Julien’s Auctions has teamed up with Steve Vai for an auction called Property from the archives of Steve Vai. The auction will take place both online and in New York at Hard Rock Cafe, and will include the following gear:
- A white 2012 Ibanez JEM 7VWH electric guitar, “EVO IV” (SV 28)
- An “Experience Hendrix” stage-played custom blue and red swirl finish 2011 Ibanez JEM77 electric guitar, “Sofia” (SV 83)
- A mirror-fronted 2005 Ibanez BRMR electric guitar created for Vai’s use on the Real Illusions tour, “Ode” (SV 44)
- A #1 prototype white 2018 Ibanez JEM 7VP, “Paulie” (SV 334)
- A c. 1980s-1990s custom purple Conklin 7-string electric guitar with hand-carved cobra body and hieroglyph inlays, “Lonlin” (SV 71)
- A rare black 1999 Ibanez STW 6/7 doubleneck electric guitar that never appeared officially in the Ibanez catalog, “Coroza” (SV 40)
- A Carvin Vai Legacy half stack amplifier used by Vai in his studio, “The Mothership”
- A prototype Ibanez Jemini distortion pedal, one of six given to Vai during the creation of his signature pedal
- A rare 1976 EMT 250 Digital Reverb Multieffects Unit, one of only 250 produced
- A rough transcription of Frank Zappa’s “Black Page #1,” which Vai prepared for Zappa to demonstrate his transcription skills, leading to his employment as a transcriber and later on a member of Zappa’s touring band
- A collection of original album artwork by cartoonist Michael Purcell, created for the release of Vai’s debut album, Flex-Able in 1984
- A pair of black and silver DiFabrizio cowboy boots, worn extensively by Vai while on tour with David Lee Roth
- A dark purple floral custom Terri King Façade velvet suit, worn by Vai while performing on tour with Whitesnake
- A collection of studio documents and ephemera from the recording of the song “Answers” from Vai’s groundbreaking album, Passion and Warfare
- A stage- and “Down Deep Into the Pain” music video-worn custom hieroglyph robe
- An International Music Festival stage-worn ensemble consisting of black leather pants and a colorful floral design silk shirt
- An original 2021 Bernie Grundman Mastering reference disc for Vai’s album, Inviolate, together with signed album art and draft album cover
- A completely chopped and customized 1976 Harley Davidson motorcycle, transformed into the “Vai Mobile” by Arlen Ness and Stan Schiller and ridden by Vai throughout the 1990s-2000s
Check it out here. A portion of the proceeds will go to Kicking The Stigma, the Indianapolis Colts and the Jim Irsay family’s national initiative to raise awareness about mental health disorders and to remove the stigma too often associated with these illnesses.
