MXR EVH Phase 90

How many reviewers does it take to let you know this thing is a cinch to use? 34 and counting, and it still has one knob!

Looks like we're gearing up for a bit of a scuffle on this particular category. When I bought my EVH 90 about a year ago, I A/B'd it with: 1) a standard reissue Phase 90, 2) an EHX USA Small Stone, 3) a used Boss PH-2 (not the new PH-3), and 4) a Maxon Phase Tone. All of these had their own charm IMO, but I found the standard Phase 90 reissue to be the weakest. There is simply no comparison between this unit and the orange pedal MXR puts out. I have yet to hear one with the R-28 mod and cannot judge this area, but to my ear the EVH 90 captures the "classic" phaser sound the orange MXR is supposed to replicate.

The Small Stone and the Boss were different animals entirely. Not bad, either of them, but pointed in different directions from the MXR-ish phase sound. I previously owned a Russian Small Stone and loved it, but got rid of it due to reliability issues.

The Phase Tone is the only thing that came close out of the units surveyed, but the EVH 90 did the classic phase sound I hear on those hallowed recordings from the 1970's with a little more depth and did not mud the tone in the same way the Maxon seemed to. Decision made.

The two very harsh reviews below can claim experience with real script logo pedals, and I cannot. I can only go off the basis of what I hear on early Rush records, Lou Reed's intro to the live version of Sweet Jane on Rock and Roll Animal, just about any use of phasing on a Steely Dan record, and, of course, Dark Side of the Moon. The EVH 90 delivers these sounds and more (set in "Script" mode). I fully support some of the early reviewers' opinions regarding the liquid shimmer with which this pedal penetrates and permeates your tone. It may be more dominant in terms of its sweep than an original script logo, I can't say, but that doesn't stop it from being the best new phaser I've heard, nor diminish its status as a permanent fixture on my pedalboard.

One thing that particularly irked me about Star Guitar's review below was his comment that anyone who liked the sound of this unit must have a tin ear. I actually cracked a smile when I recalled a recent interview with Steve Vai in which Vai states how much he likes this pedal. I'll admit, I'm not a huge Vai fan, but I do respect his chops-- I'm also aware that he is notoriously picky about things like the levels of certain frequencies in the mix of his live sound (not to mention his overall gear and settings). If that man has a tin ear, then I guess the rest of us are in good company. I'm pretty sure Vai also said something about how he uses it as a lead boost....

In short, I think that it's a mistake to say that this pedal cops the tone of any 30-year-old MXR product. But it is an even bigger mistake to say that it does not have a sweet, warm, shimmery gorgeous phase tone reminscent of some of the best album sounds from the recordings made in the same era (yeah, Van Halen I inculded :)). If you're into phaser sounds at all, you owe it to yourself to at least give this thing an audition.

Also keep in mind that my own review is based on an early 2005 model. Perhaps the negative reviewers received defective units or maybe Dunlop made some foolish changes to the circuit?

I've been in the habit of giving 10's lately because I hate to see the overall rating of this thing (and a few others...) drop below a 9. Really and truly, though, if any pedal deserves a 10, it's probably this little number.

It is really quite heavy for its size and solidly built. There may be some issues with leaky batteries and circuit boards, but I run mine on adaptor power. So, if it wasn't for the pretty little VH finish, I'd probably use it to hammer nails when it wasn't phasing.

This is the definitive 3-D phase sound I've heard in my head since being exposed to FM radio as a small child in the late 70's. It comes in a pretty VH-stripe pattern with a blinding blue LED that kind of looks like the pedal's sound in a wierd way. So It looks as cool as it sounds-- which is of course subject to taste. If your own tastes run more towards finding an ideal phase tone rooted in classic album sounds but with an eye towards the future of rock (or post-rock, or jazz, or fusion...) rather than trying to find the sound of an old pedal, give it a try.

