Couls Vai one day switch to another guitar???

[firegarden]

Everybody knows now that John Petrucci has switched to Earnie Ball guitars, Does anybody think that Vai might also switch to another one day???

[Vaibanez]

Only if he suffers a really bad closed head injury :biggrin:

J>

[jem7vwh]

I'm sure he could. *So many folks have. *Clapton played lots of Gibsons until the boys at Fender offerred a little more cash. *Petrucci is a good example. *Frank Gambale is another. *The bottom line, it would be tough because Ibanez completely tailored a line to Vai's specifications. *In the case of guys like Petrucci and Gambale, they were given modified versions of existing models so they might have cause to want more control over the design of a model, but Vai apparently had/has a ton of control over the direction of the JEM so I would be surprised to see him move away from Ibanez guitars. *But it's not impossible.

[darren wilson]

You don't think Ibanez had the RG body style on the design table before they started their relationship with Vai?

[alienx]

Ibanez and Vai collaboration lasted over 10 years by now and I hope it will last at least another 10 years. What makes me optimistic is the fact that players like John Scofield and George Benson are still playing Ibanez guitars. If Steve would come up with a totaly different guitar than the JEM or *UV I think Ibanez would develop that axe too.

[Joel Lyndgohrd]

The thing is that Ibanez just *makes the best guitars available on the market today, so he would be silly to change to another brand.

But then again, cash can do silly things to people...

But I'm sure we all can trust Vai to be faithful to our belowed IBANEZ JEM guitars... right?

[hamand]

anything is possibile. I think Ibanez know they're onto a good thing, but also both parties seem very happy with each other.

Eddie switched from Ernie Ball to Peavey and the guitars looked identical. I don't know if Steve moved to e.g. Peavey he'd be allowed to take the beautiful design with him.

ham.



(Edited by hamand at 9:04 pm on Dec. 27, 2000)

[bob oakman]

What other company would put Steve’s blood in a guitar?

I think their relationship is pretty secure, but if he ever was seduced to another guitar manufacturer, I’m sure Ibanez would continue to make nice guitars.

[firegarden]

Well I hope he stays with ibanez coz I think everyone will agree when I say that the JEM and UNIVERSE are simply two of the best in the world

[vaijem777]

I sincerely hope that Vai does stick with Ibanez, but...Reb Beach was another artist that Ibanez basically designed a guitar for from the ground up. *The Voyager was based on the RG, but had some obvious differences (Steinberger-esque back notch, pointier horns, solid Rosewood neck, etc.) *Reb's since gone to Pensa-Suhr. *Of course, he's never been as high-profile as Vai, but...just goes to show anything could happen! *I've got my fingers crossed though that there'll be new JEMs/UVs coming out for many years to come!

[Christopher Chen]

Reb never left Ibanez, he was ditched by them. When 80s metal and winger started to die out...thanks a hell lot Stewart from Beavis and Butthead; sale of RBMs dropped as well. As a resulted Ibanez dropped Reb; a perfectly GREAT guitarist! But I'm pretty sure those Suhrs are much better than the Ibanez RBMs, he's only got 2 Ibanez guitars left! A Blazer and a Koa RBM!

As for Vai, I don't think he's going anywhere!