Electro-Harmonix Bad vs MXR Phase 90

The Electro-Harmonix Bad and the MXR Phase 90 are both pedals sharing analog warmth, fuzzy. The MXR Phase 90 leans warm. Current prices: $58.84 vs $89.99.

Similarity
citedBlended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.

48% somewhat different

Shared genres
citedGenres both listings are associated with.
  • Classic Rock
  • Funk
Shared tone character
citedDerived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.
  • analog warmth
  • fuzzy
Citation fame
citedCitation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.
0%
70%
Price

$58.84via Reverb

$89.99via Reverb

Description

The Electro-Harmonix Bad Stone is a classic analog phase shifter first introduced in 1975, notable as one of the first phasers to incorporate a feedback control into its circuit for a more resonant, intense sweep. It offers a six stage phase shift with rate control and a manual mode that lets you set and hold the phase position by hand rather than using the LFO. Its voice ranges from subtle, watery movement to deep, swirling, resonant phasing with a vintage, organic character. It suits classic rock, funk, psychedelic and experimental players who want a warm, characterful vintage phaser with the unusual flexibility of manual phase control and feedback enhanced resonance.

The MXR Phase 90 is one of the most iconic phaser pedals ever made, a single-knob, four-stage analog phaser known for its warm, organic, liquid sweep. With just a Speed control, it is effortless to use, producing everything from a slow, gentle swirl to a fast, watery throb that animates both rhythm and lead playing. Its rich, musical phasing has appeared on countless recordings across classic rock, funk, and beyond, and it is famously associated with Eddie Van Halen's early tone. The compact orange enclosure and simple operation make it a pedalboard staple. It sits early in the chain into clean or driven amps, adding three-dimensional movement without thinning the core guitar tone.

Genres
citedGenres this gear is documented as being used in.
  • Experimental
  • Rock
  • Alternative Rock
  • Blues
Tonal lean
  • warm

Related searches

Electro-Harmonix Bad vs MXR Phase 90 — Shared Character & Differences — NodeTone