One knob. How much more easy can it get? while the stompboxes which allow you to adjust the phasing waveform and such are nice, i like the simplistic approach with this thing. the manual also has some nice settings to start with as examples, and it can be learned very quickly.

im using a parker p-38 (with shitty pickups, soon to be changed) through a Fender Blues DeVille. this thing sounds great! i bought this over the normal Phase 90 because i felt that the phased signal on that had a little too much gain on it. this one offers much smoother, more 'watery' phase effect. it's very nice to add a subtle tone to clean signal or if you want a cheap leslie rip-off sound. also nice is the 'vintage' button that makes it sound more analog. i keep it on this setting all the time. as far as i can tell, it has a nice bypass.

it's an mxr. i assume it's reliable. i mean, these cases are the most common for custom effect pedal makers.

i love it. probably my favorite effect. i use it mostly on clean signal, for a subtle but effective color. i was a little weary buying an eddie van halen signature effect; i'm not a fan of van halen AT ALL. but eh, it's a great box.

Real easy to use...just one knob like the other Phase 90's.

I have to say I am real disappointed with this purchase...you pay 30-50 bucks more for it then the reissue Phase 90 with not much if at all improvement in tone.

The sweep is too deep, It sounds more like a Flanger then Phaser. When you engage the Script button it just changes the EQ in a very subtle way and doesn't change the sweep or sound at all like the original Script Logo in the least. Them boys at Jim Dunlop just can't get it right. Maybe it engineering ego I don't know. First they changed the Phase 90 after they bought out MXR. Now this, I am wondering if it is arrogance in engineering thinking they just do it better. One thing for sure, they can't be seasoned players because this unit does not sound very good at all.

No disrespect intended, the last reviewer originalsonlyplease is another pathetic user suckered into the marketing of this unit. I will also comment that amp type does not seem to change the character of these stomps. I play a Marshall JCM 800 vertical input and Blockhead 100 watter.

I am in an originals band and wanted to use this unit as a lead boost. One of the players in our band does this with a Phase 90 Script Logo mod unit. It sounds so much warmer it isn't funny. I guess I am going to sell this one and have a tech perform the mod for me on a reissue or buy the real deal on Ebay. I played an original on sale for $299. at a guitar shop a few weeks back and man it was just so much better...It sweetened the leads up nicely.

Looks like you can't break them.

Never had any issues.

Just not very useful..

one knob no brainer

The sound quality is great. I play an american deluxe strat with the humbucker through an orange ad30tc for dirty sound and reissue 57 twin handwired for cleans. I once owned an original phase 90 bud box, script that sounded beautiful. This sounds almost as nice without the tone sucking when the pedal is off. Mr. "Star guitar" below me, hey maybe quit playing through peaveys crap metal wannabe amp and more effects will sound nicer. I heard a 5150 combo and thought it was a joke, the distortion sounded like a box full of bees. I use this more for the psuedo leslie thing. I am not trying to sound like evh, I think most of their tunes are cheesy 80's crap.

so far so good

never called them

Overall this is great. I get the kind of fake leslie sound I want. I do not want to be van halen. Try being yourself, come up with your own style. I purchased a reto-sonic handmade, boutique, expensive, script 90 clone, and returned it. For$175 it was shit. This thing for a hundred bucks gets me way closer to the script tone. I imagine in 30 years it will really sound like it.

It is easy enough to use.

Even the newer Phase 90 reissue's with R-28 taken out of the circuit sounds better. When you perform the R-28 mod...even with the unit disengaged it still has a sweet faint sweep in the background because it isn't true bypass. It sounds warmer and somehow makes it all sound warmer. The sweep on a Script logo is much more subtle as is the reissue with the R-28 mod.

Something else has changed in the circuit on the EVH Phase 90. The guys giving it a positive review on this board haven't either compared it to a real one or one with the R-28 mod, they have they have a tin ear or maybe they just like the pretty colors LOL.

