Ibanez Recreates Satriani's Famous "Black Dog" Guitar

The rumors were true. After years of calls from the legions of Satriani faithful, Ibanez was going to offer a collector's edition of virtuoso rock guitarist Joe Satriani's storied "Black Dog" electric guitar. And at the very last minute, the guitar was added to the Ibanez Booth display at the Summer 2008 NAMM musical instrument convention in Nashville.

The Ibanez JS "Black Dog" Tribute is a faithful recreation of Joe Satriani's legendary late '80s/early '90s axe. Like Joe's actual Black Dog, the recreation features the original pot locations and output jack styledifferent than the current Satriani signature modelas well as DiMarzio PAF Pro and Fred pickups and the original Ibanez Edge tremolo system. In addition the JS neck and finish on the Tribute are treated by Ibanez's most experienced luthiers.

But it's the Black Dog finish that especially stands out: laboriously recreated by hand, one at a time, by just one highly skilled artist, are the drawings that Joe would apply to the original Black Dog body as the spirit moved him. Ibanez took photographs of the original Black Dog and used the shots to create a sort of "graphic map" that the Japanese artist uses to render with amazing exactitude Satriani's original drawings.

The list price of the JSBDG is $7999.99, which includes many exclusive and special 20tth Anniversary items including an autographed copy of the Surfing with the Alien Legacy CD, a deluxe hardshell case, and exclusive Planet Waves Joe Satriani strap and Satriani Planet Waves signature picks by the respected D'Addario Co.

The collector's item guitar is reported to be limited to 100pcs worldwide with 60 of those destined for the United States.

• Model: JSBDG
• List: $7,999.99
• Finish: Gloss Black with Hand-Rendered Reproduction Of Satriani's Original Black Dog Drawings
• Body Material: Basswood
• Neck Material: Maple
• Neck Scale/Type: 25.5/JS
• No. Frets/Type: 22/6105
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Inlay: Pearl Dot
• Bridge: Original Edge
• H/W Color: Chrome
• Neck Pickup: DiMarzio PAF Pro
• Bridge Pickup: DiMarzio Fred
• Controls: 1V, 1T in original Black Dog body placement
• Case: Special Hardshell
• Case List: Included