Ibanez Universe
Encyclopedia
The Ibanez Universe is the world's first modern, commercial seven-string
electric guitar
, developed by Steve Vai
and manufactured by Ibanez
. The Universe is a seven-string version of the Ibanez JEM
series, Vai's signature model. It slightly differs from the JEM
due to the absence of a "monkey grip" cut-out handle on the body.
available in green with a black (white pearloid on some models) pickguard and green/yellow appointments (UV777GR). It also featured a maple
fingerboard
as opposed to rosewood
.
The UV7PWH and UV77MC were produced from 1990-1993, the UV777 from 1991-1993 and the UV7BK from 1990-1994. No Universes were produced in 1995 due to low demand. But the UV7BK returned in 1996 largely due to Korn
, an alternative metal
quintet from California
, Fear Factory
, an industrial metal
band from California, as well as Meshuggah
, a progressive metal
band from Sweden
and death metal legends Morbid Angel
. In 1997 Ibanez introduced the 'all black' -version of Universe-series named as UV7SBK. Which - instead of the green details used in UV7BK - had silver dots on the rosewood fret board and silver Ibanez logo in the headstock. The pickups, knobs and pickup toggle were black as well. The UV7SBK was in production only in 1997 and the manufacturing quantities are unknown.
In 1998, the UV7BK was replaced with the only Universe still available today, the UV777BK. It has been through some minor changes since its inception, but currently features a 5 piece maple/wenge neck with bound rosewood fingerboard, bound head, 24 large frets, a basswood body, DiMarzio Blaze pickups, "disappearing pyramid" fingerboard inlays, a "Light without Heat" pyramid logo below the bridge and black finish with white binding and mirror pickguard. The UV777BK also is the first Universe to feature Ibanez's AANJ (All Access Neck Joint), a rounded heel that replaces the old Strat-style plate attachment to the body. The AANJ makes playing more comfortable and increases the sustain of the upper frets, since they are located over the body itself, instead of an extension.
In 2010, Ibanez reissued the UV77MC as the limited-edition UV77REMC to celebrate the Universe's 20th anniversary. Only 100 examples will be made with only 60 of these guitars available in the United States.
Many of Ibanez's competitors soon began to add 7-strings to their lineups, and in 1997 Ibanez removed the green knobs, dots, and pickups from the UV7BK in an effort to make it more stylish, thus the UV7SBK was being introduced. Around this time, Ibanez also added 7-string guitars to the RG series, its standard line of hard rock guitars.
Seven-string guitar
A seven-string guitar is a guitar with seven strings instead of the usual six. Some types of seven-string guitars are specific to certain cultures . The standard 7-string guitar tuning is BEADGbe...
electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, developed by Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
and manufactured by Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
. The Universe is a seven-string version of the Ibanez JEM
Ibanez JEM
Ibanez JEM is an electric guitar manufactured by Ibanez and first produced in 1987. The guitar's most notable user is its co-designer, Steve Vai. As of 2010, there have been five sub-models of the JEM: the JEM7, JEM77, JEM777, JEM555 and the JEM333...
series, Vai's signature model. It slightly differs from the JEM
Ibanez JEM
Ibanez JEM is an electric guitar manufactured by Ibanez and first produced in 1987. The guitar's most notable user is its co-designer, Steve Vai. As of 2010, there have been five sub-models of the JEM: the JEM7, JEM77, JEM777, JEM555 and the JEM333...
due to the absence of a "monkey grip" cut-out handle on the body.
History
The first Universes, the UV7 and UV77 appeared on the market in 1990, though Vai had played prototypes in live performances before that. The UV7 was available in white (UV7PWH) or black with green appointments (UV7BK). The UV77 was available in a swirled multicolor finish (UV77MC) and is now considered a collector's item. The production UV77MCs were swirled first in Japan. Steve Vai had agreed to only allow the guitars to be produced if they were swirled at the same place his prototypes were: About Time Designs. After a brief period, the UV77MC Japanese Swirls were aborted in favor of the ATD-Swirled ones. The ATD swirled models were done at the ATD factory by Darren Johansen on Long Island N.Y.UV777
In 1991, Ibanez also introduced the UV777. The most expensive Universe at the time, it wasavailable in green with a black (white pearloid on some models) pickguard and green/yellow appointments (UV777GR). It also featured a maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
fingerboard
Fingerboard
The fingerboard is a part of most stringed instruments. It is a thin, long strip of material, usually wood, that is laminated to the front of the neck of an instrument and above which the strings run...
as opposed to rosewood
Rosewood
Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining, but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, marimbas, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general,...
