
hahaha
to sum up this vid : he wanted guitar that looks like a strat but with less rounded edges, sounds like a les paul and has a whammy bar. Hopefully I saved ya some time.
I respect his unique sound and with 12 inch fingers he can pretty much stretch from the 3rd fret to the 12th. The frail, whispy sound just never grew on me. It is like he is fretting on rice paper. Very light and he keeps his runs going too long without diggin in which makes his sound even more "delicate. Still he makes the best rock orgasm face there is.
Am still looking for my kind of guitar maybe one day I will find it...
@Chad Kunka I bought the Fender Stratocaster , I always had a fender and am so use to them and somehow they fit me the best...
I'm watching this while taking a crap. Why? Because I want to be prepared I case Steve Vai makes me shit myself
Might be a fine guitar, but it still doesn't compare to a Esteban.
mano a mano 😂😂😂
with the laminated mahagony back!!!
They all have their own sound but the Les Paul is by far the most beautiful of any. Carved top, flame maple and the curves of a woman.
What a cool guy, omg.
And come one Steve, traditional electric guitars do not have input jacks!
mine does actually
i modded it so that there's a stereo 1/8" jack for lights
Agree. That’s why I had one made for me.
Music Man Silhouette. Best solid body bolt neck guitar ever. I have 3 of them. All have maple fingerboards two are HSH. The 20th Anniversary has 2 humbuckers. I noticed he mentioned the RG. I have one of those with 2 humbuckers and the Ibanez licensed Rose bridge in the closet. I also have a Mexican Strat HSS that I fixed by polishing the frets and reshaping the neck. Now it feels like my Silhouette guitars except it has a 21 fret neck. My other electric is a brand new Phred Dockstar III. I am just getting used to it. So far I like it.
I have 2 ibanez guitars one prestige and a s series. And i have Yamaha guitars rgx and Pacifica. I perfer the rgx from all my guitars
This story tells where Ibanez RG came from..
You can't sit with a Les Paul,true. That's why I bought a vintage SG many years ago. Every guitar mentioned here has a purpose.
"Ok, now we are gonna have you hold the guitar really strangely while flashing devil horn masonic hand sign to signal our devotion to satan."
Les paul
@2:18 do you mean a superstrat?
"YoU fOrGoT tHe MoSt ImPoRtAnT pArT!" Let the man talk.
Am I crazy or does Steve Vai sound a lot like, comedian Kevin Pollak when he's not doing impressions?
Thanks for the video, but more adds would be great.
To me there is nothing sexier than a Les Paul
Starts cool, fun to play , but when you get on stage along with someone who can play ,you want the Les Paul, so much more balls, makes the Fender sound thin , light weight, if you're the only guitar player in a band, then a Strat sounds good, side by side is when you realize the sonic difference, sort of like having a good solid state amp, then someone brings a good tube amp to jam, and you suddenly realize how much better the tube amp is.
I would say it depends. A band with 2 LPs can quickly turn into mud bath.
Thats true
ever heard of the strokes?
theres so many easy ways to thicken a strat sound, and youll end up with more note definition even if the strat has humbuckers too. "solid state vs tube" is a bad comparison too, because valve/tube amps objectively put out more power than solid state.
I know what you mean, when i've played live, I have always often used a Les Paul, there is something about the big balls sound!!! I always say I like bringing some thunder!!!
5:38 "Practical input jack"? Uhhhh, no, it's an output jack. Basic signal flow. Jeez.
plus I have yet to unplug a strat by stepping on the cable. steve vai just took leo fender's idea and moved it around on the body, and calls himself a genius
Was it that late?
Whammy on a Strat not being Rock n Roll? Has he never heard Hendrix Experienced Album? Ritchie Blackmore’s In Rock album? Uli Jon Roth’s Tokyo Tapes Album? Lmao TOTALLY KICK ASS!!
I have jumped ship from ibby and any other mainstream brand and use kiesel....they don’t look as nice as ibby RGs and JEMs, but stainless steel frets and and prices that meet the quality is enough for me
Stevey Ray Vaughn strat greatest sound ever known I play Ibanez but the fender stratocaster and telecaster monstrous sound all by itself.
I dont Care what Steve Vai says .
Fender and Gibson are the Best Guitars.
Supernatural 9R they’re really not. Well not anymore at least
slash never talk about fender offensively
Forgive me for not knowing but is Ibanez a Japanese brand or USA?
Robert L Smith japanese brand
Mark Riffalo That's what I thought thanks for verifying that
Vai is a badass but he can't do what Stanley Jordan does. Very few can.
His ibanez must be the less mojo guitar ever created. It's estéril guitar. I will licked to see him whith another kind of guitar .
Sorry my englesh im from Argentina
Steve Vai would hate and love my Rebelcaster
Senior Moment perhaps ? How did Frank Zappa and Jeff Beck NOT make this list ??? Huh Wtf ?
Hey Mr. Vai, we agree! Strats and Les Pauls are definitely “not Rock N’ Roll enough”.
Signed: Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Holly, and almost every other guitar player from the 50’’s, 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s.
Vai is God!
John Salzillo no Zappa was God,and Steve was the only one who ever played on the right sude of God.
Guthrie Govan, Petrucci, Satriani, Buckethead, Allan holdsworth, Tosin and more are as good as Vai or more better at guitar y'know
Guittard Axel funny how you left out ZAPPA, its irrefutable,if you disagree than you know nothing about guitar playing. If you never saw him than you wouldnt know.
he is one facelift from looking like buckethead
scott clark vice versa actually since he was around before
scott clark Buckethead has better tone is faster more melodic and delivers far more memorable riffs. Bucket plays more memorable out of this world riffs in a 30 min pike then most guitar players play in a life time and a lot more material and way better melodies...SV yawn....
scott clark when was the last time you seen bucketheads face?
Buckethead is a persona- so his face is the mask. Kind of like KISS.
Lol!! I thought you were speaking of his real face... I see bucket every tour just seen him a couple weeks ago he unleashes Bucket takes you to another place he’s phenomenal he doesn’t just play the guitar he unleashes it!!!