I have a Script Logo from 1975, A Phase 90 reissue with the R-28 mod and now the EVH Phase 90. I repeat this unit sounds obnoxious. In Script mode or otherwise the sweep is too dominate. It gets irritating after awhile...not very useable. FYI I played it though a Mojave Scorpion non-master volume and a Peavey XXX Super 40 EFX, dry, then with reverb, toyed with different settings on the EQ, nothing helps it. I set the knob on the unit at 9 o?clock, 10 o?clock?whatever, It is just too much.

I am sure it is bullet proof. MXR's usually are.

N/A

I've been playing for over 40 years...and EVH is a one of my guitar hero's. I like 80 metal, Satch, Yngwie, Vai, SRV, etc. This unit plain sucks..end of story. It has nice colors painted on it and a pretty blue light though.

Way too easy! Turn the knob, pick a mode, play!

I have a gibson gothic explorer that is stock except for replacing the old 250k pots for 500k pots. Then comes my RMC Picture Wah, the phaser and sometimes if I feel technical and complicated, I throw in a Boss OC3 and A Danelelectro chorus. Not noisy at all, the only thing noticable is the sweep going when not playing and it does add a lil boost, but that's a good thing for what I do, I can't stand pedals that you step on and you can't tell if they are on or not! The effect is just great, It sounds really good for VH1 stuff and great for funky stuff, clean passages get so pretty with it, it makes me shiver! When I max the rate it sounds like a roto-vibe, only better and warmer! I can get a lot of diff sounds out of it and it really only has one knob!

I have droped it, steped on it, my dog has jumped on it (80 lb. American Bulldog!) and it keeps on going. The thing is beyond tough...can't say the same about my boss OC3...its finicky.

Never delt with em, can't rate.

Ive had this for over a year now and just wanted to make sure I really loved it before ravin about it. I have been playing for 5-7 years depending on what you call playing! I play swamp metal if that makes sense! Kinda like skynard meets metallica with a lil flare from VH. I like my rig simple and like to use my hands and stuff. This pedal is a great tool for what I do, it did spark an interest in other effects, but evertime I try them, I am disapointed, nothing sticks with me like this and my Wah. I am the most fickle person I know when it comes to gear, I am always changing crap and this with my wha are the only constants! If it were stolen I would skin the bastard and roll him in salt. I just love everything about it, it's beautiful. It does give me ideas, infact I wrote a whole song around it when I was dickin around with it while maxed out. BUY ONE!

The EVH Phase 90 is one of the easiest phase shifters to use. One knob for rate/speed and one button to select either the script mode (mellower) or block mode (a little more intense).

EXCELLENT I use this with bass. Fender bass -EBS Muticomp-EBS Octave-EBS IQ - EVH Phase 90-Demeter Tremulator-Eden amps-Eden/Mesa Boogie cabs. This phaser is so smooth at both settings.It blends excellent with both the basses and the other effects I use. What really makes this pedal shine is that it doesn't have any annoying volume drops or increases or any obvious frequency surges/peaks. I had one of the recent orange Phase 90s but it had a volume boost and an annoying harshness/surge in the mid frequencies and would magnify that when used with other effects. I also own a Dod 490 phase, it's not bad, has a little more adjustment but is slighty a little muddy in the bass area, not as smooth as the EVH. I also owned a Russian EH Smallstone...I'm sorry but the Smallstone is noisy and has a major volume loss and really overtakes your original sound. The EVH is great for funk/slap bass just set a speed and play your bass line in time with the phase sweep. I also own a Dod 201 Phase it's a differnt beast more of a watery vibe has a weaker phase sweep better as a vibrato. I also owned a Boss Phase the original green issue PH 1 ?...thought it sounded too mechanical.

Well built except the little push button for the mode changes is plastic.

