QUOTE (Rock @ Aug 24 2007, 01:04 AM)
This is a very rare guitar indeed. In fact only 1038 of the UV77MC were manufactured worldwide between 1990 and 1993. Since it has the more neon looking paint, that means it was painted by ATD in Japan where SV had his first proto painted. If it has the Lo Pro trem then it is most likely a 92 like you say, but if for some reason you notice it has the Edge Pro then it is a 90 model and even more rare. Either way you have an axe that only 1092 other people in the world have. Take care of it. Most people hang this on the wall or keep it in the case since it is such a collectors item, but I would have to play it often.
Bit of history:
The first Universes, the UV7 and UV77 appeared on the market in 1990, though Vai had played prototypes in live performances before that. The UV7 was available in white (UV7PWH) or black with green appointments (UV7BK). The UV77 was available in a swirled multicolor finish (UV77MC) and is now considered a collector's item. The UV77MC's were swirled first in Japan. Steve Vai had agreed to only allow the guitars to be produced if they were swirled at the same place his was; About Time Designs. After a brief period, the UV77MC Japanese Swirls were aborted in favor of the American Swirled ATD Swirled UV77MC's.
In 1991, Ibanez also introduced the UV777. The most expensive Universe at the time, it was available in green with a black pickguard and green and yellow appointments (UV777GR). It also featured a maple fingerboard as opposed to rosewood.
The UV7PWH and UV77MC was produced from 1990-1993, the UV777 from 1991-1993 and the UV7BK from 1990-1994. No Universes were produced in 1995 due to low demand, but the UV7BK returned in 1996 largely due to Korn, a nu-metal quintet from California, and Fear Factory, a California based Industrial metal band.
Rock, Thats it! Thats the information I remember reading. Thanks a lot for posting it. I was going out of my mind at work today trying to find it.
Okay, you got me totally intrigued with this 90 vs 92 business. I looked at the bridge, and other then "licensed floyd rose patent pending", there are no other markings. I know I bought this guitar in the early nineties. As a matter of fact it was a wedding gift from my wife. She wanted me to start playing again, so she dragged me to Manies and had me pick one out. I remember being very reluctant cause at that time I was still getting over Rhads' death (Love that little woman of mine
). Being a pack rat of sorts, I never throw anything out. So I looked through my stuff and found the case candy that came with it. The warranty card (still unfilled out) has hand written info, but no date. It says the model is; UV77MC, and the serial # is; 000352. I also found an effects catalog from Ibanez, which was also in the case. Its date is 1990! So while I'm still not sure if its 90 or 92, I'm feeling really good about it
.
As for hanging it on the wall, nah. Thats never been my style. To be sure I baby all my babies. If you were to see it in person you would never think its a 90-92 guitar. Not a scratch on her. And no rust/oxidation on the metal parts either. But man do i love to play it. Every day, several hours a day. It fits me like a glove
.
Anyway, again, thanks for digging up the info,
Boris
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