MXR EVH Phase 90

One knob and a script button. Not too hard to figure out.

Sounded great while it worked. Just didn't work to long. I guess that's how they figured that one year is just about all your going to get out of it. Read the other reviews... I wish that I had.

Worked about a year with minimal use. It just quit working. Still looks brand new. Read the other reviews. You better avoid this pedal. You won't get much sympathy from Dunlop either. You would think that they would fix this problem.

Don't get me started......

Lesse... one knob controls the rate of the phaser. Then there's a little button that switches between block phase 90 and script phase 90. That's as user-friendly as it gets.

My setup: Epiphone Les Paul Custom -- lots of effects -- Ampeg M-15 '61 Tube amp.

The phaser sounds good with everything. I play it with distortions, drives, delays, verbs, other mods, it doesn't matter. Sounds great. I find the "standard" setting works better if you want a sharper phase that will oscillate clearly over a heavy drive. The "script" setting is more subtle, true to your guitar tone, and thus works better for everything else.

Either way, slow phaser creates interesting warping sounds, while faster phase turns into a progressively more spacy warble. Phaser's not my favorite effect, but when I want phase, this is the perfect pedal.

Also, I play bass and it covers that well also.

Built very well, and like all MXRs it's very compact -- great fit on your pedalboard. MXR's are pretty sturdy, maybe not as sturdy as a Boss pedal, but unless you plan on throwing it down the stairs for fun, you're fine.

I'm always comfortable getting MXRs used off of ebay, 'cos I know they're solid.

Haven't used 'em, doubt I'll have to, and I plan on owning this thing for 20 years. Maybe 50.

I play lots of different things. I'll call my style "alternative" to save myself to trouble. (And I do NOT sound like Van Halen, and would not even if I had that kind of talent.) Everything I do, whenever a phaser is necessary, this baby has me covered. You can get the EVH edition for as cheap if not cheaper than the MXR's '74 script reissue if you hunt around, and you're basically getting 2 phasers for the price of one if you do. People say the script is way better, and if I had to choose one I'd definitely pick it over the block letter phase 90, but fortunately I don't have to choose 'cos they're both here in one little box. They both have their uses. Bottom line, you want phaser? Get this pedal. It's incredibly easy to use, it's versatile, it sounds great, it's the best.

Very easy to operate. One dial and a mod switch. If this is difficult then you have more problems than a 8th grade geometry book.

Very smooth sound. The Script button is nice in that it allows the player to tone down the depth of the phase sound. Very nice.

So far so Good

Nice website. Very informative.

I play Blues,Rock,Soul etc. This is a very smooth phase pedal.Even when cranked to WFO it is still very musical. Basically there is no WTF settings. Most phasers out there tend to go WAAAAY over the top.This one is not one of those. MXR could make this pedal without the graphics and it would still sound great.I will give you fair warning... the graphics do inspire sudden out bursts of Eruption at rehearsal to the dismay of your fellow band mates. I have covered mine with duct tape to keep such things from happening.It is a great pedal.Go buy it now

One knob, one button. If you can't use this easily, it's because there's two knobs, and one button.

Killer. Two phase 90's in one. You don't have to mod your block to get a script. You pay a little more but you do it because you like it! And it's already done.

Had it for two years now. Stomp its guts frequently. So far so good. I would say it's built like a tank but i'm sick of that phrase. I'm would say it's built like a boss, but i'm not. it's casing is extremely solid. good enough. If the switch is mounted to the board than maybe not as much as I thought. But I don't know. I'd depend on it. But I'm a bedroom rockstar. I have one loyal groupie and if It crapped the bed on me, it wouldn't disuade her from her groupie duties or hinder my rockstar abilities. I don't forsee it breaking. it hasn't yet. I do gig without a backup!

I was always looking for something and one day I thought I would try it and there the sound was. I'm not into that crazy phase action. I just want a little in my clean stuff and a little more in my leads to thickin' it up and make it sound cool. To me. And my groupie who has excellent ears. I have been playing for 13 or so years. I'm tone deaf as a mofo and I have poor taste in boutique equipment. I, one day do plan on gigging outside of the bedroom circuit and I'm sure this pedal will be with me. It's fun. It sounds way better than the rest. I know this because I have tried 75% of them and you all have told me what your think of the other 25% and that's good enough for me. According to my needs. I'm not going to say eddie uses it so it's the cat's @ss or anything like that. I'm going to tell you that I have alot of fun with this pedal and it doesn't make me want to look for a better one. Partly because I know there isn't one for my needs. Maybe a red witch but that's the infamous boutique action and I'm a half deaf plumber. If it were stolen I would indeed purchase another. If I had a wish for this pedal it would be a freakin' led dimmer! that blue will melt your eyeballs!! Although when jamming in the dark, it is cool. But forget about finding the rest of your pedals. Like a deer in the headlights man! other than that, it's the perfect phase pedal.

1 knob + script button.... if you find it difficult to use you might wanna get your head checked

I use it through a Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Strat (usually, I sometimes use a Jaguar). The effect comes through clean and sounds great. I usually keep the script off but when I want a milder tone it sounds better with the script. It's not noisy at all and sounds especially great through a mic (I usually use a flanger on vocals, but when I want something not as "intense", the phaser works great).