Haven't dealt with them

Like I said I use this on bass. It is very difficult to find effects that work easily with bass. This is one of my all time favorites for bass and I've tried/owned a ton of effects. The best phase shifter I've played and I have no desire to try any others which is rare for me. Instant liquid funk, great for setting grooves if you are into that style. This will not leave my pedalboard. A little pricey because they put EVH and that stupid paint job (sorry Eddie fans) on it...guess it helps to sell pedals and Dunlop probably wouldn't have built it...I'm giving it a 9 ownly because it should be cheaper.

EXTREMELY EASY TO USE. 1 KNOB AND AWAY YOU GO INTO PHASELAND

I REALLY LIKE THIS PEDAL ALOT, THE GEAR I USE IS INCONSEQUENTIAL SO, I WON'T GET INTO IT. ANYWAY..THIS UNIT SOUNDS GREAT. IT HAS A REAL NICE NATURAL SOUNDING SWEEP TO IT. IT DEFINETLY ENHANCES MY SOUND.THE SCRIPT MODE AT THE 9 O'CLOCK SETTING IS THE SAME SETTING AS EDDIE'S ON VH1.IT SOUNDS JUST LIKE IT . IT ALSO REPLICATES THE SOUNDS ON THE OLD RUSH, PINK FLOYD STUFF VERY WELL. IT DOES ADD JUST A LITTLE NOISE BUT NOTHING TO BE CONCERNED OVER. THE BLOCK MODE HAS A STRONGER INTENSITY TO THE SWEEP WHICH I LIKE AND , USE OFTEN. SCRIPT MODE IS MY FAVORITE THOUGH. IT ALSO HAS A BLINDING BLUE LED ON IT ( YOU CAN PROBABLY USE IT AS A FLASHLIGHT IF YOU NEED TO ) A VERY GOOD EFFECT

I HAVE A FEW MXR PEDALS AND THEY ARE BUILT TOUGH. NO PROBLEMS YET WITH NEWER DUNLOP MODELS

NO NEED...NEXT

I PLAY ALL STYLES OF MUSIC. MOSTLY ROCK, AND IVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 26 YEARS. IWOULD GET ANOTHER EVH 90 IF STOLEN. ILOVE THE LOOK OF THIS PEDAL AND IT SOUNDS GREAT. I WISH THEY WOULD PUT THE AC CONNECTION ON THE FRONT INSTEAD OF THE SIDE. THIS UNIT DEFINETLY RAISES THE INSPIRATION LEVEL A FEW NOTCHES.

Simple. 1 knob, 1 button and an on-off switch. The manual isn't needed. Simple to get great sounds.

This is great sounding...I love it set at just below 9-o'clock setting with script mode on or just above 9-'clock with block mode on. Script mode is a little more subtle, and I personally favor it. Block mode is more vocal and in your face. I use a Floyd Rose DST-3 into this, then into a Dunlop Crybaby, then into a Randall RG100SC/G2 amp (great amp) and it sounds good. Great clean if in script mode with rate set way slow.

Haven't gigged it, but is sturdy.

I haven't dealt with them personally, but my local music shop ordered an adaptor from them and they sent the wrong one. So I had to wait another week while they sent the right one.

I play all kinds of rock and metal, and it is fantastic, especially for nailing that van halen/80's tone. The only thing I can complain about is that it is a little expensive, but if you use it it is worth it.

it's very easy to use, only one knob

my setup is easy: les pauls (with alnico 2 pro seymour duncan), bad horsie wah, boss od-3 overdrive, MXR EVH Phase 90, marshall silver jubilee full stack (vintage celestion speakers), everything wired with monster cable performer 500 rock and speaker cable.
the mxr phase sound very warm even if it cuts a little bit of treble even if it's turn off. in some knob positions it suonds like a rotatory speaker emulator (with the script logo button pushed in)

i use it not very often it helps haveing a more big sound in some solo or haveing the sad guitar sound

i've benn playn' guitar for 14 years and never used many effect apart overdive and wah, but when i tried this phase i just felt in love with it