Ibanez quietly drops new Vai, Satriani and Nita Strauss signatures plus a seven-string Iceman

Ibanez has slipped a batch of new electrics into its catalogue without much fanfare, and Guitar World flagged the additions on September 2. The headline pieces are three artist models. Steve Vai's PIA77BON2 keeps the familiar PIA blueprint but wraps it in a hand-painted gold leaf finish with an elaborate Blossom fretboard inlay and matching DiMarzio UtoPIA pickup covers. Joe Satriani gets the JS2470, built around an alder body and a three-piece maple and bubinga neck, with a DiMarzio Satchur8 humbucker at the bridge, a Sustainiac in the neck, and a three-way voicing switch for Harmonic, Mix and Normal modes.

Nita Strauss's new JIVA10R lands in Torch Red over a quilted maple top and African mahogany body, with a three-piece maple and purpleheart neck, an ebony fretboard and the Beaten Path inlay she has used since her first signature.

The surprise of the group is a reworked Iceman. The classic angular shape has been given a seven-string, multi-scale build with an okoume body, a five-piece maple and walnut Wizard II-7 neck and Fishman Fluence Modern humbuckers, aimed squarely at heavier players. Ibanez also brought back its revived P Series in a more aggressive form, with an aluminium-look pickguard, a basswood body, a five-piece maple and walnut Super Wizard neck and Sharktooth inlays.