Joe Satriani’s Crystal Planet Prototype Guitar: A Unique Masterpiece Finds a New Owner
Joe Satriani, known for his imaginative flair, often transforms his creative visions into tangible realities, thanks to a team of exceptionally skilled collaborators. One such creation, the custom-designed 1999 Crystal Planet Ibanez JS prototype, recently fetched an impressive $10,000 at auction. This stunning instrument was a highlight of Satriani’s personal gear collection, showcased on Bananas at Large, and it truly captivates the eye.
A Visionary Creation for a New Era
As the year 2000 approached, Satriani was gearing up for the release of his seventh solo album, Crystal Planet. To celebrate this milestone, he envisioned a fully transparent guitar, where even the pickup bobbins appeared glass-like.While this concept sounded fantastic in theory, it presented numerous challenges that Juniji Hotta from the Ibanez Custom Shop had to address back in 1999.
“we had to make choices about elements that are typically concealed,” Satriani shared with Bananas at Large, his gaze fixed on the intricate wiring beneath the controls. “The weight is quite substantial,reminiscent of a ’73 Les Paul! But when I first laid eyes on it,I was blown away by how amazing it looked.”
Innovative solutions to Technical Challenges
“I adore the clear knobs; you rarely see pickups like these,” he continued, gesturing towards the pickups, which cleverly incorporate earplugs to mitigate unwanted noise. “This was a solution to a important issue I faced.”
satriani elaborated,“My setup often involved a Boss DS-1 pedal into a Marshall 6100,which produced a lot of low-end and gain.Sadly, these pickups woudl sometiems resonate with those frequencies, causing vibrations.”
“Waxing alone wasn’t sufficient, so we stuffed foam or earplugs into the cavities to prevent them from vibrating. This allowed me to maintain high gain while still producing sweet melodies. The earplugs remain in place to this day.”
Specifications of a One-of-a-Kind Instrument
this unusual prototype is equipped with 22 frets, two dimarzio humbuckers—a DiMarzio FRED in the bridge position and a DiMarzio PAF Pro in the neck position—along with a Lo-Pro Edge tremolo and a rosewood fingerboard.Even though a limited production run of this guitar initiated Satriani’s Y2K signature series, this particular model stands alone as a custom creation.
Remarkably, despite its acrylic construction, Satriani asserts, “It sounds just like a JS.” He praised the craftsmanship, stating, “It truly is a work of art. You might expect that different materials would alter the sound, but thanks to Hotta’s expertise, it retains its character.”
A Bold Artistic Endeavor
Reflecting on the enterprising project during a 2021 YouTube discussion, Satriani remarked, “This guitar exemplifies how artists must boldly pursue their wild ideas.” The prototype was listed for $10,000 and has since been sold, although the rest of Satriani’s collection remains available, including a 2016 Fender Custom Shop Telecaster with an SSH pickup configuration and a relic finish.
Additionally, the collection features two 100-watt EVH 5150III tube amplifiers, crafted to the exact specifications of Eddie Van Halen’s later touring setups. In other news,Satriani recently recounted how he almost secured Jeff Beck for a G3 tour,only for Beck to withdraw with an unexpected choice suggestion,and he reflected on the most challenging Van Halen track he faced during the Best of All Worlds tour.
