How MXR Changed Pedals

[@bubu89136]

When I was a kid, I took guitar lessons from Randy Rhoads. He told me I had to buy an MXR distortion plus, like if I didn’t have one my life wouldn’t be worth living so I ran out and bought one. It was my first pedal, and I still have it. Back then it felt like a magic box. Years later, I had to clean out all that damned foam. I always think of Randy whenever I see it, or use it.

[@216trixie]

That's amazing you've had the fortune to no him and have those lessons.

[@bubu89136]

@@216trixieSo I was just going through my stuff yesterday and found a box or cassettes. I found one of my lessons I recorded with Randy, one of his picks, and a Cheap Trick pick. I figured all these years I had just given them away. I did give a pick and cassette to a Japanese girl who came here to visit Musonia and his grave, but I thought I gave her the original tape, but I guess I made her a copy, and I guess I had two picks. I listened to the tape. I was just a beginner and so amazingly slow at picking up the simplest idea. Randy was an angel, because he was so patient. I, of course, could never have realized how slow I was unless I heard that tape. He was the nicest guy, and very humble. It makes me happy so many people love him.

[@STRATMAN1969]

I've seen you post this some where before ,I was just thinking about that guy that took lessons from Randy ,and your distortion + story .Then bam here it is .That's literally the next pedal I'm buying because of your post .Thanks for sharing .

[@bubu89136]

@@STRATMAN1969 Ya, I guess I have posted in a few places lately about Randy. It is the first time I've been doing that, and, because he is so popular and loved, he just comes up, so I thought I would share my experiences about him. I'd bet loads of people have great things to share, but they just find writing difficult. I think finding the pick and tape of him, and then seeing a vid about MXR made me want to watch it. Josh's vids are always pretty interesting, anyway. I would suggest looking at lots of different distortion pedals first. At the time, that was the only game in town, but I think there might be even better pedals out there now that are more versatile. I'm not a big distortion guy, so I can't recommend anything, I like overdrive, but I'm not sure the MXR is necessarily the greatest pedal out there anymore. The only distortion I would not recommend is the Boss DS-1, but, then again, it might really work for you. Take care, stay healthy.

[@ghostship7823]

@@STRATMAN1969 😂 I was thinking the same because if that comment.

[@EAHMusic]

The MXR/Pokemon Jingle needs to be announced in every future episode where one of their pedals are mentioned. That was genius. 😂😂😂

[@joermnyc]

Remix for when Josh says he doesn't have an MXR pedal, "i don't have this pedal, gotta catch 'em all."

[@Digosaurus]

Agreed, bloody genius!

[@Apophis392]

Yes!😩

[@Kwaician]

Please 🥲

[@peterbrillian3291]

Thanks for doing this, I worked at MXR back in the day and went on to work at A.R.T. after that. Rochester has been a center of the music industry for a while. Ashly, Whirlwind, MXR, ART just to name a few.

[@theelectrodefunhouse4651]

Did A.R.T. and MXR have a thing going on at one point? I notice A.R.T. had an old harmonizer rack that looked identical to the MXR harmonizer rack.

[@peterbrillian3291]

@@theelectrodefunhouse4651 ART was created after MXR closed shop. MXR ended up turning into two companies ART and Alesis in a round about way. There are a lot of similarly in early rack mount ART gear and MXR rack mount stuff. The slider equalizers, the pitch transposer and a few others. They for all intents were just MXR guts with ART outsides.

[@johnshotwell3803]

Peter, I remember another Rochester company, Gaines audio. I have one of their older direct boxes. DO you know anything about that company?

[@peterbrillian3291]

@@johnshotwell3803 No, sorry. I remember hearing the name. I am by no means an expert on all things Rochester audio industry. 😃 I will have to look them up.

[@johnshotwell3803]

@@peterbrillian3291 If, in researching the company you happen across any of their direct boxes for sale, I am interested in acquiring more of them. By the way I live in Buffalo, so a trip to Rochester is possible to get them. Thank You.

[@mattwhip]

Often overlooked Distortion + era guitar masterpiece, Springsteen’s “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and 78’ tour. The tone is beautiful and searing

[@BennieTarrMusic]

The solos on 'Adam Raised a Cain', 'Prove it All Night', & 'Streets of Fire'...

[@journeyquest1]

I only find one problem with that statement. Springsteen. I always thought his voice sounded like someone constipated on the toilet. Ugh.

[@LSUOdyssey]

So true 😂😂😂 i always say that too ​@@journeyquest1

[@cameronmoore7675]

8:19 *"This is probably my favorite MXR pedal"* _Proceeds to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on favorite MXR pedal_ Never change, Josh.

[@samxulumte9648]

hahaha!!!it for the kids, kids are the future!!

[@santibanks]

My introduction to MXR was actually not guitar but synths. Tony Banks of Genesis was an early adopter of the MXR Phase 100 which he built into his RMI Electra piano (as can be heard for the first time on The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway record). From 1977 onwards he used the Phase 100 as replacement for his Leslie speaker, in conjunction with a Boss CE1 chorus. The Distortion +, 10 band graphic EQ, and Dynacomp pedals were mainstays in his rigs till 1986. Mike Rutherford used the pedals and the rack units too (the flanger on Follow you Follow me is MXR rack flanger), and of course Steve Hackett adopted the MXR Phase 90.

