The MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini is an MXR phaser pedal, currently around $107. Close alternatives include the Ibanez PH Mini Phaser Mini and the Roland Corp US PH-3 Phase Shifter. It pairs well with the Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo and the Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt.
MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
MXR · pedal
The MXR Phase 95 Mini combines two classic MXR phaser circuits in one compact enclosure, with a toggle selecting between them. The Phase 90 setting is a four-stage phaser with the thick, warm, pronounced midrange swirl that defined the original orange MXR box, prominent enough to sit forward in a mix. The Phase 45 setting is a two-stage circuit giving a subtler, lighter and more transparent sweep that thickens the tone without dominating it. A second toggle switches between script and block voicings, the script setting being smoother and less pronounced with less volume lift, the block setting brighter and more aggressive. A single Speed control sets the rate.
What stands out
“The MXR Phase 95 Mini delivers Phase 90 and Phase 45 phaser modes in a compact mini enclosure at MXR Dunlop quality for players who want both classic MXR phaser characters in a smaller footprint”
— from the community notes
“The Phase 90 setting is a four-stage phaser with the thick, warm, pronounced midrange swirl that defined the original orange MXR box, prominent enough to sit forward in a mix”
— from the listing
“Its standout strength is the two MXR phaser modes (Phase 90 and Phase 45) in a compact mini enclosure”
— from the community notes
“the block setting brighter and more aggressive”
— from the listing
“lighter and more transparent sweep that thickens the tone”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“In the signal chain phaser sits after drive”
— from the community notes
- phaser
- thick
- midrange
- aggressive
- transparent
- stage
- warm
- mix
Good for
- Busking
- Live
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Funk
- Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Electronic
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo
Mesa Boogie
18% matchMesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo's own high gain character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Synergy SL2 Module goes after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini in the chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head goes after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini in the chain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 goes after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini in the chain
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head goes after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini in the chain
Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212
Egnater
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Egnater Tourmaster Combo 4212 after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
Pedals that stack with the MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
Wren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
22% matchWren and Cuff Box of War Small Foot Fuzz's own fuzzy character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
21% matchFjord Fuzz Berserk leans toward aggressive, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Boss DD-200 Digital Delay
Boss
8% 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 Boss DD-200 Digital Delay after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini in the signal chain, where it won't crowd MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Strymon El Capistan
Strymon
8% 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 Strymon El Capistan after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini in the signal chain, where it won't crowd MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 goes in front of MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini in the chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Death By Audio Destruction in front of MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchWarm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini, since modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Subdecay F-Bomb in front of MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini
Cheaper alternatives
Maestro Orbit
Maestro
62% similarityShared character: three modes, phaser, subtle
Tone City Summer Orange
Tone City
47% similarityShared character: phaser, classic rock
One Control Persian Green Screamer
One Control
46% similarityShared character: transparent, warm, classic rock
Valco Black Hole Vintage Phaser
Valco
44% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle
Movall Audio MP-301 Van Golem
Movall Audio
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Outlaw Effects Phunnel Cloud
Outlaw Effects
92% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
T-Rex Tremonti Phaser
T Rex
55% similarityShared character: phaser, mix, subtle
MXR Phase 100
MXR
54% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, stage
Walrus Audio Lillian
Walrus Audio
51% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, classic rock
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
50% similarityShared character: phaser, mix, subtle
Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box
Whirlwind
48% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, transparent
Catalinbread Many Worlds
Catalinbread
48% similarityShared character: phaser, classic rock, stage
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Ibanez PH Mini Phaser Mini
Ibanez
62% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, aggressive playing
Roland Corp US PH-3 Phase Shifter
Roland
60% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, classic rock
Wylde Audio WA90
Wylde Audio
52% similarityShared character: phaser, thickness, subtle
MXR EVH90 Phase 90
MXR
49% similarityShared character: single tone knob, phaser, thickness
Orange Series Phaser
Orange
44% similarityShared character: single tone knob, phaser, mix
Walrus Audio FS Phaser
Walrus Audio
92% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini?+
The closest matches in character are the Ibanez PH Mini Phaser Mini, the Roland Corp US PH-3 Phase Shifter, the Wylde Audio WA90. Budget picks: Maestro Orbit, Tone City Summer Orange, One Control Persian Green Screamer. Boutique upgrades: T-Rex Tremonti Phaser, MXR Phase 100, Walrus Audio Lillian.
What pairs well with the MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt, Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H — Mesa Boogie Mark IIC+ Combo's own high gain character is the real reason this is worth trying.
How much does the MXR M290 Phase 95 Mini cost?+
Around $107 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).