Steve Vai’s house for sale - gear pics

[VonBonfire]

It was fun in the 80's to early 90's to me. That's when you could get anywhere from anywhere in 15 minutes. Parking was free or maybe $5 anywhere. It was safe enough that my friends and I as jr high and high school kids roamed around without worry. The people were much more gracious. There was always a bunch to do and most of it was affordable even to a high school kid. Everywhere you went the restaurants and music spots had a long history that was awesome to learn about and incredible musicians were everywhere. Now it's just any other big city with condos going to the sky. Drunks roam around everywhere. Everything costs a fortune. It's dangerous. People are assholes wherever you go. All of the cool spots have been leveled to put up overpriced everything (restaurants, apartments etc.) Nothing has a history and the town is 100% run for commerce. Not to mention it's miserable to try to drive or commute to, in or around. I live 20 minutes away and only go in if I have no other choice (like my son's wedding in a few weeks). I've have not idea why anyone would want to move here anymore. Even the music scene is crap. All of the great old studios are leveled for condos. Live music is a bunch of commercial copies of one another. Lots of talent still, but everyone I know or knew who was in the music business (I was a professional recording engineer for many years) has been forced out of Nashville because they can't afford it anymore or they've given up and moved on.

I'm not sure when the turn happened. I went away for a decade or so to college. It was starting during that time but was still ok. Since Covid, though, when half of CA, NY and IL moved here, the deterioration has increased exponentially. I go years between going into Nashville proper at this point. I go around it.

I was there in 2006. It was just after Katrina. There were a lot of transients and bums related to that. And LA/MS musicians too. It was still relatively affordable. Rented a nice 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment with a garage down at Nashboro village for $850 a month. That's still the largest place I've ever lived in, even having owned a home, lol.

Murfreesboro road was sketchy as hell after dark. So was east nashville though I've hear that area is gentrified now. It was kind of a headache to get around then. Parking downtown was like $7. The cops weren't very friendly. The music stores, and musicians were top shelf, and welcoming, but I had noticed an element of hipsterdom had begun to creep in. The sales tax was insane, the air was terrible, and the water undrinkable. I had a sore throat from bad air for the first few months and I was told the water is called Cumberland river stew for a reason. It's the hottest summer I've ever lived through, and that's compared to FL and TX. Those things, in conjunction with gigs that pay absolutely nothing there, lead me to split when my lease was coming to an end.

 

[thegame]

Wouldn't be surprised if he is joining the ever growing list of rockers moving to the Nashville area.

Wouldn’t surprise me if Vai attempted to astral project himself unto another plane of existence. He’s already booked a flight on one of those tic-tac UAPs.

 

[midnightlaundry]

I'll guess Vegas.

 

[LP Freak]

God, please stay away. Nashville has become miserable with all of the people coming here. It’s completely ruined what once made the town special.

Better make room, I’m heading that way

 

[PhilC]

Better make room, I’m heading that way

You can have my spot. I'm meeting with a realtor this week to put my house up for sale. Getting out of here. Looking at 40+ acres an hour or so away.

 

[marvcus]

I had read somewhere he was moving to the San Diego area, but who knows? That studio has some mojo, for sure

 

[Jack Luminous]

From youtube comments :

"Steve Vai has moved to the Rancho Santa Fe area in San Diego County, California, leaving his long-time home in Encino, Los Angeles, in early 2025. He described the new location as "quiet, peaceful" and a nice change after 40 years in Los Angeles."

 

[njshred]

He moved to San Diego.

I can’t see him getting that price, very few people want the unique features it offers.

San Diego has the same weather, with far lower fire and earthquake risks.

 

[jabps]

God, please stay away. Nashville has become miserable with all of the people coming here. It’s completely ruined what once made the town special.

It's terrible now. I've lived on the outskirts since '88 and where 15 years ago and before I'd spend most of my time in Nashville, now I avoid it like the plague.

