8 Recommended MXR Guitar Effects Pedals!

Since its founding in 1972, MXR has supported many players as a standard brand of guitar and bass effects. In this article, I will introduce some particularly recommended pedals from MXR, which has produced many beloved units.

Table of contents

• M104 Distortion+
• EVH5150 Overdrive
• M102 Dynacom
• M169 Carbon Copy Analog Delay
• M101 Phase90
• Super Badass Variac Fuzz
• M222 Talk Box
• M134 Stereo Chorus

The Distortion+ is one of the most well-known units. Many of you may know it as Randy Rhodes' favorite instrument. The distortion is powerful and deep.It’s a distortion that can be used for a wide range of playing styles, from light distortion to heavy distortion.

The EVH5150 Overdrive is a joint development between Edward Van Halen and MXR, and it’s a must have for those who love the texture of tube amps. It has a good reputation among Sound House staff too. The main feature of this unit is that it has a very sensitive EQ control, as well as a noise gate and booster. Have a listen to the demo.

The Dynacomp is the all-time standard compressor for guitars. This compressor, used by Lowell George of Little Feat, is what is commonly referred to as a “pacopacco” type compressor, which produces a nice sustain extension. This item is recommended for cutting and playing arpeggio phrases with a clean tone or crunch sound.

The Carbon Copy Analog Delay is another classic model liked by many players, and features the warm sound of an analog tape echo. Although it is a delay, it can also be modulated and the MOD switch can be used to turn it on and off.

The Phase 90 is a phaser that has been beloved for over 40 years, and is probably the first model that comes to mind when many guitarists think of phasers. The simple structure of the Phase 90, only has one knob, otherwise known as the SPEED knob, that controls the speed of the swell and is very graceful. It provides a pleasant shimmering effect not only for clean tones, but also for heavily distorted tones.
This model is a favorite of not only guitarists but also keyboard players, and it was also used by Gregg Allman.

The M236 Super Badass Variac Fuzz is recommended as a quirky way to get an aggressive, vintage sound. This model has become a hot topic because of its use by John Frusciante. The main feature of this model is that the drive voltage can be varied between 5V and 15V. As you can see from the video, this item can be used to create a wide range of sounds, from a sound like a weak battery to a modern fuzz sound.

This one is a little different. It’s a talk box that can be freely modulated by adding a hose to the mouth. The sound is picked up through a microphone and outputted from the PA. THis one is awesome for getting new inspiration. Try your hand at a Jeff Beck-like talking wah.

This model is a revival of the famous MXR Stereo Chorus from the 70s with an upgraded version. By utilizing the added Bass Filter, it is possible to remove the effect of overshadowing in the low frequency range of the guitar. Stereo output is supported for a more expansive sound effect.

I hope you found one or more of these items to your interest! Although I was only able to introduce a small portion of MXR products this time, there are many more great products that I wasn’t able to introduce like the M133 Micro Amp and the M80 Bass D.I. for bass guitar!

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