how to get the sound of steve vai?
Get an Ibanez guitar (doesn't have to be a JEM or UV) with a Floyd Rose. Get some Dimarzio Evolution pickups, or for early Vai stuff get Dimarzio Blaze pups.
Get a real nice modulation effects rack or pedal. The TC Nova or anything by Eventide works well. Don't forget the Digitech whammy.
For the amp, early Vai stuff (Crossroads, Zappa) use a Carvin XV-100. For not so early Vai stuff use a Marshall JCM 800 2205 or a JCM 900 2100 MKIII. For mid 90's Vai get a Bogner Ecstasy Classic. For latter Vai stuff get a Carvin Legacy. Use Celestion Vintage 30 speakers to enhance the sweet mids. Mic them with large diaphragm condenser mics if you record in the studio (pad them at -18dB or -20dB).
Pedals he used- mostly TS9s and DS-1s as boosters, not really where his tone comes from. That is where the Jemini's idea stemmed from.
Wahs - for early Vai stuff - he used a Dunlop Crybaby. for later stuff he used a Morley Bad Horsie. Now he uses a Bad Horsie II.
Fernandes sustainers are a good addition to get that infinite sustain...
