The MXR Phase 90 is an MXR phaser pedal, currently around $89.99. Close alternatives include the Orange Series Phaser and the JHS 3 Series Flanger. It pairs well with the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp and the Fender Deluxe Reverb.
MXR Phase 90
MXR · pedal
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.
What stands out
“• [Sound] Warm, chewy four-stage phaser with organic swooshing movement; block logo version is more pronounced, script logo sits subtler in the mix • [Use] Best for classic rock and psychedelic rhythm playing at slow speeds; fast settings y…”
— from the community notes
“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”
— from the listing
“[Pros] ✓ Instantly recognizable warm phaser tone used on landmark recordings — dialing in classic sounds is effortless ✓ Supremely simple one-knob interface ; robust build quality survives ye…”
— from the reviews
“the compact orange enclosure and simple operation make it a pedalboard staple”
— from the listing
“reissues add true bypass but purists debate whether circuit character changed”
— from the community notes
- phaser
- recording
- classic rock
- stage
- psychedelic
- mix
- rhythm
- musical
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the MXR Phase 90 is commonly used in
- Rock
- Alternative Rock
- Funk
- Classic Rock
- Blues
- Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the MXR Phase 90
Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp
Vox
44% matchUsed together by 1 artist
fills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
The chiming AC30 and the Phase 90 are a documented classic-rock pairing, the amp's bright top end giving the phaser's sweep plenty of sparkle to move through.
Comes later in the signal chain
Fender Deluxe Reverb
Fender
40% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
What Fender Deluxe Reverb brings here leans toward bright — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Traynor SB110
Traynor
36% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run the Phase 90's classic sweep after the SB110's boxy midrange voice and it has real character to color.
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey MAX 100
Peavey
34% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
The MAX 100's practice-oriented mid gain gives the Phase 90's classic sweep something driven to color.
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey MAX 150 150W 1x12 Bass Combo
Peavey
32% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Let the Phase 90's classic sweep color the MAX 150's own midrange-forward bass tone with subtle movement.
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey TKO 115
Peavey
32% 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 Peavey TKO 115's full voice out front: MXR Phase 90 goes after Peavey TKO 115 in the signal chain so its analog warmth voice doesn't muddy it
Comes later in the signal chain
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
30% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run MXR Phase 90 after Marshall Super Bass in the signal chain, clear of Marshall Super Bass's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Ampeg SVT-CL
Ampeg
27% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
The Phase 90's classic-rock sweep follows the SVT-CL's tube growl and compression for added motion.
Comes later in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the MXR Phase 90
Catalinbread Galileo
Catalinbread
40% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
The Galileo's bright, pickup-tuned boost gives the Phase 90's sweep more top-end presence to move through.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
39% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (dark → bright)
The Phase 90's psychedelic sweep works well after the Rangemaster's treble boost, since the extra top end keeps the phasing from getting lost.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
38% matchUsed together by 1 artist
sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Phasing after the Screamer's drive keeps the sweep defined rather than letting it wobble the gain
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Ashdown Triple Shot
Ashdown
34% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
The Phase 90's classic-rock sweep follows the Triple Shot's driven midrange overdrive for a defined swirl.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Dawner Prince Boonar
Dawner Prince
33% matchUsed together by 1 artist
sits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Dawner Prince Boonar after MXR Phase 90 in the signal chain, where it won't crowd MXR Phase 90 — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss OD-1 Overdrive
Boss
28% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run the Phase 90's classic sweep after the OD-1's transparent, asymmetrical clipping and the modulation has real bite to color.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Beetronics Fatbee JFET Overdrive
Beetronics
28% 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 the Phase 90 after the Fatbee so its swirl rides on top of the throaty crunch instead of getting driven into mush.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Keeley Super Phat Mod
Keeley
28% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Phase 90's classic swirl colors Super Phat Mod's asymmetrical drive after the gain stage rather than adding to it.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cheaper alternatives
Electro-Harmonix Bad
Electro-Harmonix
56% similarityShared character: phaser, classic rock, stage
Tone City Summer Orange
Tone City
54% similarityShared character: phaser, gig, alternative
Cordovox PH-8
Cordovox
53% similarityShared character: true bypass, phaser, alternative
Behringer VP1B
Behringer
52% similarityShared character: phaser, true bypass, classic rock
Boutique & premium upgrades
Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box
Whirlwind
68% similarity“softer and warmer than the MXR Phase 90 it is often compared to”
Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Electro-Harmonix
57% similarity“compared to a Phase 90 it is gentler, dreamier, and warmer with a wider speed range and a musical quality of its own.”
Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-52
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
56% similarityShared character: phaser, dark
Dunlop Uni-Vibe UV-1 Chorus
Dunlop
54% similarityShared character: phaser, recording, fuzz
Boss CE-2 Chorus
Boss
54% similarityShared character: dark, warm, lead
Mojo Hand FX Nebula Redux
Mojo Hand Fx
53% similarityShared character: phaser, true bypass, warm
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Orange Series Phaser
Orange
62% similarityShared character: single tone knob, mix controls, phaser
JHS 3 Series Flanger
JHS Pedals
56% similarityShared character: warm, mix, simple
Univox Uni-Vibe
Univox
55% similarityShared character: phaser, classic rock
Walrus Audio Fundamental Chrous
Walrus Audio
54% similarityShared character: mix, simple, warm
Ibanez CS Mini Compressor/Sustainer
Ibanez
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the MXR Phase 90 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR Phase 90?+
The closest matches in character are the Orange Series Phaser, the JHS 3 Series Flanger, the Univox Uni-Vibe. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Bad, Tone City Summer Orange, Cordovox PH-8. Boutique upgrades: Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box, Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, Old Blood Noise Endeavors BL-52.
What pairs well with the MXR Phase 90?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Fender Deluxe Reverb, Traynor SB110 — The chiming AC30 and the Phase 90 are a documented classic-rock pairing, the amp's bright top end giving the phaser's sweep plenty of sparkle to move through..
How much does the MXR Phase 90 cost?+
Around $89.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).
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