What is the Best MXR Pedal? (Best Value)
The MXR Phase 90
Even among MXR's solid lineup, the Phase 90 stands out as a pedal that has had the most impact, longevity, and affordability, spanning decades of professional and amateur use alike. It is the best MXR pedal available, and probably will continue to be for a long time.
There are a lot of worthy candidates on the MXR roster. They do a great job with analog circuits, getting them into delays, choruses, and even distortion pedals. But the MXR Phase 90 has stood out for years as one of the simplest and most popular guitar pedals in general, not just within the MXR brand.
Appeal is generated primarily from the following:
- Iconic design (based on the old Script and EVH versions)
- Simplicity (single speed knob)
- Tone quality (analog circuit)
- Affordability
Some might argue that the best MXR pedal should have more functionality, which is certainly a valid argument. That said, we've included a compare table below to help you see the Phase 90 next to similar MXR pedals.
Clearly you could make an argument for many other MXR pedals to be in this spot. However, this article is entirely opinion, though based on real world experience and honest research. Note that we support ourselves by partnering with retailers (primarily Sweetwater) and linking to gear which costs you nothing extra. If you shop through our orange buttons, we might get a commission at no extra cost to you.
Compare Section
Use this table to compare the Phase 90 to a few other popular MXR pedals. These are included in the honorable mentions section as well. Use the compare buttons to see pricing and basic specs.
MXR | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
| MXR Phase 90 | n/a | |
 | MXR M169 Carbon Copy Delay | n/a | |
 | MXR M234 Chorus | 92.4 | |
 | MXR Fullbore Metal | n/a |
Front of the MXR Phase 90.
Pricing Tools
In this section we've put together several pricing tools that includes multiple vendors, a price alert sign up, and a price history graph. If you have questions about any of these, feel free to reach out via the comments section below.
Sweetwater Pricing
Additional Vendors
Price Alert (tracks with Sweetwater)
Price History (tracks with Sweetwater)
Price History for MXR M101 Phase 90 Phaser Pedal
Statistics
| Current Price | $99.99 | September 23, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $99.99 | March 3, 2023 |
| Lowest Price | $89.99 | July 28, 2022 |
Last price changes
| $99.99 | March 3, 2023 |
| $89.99 | July 28, 2022 |
Honorable Mentions
One of the most attractive features of the MXR Phase 90 is its price, especially compared to other phaser pedals. Other MXR pedals are typically more expensive, but tend to provide more control and flexibility. For example, the MXR M234 analog chorus has the following controls: Low, high, level, rate, and depth.
While none of them have achieved the Phase 90's level of notoriety, they're definitely worth your time if you want to shop within the MXR brand.
Here are our honorable mentions:
- MXR Carbon Copy Delay
- MXR M234 Chorus
- MXR Fullbore Metal
- MXR 10-Band EQ (M108S)
- MXR M75 Super Badass Distortion
The Other Phaser Pedals
There are actually a lot of phaser pedals MXR has built. There are several versions of the Phase 90, as well as some that MXR took in a different direction. You can compare all of the MXR phaser pedals here:
Read more: Compare MXR phaser pedals
Conclusion
The phaser pedal world is vast, with pedals coming in lots of different designs, customizations, and algorithms. But the Phase 90 shows us that simpler is often better, and the staying power of an analog pedal with a minimalist control scheme is very strong.
For this reason, we think the best MXR pedal is the Phase 90, hands down.
If you're looking for a phaser pedal that sounds great and is simple to work with, the Phase 90 is your best bet.
For more involved and flexible control schemes, I'd recommend looking at other brands.
Read the full review: Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter
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