2023 Ibanez PIA77-BON Steve Vai Signature Brilliance of Now - Artist Pick 5874

Ibanez PIA77-BON Steve Vai Signature – Brilliance of Now (Artist Pick)

The Altitude Summary

Celebrating 35 years of Steve Vai’s groundbreaking partnership with Ibanez, the limited-edition PIA77-BON is a striking work of art that fuses elite craftsmanship, expressive design, and high-performance playability. Hand-built in Japan by FujiGen and finished with a one-of-a-kind custom swirl by David Bonvillain of Bonvillain Design Studio, this model continues the legacy of Vai’s most iconic guitars. Limited to just 180 units worldwide, it’s both a collector’s dream and a stage-ready powerhouse.

This particular guitar is one of Bonvillain’s personal “Artist Picks” — hand-selected as a favorite from the run. It comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity and photographs of David holding the instrument.

Signature Design and Craftsmanship

Built with an alder body and a 5-piece maple/walnut neck, the PIA77-BON is shaped for comfort, balance, and resonance. Ibanez’s All Access Neck Joint (AANJ) enables unhindered reach to the highest frets. The rosewood fingerboard features the delicate PIA blossom vine inlay and Luminlay side dots, adding elegance and functionality. The final four frets are scalloped for ultimate control during bends and phrasing.

Exclusive Bonvillain Swirl Finish

Each guitar in this run features a hand-applied swirl finish by David Bonvillain, drawing influence from Vai’s earlier Universe and JEM models. No two finishes are alike, ensuring every PIA77-BON is visually unique. The swirl, paired with a transparent pickguard and Cosmo Black hardware, gives the guitar a futuristic and unmistakable aesthetic.

DiMarzio UtoPIA Pickups and Enhanced Electronics

With a custom DiMarzio UtoPIA HSH pickup set, this guitar delivers a wide range of Vai-approved tones—from glassy cleans and fluid leads to tight, focused rhythm crunch. A push-pull high pass filter built into the volume control preserves clarity when rolling back volume, while the 5-way selector provides versatile switching for any sonic scenario.

Precision Hardware and Playability

The Lo-Pro Edge tremolo and UltraLite arm provide buttery smooth pitch control and return-to-pitch reliability. Coupled with a Top-Lok III locking nut and Gotoh tuning machines, the hardware is tour-grade and studio-ready, designed for modern virtuosos and expressive stylists alike.

Key Features:

• Handcrafted in Japan by FujiGen

• Alder body with exclusive swirl finish by Bonvillain Design Studio (180 worldwide)

• 5-piece maple/walnut neck with rosewood fretboard and PIA blossom inlays

• 24 jumbo stainless steel frets with scalloping on the last four

• DiMarzio UtoPIA HSH pickup set for versatile tonal expression

• Lo-Pro Edge tremolo with UltraLite arm for smooth performance and tuning stability

• Push-pull high pass filter on master volume for tonal clarity at all levels

• Transparent pickguard, Cosmo Black hardware, and Gotoh tuners

• Comes with Ibanez hard case and original documentation

The PIA77-BON is a bold statement piece built to honor Vai’s boundary-pushing legacy. Whether you're a collector, performer, or lifelong Vai devotee, this guitar offers the visual artistry and sonic firepower to match the moment.