2010 time frame was the last of peak Nashville, where it still had the cool small town big city vibe. Now? All the cool clubs - gone. All the cool music stores - gone. All the cool things - gone.

There's literally nothing "Nashville" about Nashville anymore. And sadly all that is bleeding over into the surrounding boroughs. I'd be long gone if it wasn't for my job. And it's only getting worse because they leadership both local and statewide is pure shit. Anyone moving here i.e. @LP Freak get ready to overpay by thousands, get ready to replace your tires 'cause you are going to hit a pothole, go ahead and set aside half your day if your going anywhere, be prepared to lose your shit while driving because nobody can drive.

 

[jabps]

Better make room, I’m heading that way

Hope you have a good reason.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

Nashville is cool

 

[Geo]

He moved to San Diego.

Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

Something wrong with you if you move out of CA back into CA.

 

[jabps]

They did the same thing to us 2 hours down the road in Chattanooga.

I grew up around the Chattanooga area, still where most of my family lives.

If I could I'd move back to that area in a hearbeat. Granted it's experiencing some growth but there will never be a reason for Chatt to get as big as Nashville.

Plus scenery wise, Nashville can't hold a candle to how nice the area is around Chattanooga. For two decades I loved Nashville, loved it. I was about as Nashville as you could get. Everything I loved about music or could involve music plus the small city vibe could be found here. It's all gone. And I hope musicians that move here aren't expecting that anymore because it's just another poorly planned city now.

 

[marvcus]

Nashville is cool

Been there once, but It’s Been Awhile

 

[GuitarVacation]

Impossible, a Nigerian Prince just accepted my down payment and said he'll call me on Monday to arrange to give me the keys.

Dude, I’ve been looking for that slippery bastard. Tell him the inheritance transaction did not come through on my end. Funny, my ‘confirmation claim payment’ cleared my bank, no problem.

Can you put in a word for me? If I don’t see some $$$ pretty quick, I’m gonna have to find out how big of a fella this Prince is, know what I’m saying. .

Back on topic: I’m glad Vai has been smart financially and has such assets. He’s worked hard, toured for years, and continued to push the envelop for his music and guitar playing.

Very admirable to see Steve has built a great life. Sometimes people with such artistic brilliance seem to miss practical aspects of the life skill toolbox.

I wonder if Steve had good guidance/mentorship early on (FZ ?). Or, is the aspect of his personality that was used to woodshed guitar skills from the time he was young, continued for decades responsible? Thinking about the hydra guitar, how many musicians his age, that are already considered world class, would still be working on their craft to that degree?

I just wonder if that drive carried over to aspects of life that contributed to financial success/security. Either way, good on Steve, hope he enjoys the hell out of life.

 

[311boogieman]

Honestly didn't care for the interior too much but the back yard/porch area and his work with DLR was awesome.

PS: Needs more amps/less guitars but admittedly only watched video in silent mode.

 

[BABMusic]

There were 55,000 people who left last year, and even more so during Covid. The cost of living is stupidly high. Housing is going to cost less in the future, but it may be years away. In the meantime, people's property taxes are going up every year because CA tax reps can come to your home and decide it "appreciated in value". Of course, it didn't in real terms, but they will still force more tax on you because the state is desperate for money. Vai probably felt the benefits of living there were not worth the costs. It's not like this is a new trend. Studios have been filming in other states for years and even composers are not recording a lot of their music in LA anymore. It's quite a depressing time for the music business in LA.

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

I'll guess Vegas.

Vega or Vegas?

 

[BABMusic]

And honestly, that's a damn nice house in Encino, and now might be the last time to cash in on it while the housing market is artificially inflated. Sell that mansion, invest the money in gold and silver, and then buy an equally large mansion in another state. Vai is wise.

Also, the video said he moved to San Diego already, so he's not yet moving to Nashville.

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

I thought Steve lived somewhere in Utah?