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Nearly four decades after Steve Vai and Ibanez changed the landscape of high-performance electric guitars with the JEM, the PIA represents the continuing evolution of one of the most influential artist collaborations in guitar history. The ultra-limited Ibanez PIA77BON2 marks the highly anticipated return of the now legendary Brilliance of Now concept, transforming Steve's flagship signature platform with intricate gold filigree artwork, gold hardware and elaborate signature details. An alder body pairs with a five-piece maple/walnut PIA neck and rosewood fingerboard for a clear, responsive foundation, with jumbo stainless steel frets, Prestige fret-edge treatment and scalloping at frets 21–24 supporting the Grammy winner's demanding technique. DiMarzio UtoPIA pickups deliver smooth highs, scooped mids and pronounced lows through a versatile HSH configuration, while the refined Lo-Pro Edge tremolo and lightweight Ultralite tremolo arm provide exceptional control for expressive pitch work. Finished with the stunning Petal Grip and PIA Blossom inlay, the PIA77BON2 brings virtuoso-level performance and striking visual artistry together in one extraordinary signature instrument.
5-Piece Maple/Walnut PIA Neck Designed for Virtuoso-Level Playability
A five-piece maple/walnut neck with Steve's PIA profile provides the PIA77BON2 with a stable, articulate foundation designed around speed, precision and expressive technique. Its 25.5" scale and 1.69” nut pair with a rosewood fingerboard and jumbo stainless steel frets for a responsive playing surface with excellent articulation and long-lasting durability, while Ibanez's Prestige fret-edge treatment creates a remarkably smooth feel along the sides of the neck. The fingerboard is scalloped from frets 21–24, reducing contact beneath the strings to facilitate high-register bends and tapping, while Luminlay side dots provide clear position reference under dark stage lighting.
HSH DiMarzio UtoPIA Pickups for Steve Vai's Signature Tone
Developed around Steve's tonal preferences, three DiMarzio UtoPIA pickups give the PIA77BON2 a smooth, powerful voice with rounded highs, scooped mids and a pronounced low end. The HSH configuration and five-way blade provide a versatile palette for moving between full-bodied humbucker power and more articulate textures, while master volume and tone controls keep overall shaping intuitive. A push/pull high-pass filter on the volume control helps retain treble as you roll back the guitar's output, preserving definition and presence at lower volume settings. Even the pickups become part of the visual design, with ornate gold detailing complementing the PIA77BON2's elaborate Brilliance of Now aesthetic.
Lo-Pro Edge Tremolo With Ultralite Control
Steve's highly expressive approach to pitch manipulation demands a tremolo system capable of both extreme movement and precise control, and the PIA77BON2 answers with Ibanez's legendary Lo-Pro Edge. Its streamlined profile and recessed fine tuners provide a comfortable picking-hand surface, while locking studs contribute to tuning stability through aggressive tremolo work. The included Ultralite tremolo arm uses a lightweight carbon-graphite grip to reduce mass and minimize interaction with the strings, allowing subtle movements of the arm to translate with greater sensitivity. A magnetically secured tremolo cavity plate provides quick access to the system for string changes and adjustments without the need to remove screws.
Striking Brilliance of Now Artistry and Signature PIA Details
The PIA77BON2 turns Steve's flagship signature platform into a striking visual statement through intricate gold filigree artwork echoed by gold-plated pickups, bridge and Gotoh tuners. The flowing PIA Blossom vine stretches across the rosewood fingerboard, bringing the guitar virtuoso's unmistakable artistic language to an instrument designed to be as visually expressive as the music created with it. The PIA-exclusive Petal Grip replaces the familiar JEM-style handle with a sculptural motif conceived to symbolize unity, companionship and interpersonal connection, giving the alder body an identity distinctly its own. An included Ibanez hardshell case provides substantial protection for this exceptionally limited signature instrument.
The Continuing Evolution of Steve Vai and Ibanez
Steve Vai and Ibanez have spent decades challenging expectations of what a signature guitar can be, beginning with the groundbreaking JEM and continuing in 2020 with the introduction of the PIA—“Paradise in Art”—as the next evolution of that celebrated platform. Rather than simply revisit the past, the PIA reflects Steve's evolving preferences through its sculpted Petal Grip, UtoPIA electronics, refined playability and deeply expressive tremolo design. Following the highly regarded PIA77BON released in 2023, the Ibanez PIA77BON2 brings the Brilliance of Now concept back with another bold fusion of technical performance and visual artistry, limited to just 40 instruments across North America. For players and collectors alike, it represents a rare expression of one of the guitar world's longest-running and most creatively ambitious artist collaborations.
Features:
- Ultra-limited Steve Vai signature guitar pairs rare artistry with high-performance engineering
- 5-piece maple/walnut neck delivers clarity, attack and lasting stability
- Alder body provides lightweight resonance and balanced response
- Rosewood fingerboard offers smooth feel with focused midrange character
- Jumbo stainless steel frets with Prestige fret edge treatment support fast, precise playing
- HSH DiMarzio UtoPIA pickups deliver smooth highs, scooped mids and pronounced lows
- Lo-Pro Edge tremolo provides smooth action and reliable tuning stability
- Gold Gotoh tuners provide precise adjustment and dependable tuning accuracy
- Push/pull high-pass filter preserves treble clarity at lower volume settings
- PIA Blossom inlay and Petal Grip add a striking signature touch
- Scalloping at frets 21–24 facilitates high-register bends and advanced tapping techniques
- Hardshell case provides secure protection for storage and transport
Specs:
Neck Type: PIA5pc Maple/Walnut neck
Top/Back/Body: Alder body
Fretboard: Rosewood fretboard PIA Blossom inlay
Frets: Jumbo Stainless Steel fretsPrestige fret edge treatmen
Number of Frets: 24
Bridge: Lo-Pro Edge bridge
String Spacing: 10.8mm
Neck Pickup: DiMarzio® UtoPIA™ (H) neck pickupPassive/Ceramic
Middle Pickup: DiMarzio® UtoPIA™ (S) middle pickupPassive/Alnico
Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio® UtoPIA™ (H) bridge pickupPassive/Ceramic
Factory Tuning: 1E,2B,3G,4D,5A,6E
Strings: D'Addario® EXL120
String Gauges: .009/.011/.016/.024/.032/.042
Nut: Locking nut
Hardware Color: Gold
