The MXR M101 Phase 90 is a classic guitar modulation pedal famous for its warm, swirling, all-analog phasing effect. With its unmistakable orange enclosure and single-knob design, it's one of the simplest ways to add movement, depth, and a vintage character to your guitar tone.
The Phase 90 doesn't add distortion or create echoes. Instead, it shifts the phase of parts of your signal to produce a moving frequency sweep, giving your sound a distinctive whooshing, liquid-like quality.
What does it sound like?
Subtle warmth and movement: At slower settings, it adds dimension to clean chords and sustained notes.
Classic rock swirl: Creates a rich, sweeping texture for riffs, power chords, and lead lines.
Psychedelic character: Faster settings produce a more pronounced, bubbling or rotary-like effect.
Thicker distorted tones: When paired with overdrive, it adds movement and complexity to guitar solos and riffs.
Expressive lead sounds: Sustained notes seem to swell and shift as the phasing sweep moves through the sound.
The Phase 90 is especially well suited to classic rock, hard rock, psychedelic music, funk, and alternative guitar tones. It's also associated with the swirling lead sound heard in Eddie Van Halen's guitar playing.
