Steve Vai “Sticker Strat” Guitar Tee

This is where it all started.

In 1977, at just 16 years old, Steve Vai walked into Matthew’s Music in Roosevelt Field, NY — with his mom — and bought his very first guitar: a 1977 Fender Stratocaster.

“I put more notes on this guitar than any other that I own. I used this as my one and only main guitar all through high school, Berklee College, my days with Frank Zappa, and into Alcatrazz. Flex-Able was recorded with this guitar, including The Attitude Song.”

Before this Strat, Steve had been using a Gibson SG with one pickup. He would visit Matthew’s Music and drool over the guitars, dreaming of owning a Stratocaster — especially one with a whammy bar.

Inspired by Ritchie Blackmore’s natural wood Strat, Steve fell in love with a similar one hanging on the shop wall.

“I wanted one more than anything. One day I walked into my bedroom and, woven between the strings of my acoustic Contessa guitar, was the money to buy it. I almost died.” The Strat cost around $175 at the time. Steve ran to Matthew’s Music and made the purchase.

He played it in Rayge, his first high school band, then took it to Berklee and beyond, putting serious mileage on it. It saw extensive use during his time with Frank Zappa as well.

“Frank was doing major electronic renovations on his guitars, so with Midget Sloatman, I’d hang out at the Utility Muffin Research Kitchen. In the workbench room, we did a lot of mods to this Strat — adding an Alembic preamp, changing pickups, and more.”

Eventually, when Steve joined Alcatrazz, the Strat’s tone proved too bright for the band's sound, so he moved on to the Charvel "Green Meanie."

But this guitar — covered in playful, silly stickers — earned the affectionate nickname “The Sticker Strat.”

“It holds a deep place in me.”

Gladly, the Sticker Strat is still part of Steve’s collection to this day.

Salute this guitar with your own “Sticker Strat” tee, available now from Guitar Nut Tees! Ships worldwide!

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