The MXR Van Halen is an MXR distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the Mooer Liquid Color and the Tech 21 Tri-O.D.. It pairs well with the Marshall JCM800 2203 and the Peavey VTM-120.
MXR Van Halen
MXR · pedal
The MXR Van Halen collection encompasses the signature effects pedals created in collaboration with Eddie Van Halen, including the EVH 5150 Overdrive, EVH Modern High Gain, and the EVH Phase 90. MXR and Eddie Van Halen's collaboration produced a defining signature pedal line that reflects Van Halen's specific requirements for high-gain distortion, phaser modulation, and tone control across his career.
What stands out
“MXR and Eddie Van Halen's collaboration produced a defining signature pedal line that reflects Van Halen's specific requirements for high-gain distortion, phaser modulation, and tone control across his career”
— from the listing
“The EVH signature line covers the key effects in Van Halen's rig”
— from the community notes
“MXR's Van Halen collaboration delivers authentic EVH tonal reference tools with Dunlop's reliable manufacturing”
— from the reviews
“The MXR Van Halen collection encompasses the signature effects pedals created in collaboration with Eddie Van Halen, including the EVH 5150 Overdrive, EVH Modern High Gain, and the EVH Phase 90”
— from the listing
“The EVH line covers the essential Van Halen effects palette”
— from the reviews
Trade-offs
“build quality is consistent and professional-grade”
— from the reviews
- high gain
- distortion
- modulation
- phaser
- overdrive
- modern
- van halen
- evh signature line
Genres the MXR Van Halen is commonly used in
- Metal
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Hard Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Christian Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Djent
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the MXR Van Halen
Marshall JCM800 2203
Marshall
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Feed a high gain signal into Marshall JCM800 2203 and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Comes later in the signal chain
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
19% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → tight)
Feed a high gain signal into Peavey VTM-120 and it comes out closer to tight
Comes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited
Aguilar
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo
Ebs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
EBS Magni 502 2x10 bass combo pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 410 pushes a high gain tone toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 210 Bass Combo takes that high gain character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Stack Gallien-Krueger Fusion 210 on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Feed a high gain signal into Phil Jones BG-400 Suitcase Compact Bass Combo and it comes out closer to mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the MXR Van Halen
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → shimmer)
Put Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress after MXR Van Halen in the signal chain, clear of MXR Van Halen's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Suhr Shiba Drive
Suhr
16% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Suhr Shiba Drive takes that high gain character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Cusack Music Screamer
Cusack Music
15% matchpushes an already-dirty tonePushes an already-dirty tone harder and tightens it up. (high gain → mid-forward)
Stack Cusack Music Screamer on top and a high gain tone tightens toward mid-forward
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Meris Mercury7 Reverb
Meris
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Run Meris Mercury7 Reverb after MXR Van Halen in the signal chain, clear of MXR Van Halen's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Horizon Devices Flux Echo
Horizon Devices
14% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Run Horizon Devices Flux Echo after MXR Van Halen in the signal chain, clear of MXR Van Halen's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Joyo JGE 01 Infinite Sustainer
Joyo
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. (high gain → ambient)
Joyo JGE 01 Infinite Sustainer leans toward ambient, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah
MXR
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
MXR CAE Wah belongs in front of MXR Van Halen, since a wah tracks picking dynamics best on the raw signal
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4
Jam Pedals
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
JAM Pedals RetroVibe Mk.4 pushes a high gain tone toward mid-forward
Alternatives
Mooer Liquid Color
Mooer
65% similarityShared character: modulation
Tech 21 Tri-O.D.
Tech 21
51% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings, overdrive
NuX HG-6 High Gain
Nux
51% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
EarthQuaker Devices Zoar V1 Dynamic Audio Grinder
EarthQuaker Devices
48% similarityShared character: tone control, distortion, high gain settings
Amptweaker Tight Metal
Amptweaker
47% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Abasi Pathos Distortion
Abasi
47% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion
TC Electronic
46% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
MXR Super Badass Distortion
MXR
46% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
NUX NFB-2 Lacerate FET Boost
Nux
46% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Mooer Ultra Drive MK II
Mooer
45% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings
Fulltone OCD V2
Fulltone
45% similarityShared character: distortion, high gain settings, overdrive
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
44% similarityShared character: high gain settings, overdrive
See all alternatives to the MXR Van Halen (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the MXR Van Halen?+
The closest matches in character are the Mooer Liquid Color, the Tech 21 Tri-O.D., the NuX HG-6 High Gain.
What pairs well with the MXR Van Halen?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JCM800 2203, Peavey VTM-120, Aguilar SL110 Fawn Limited — Feed a high gain signal into Marshall JCM800 2203 and it comes out closer to mid-forward.