Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • Bridge Over Troubled Water
  • World in Motion
  • 95k+ free music samples
  • The genius of Clive Davis
  1. Guitars

Ibanez launches trio of Steve Vai swirled seven-string guitars to mark 25th anniversary of Passion And Warfare

News
By Michael Astley-Brown
Published 11 August 2016

New Universe models celebrate shred icon

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Passion and Warfare

Passion and Warfare

We first caught a glimpse of these swirled stunners at Ibanez's spangly NAMM stand, and now Steve Vai's trio of special 7-string guitars are hitting stores.

Celebrating 25 years of Vai's pivotal Passion And Warfare, the three guitars - Passion, Warfare and Silver - are based on the Universe guitars Steve used on the album, and each come with a certificate of authenticity.

The UV77PSN Passion and UV77WFR Warfare draw on the much-coveted swirled patterns found on original Universes, while the UV77SVR Silver reflects the album's silver anniversary and recalls Steve’s custom seven-string used when touring with Whitesnake back in the day.

Head on through the gallery for a closer look, but before you do, we should warn you that these made-in-Japan beauties all retail for around $9,300 ($6,999 street), and we can't even guess what UK RRPs will be just yet.

For now, just stare into those lovely finishes and forget all about the outlay…

Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4
Ibanez UV77PSN Passion

Ibanez UV77PSN Passion

  • Neck type: UV 1pc maple neck
  • Body: American basswood body
  • Fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/ Disappearing Pyramid inlay
  • Frets: Jumbo frets w/ Prestige fret edge treatment
  • Bridge: Lo-Pro Edge 7 tremolo bridge
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (H) neck pickup
  • Middle pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (S) middle pickup
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (H) bridge pickup
  • Hardware colour: Chrome
Page 2 of 4
Page 2 of 4
Ibanez UV77WFR Warfare

Ibanez UV77WFR Warfare

  • Neck type: UV 1pc maple neck
  • Body: American basswood body
  • Fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/ Disappearing Pyramid inlay
  • Frets: Jumbo frets w/ Prestige fret edge treatment
  • Bridge: Lo-Pro Edge 7 tremolo bridge
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (H) neck pickup
  • Middle pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (S) middle pickup
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (H) bridge pickup
  • Hardware colour: Black
Page 3 of 4
Page 3 of 4
Ibanez UV77SVR Silver

Ibanez UV77SVR Silver

  • Neck type: UV 1pc maple neck
  • Body: American basswood body
  • Fretboard: Rosewood fretboard w/ Disappearing Pyramid inlay
  • Frets: Jumbo frets w/ Prestige fret edge treatment
  • Bridge: Lo-Pro Edge 7 tremolo bridge
  • Neck pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (H) neck pickup
  • Middle pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (S) middle pickup
  • Bridge pickup: DiMarzio Blaze (H) bridge pickup
  • Hardware colour: Chrome
Page 4 of 4
Page 4 of 4
Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown
Social Links Navigation

Mike has been Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com since 2019, and an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict for far longer. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and 15 years' experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Radiohead's Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. His writing also appears in the The Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock as Maebe.

Read more
Kramer 50th Anniversary Collection
Guitars Kramer marks 50 years of shred with a gold metallic makeover for its high-performance lineup
 
 
MusicRadar Guitar Gear Round-up June 2026
Guitars MusicRadar’s epic guitar gear round-up: June ’26 edit, ft. EHX, PRS, Fender’s mega-launch and more
 
 
Jackson Custom Shop Misha Mansoor Surfcaster
Guitars Misha Mansoor's Jackson Custom Shop USA Signature Baritone Surfcaster 6-string is finally revealed
 
 
Jackson Pro Plus Misha Mansoor Juggernaut ET8
Artists Misha Mansoor’s Evertune-equipped 8-string might be the heaviest signature Jackson of all time
 
 
The Gibson Victory Floyd Rose was teased at NAMM and arrives in Iguana Burst, Deep Ocean Burst, and Translucent Ebony Burst finishes.
Guitars Do not adjust your set – Gibson just unveiled a doublecut shred machine with a Floyd Rose
 
 
The Ibanez Standard Series RGR431PB finished in Charcoal Gray Flat
Electric Guitars “Ibanez serves up another RG that’s built for stunt guitar, priced for virtuosos-in-training, and with enough sounds to please the fusion kid and headbanger alike”: Ibanez RGR431PB review
 
 
Latest in Guitars
Eric Clapton performing on stage with Cream during their first live appearance in 1966
Artists How Eric Clapton’s mission to spread the blues gospel was the making of the first guitar ‘god’
 
 
George Harrison of The Beatles pop group pictured at the Apple Headquarters in London, 2nd January 1969
Guitarists Did George Harrison contribute to more Beatles songs than he is given credit for?
 
 
A Baum Guitars Verve electric guitar lying on a rug
Electric Guitars Baum Guitars Verve review
 
 
Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP signature guitar [left]; Neal Schon plays a Les Paul on a stage lit up in purple.
Artists Kirk Hammett felt so guilty after buying Neal Schon's Les Paul on the cheap he offered to return it
 
 
Orange Ed Sheeran Outlowd ES3
Guitar Amps Orange Outlowd ES3 Ed Sheeran signature amp review
 
 
Paul McCartney (L) and Mick Jagger attend the Metropolitan Museum of Art\'s 2011 Costume Institute Gala featuring the opening of the exhibit Alexander McQueen : Savage Beauty.
Artists Mick Jagger had to check that Paul McCartney's bass playing was "punk" enough for new Rolling Stones song
 
 
Latest in News
james blake
Artists Did James Blake really sample the Titanic's SOS signal on Death of Love?
 
 
George Harrison of The Beatles pop group pictured at the Apple Headquarters in London, 2nd January 1969
Guitarists Did George Harrison contribute to more Beatles songs than he is given credit for?
 
 
Dave Grohl recording in Hilversum Studios, posed at drums
Artists How Dave Grohl delivered his Smells Like Teen Spirit drum track
 
 
reloop
Tech DAWs for DJs, rotary mixers and the world's first standalone motorized controller: 5 of the coolest pieces of gear we saw at Thomann's DJ Days
 
 
Kirk Hammett plays his Mummy ESP signature guitar [left]; Neal Schon plays a Les Paul on a stage lit up in purple.
Artists Kirk Hammett felt so guilty after buying Neal Schon's Les Paul on the cheap he offered to return it
 
 
AlphaTheta CDJ-1500X
Dj Gear AlphaTheta’s CDJ-1500X is a WiFi equipped DJ player that lets your audience vote on track requests
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...