I haven't had it for long, but so far it seems reliable enough

no idea

I play alt. pop mainly (Hellogoodbye, Bloc Party, etc.) with some rock, and this sounds great. I usually use it for vocals, but it does sound fantastic with my guitar. I've been playing for nearly 10 years now and I own mostly Danelectros as well as a couple of Boss pedals (which I hate and have no idea why I bought them). This is my only MXR but I would love a few more. If I lost this pedal or it got stolen I would probably buy the regular phase 90, mainly because of the price. although, I got a good deal on this pedal.

Does Anybody out there care about their original tone out there when the effect is not in use? Ya it sounds pretty good when you have it engaged and your jammin along....oh but then you have a part coming up in the jam that you just want your original tone that you have spent years trying to aquire and you turn the pedal off and without TRUE BYPASS ....Your not gonna be thrilled!! If there is a way to keep your original tone whith this in the signal path let me know.

One knob - what can I say.

Thanks to the H-C reviews I became educated and figured I wanted to have the best of both worlds- Script and Block logo sounds. I am very pleased with both. It's not a Univibe, but it does get satisfactory Trower sounds. I have it in front of my distortion pedals and i sounds very smooth & quiet. I am using it with a Straub Cantus 50. The Script sound is mellower to my ears and the Block sound is brighter. Both are pleasing.

Can't say since I've only had it a short time. I am impressed with the build quality and materials. It feels robust.

Don't know as I've never had to call MXR

I play variety from Deep Purple, Sting, Beatles. Been playing 40 years (Ouch!). Own too much gear! Would definitley buy it again. This model offers two sounds and quite a nice design on the box. I didn't think I would like EVH's trademark design but it really has a cool vibe. I was lisetening to Boss Phasers and Digitech X series and they sounded cool but I felt there use would be limited, as they sound a little more sterile and gommicky. Not bad if that is what you need in your collection. The Phase 90 EVH has the classic and modern phase sounds that I feel can be used more often, like a Chorus. Very happy with this pedal and glad I bought this particular model.

Just one knob ("speed"), how can it be more easy? Also, there's a switch that let you toggle between a vintage "script logo" phase tone and a more modern in-your-face "block logo" phaser.

The manual is fine. But who needs one?

The sound quality is so much better than on the regular new Phase 90, because of the new "Script" switch. You can get the classic vintage "script logo" Phase 90 tone that you can hear on all those 70's records. There's also the option to get the modern "block logo" Phase 90 tone, which I personally don't like because it adds a boost and distort slightly your signal. The "Script" mode is more natural sounding.
I'm using it with a Strat Standard and a Fender Blues Junior tube amp.

With the script "mode", I can get the sounds of:
- "Abbey Road" by The Beatles. Even if George Harrison was using a Leslie on his guitar, the Phase 90 can simulate perfectly this effect. "Badge" by Cream: same sound.
- Rolling Stones Albums from the 70's: "It's Only Rock'N Roll", "Some Girls"...
- All the funk records from the 70's: listen to "For the Love of Money" by The O'Jays, it is one of the best example of Phase 90.
- Van Halen, I guess (I'm not a fan).

Based on their reputation, MXR effects are solid and are built like tanks!

Don't know.

I play mostly Classic Rock and R&B from the 60's-70's. I was searching for the perfect phaser, and I found it!! I have tried the regular Phase 90, I hated it. That slight amount of boost/distortion is horrible. I have tried the EH Small Stone, very cool but not the sound I wanted. I have also tried the Phase 100 (not so different than the regular Phase 90 and more expensive) and the Boss PH-3 (very digital sounding).

Even if I am not a Van Halen fan, the EVH Phase 90 was the winner because of:
- the possibility to get the classic vintage "script" tone
- its warmth
- its versatility

If it were stolen, I would definitely buy another one!!

Very easy to get the sound you need - one knob and a script button for EVH phase.

Very good sound, warm and clean. I tried the Digitech Phase and found it to be harsh - thought more options would be a good idea - wrong!

Built like a tank.

New, no problems.

If you want a warm phase sound with little or no noise this is it.

There's not much to this, just turn knob for speed en push the button for script.

I love the sound. I didn't buy it because I'm a van Halen fan, I bought it because the sound is the best you can get (for as far as I know). You can get Skunk Anansie (Ace) sounds out of it, wich I like. It sounds beautiful clean and cool with distortion. With the script button up, it's a little bit coloured but not too much (like with the Electro Harmonix Small Stone, i didn't like the 'colour' button. Try it yourself). The volume doesn't change when you turn it on, which was the case with the Small Stone.

Per accident, I reversed the polarity of the power supply.

The thing immediately stopped working!!!

Luckily I could take it back to the store. Why can't MXR put in some kind of diode, I really don't trust this thing anymore. The 'script' button scares me too.

I know the people in the store where I bought this thing, and they were nice enough to give me a new one. But I haven't dealt with MXR, so I don't know.

Sounds great, but not reliable enough for me. I like Boss pedals better, impossible to break them. Maybe I should have listened to the Boss phaser before I bought this one.
The sound is perfect though, if it stays in one piece this time I'm still glad I bought it. And it is kind of my own fault it broke...

JUST DON'T REVERSE THE POLARITY IT'LL NEVER WORK AGAIN.