Steve VaiPedalboard, 2012
Steve Vai's 2012 Story of Light rig runs ten devices under Fractal MIDI control: a Morley Bad Horsie and a Cry Baby, an Ibanez Jemini, a Whammy DT, an MXR Phase 90 and three Red Witch pedals, with an Axe-Fx II in the rack.
Story of Light experimental rig
Order evidence: No source publishes this sequence; the order is reconstructed
Inside the rig · 10 units
Pedal roles & evidence
How each unit fits Steve Vai's 2012 setup. Board-specific roles and the evidence behind each identification and position.
Reconstructed orderIdentity and position are evidenced separately. Reconstructed positions are not observed connections.
Filter & EQ
Morley Bad Horsie Wah
Integrated board
Role in this rig
Provides switchless signature wah control.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Filter & EQ
Dunlop Cry Baby Wah
Integrated board
Role in this rig
Provides the alternate classic wah voice.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Gain
Ibanez Jemini Distortion
Integrated board
Role in this rig
Combines Vai's green overdrive and red distortion channels.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Pitch & Synth
DigiTech Whammy DT
Integrated board
Role in this rig
Provides treadle pitch shifts and alternate tuning.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Modulation
MXR Phase 90
Integrated board
Role in this rig
Adds the familiar single-control phase voice.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Delay & Echo
Red Witch Titan Delay
External loop
Role in this rig
Provides three independently routable delay engines.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Modulation
Red Witch Pentavocal Tremolo
External loop
Role in this rig
Adds multi-voiced analog tremolo.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Modulation
Red Witch Medusa Chorus/Tremolo
External loop
Role in this rig
Combines lush chorus with tremolo modulation.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Routing & Control
Fractal Audio MFC-101
Rack insert
Role in this rig
Recalls Axe-Fx presets and effect states from the floor.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Multi-effects & Modeling
Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II
Rack insert
Role in this rig
Hosts the primary programmable processing and routing.
- Identity
- Reconstructed
- Position
- Reconstructed
Reconstructed equipment · Reconstructed order · Switchable effects loops
The video and Vai's official archive verify the inventory, but the Axe-Fx presets and changing experimental-pedal routings prevent a single honest serial order. The display groups floor controls, experimental effects and rack processor and is explicitly reconstructed.
No source publishes this sequence. The units are ordered by conventional signal-chain practice, and any documented routing zone is kept as recorded.
Cited sources
MethodologyQuestions about Steve Vai's 2012 pedalboard
- What pedals did Steve Vai use in 2012?
- This dated entry lists 10 units: Morley Bad Horsie Wah, Dunlop Cry Baby Wah, Ibanez Jemini Distortion, DigiTech Whammy DT, MXR Phase 90, Red Witch Titan Delay, Red Witch Pentavocal Tremolo, Red Witch Medusa Chorus/Tremolo, Fractal Audio MFC-101, Fractal Audio Axe-Fx II. This is the recorded inventory, not a claim that every connection or model identification is confirmed; see the evidence and routing notes.
- What order were Steve Vai's pedals in?
- The complete order is reconstructed, not observed. The layout follows the cited routing constraints and the archive's signal-chain convention where the sources are silent. See the diagram and routing notes for the separate paths and any unconfirmed connections.
- Is this Steve Vai's full guitar rig?
- No. This dated entry covers 10 units in the effects path, not every piece of gear Steve Vai owned or used. Floor pedals, rack units and routing devices are included only where recorded; omitted equipment and uncertain connections are explained in the notes. It is not a complete or current rig inventory.
- When and where was this pedalboard used?
- January 4, 2012. Premier Guitar Rig Rundown. This is the rig documented for that touring period, not a career-wide gear list.
- How does the archive know what was on this pedalboard?
- 2 cited sources, listed above with the date each was read, including Premier Guitar, Steve Vai. Among them a rig rundown and an official listing. The units are recorded as reconstructed equipment, and the page was last audited on 2026-08-03.