The UV77 (2016 reissue) is a seven-string solid body electric guitar model introduced by Ibanez in 2016. It is a limited edition version of the original UV77 from the early 1990s which was a signature model of American guitarist Steve Vai, and part of Vai's Universe series. The UV77 reissues were produced in Japan by Sugi.
Ibanez announced a limited production reissue of the UV77 at the Winter NAMM Show in 2016. A prototype of the original UV77 appeared on the cover of Vai's 1990 masterpiece album, Passion and Warfare. The reissue commemorates the 25th anniversary of the release of that album.[1]
The UV77 features an American basswood body bolted to a maple neck with a 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with disappearing pyramid inlays. Components include DiMarzio Blaze pickups with a pair of humbuckers flanking a single-coil, a low profile double locking tremolo bridge with an Ultralite tremolo arm, a locking nut and Gotoh tuning machines.
Production was limited to just 77 of each of three new multi-color swirl finishes: "Passion" (blue and pink), "Warfare" (orange and yellow) and "Silver" (silver and blue).[2] The Passion and Warfare color schemes are inspired by the original album artwork which depicts the ravages of a war-torn hell at the bottom juxtaposed against a nirvana-like state of passion for life and for love at the top. The Silver color scheme signals the traditional role of silver in commemorating a 25th anniversary.[1]
A certificate of authenticity and hard-shell case were included with each guitar.[1]