How EVH Created His Signature Sound Using MXR’s Phase 90 and Flanger Pedals
from Guitarworld.com-
MXR pedals have remained an essential element of Van Halen’s sound since his band’s debut album was released in 1978. The swirling textures of a Phase 90 are heard on classic tunes like “Eruption,” “Atomic Punk,” “Ain’t Talkin’ ’Bout Love,” “Everybody Wants Some!!” and “Drop Dead Legs”.
Ed has also relied upon pro-quality MXR tools like the Six-Band Graphic Equalizer and Smart Gate to keep his onstage tone full, aggressive and noise-free. His current onstage pedal board even includes an MXR Analog Chorus, which he uses for songs like “Pretty Woman” and “Little Guitars.”
In celebration of MXR’s 40th anniversary milestone, Guitar World spoke with the company’s most influential player about how his MXR pedals have influenced him throughout the last four decades. Read the interview below!
GUITAR WORLD: Did you use any pedals when you were a kid and learning to play?
A wah-wah was probably the first pedal that I ever tried. I probably borrowed it from a buddy. But I was from the school of plugging the guitar straight into the amp, so I didn’t use any pedals at first.
How did you discover MXR pedals?
A really good friend of mine named Terry Kilgore and I were the so-called gunslingers in Pasadena back in the mid Seventies. We jammed together and would trade licks and have a lot of fun. We weren’t competitive at all. I went to one of his band rehearsals once, and that was when I first saw a Phase 90.
He used to play a lot of Robin Trower stuff. He used the Phase 90 with the speed control set around the 2 o’clock setting to get more of that fast, swirling sound. I decided to pick one up for myself. I was into Robin Trower too, but we didn’t play any of his songs, so I used it with the control set between 9 and 10 o’clock. I still use it the same way today. I just locked into that one setting, and I’ve used it ever since.
Read the rest of the interview on Guitarworld.com! Click here!
