WIRE & WOOD: THE GUITARS OF STEVE VAI Standard Edition

THE STANDARD EDITION

2-volume hardback book housed in a slipcase. 1000+ pages combined. 9.5” x 13.5” page size (241mm x 343mm)

ABOUT THE PROJECT:

Five years ago, Michael Mesker in collaboration with RUFUS PUBLICATIONS, began a journey to capture the most expansive creative overview ever assembled of one singular guitarist’s collection of instruments. That subject being Steve Vai. A guitarist who has pushed the envelope of innovation consistently for decades.

The end result of Mesker’s crusade features over 100 of Vai’s most famous guitars captured in exquisite detail, and presented in a two-volume large format photography book. There are over 1000 full color pages, all photographed, designed and researched by Steve’s long-tenured Art Director Mesker, who first explored Vai’s famed guitar vault in December 2002 and marveled at the history contained within.

All of Steve Vai’s best-known guitars from studio, stage and screen, spanning his four decade-long career are featured beautifully in this work of art. The guitars seen in grainy 1980s music videos are explored in high resolution detail highlighting their peculiarities, blemishes, configurations and modifications. The book chronicles his earliest instruments, including his first Contessa acoustic and his famous “Sticker Strat” used from Berklee to Zappa.  His eye-popping 80s guitars from the David Lee Roth and Whitesnake tenures are captured in detail as are the many iconic instruments he’s utilized from the 1990s through today.

Alongside all of the photography laboriously captured by Michael Mesker, the story behind each guitar with measurements and notes from Steve himself are featured in the layout. The deeper storyline explores the guitars that contributed to the development of the Ibanez Jem, detailing prototypes and experiments conducted over the course of many years. Author Michael Mesker has also unearthed and documented a number of notorious guitars that were stolen, missing or given away through the years.

Over these pages are guitars that include 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.

ABOUT STEVE VAI

Steve Vai is a virtuoso guitarist, composer and producer, considered by many as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. In over 45 years in the industry, Vai has sold over 15 million records, received three Grammy Awards, and recorded with music legends like Frank Zappa, David Lee Roth, Whitesnake and many more.  Vai has also toured extensively and recorded live projects with G3 (collaborating with different touring lineups including Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, Eric Johnson, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Steve Lukather) and Generation Axe, a supergroup Vai formed with Zakk Wylde, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt and Tosin Abasi. Vai is the author of Vaideology: Basic Music Theory for Guitar Players (Hal Leonard), his inaugural music theory book designed to help both beginners and veteran guitar players.  In the recent past, he has travelled the globe supporting his most recent studio album Inviolate, staging performances in 51 counties across the globe. Over the course of his 43 years touring, he continues to visit locations for the first time. His final excursion in 2023 saw Vai perform in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Zallak (Bahrain), Bangalore and Kolkata (India), alongside six new markets in China (Foshan, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Nanjing and Hefei).  For a complete discography and more visit www.vai.com.

 ABOUT MICHAEL MESKER

Michael Mesker is an Australian-American Art Director, Designer and Photographer. For the past 20 years, Mesker has simultaneously been the Art Director for legendary guitarist Steve Vai; and Zappa Records (the home of all Frank Zappa releases at Universal Music); as well as Art Director for trailblazing pickup company DiMarzio. He has created album packaging for Steve Vai, Frank Zappa, The Aristocrats, Tony MacAlpine, Dethklok/Metalocalypse. With DiMarzio he has created straps and pickup covers for Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Nita Strauss and more. His live music photography has been published in Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and Guitar Player. Wire & Wood: The Guitars of Steve Vai is his first book.