The design of the Ibanez JEM series was heavily influenced by the superstrat style of guitars of the early 1980s such as the Jackson Soloist, Kramer Beretta and Hamer Chaparral.

This type of guitar is more aggressively styled in terms of shape and specifications compared to the Stratocaster on which they are based.

It took five months to make the new model samples in Japan, the JEM guitar and the RG range which launched at the NAMM Show in June 1987.

After the JEM series was launched at the NAMM show, Ibanez with Steve Vai began to design and produce the guitar actively.

Rich Lasner of Hoshino explained that Vai used a "Chinese menu approach" to design the guitar (i.e. choosing from many different categories).

For the latter specification, Vai decided long before Ibanez contacted him, that he would use DiMarzio pickups for his guitars.

This arrangement, pioneered by DiMarzio's Steve Blucher, allowed Vai to achieve Stratocaster-style in-between sounds as well as the humbucker raunch of the PAF Pro.

It also featured a “bear claw” rout behind the Ibanez Edge locking vibrato bridge, inspired by the chiseled trench Vai had gouged into his Charvel “Green Meanie” guitar.

This allowed him to achieve a much further range of upward motion than simply floating the tremolo at an angle off the body, and it made it easy to perform wild “flutter” effects.

The last four frets were scalloped, allowing Vai and like-minded shredders to really lay into those high notes, and upper-fret access was enhanced by a crescent-shaped scoop around the neck joint area.

""[2] Mace Bailey, who was also involved in the production, later went to Japan to the Ibanez factory to really begin producing the guitar.

Steve Vai stated on the CD cover, "Traditionally, I have made the 7th song on all my CDs the mellifluous guitar ballad that serves the melody on a silver platter.

They are a reflection of one man's desire to expose a glimmer of the depth of his longing for spiritual communion.

Different from other JEM models, JEM555 is produced in Korea and in terms of quality, this variant is considered by many to be poorer than the others.

"This sub-model of Anniversary JEM includes numbered letter of authenticity hand-signed by Steve Vai.

JEM10s designated for the USA have a silver tweed JEM case with outside plaque and inner silk screened protective shroud.

The most notable aspect is the color, as Vai added his DNA (blood) to the mixture of the paint.

I hope this clears things up for you"[6] The guitars were made in the year 2000, represented in the model series, JEM2KDNA (2000).

From six different variants, currently Ibanez produces only the JEM7VWH [6] series as it was Steve Vai's main guitar that he used for live performances.

The main features of JEM7 variants are the monkey grip, which are located above the pickups and the scalloped fingerboard that applies from the 21st fret up to the 24th.

Steve's version of the 77BRMR has a few modifications that are not in the production model, such as blue LED light fingerboard inlays.

One of the most noted users of these was the late Denis D'Amour of Canadian band Voivod.The Loch Ness Green guitars were also hand signed by Steve Vai.

Complete list of JEM555 variants: This JEM is a stripped back, Made in Japan, Prestige level instrument.

essentially leaving the player a more affordable, high quality "blank sheet" to upgrade as his creative urges see fit.

Complete list of JEM505 variants: These are currently only available in East Asian and South American countries.

The JEM7VSBL which was originally produced in 2002 was the first JEM that was not a JEM555 to feature a DiMarzio EVOLUTION single coil pickup in the middle position.