Signature Sound/Signature Guitar

Nita Strauss on Tone and her new Ibanez JIVA.

- Michael Molenda

THROUGH HER EARLY DAYS WITH the Iron Maidens, her current tenure in the Alice Cooper band, and her solo projects, Nita Strauss has forged a personal style and sound that has not only thrilled fans and other guitar players, it also cemented her selection as one of GP’s 50 top female guitarists in our May 2017 cover story. The long-time Ibanez artist further refined her sonic weapon of choice when she debuted her JIVA signature model at the 2018 NAMM show.

Can you describe your favorite rhythm and lead tones?

The perfect rhythm sound has to cut through with enough crunch and definition to be a good building block for a song. The rhythm guitars are the bricks of the house, and the drums and bass are the foundation. The lead guitar on the other hand, has to soar, sing, and ring out with a bold, vocal quality.