Steve Vai is getting ready to release a deluxe photography book titled Wire & Wood: The Guitars of Steve Vai. The two-volume, large format book offers a comprehensive look at Vai’s guitar collection, featuring over 100 instruments captured in detail. Vai worked on the project with his longtime Art Director Michael Mesker, who lovingly shot captured over 100 of Vai’s most famous guitars in great detail over more than 1,000 full-color pages.
“I was approached by Rufus Publications back in 2019 with an interest to create a high end and compelling book of 100 of my most unique and used guitars,” Vai says. “I knew there was only one guy that could do this job most effectively and that was Michael Mesker, who was eager to do it. There isn’t anyone who knows the history of my guitars, nor has the artistic overview of photography and forensic attention to detail as he does.”
Chronicling Vai’s guitar history — including his earliest instruments, guitars he played with Frank Zappa, ’80s models he used with David Lee Roth and Whitesnake, and his signature Ibanez Jems — was no easy feat. Mesker had to search high an low for many of the guitars that Vai no longer owned. And the photograper shot each instrument in high resolution, spotlighting the many unique features and modifications made over the years.
“Mike spent five years compiling this book and photographing the guitars with a quality technique that will blow your mind,” Vai says. “He scoured the globe to find many of these guitars, as I had given many away or sold them through the years, but he tracked them down and got the necessary shots. The results are stunning and the book is a masterpiece.”
Wire & Wood: The Guitars of Steve Vai includes multiple shots of Vai’s historic guitars, including The Green Meanie, the Crossroads guitar, the Performance guitar pre-Jems: the Flame guitars; the final Ibanez Jem prototypes; the Universe prototype and the whole cast of Whitesnake guitars, EVO, FLO, FLO III, the Hydra, the Heart Guitar, the white Triple Neck, and many more.
I didn’t realize how diverse, eclectic and innovative my guitar collection was until I saw this book,” Vai says. “Besides the documenting of various models, this book is the penultimate definitive word on the history of the Jem and the guitars that were part of its evolution. It’s magnificent and I’m blown away.”
Alongside the detailed photography, the book includes detailed descriptions and memories from Vai, as he strolls back in time and stop to tell stories about each guitar in the book. This includes measurements, historical notes, and insights into the development. Especially interesting is the exploration of the evolution of the Jem guitar, which Vai addresses along with images of the prototypes and experimental models used to create the popular model.
“Wire & Wood” is available in three editions:
- Standard Edition: This is the most affordable option, featuring a two-volume set in a slipcase for $400. The page size is 9.5” x 13.5”.
- Deluxe Edition: This larger format version features a two-volume set in a slipcase, signed and numbered by Steve Vai, for $777. It includes a selection of ten framable photo prints and “case candy” from Vai’s guitars, such as used picks and strings.
- Ultra Edition: Limited to only 14 copies, this edition includes everything in the Deluxe Edition, plus a specially crafted Ibanez JEM 77WFP “White Floral Pattern” guitar. This Japan-made instrument features a unique finish and will be personally named by Vai. The Ultra Edition costs a significant amount more than the other options.
Pre-orders the book now here. Orders are expected to ship in late March 2025.
