Steve Vai JEM Guitar Tee - Yellow

The Legend Begins...

In the mid-1980s, after lighting the world on fire with David Lee Roth, Steve Vai became one of the most sought-after guitarists on the planet. Naturally, guitar companies came knocking—offering endorsement deals, signature models, and custom axes. But Steve wasn’t interested in just slapping his name on a headstock.

“Whoever makes me the best guitar suited to my liking—that’s the one I’ll be happy to play.” – Steve Vai

Ibanez listened.

They first sent Steve a snakeskin-finished Maxxas guitar, but more importantly, they were open to his ideas. Steve had already built his own custom guitars from components sourced at Performance Guitar in Hollywood, and he handed those over to Ibanez as a blueprint.

The builders at Ibanez saw the vision—and leveled it up.

Weeks later, the first JEM prototype arrived. It was finished in a dazzling Loch Ness Green, and the moment Steve picked it up, he knew. “It felt better than any of my other guitars,” he said. With just a few tweaks—refining the monkey grip, reshaping the pickguard, and upgrading the fretboard to maple with "JEM" inlays—Ibanez handed Steve the final form of what would become a modern classic.

Then came NAMM 1987.

With a mysterious countdown ad campaign and loads of buzz, the Ibanez Steve Vai JEM was unveiled to the public. Initially built just for Vai, it quickly became clear this wasn’t just a personal signature—it was something fans and players around the world craved.

Ibanez launched a limited run of 777 Loch Ness Green JEMs, all hand-signed by Steve at the Hoshino factory in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. Demand exploded.

The JEM became more than a guitar—it became a movement.

Today, the Ibanez Steve Vai JEM is one of the longest-running signature guitars in history—second only to the Gibson Les Paul—and still inspires awe with every note and shred.

This tee is a tribute to the moment it all began. Bold. Bright. Unmistakably Vai. Get your Desert Sun Yellow JEM tee now—only at Guitar Nut Tees. Worldwide shipping.

This t-shirt is everything you've dreamed of and more. It feels soft and lightweight, with the right amount of stretch. It's comfortable and flattering for all.

• 100% combed and ring-spun cotton (Heather colors contain polyester)
• Fabric weight: 4.2 oz./yd.² (142 g/m²)
• Pre-shrunk fabric
• Side-seamed construction
• Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
• Blank product sourced from Nicaragua, Mexico, Honduras, or the US

Size guide