Steve Vai’s $60k childhood home practice rig is up for sale
Here’s to being one (expensive) step closer to playing like the master.
Image: ZUMA Press, Inc / Alamy
The ‘childhood home practice rig’ of guitar legend Steve Vai is currently up for sale, though its contents — and price — might just surprise you.
Featuring the Ibanez JEM7V-WH, Carvin Legacy II, Boss DS-1, Boss DD-5, and Dunlop CryBaby 95Q, the swanky rig isn’t exactly what comes to mind when one hears the words ‘childhood’ and ‘practice’.
But it all makes sense when you learn that this is the rig the guitarist would use to prep for his East Coast gigs and tours.
“Not too long ago, I visited my childhood home on Long Island,” Vai told Reverb. “And I realised that, through the years, I would leave gear there that I would use when I was in Long Island for all sorts of different things.”
Among the impressive stash is a 1998 Ibanez JEM7V-WH Steve Vai signature electric that the musician used for practising in hotels while on tour. Signed twice by Steve — once at the back of the headstock and the other behind the body, the guitar eventually found its way to Vai’s childhood home on Long Island for safekeeping.
“I put a lot of hours on it when I was in New York,” the guitarist said of the axe, which currently lists for just under $50,000.
Next, we have a “near mint” condition Carvin Legacy II 2×12” combo amp, which can be yours to own for $7,999.
Also up for sale are three pedals Vai used to practise and write while visiting his family in Long Island: we have a Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, a Boss DD-5 Digital delay pedal, and a Dunlop Crybaby 95Q wah pedal.
Each pedal is said to be in “very good” condition, and comes with a listed price of $499.
In addition to the practice rig from his childhood home, Vai is also parting with a modded, scalloped-fretboard Fender Stratocaster signed by all of the guitarists of the supergroup Generation Axe, including Tosin Abasi, Nuno Bettencourt, Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Steve himself.
Besides missing its original tremolo bar, the guitar is reportedly in “very good” condition, and has a listed value of $8,999.
The sale is hosted exclusively on Reverb by All Music Inc’s Musicdungeon.
Learn more at reverb.com