Who's The MarMar? — Gear Deep Dive — Trey Anastasio Rig Documentation

01

Overview

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The MarMar is the first hollowbody guitar Paul Languedoc ever built — a maple top / padauk body instrument that would define the early Phish sound. Named after a headstock inlay of Trey's dog Marley as a puppy, with a conversation bubble reading "Who's the marmar?" — it became one of the most iconic guitars in jam band history.

Trey played the MarMar as his primary guitar from its debut in early 1988 through October 1996, when it was replaced by the new Koa #1 Languedoc hollowbody at Hampton Coliseum. Over that span it appeared at every major Phish milestone — from the Vermont club circuit to Madison Square Garden, from the earliest tapes to the officially released LivePhish soundboards.

Luthier's milestone An inscription inside the body by Paul reads November 1987 — most likely when Paul was completing the body. Early 1988 is the current best estimate for the live debut, though the specific show has not been pinpointed. This guitar represents the beginning of one of the most distinctive luthier–musician partnerships in modern rock.

02

Construction & Specs

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Builder

Paul Languedoc — the first hollowbody he ever constructed, built while working at Time Guitars
Top

Maple
Body

Padauk — a dense, rosewood-family tropical hardwood with a warm, resonant character
Construction

Hollowbody — not a semi-hollow. The combination of maple top and padauk body contributed to a warm, resonant character distinct from typical solidbody instruments of the era
Frets

Unknown — number not documented
Headstock inlay

Custom pearl inlay of Trey's dog Marley as a puppy, with a small conversation bubble reading "Who's the marmar?" — the source of the guitar's name
Fretboard inlays

Block-style inlay set unique to this build: two large mother-of-pearl blocks at the 12th and 24th frets, with smaller, thinner abalone inlays at all other positions
F-holes

Two f-holes — visible in photographs from all eras
Nut

Not documented
Bridge

Not documented

03

Pickup Configuration History

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The MarMar's pickup configuration changed several times across its 30+ year history. Three distinct stages are documented, with some transitions still not precisely dated.

Original configuration three pickups — Schaller humbuckers + middle single-coil

Two Schaller humbucking pickups (neck and bridge) and a single-coil in the middle position, with individual volume controls per pickup, a single tone control, and a 3-way pickup selector. Source: Guitar Shop magazine, August 1996 cover feature. The specific Schaller humbucker model has not been identified — Schaller produced several humbucker lines during this period. The make and model of the middle single-coil is also undocumented.
Middle single-coil removed date unconfirmed

At some point the middle single-coil pickup was removed, leaving the pickup cavity open — a visible hole in the body between the two humbuckers. The exact date of removal has not been confirmed. Photographs from the early-to-mid 1990s show the guitar with this open cavity. A microswitch (originally wired for the middle single-coil) remained on the guitar even after the pickup was removed — completely inactive, with nothing connected to it. When fans noticed it and asked what it did, Trey deadpanned that it was his "Sonic Maximizer" switch.
Ebony cover installed date unconfirmed

After the single coil was removed, the open pickup cavity remained exposed for several years before Paul Languedoc eventually built and installed a custom ebony cover to close the hole. The date of this modification is not confirmed.
Third knob visible in photos through 2000 — function unknown

A third knob was present on the guitar from when it was built and is still visible in photos from 2000. Its function has never been identified. What happened between 2000 and 2015 is unknown, but by 2015 the knob had been replaced by a microswitch. Whether that microswitch is functional or decorative is also unknown.
Single-coil reinstalled — 2015 Grateful Dead 50th anniversary shows

The middle single-coil pickup was reinstalled around 2015 in preparation for Trey's appearance at the Grateful Dead's Fare Thee Well / GD50 concerts in July 2015 — the band's 50th anniversary shows at Levi's Stadium and Soldier Field. The MarMar was brought out for these high-profile performances with its original three-pickup configuration restored.

