Private collection of guitars & more to be auctioned
Julien’s Auctions has announced Property From the Archives of Steve Vai, an exclusive presentation honoring the legendary rock maestro, guitar pioneer, renowned axe-slinger for David Lee Roth, Whitesnake, and Frank Zappa and collaborator with artists from Public Image Ltd. to Alice Cooper. The auction will take place Saturday, November 12th, day two of Icons & Idols: Rock ‘N’ Roll, the world-record-breaking auction house to the stars’ three-day event running Friday, November 11th to Sunday, November 13th live at the Hard Rock Cafe New York and online at juliensauctions.com.
It’s also been announced that a portion of the proceeds will benefit 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.
The auction will feature over 300 lots showcasing the rock and metal icon’s instruments, gear, handwritten music, creative documents, wardrobe, and memorabilia from his groundbreaking recordings, live performances and media appearances, as well as artwork, personal items, and a custom motorcycle, coming directly from Steve Vai’s home and studios in Southern California.
Among the artifacts available at the auction include “Evo IV” (SV 28), a white 2012 Ibanez JEM7VWH electric guitar, created for Steve Vai as a backup for his main axe, Evo, that was used extensively for rehearsals.
Vai’s “Sofia” (SV 83) is a blue and red 2011 Ibanez Custom Shop JEM77 electric guitar created as the result of a contest in which people could submit potential designs for the JEM. Steve Vai selected this one, and two in this finish were made: one for him and one for the designer, Alessandro Serrago. This instrument can be seen being played by Vai live on stage during the Experience Hendrix tour in 2011.
“Ode” (SV 44) is a mirror-fronted JEM BRMR electric guitar that was part of the first batch of such instruments delivered to Vai in 2005 for his use on the Real Illusions tour. This particular instrument has remained the cleanest and most pristine of Vai’s BRMRs.
“Lonlin” (SV 71) is a custom-made seven string electric guitar gifted to Vai by Bill Conklin sometime in the late 1980s/early 1990s. This dramatic instrument features a hand-carved cobra snake body in purple and tan with hieroglyph inlays on the fingerboard. Vai says of the instrument: “It actually plays very well, but it can bite at times if you play the wrong notes.”
“Paulie” (SV 334), a white 2018 Ibanez JEM 7VP, is the first prototype of the JEM 7VP, with headstock hand labeled and signed by Vai.
“Coroza” (SV 40) is a rare black Ibanez 6/7 double-neck electric guitar with “S” style body that, as a spot model, never appeared in the catalog.
A circa 2000s Carvin Vai Legacy half stack amplifier (VL100 and C412) which was used in The Mothership studio, located in the Hollywood Hills. Portions of Passion and Warfare and Sex and Religion, the entirety of Alien Love Secrets and Fire Garden, as well as the guitars for Slip of the Tongue and his contributions to the PCU score were recorded there.
IBANEZ JEMINI DISTORTION PEDAL PROTOTYPE ($300 – $500) (photo right)
Vai’s Ibanez Jemini Distortion Pedal prototype is one of six given to Vai by Ibanez as part of the process in creating the Jemini signature pedal. Features six gold knobs on aluminum box with on/off switches for each of its two circuits based on the TS9 and DS1 with orange dot markers to designate preferred settings.
A sheet of landscape score paper on which Vai has handwritten transcription notes for Frank Zappa’s “Black Page #1,” the notoriously complex drum and melodic percussion solo performed live by Terry Bozzio and others. A young Vai sent a full transcription of “Black Page #1” to Zappa, along with a recording by his band Morning Thunder, which would lead to his first professional musical engagement transcribing music for Zappa at $10 a page.
A pair of DiFabrizio brand black cowboy boots with silver detailing worn by Steve Vai while on tour with David Lee Roth.
A custom-made black sleeveless robe with Vai hieroglyph symbols stitched throughout worn by Steve Vai extensively while on tour. The robe can additionally be seen being worn by Vai in the music video for “Deep Down into the Pain,” from his album Sex and Religion.
