Vai in guitarist - what guitar is this?!

[Chud]

Sorry about how small this attachment is, but i'm sure some of you have got this magazine at home

What's been keeping me mad for a while, is trying to figure out what guitar Steve Vai is holding on the front of the April 2005 Guitarist.

It's definatly not a JEM (no Monkey handle etc) although it's not a RG from the RG series as far as i can tell.

On the headstock, i can just about make out the words "Prestige" which i guess shows that it is from the RG series, but the scratchplate and Tree of life inlay (i think - not sure about the inlays. They look like dots aswell) don't show up in the series.

Any ideas guys?

[Algiman]

I've been wondering that.

There is no tree of life on it, just plain dots. The pickups are DiMarzio/IBZ ones so I suspect it is just a standard RG prestige not available in the UK.

Strange one for him to have for a cover shoot though.

[whatshisname]

Looks like a RG2550 to me.

[sam_at2001]

The headstock says Prestige on it. btw, I bought this mag today and its awesome

[Algiman]

Originally Posted by whatshisname

Looks like a RG2550 to me.

I agree, confusing because it is metallic blue, and because Vai is holding it. I guess it was just one that just happened to be available for the shoot.

[whatshisname]

http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=RG2550E

They were available in blue, last year.

[Rotti]

They're just trying to sell some.

[Algiman]

Really? Never saw one before, maybe they were not released in Europe in that colour. Just as well or I would have bought yet another one!

[whatshisname]

Then they SHOULD have had him pose with a 1550! We NEED maple fingerboards!!

[whatshisname]

Originally Posted by Algiman

Really? Never saw one before, maybe they were not released in Europe in that colour. Just as well or I would have bought yet another one!

Yes, really. I cannot tell a lie.

[Algiman]

I very surprised that they (Ibanez) didn't use this as an opportunity to market the new Jem. Seems very strange to have him poncing about with a guitar not available in the UK on a magazine cover in the UK.

[whatshisname]

That does seem strange... But, it's not like every single OTHER picture that's been taken of him, in the past several months, doesn't have him posing with the BRMR.

[Chud]

Originally Posted by Algiman

I've been wondering that.

There is no tree of life on it, just plain dots. The pickups are DiMarzio/IBZ ones so I suspect it is just a standard RG prestige not available in the UK.

Strange one for him to have for a cover shoot though.

Ah yes, i forgot to mention those pickups

[whatshisname]

Here's a closer look, courtesy of Rich!

http://www.ibanezrules.com/new/rg2550.htm

[Chud]

Originally Posted by whatshisname

Here's a closer look, courtesy of Rich!

http://www.ibanezrules.com/new/rg2550.htm

Bingo!