.
The UV7PWH and UV77MC were produced from 1990-1993, the UV777 from 1991-1993 and the UV7BK from 1990-1994. No Universes were produced in 1995 due to low demand. But the UV7BK returned in 1996 largely due to Korn
Korn
Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
, an alternative metal
Alternative metal
Alternative metal is a genre of alternative rock and heavy metal that gained popularity in the early 1990s. Most notably, alternative metal bands are characterized by heavy guitar riffs and experimental approaches to heavy music.-Origins:...
quintet from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, an industrial metal
Industrial metal
Industrial metal is a musical genre that draws from industrial music and many different types of heavy metal, using repeating metal guitar riffs, sampling, synthesizer or sequencer lines, and distorted vocals. Founding industrial metal acts include Ministry, Godflesh, and KMFDM.Industrial metal's...
band from California, as well as Meshuggah
Meshuggah
Meshuggah is an extreme metal band from Umeå, Sweden, formed in 1987. Meshuggah's line-up has primarily consisted of founding members vocalist Jens Kidman and lead guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, drummer Tomas Haake, who joined in 1990, and rhythm guitarist Mårten Hagström, who joined in 1992...
, a progressive metal
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and death metal legends Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel
Morbid Angel is an American death metal band based in Tampa, Florida. UK music magazine Terrorizer ranked one Morbid Angel album in its “Top 40 greatest death metal albums”, with their 1989 debut Altars of Madness appearing at number 1...
. In 1997 Ibanez introduced the 'all black' -version of Universe-series named as UV7SBK. Which - instead of the green details used in UV7BK - had silver dots on the rosewood fret board and silver Ibanez logo in the headstock. The pickups, knobs and pickup toggle were black as well. The UV7SBK was in production only in 1997 and the manufacturing quantities are unknown.
In 1998, the UV7BK was replaced with the only Universe still available today, the UV777BK. It has been through some minor changes since its inception, but currently features a 5 piece maple/wenge neck with bound rosewood fingerboard, bound head, 24 large frets, a basswood body, DiMarzio Blaze pickups, "disappearing pyramid" fingerboard inlays, a "Light without Heat" pyramid logo below the bridge and black finish with white binding and mirror pickguard. The UV777BK also is the first Universe to feature Ibanez's AANJ (All Access Neck Joint), a rounded heel that replaces the old Strat-style plate attachment to the body. The AANJ makes playing more comfortable and increases the sustain of the upper frets, since they are located over the body itself, instead of an extension.
In 2010, Ibanez reissued the UV77MC as the limited-edition UV77REMC to celebrate the Universe's 20th anniversary. Only 100 examples will be made with only 60 of these guitars available in the United States.
Many of Ibanez's competitors soon began to add 7-strings to their lineups, and in 1997 Ibanez removed the green knobs, dots, and pickups from the UV7BK in an effort to make it more stylish, thus the UV7SBK was being introduced. Around this time, Ibanez also added 7-string guitars to the RG series, its standard line of hard rock guitars.
Product lineup
- 1990 - UV7PWH, UV7BK, UV77MC
- 1991 - UV777GR
- 1997 - UV7SBK
- 1998 - UV777PBK
- 2010 - UV77MC Reissue
- 2011 - UV77NW to be continued...
External links
- UV777 at official Ibanez site
- Universe and JEM model at jemsite.com
- Vai's Universes and Jem's at official Steve VaiSteve VaiSteven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
site ( vai.com ) - Ridel's Universe and RG 7 Strings guitars at official Franck Ridel site ( ridel.fr )
- Sevenstring.org The Definitive Seven String Guitar Forum