In the mid 80s, Japanese manufacturers were known for highquality copies, but their original designs weren’t always taken seriously. Collaborating with Steve Vai changed that in a flash. The JEM became the basis for the RG550, the definitive late-80s shred guitar. The neck was paper-thin, built for sweep picking, and the bright finishes could be seen from the back of an arena. The Edge tremolo was arguably even better than a Floyd Rose, and help from DiMarzio put paid to any complaints about Japanese OEM pickups.