The "Sonic Maximizer" The microswitch originally wired for the middle single-coil pickup remained on the guitar even after the pickup was removed — completely inactive, with nothing connected to it. When fans noticed it and asked what it did, Trey deadpanned that it was his "Sonic Maximizer" switch.

Open research — pickup identities & third knob Three open questions remain unresolved. First, while Guitar Shop (August 1996) confirms the humbuckers are Schaller units, the specific model has not been identified. Second, the make and model of the middle single-coil pickup has never been documented. Third, the function of the third knob visible in photos from 2000 is unknown, as is whether the microswitch that replaced it is active or a dummy.

04

Identifying Configuration in Photos

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The presence or absence of the middle single-coil pickup is a useful dating clue when examining MarMar photographs.

Three pickups visible

Original configuration — pre-removal (pre-mid 1990s) or post-2015 Fare Thee Well reinstall
Two pickups, open cavity

Single-coil removed, ebony cover not yet installed — visible as an open rectangular hole between the humbuckers
Two pickups, ebony cover

Post-cover installation — the open cavity is filled with a custom ebony panel built by Paul Languedoc

05

In Use — Era by Era

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1988–1993 · Pure Tone Era

Debut & Primary

Only guitar on stage for most of this era — the Time strat-style had been retired, and the Spruce backup was rarely played. The MarMar, Mesa Boogie Mark III, and pair of Languedoc 2×12 cabinets were the entire rig. Audible on every LivePhish release from this period.

1994 · Bradshaw System Arrives

Primary through the transition

The MarMar remained the primary guitar as the Bradshaw rack system was introduced in April 1994. New effects — DM2000, Small Stone, Whammy — came around it, but the guitar itself was unchanged.

1995–1996 · Complex Rack Era

Primary until October 1996

Continued as primary through 1995 and into 1996 as the rig grew increasingly complex. Retired at Hampton Coliseum in October 1996 when the new Koa #1 Languedoc hollowbody made its debut. The MarMar was present at Hampton but the Koa #1 became the primary from that show forward.

2015 · Fare Thee Well

Return for GD50

Brought out of retirement for the Grateful Dead's 50th anniversary concerts (Fare Thee Well / GD50) in July 2015 at Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara) and Soldier Field (Chicago). The middle single-coil pickup was reinstalled for these shows, restoring the original three-pickup configuration.

06

Open Research

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Research needed The following items represent open questions about the MarMar.

Live debut date

The exact date of Trey's first live performance with the MarMar is not confirmed. Per Under The Scales podcast Episode 12, Trey notes an inscription inside the guitar by Paul reading November 1987 — most likely the month Paul completed the body. Early 1988 is the current best estimate, but the specific show has not been pinpointed.
Pickup identities

While Guitar Shop (August 1996) confirms Schaller humbuckers, the specific model is unknown. The make and model of the original middle single-coil is also undocumented in any published source.
Third knob function

The third knob visible in photos through 2000 has never had its function documented. Whether the microswitch that replaced it by 2015 is active or decorative is also unknown.

07

Photos

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MarMar headstock — "Who's the mar-mar?" pearl inlay ↗

MarMar body — refitted with single coil pickup, some time in 2015 ↗

March 1992 Roseland Ballroom — MarMar, single pickup missing ↗

Colorado 1988 — MarMar, Ernie Ball volume pedal, Languedoc 2×12 cabinet ↗

Late 1980s — Phish as a wedding band, MarMar, Languedoc 2×12 cabinet ↗

April 1990 Colorado College — Trey with the MarMar guitar ↗

Aug 1991 Amy's Farm — Mesa Boogie with Microverb on top, MarMar ↗

Aug 1991 Amy's Farm — MarMar, single pickup hole clearly visible ↗

Aug 1991 Amy's Farm — Mesa Boogie Mark III, Languedoc 2×12 ↗

April 1989 Old Stone Church — MarMar, Languedoc 2×12 visible at right ↗

March 1993 Tipitina's — MarMar, pedalboard, Mesa Boogie + Microverb ↗

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