An MXR Phase 90 photographed in 2011
JOSEPH BRANSTON/FUTURE
THE PERIOD BETWEEN 1973 and 1975 was a significant phase for pedal effects as numerous phase shifters ideal for gigging guitarists emerged on the market. A handful of great-sounding but bulky units were introduced previously, like the Uni-Vibe and Maestro PS-1A, but this era saw the introduction of numerous guitarfriendly devices that included the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, the Maestro MPS-2 Mini-Phase and its identical counterpart the Oberheim P-100 Phasor, the dazzling, sophisticated Mu-Tron Bi-Phase and scaled-down Mu-Tron Phasor, the Ace Tone LH-100 Stereo Phasor, Roland’s terrifying trio of the AP-2 Phase II, AP-5 Phase Five and AP-7 Jet Phaser and possibly a few others.
Most of these effects have come and gone, with the exception of the EHX Small Stone and this article’s topic of discussion — the legendary MXR Phase 90. Introduced in 1974, the MXR Phase 90 was certainly the smallest and arguably the simplest phase shifter of its time, which accounted for much of its success and subsequent longevity. Housed in a small diecast Bud box that easily fitted into a guitar case’s accessory compartment, the Phase 90 could easily withstand nightly abuse from stacked-heel platform boots without tripping up the guitarist’s snazzy dance steps. Getting a good sound was easy: just dial the pedal’s solitary control (Speed) to the desired sweep rate and kick out the jams.