A comprehensive reference documenting the guitars, amplifiers, effects, and signal chains Trey Anastasio used with Phish from the earliest Vermont shows through the end of the millennium — built from primary research, show footage, photographs, and recordings.
Trey Anastasio is the guitarist and a founding member of Phish, the Vermont-born band that became one of the most celebrated live acts in American music. His guitar playing — melodic, exploratory, and deeply improvisational — has defined Phish's sound since their earliest shows in Burlington in the mid-1980s.
What makes Trey's rig particularly fascinating is how deliberately it evolved. From a simple pedalboard and a Mesa Boogie in the early years, through the Bradshaw MIDI revolution of 1994, into an increasingly sophisticated rack system through the late 1990s — each change was purposeful, and each era has a distinct sonic character that any Phish listener can recognise.
This project attempts to document that evolution in as much detail as possible, separating confirmed fact from reasonable inference, and flagging open research questions honestly.
This documentation is compiled from primary research — show footage, photographs, interviews, and careful listening to recordings across the era. Where information is confirmed, it is presented as fact. Where it is inferred or uncertain, it is flagged clearly. Open research questions are noted throughout. This is a living document and will be updated as new evidence emerges. All information is presented for educational and reference purposes.