MXR M78 Custom Badass ’78 Distortion

November 2011 Guitarist 139
MXR STOMPBOXES £109-£134
EFFECTS
Phasing just the way Zakk likes itCompact, controlled chorus
MXR M234
Analog Chorus
MXR ZW90
Wylde Phase
S
omewhere between the
minimalist Micro Chorus
and the larger format
Stereo Chorus, MXR’s new
Analog Chorus combines a
pedalboard-friendly
compactness with the control
provided by five knobs.
Sounds
With true analogue bucket
brigade technology onboard,
juxtaposition of the rate and
depth controls gives a wide
range of familiar classy chorus
tones. But it’s the other three
knobs that sweeten the deal,
with the two EQ knobs putting
the tone in the zone and the
level knob adding in as little or
as much effect as you want,
from a subtle shift in your tone
to a full-on ensemble sound.
Verdict
A versatile, quality box for
those looking to add some
chorus to their pedalboard.
F
ollowing the single-knob
tradition of MXR’s classic
Phase 90 and Phase 45,
Zakk Wylde’s signature phaser
features just a rate control to
change the speed of the
phasing effect.
Sounds
Unsurprisingly not a million
miles away from the sonic
signature of the Phase 90, what
you get here is a wide range of
great phase tones from a very
slow shifting cycle through to
a fast Univibe-style pulse, with
a knob setting around nine
o’clock yielding the slow sweep
that Zakk Wylde favours.
Verdict
This is an excellently voiced
phaser, which Zakk Wylde
fans will probably choose
regardless. Anyone else should
try it out alongside the other
MXR phasers and see which
tonality they prefer.
The Bottom Line
We like: Small footprint for
a five-knob pedal; useful
tone controls
We dislike: Four-screw
battery access
The Bottom Line
We like: Great phasing
sound; simple one-knob
control method
We dislike: Four-screw
battery access
GUITARIST RATING GUITARIST RATING
M234 Analog
Chorus
PRICE: £134
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Chorus pedal
FEATURES: Buffered bypass, stereo
output (using both mono and thru)
CONTROLS: Level, rate, depth, low
cut, high cut
CONNECTIONS: Input, thru, mono
(using mono and thru together)
POWER: 9V DC from adaptor
or battery
DIMENSIONS: 70 (w) x 121 (d)
x 32.5mm (h)
ZW90 Wylde Phase
PRICE: £134
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Phase pedal
FEATURES: Hard-wire bypass
CONTROLS: Speed
CONNECTIONS: Input, output
POWER: 9V DC from adaptor or
battery (included)
DIMENSIONS: 70 (w) x 121 (d)
x 32.5mm (h)
JHS & Co
01132 865381
www.jimdunlop.com
GIT348.rev_mxr.indd 139 10/7/11 11:48:57 AM