Steve Vai and Vai.com have just posted some interesting items to eBay: the modified Marshall full stack Vai used on David Lee Roth's 1986 Eat 'Em and Smile album and lengthy supporting tour.
The listing includes Vai’s 100-watt, four-input Marshall JMP Plexi head and matching "white face" 4×12 cabinets. The starting price was $1,000.
A portion of the proceeds will go toward the Make-a-Noise Fund, which provides musical instruments to cultivate and preserve musical awareness, development and education.
The 100-watt Marshall JMP was given to Ted Templeman by Steve Stevens during the New York recording sessions for Eat 'Em and Smile. The amp was then modded to Vai’s liking by Lee Jackson, who was known for his Marshall modifications in the '80s and '90s.
The Plexi head features an extra gain stage, frequency adjust control, effects loop and master volume. It has been well maintained in Los Angeles and features matching Drake transformers, KT88 quad-matched power tubes and hand-selected pre-amp tubes.
The cabinets are outfitted with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers. Both cabinets bear Vai’s signature and certification and are in perfect working condition.
Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.
