JEM77BFP Note - Features a paper print of the blue floral pattern. It's a slightly out of focus photo, laminated & bursted over.
JEM77BRMR Note - Dubbed the "Bad Horsie" in Ibanez' 2005 literature, this guitar is a production version of the mirror-finish JEM Vai has been playing for a a few years now. The top is a vinyl mirror, like what is featured on the pickguards of the UV777BK and JEM7DBK.
Notable differences of the production model to Vai's mirror JEM include:
» Vai's has a Fernandes sustainer, the production model does not
» Vai's has an LED fretboard from Martin Sims, the production model does not
» Vai's guitar body was originally routed for the Edge/LoPro hence the new EdgePro will not retrofit.
» Vai doesn't have to pay over $2k to get one shipped to his door ;-P
JEM77FP Note - Every JEM77FP Floral Pattern made features an actual floral pattern cloth on the body front, body rear and headstock. The fabric used for the pattern is bonded to the body, painted over black on the edges and then fully clear coated. It comes in several varieties: three body, three headstock and three rear-body floral patterns exist for 27 possible combos. The actual Floral "Pattern" cloth was modeled after the actual curtains from Vai's parents home in LI, NY. His first few (pre-production prototype) Florals were said to be made with the actual curtains.
To dispel a few myths
None of the JEM77FPs sold were made with Vai's actual curtains.
I REPEAT... every JEM77FP ever made has actual cloth. This writeup here on Vai.com is WRONG and the source of confusion. Kindly fix it guys :D
The Floral pattern. Well the fabric first came from a place in the USA that we tracked down from Steve's samples from his house. We purchased it in sheets that were a little bigger than a guitar body pre cut. There are three body patterns and three headstock patterns and each could be on any guitar. Then that company went out of business so we reproduced the same fabric patterns in Japan but we needed to purchase a life time supply, so they still have it and still make the FP's made for other counties, I wish they sold here (USA) but they aren't. So the answer is there are three patterns that could be on any guitar so some out there are identical - courtesy of Ibanez sources 2002
JEM77FP Note - the JEM77FP was re-imported into the USA market mid-year and announced at Summer NAMM 2003 as the JEM77FP "15th Anniversary of the Floral pattern". Each FP imported is expected to have at least a Steve Vai signed cover/backplate. In Summer 2003, Hoshino USA was bringing in the last 108 JEM77FPs then there would be a 100% discontinuation in all markets of the JEM77FP.
JEM77GMC/PMC Note - Custom multicolor finish for Ibanez by About Time Designs (ATD), the painters for the JEM2KDNA (Darren Johansen, DMI). Each has a unique swirl color pattern and scheme.