The MXR EVH90 Phase 90 is an MXR phaser pedal, currently around $129.99. Close alternatives include the Wylde Audio MXR Phase and the Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter. It pairs well with the Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and the Roland Cube Street.
MXR EVH90 Phase 90
MXR · pedal
The MXR EVH90 Phase 90 is Eddie Van Halen's signature version of the classic MXR Phase 90, finished in striped Van Halen livery with a single Speed knob and a Script switch. The switch toggles between two voicings: modern Block mode, which is brighter with a more pronounced, scooped sweep, and vintage Script mode, which is warmer, subtler, and smoother. It produces the swirling, liquid phase that defined Eddie's tone on classic Van Halen recordings, working beautifully into a cranked amp for thick lead and rhythm textures. Simple and immediate, it suits classic rock, hard rock, and anyone chasing that signature warm, organic phaser sound from a single intuitive control.
What stands out
“Into a cranked amp it adds three-dimensional movement to both rhythm and lead”
— from the reviews
“Simple and immediate, it suits classic rock, hard rock, and anyone chasing that signature warm, organic phaser sound from a single intuitive control”
— from the listing
“The MXR EVH90 Phase 90 is Eddie Van Halen's signature version of the classic MXR Phase 90, finished in striped Van Halen livery with a single Speed knob and a Script switch”
— from the listing
“It produces the swirling, liquid phase that defined Eddie's tone on classic Van Halen recordings, working beautifully into a cranked amp for thick lead and rhythm textures”
— from the listing
“The main caveat is that, like all one-knob phasers, it offers , so players it basic”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“more subtle vintage script voice”
— from the community notes
- rhythm
- lead
- classic rock
- hard rock
- phaser
- simple
- liquid
- scooped
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the MXR EVH90 Phase 90 is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the MXR EVH90 Phase 90
Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp
Laney
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Feed a scooped signal into Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Roland Cube Street
Roland
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Feed a scooped signal into Roland Cube Street and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Roland Cube Street EX
Roland
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Roland Cube Street EX pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 4x10 Bass Combo Amp
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger GK Legacy 4x10 Bass Combo Amp takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head
Engl
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
ENGL E610II Savage 120 MkII Head takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Gibson Dual Falcon 20
Gibson
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gibson Dual Falcon 20 on top and a scooped tone tightens toward mid-forward
Orange Crush 12
Orange
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a scooped signal into Orange Crush 12 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a scooped signal into Ceriatone HRM 50 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the MXR EVH90 Phase 90
J. Rockett The Dude
J Rockett
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
J. Rockett The Dude pushes a scooped tone toward mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Ashdown Triple Shot
Ashdown
27% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (scooped → mid-forward)
Ashdown Triple Shot takes that scooped character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Way Huge Electronics Aqua-Puss MkII Analog Delay
pedal
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put MXR EVH90 Phase 90 after Way Huge Electronics Aqua-Puss MkII Analog Delay in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Way Huge Electronics Aqua-Puss MkII Analog Delay — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Strymon NightSky
Strymon
20% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put MXR EVH90 Phase 90 after Strymon NightSky in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Strymon NightSky — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Keeley Realizer Reverberator Chromalux 2K24 Custom Shop
Keeley
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep MXR EVH90 Phase 90 after Keeley Realizer Reverberator Chromalux 2K24 Custom Shop in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Keeley Realizer Reverberator Chromalux 2K24 Custom Shop — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Catalinbread Silver Kiss Reissue
Catalinbread
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Catalinbread Silver Kiss Reissue's silicon voice out front: MXR EVH90 Phase 90 goes after Catalinbread Silver Kiss Reissue in the signal chain so its smooth voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Wampler Catacombs
Wampler
11% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep MXR EVH90 Phase 90's smooth voice out front: Wampler Catacombs goes after MXR EVH90 Phase 90 in the signal chain so its mid-forward voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb
pedal
10% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep MXR EVH90 Phase 90's smooth voice out front: Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb goes after MXR EVH90 Phase 90 in the signal chain so its spring voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Cheaper alternatives
IdiotBox Effects End of Line
Idiotbox Effects
49% similarityShared character: simple
MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
MXR
49% similarityShared character: single tone knob, phaser, thickness
Boss TR-2 Tremolo
Boss
48% similarityShared character: subtle, simple
Electro-Harmonix Bad
Electro-Harmonix
47% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, classic rock
Walrus Audio Fundamental Chrous
Walrus Audio
43% similarityShared character: warm, subtle, simple
MXR Phase 90
MXR
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
53% similarityShared character: warm, phaser, subtle
T-Rex Tremonti Phaser
T Rex
50% similarityShared character: phaser, hard rock, subtle
Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus
Dunlop
46% similarityShared character: phaser, recording, classic rock
Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box
Whirlwind
44% similarityShared character: warm, phaser, subtle
Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser
Walrus Audio
43% similarityShared character: warm, phaser, subtle
Similar character
Wylde Audio MXR Phase
Wylde Audio
60% similarityShared character: phaser, recording, hard rock
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
55% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, simple
MXR 20th Anniversary Zakk Wylde Signature Phaser
MXR
54% similarityShared character: phaser, hard rock, lead
Mojo Hand FX Nebula Redux
Mojo Hand Fx
54% similarityShared character: phaser, warm, classic rock
Orange Series Phaser
Orange
54% similarityShared character: single tone knob, phaser, simple
Boss CE-2 Chorus
Boss
50% similarityShared character: warm, subtle, lead
See all alternatives to the MXR EVH90 Phase 90 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR EVH90 Phase 90?+
The closest matches in character are the Wylde Audio MXR Phase, the Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter, the MXR 20th Anniversary Zakk Wylde Signature Phaser. Budget picks: IdiotBox Effects End of Line, MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini, Boss TR-2 Tremolo. Boutique upgrades: Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser, T-Rex Tremonti Phaser, Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus.
What pairs well with the MXR EVH90 Phase 90?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp, Roland Cube Street, Roland Cube Street EX — Feed a scooped signal into Laney RB3 Richter Bass Amp and it comes out closer to mid-forward.
How much does the MXR EVH90 Phase 90 cost?+
Around $129.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).