Steve Vai’s house for sale - gear pics

[BABMusic]

So, he bought this home for $1,262,500. in 1996, which is about $2,600,000 in today's money. I'm sure it's had a lot of work done, but still,.. $11 million?? Asking for that at a time when LA is not exactly showing a good future.

 

[SFW]

Wow... that's a beautiful spread.

 

[LP Freak]

Hope you have a good reason.

Retirement

 

[alund]

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.

I didn’t realize you were close to Nashville. Should get up some time. I’m up in Paris.

 

[mentoneman]

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.

= Hawaii = California = any major US city.

 

[Exo-metal]

= Hawaii = California = any major US city.

Exactly, I just reposted his comments on the local news thread bc it hits the nail on the head. City councils everywhere abusive and corrupt.

 

[VonBonfire]

So, he bought this home for $1,262,500. in 1996, which is about $2,600,000 in today's money. I'm sure it's had a lot of work done, but still,.. $11 million?? Asking for that at a time when LA is not exactly showing a good future.

TBH I never understand those big homes. He's married but I'm assuming his kids are older and on their own. I'd feel weird as hell living in even a 3 or 4 bedroom place. 11 million.....I could own a ranch with a limestone house on it or just have 40-50 acres on a premium riverfront area here and still get ag exempt and pay jack in taxes. When you's poor you gotta pay more!

 

[jabps]

Retirement

Why Nashville though? Drive two hours east on the interstate and retire at The Glade in Crossville. Kick back and play golf all day. Beautiful scenery, easy chill living. 2 hrs from Nash, 1.5 hrs from Knoxville, 2 hrs to the Smokies.

 

[napalmdeath]

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.

Democrats. That's what happened.

 

[Devin]

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.

Steve has said many times over the years that Zappa telling him to keep his publishing rights/start his own publishing company had a ton to do with his success

 

[Geo]

Democrats. That's what happened.

Democrats and SSRI's.

 

[japetus]

TBH I never understand those big homes. He's married but I'm assuming his kids are older and on their own. I'd feel weird as hell living in even a 3 or 4 bedroom place. 11 million.....I could own a ranch with a limestone house on it or just have 40-50 acres on a premium riverfront area here and still get ag exempt and pay jack in taxes. When you's poor you gotta pay more!

If I were ever that wealthy, the only big structure that I would want is a full size indoor basketball court with NBA rims. That could be a very multpurpose area as well for jamming, gatherings, ect

 

[Geo]

If I were ever that wealthy, the only big structure that I would want is a full size indoor basketball court with NBA rims. That could be a very multpurpose area as well for jamming, gatherings, ect

Sounds cool, I wish I liked tree hockey.

 

[BABMusic]

An indoor basketball court would be fun. Those NCAA players can now afford it with NIL.

 

[DrewJD82]

Vai’s said over the years that he’s just as interested in the business side of music as he was the music itself and that’s paid off well for him, literally.

He discussed how he did Flexable back in the 90’s around the time he had it re-pressed, becuase he owned the publishing he was only licensing it to be distributed and was making $10 per copy. That album sold around 3,000,000 world wide.

And the one that he’s only mentioned once during a pandemic live stream; it’s not just the JEM he gets a cut for, but every RG Ibanez has ever sold due to the RG being derivative of the JEM/Vai’s IP. That’s some SERIOUS fucking mailbox money, even if it’s $0.03 a guitar.

So yeah, the dude’s got some business sense.

The majority of his gear was cleaned out of the Harmony Hut for those shots, it’s usually got amps stacked up on the sides and shit all over the place. I didn’t check the listing to see what gear, if any, was going with it, but I’d be surprised if he gave up his mixing console as it’s all custom made and the monitors he has in there he said are the one thing he’s splurged stupid money on, they’re like $60K a piece or some shit.

I think he moved out of there a couple years ago, if he’s selling it with all the gear then he’s most certainly totally fine waiting for the right buyer.

 

[BABMusic]

Can't fault the guy for not wanting to be a broke, homeless musician. Good for him on doing those things for himself and his family.

Maybe he'll get $11 million, but I kind of doubt it.

 

[LP Freak]

Why Nashville though? Drive two hours east on the interstate and retire at The Glade in Crossville. Kick back and play golf all day. Beautiful scenery, easy chill living. 2 hrs from Nash, 1.5 hrs from Knoxville, 2 hrs to the Smokies.

Sorry, I wasn’t referring to specifically Nashville, just the vicinity. I’ll be heading down there in the next month to explore the territory. I’m not interested in living in Nashville. I deal with enough of the hustle and bustle here in Chicago and I’m looking to get away from that

 

[GuitarVacation]

Steve has said many times over the years that Zappa telling him to keep his publishing rights/start his own publishing company had a ton to do with his success

Good to know. FZ was demanding, I’m sure, but it’s good to hear there was some mentorship, not just musically, but in other aspects of life.

Kind of makes you mourn the Zappa family/estate, knowing if the wife would have just followed Franks wishes, things would have likely worked out so much better.