Steve Vai

In this Premier Guitar Rig Rundown it says “The first pedal in the chain is a Little Lehle III A/B switch, that allows Vai’s team to switch between the Hydra and his regular guitars.“.

In this Rig Rundown we see the Midi controller.

This Foot switch controller is seen in the pictures of this rig rundown article.

In this Premier Guitar Rig Rundown it says: “ From the stereo output of the fractal, the left and right outputs now go into the left and right inputs of the Fryette LX-2 Stereo Tube Power amp. This power amp is 50 watts per-side, and both left and right are controlled via one single volume control, which allows Vai’s team to maintain even levels between the left and right guitar cabinets. Vai usually rides the volume around 1 or 2 o’clock (depending on the venue), with the depth control pushed in. A second LX2 powers Vai’s front-stage 1x12 stereo guitar monitors, which were custom-built by CARVIN.)”

In this Premier Guitar Rig Rundown it says: “ The main Fryette sends its output to the Carvin Legacy 4x12 cabinets on stage left and stage right. These cabs are each loaded with a quartet of Celestion Vintage 30s, and feature unique “Inviolate” artwork grill cloth, which MacArthur had custom-made by NoiseyHammer. These cabs have been with Vai for a long time, and can be seen in the Where The Wild Things Are DVD, when they were fitted with custom grill cloths from the Sound Theories album artwork.”

In 1997, Steve Vai endorsed the Morley VAI-1 Steve Vai Bad Horsie Wah as his signature pedal before transitioning to the Bad Horsie 2 model. This is evidenced by a user-uploaded photo showing Vai with the pedal.

https://youtu.be/T6SyM0Kw6GA?si=HInti5FQlVAm1Yqg (7:47) in Rick Beatos interview with Tim Henson, Tim said that the white prototype for his nylon acoustic was given to Steve Vai.

According to DiMarzio's artists page, Steve Vai uses DiMarzio DP252/DP253 Gravity Storm Pickups.

According to DiMarzio's artists page, Steve Vai uses DiMarzio DP215 Evo 2 Bridge Pickups.

According to DiMarzio's artists page, Steve Vai uses DiMarzio Dark Matter 2 Bridge Pickups.

According to DiMarzio's artists page, Steve Vai uses DiMarzio Dark Matter 2 Neck Pickups.

According to DiMarzio's artists page, Steve Vai uses DiMarzio Dark Matter 2 Middle Pickups.

According to DiMarzio's artists page, Steve Vai uses DiMarzio DP701 Blaze Middle Pickups.

According to DiMarzio's artists page, Steve Vai uses DiMarzio DP704 Evolution 7 Pickups.

The Kurzweil K2500RS sampler, with serial number 479808ZS1175 and manufactured circa 1996, was used by guitarist Steve Vai. This information is confirmed by an auction listing which includes the Kurzweil K2500RS as part of Steve Vai's gear, detailing its physical attributes as a rack version sound module sampler, its operation, and condition. The listing provides factual evidence of Vai's use of this specific piece of equipment.

Steve Vai’s Fostex A-8 can be seen in a picture taken from his website. The photo's description reads: "Steve with Pia in Stucco Blue Studios (June 1983)." This tape machine was used to record his album "Flex-Able." The attached photo’s url is under Steve Vai’s website. (https://www.vai.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/june1983.jpg)

The webpage where the photo and it’s description can be found is here: https://www.vai.com/rare-photos/

An LA-3A can be seen in the bottom right corner of this picture taken from Steve Vai’s website. The photo's description reads: "Steve with Pia in Stucco Blue Studios (June 1983)." The attached photo’s url is under Steve Vai’s website. (https://www.vai.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/june1983.jpg)

The webpage where the photo and it’s description can be found is here: https://www.vai.com/rare-photos/

The MXR can be seen in this picture taken from Steve Vai’s website. The photo's description reads: "Steve with Pia in Stucco Blue Studios (June 1983)." The attached photo’s url is under Steve Vai’s website. (https://www.vai.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/june1983.jpg)

The webpage where the photo and it’s description can be found is here: https://www.vai.com/rare-photos/

The Shure SE30 can be seen in this picture taken from Steve Vai’s website. The photo's description reads: "Steve with Pia in Stucco Blue Studios (June 1983)." The attached photo’s url is under Steve Vai’s website. (https://www.vai.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/june1983.jpg)

The webpage where the photo and it’s description can be found is here: https://www.vai.com/rare-photos/

Steve Vai uses the Positive Grid Spark Mini Vai Portable Combo Amp. In a YouTube video titled "Introducing Spark MINI Vai," Steve Vai himself discusses his experience with the amp, mentioning that he received one for practice and found it so useful that he acquired three more for various settings. He also collaborated with Positive Grid to create a signature series of this amp.

In a Guitar World article by Phil Weller, published on February 3, 2025, Steve Vai's guitar tech, Doug MacArthur, states that "The Beat rig is different from the normal Vai rig. It’s basically a wah, overdrive, MXR Phase 90, and a DigiTech Whammy DT. There’s also an Xotic EP Booster which Steve’s really liking lately," confirming Steve Vai's use of the Xotic Effects EP Booster."

In an article by Phil Weller published on February 3, 2025, in Guitar World, Steve Vai's guitar tech, Doug MacArthur, confirmed the use of the Universal Audio Max Preamp and Dual Compressor Pedal, stating, "We also used a UA Max compressor. That was just for the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amplifier."

In an article by Phil Weller for Guitar World, published on February 3, 2025, Steve Vai's guitar technician, Doug MacArthur, confirmed the use of the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amplifier, stating, "We also used a UA Max compressor. That was just for the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amplifier."

Steve Vai is seen using the Get'm Get'm Dark Leopard Signature Guitar Strap 2 in. in a YouTube short by Positive Grid, titled "Steve Vai’s 'Little Pretty' GUITAR."

Part of the rack gear though he is not using it on the current SatchVai tour .

In the video "Steve Vai | What's on Your Pedalboard, Beat Edition" by Sweetwater, Steve Vai discusses the use of the CIOKS DC7 Power Supply at the 2:05 mark.

Steve Vai used the Jackson Pro Series San Dimas SD22 JB electric guitar while portraying the character Jack Butler in the 1986 film "Crossroads." This usage is demonstrated in the "Steve Vai vs Ralph Macchio Epic Guitar Battle" video, as documented by John White on YouTube.

In this official article by Boss, Steve Vai's guitar tech Doug MacArthur confirms that Steve Vai used the Boss FV-50L Stereo Volume Pedal for the BEAT tour.

In this official article by Boss, Steve Vai's guitar tech Doug MacArthur confirms that Steve Vai used the Boss FV-30L Compact Volume Pedal for the BEAT tour. He further confirms it by providing a photo of his pedal setup.

In the video titled "Steve Vai | What's on Your Pedalboard, Beat Edition" by Sweetwater, Steve Vai confirms using the Boss SY-1000 Guitar Synthesizer at the 4:42 mark. He further showcases this pedal at the 6:14 mark

I had so much fun building synthesizer patches for this tour.