[@markhammer643]

My earliest pedalboard, in the late '70s, contained an MXR 6-Band EQ, an MXR Envelope Filter, and a Noise Gate/Line Driver, along with a Univox Unicomp compressor and an EHX Hot Foot controller pedal, to use the compressor as both a volume pedal and a booster. The 6-Band EQ was labelled to indicate it provides 18db of boost and 18db of cut. Whether at all that was true or even realistic, it WAS rather easy to overdrive with the compressor, and that pair was my overdrive unit. But first, some MXR trivia: 1) The Phase 90 used a fixed sweep width, fixed feedback/resonance, fixed range, and fixed wet/dry blend. Earlier and later issues have *slightly* different sweep widths and resonance. One seems to be optimized for faster phasing rates, and the other optimized for slower sweeps, where a little wider sweep and more resonance improve things. The Phase 90 seemed designed as a compromise, that could sound decent at all speeds, with no further adjustments. 2) The Phase 45 uses an additional network around each JFET that improves immunity to distortion (since JFETs can clip if obliged to process hotter signals). A friend well-versed in the electronic aspects tells me that, as useful as the distortion-immunity can be, he finds the transition from clean to clipped rather sudden, and far prefers the more gradual transition to clipping of the Phase 90. But then, he specializes in synths, which tend to have much hotter levels than guitars, so maybe the sudden transition is something no guitarist would ever experience. 3) Many MXR pedals used tantalum capacitors. My sense - to be confirmed by others - was that the choice of tantalum caps was NOT for any sonic reasons. Rather, the pots, switch, and enclosures MXR used didn't leave much clearance between the controls and switch, and the back of the enclosure. So, using tantalum caps that could be easily bent over on their side allowed the circuit board to fit more easily. T'was all about saving vertical space. 4) Original Distortion+ pedals used a 10k volume pot. As a result, they sacrificed a lot of output level. Use of a 50k or 100k volume pot raised the maximum output level noticeably, so that you didn't have to dime everything to get a noticeable boost when you turned the pedal on. 5) For many years, the Envelope Filter remained my absolute favorite autowah, chiefly because, for an equal number of years it was the only one on the market with a variable Attack time, that allowed you to match the feel of the filter sweep to the needs of the song. As flexible as the venerable Mu-Tron III was, it couldn't do that trick. 6) The EHX Small Stone, also a brilliant pedal, was a 4-stage phaser with a multi-function switch and speed control, like the Phase 100. The Phase 100 employed 6 swept phase-shift stages, and 4 fixed stages. The 4-position switch gave the 4 combinations of more/less resonance and wider/narrower sweep. The Small Stone used/uses a 2-position switch that yields wider-slower sweep with more resonance, or faster-narrower sweep with less resonance. Unlike the Phase 90 and 45, the Phase 100 used photocells, instead of JFET transistors, providing a smoother and cleaner sound.

[@NatBeedle]

Thurston Moore’s use of Blue box on Wildflower Soul off of A Thousand Leaves is pretty stellar. There’s Blue Box all over that record.

[@richie82]

Yeah I think a Blue Box and a Phase 90 basically was his pedal board for a while.

[@medici3547]

"He doesn't have the box", sung to the tune of "he has the box", but more sadly, like in a minor key maybe? I dunno... Nick, whatcha got?

[@insanerotta5332]

HE NEEDS THE BOX!

[@craigreardon3914]

MEDICI3 I was thinking something similar.

[@mikkywhalan]

Timestamp?

[@EricBlackmonGuitar]

What I always loved about MXR pedals is that they were virtually BULLETPROOF. They not only sound good but were made from superior quality materials.

[@Dogsrule777]

Totally! Absolutely solid stuff.

[@thedeadonmusic1]

Except for the foam/rubber stuff that inevitably disentegrates and spills all over...

[@billg6166]

My Micro-Amp is the typical MXR build, but I have a "Phaser" built in the 80s that's in a black plastic box with a footswitch under a big rubber pad. It has the old style AC jack with "Speed" and "Regen" knobs. I have no idea how it relates to the other MXR phasers. I think this was a line of pedals that probably only lasted one run. This Phaser is the only one I've seen.

[@PeeSocks14]

@@thedeadonmusic1 that foam wasn't MXR. That was all that was available at the time. There's tons of electronics and lab equipment from the late 60s-mid 70s that have that same dissintigratingfoam

[@thepuppethead1188]

The Distorion+ is on some amazing records,all of Rowland Howard's stuff is just a Distortion+ set like a boost and the occassional Blue Box for weirdo freak noise. Greg Sage from the Wipers used a Distortion+ similarly to overdrive his Ampeg guitar amps and it sounds soooooo amazing with his SG special.

[@daniellesaux6152]

I didn't know Alesis and MXR had anything to do with one another. I learned something new! I found my old block logo DynaComp in a box a few weeks ago. Got it in the 70s. The foam had turned to dust. It wasn't working at all. I took it apart, cleaned it out, touched up all of the solder joints, rewired the whole unit and lo and behold, it's working again. Love the sound of the DynaComp!

[@derekfricano4118]

Favorite record with MXR Distortion+ is Sugar’s “Copper Blue.” I remember reading a Bob Mould interview in Guitar Player right after that record came out and finding out that was THE pedal.

[@teacuppermike2568]

Thanks! I was always curious what Bob used on that album.

[@josephcorcoran8714]

Awesome album. I’m looking at my copy right now.

[@danielg.w5733]

He used it during Husker Du as well

[@volfore]

“I love mystery even though it haunts me” hit real deep for some reason and I got real emotional with a mouth full of pizza on my lunch break because I also love mystery despite being haunted by it.

[@switch_cave9247]

Breaking news: Josh has now confirmed that he is, in fact, NOT our mom. A shocking revelation that will change how Josh doesn't tuck us into bed at night.

[@justafrog7997]

anyones your mom if you try hard enough

[@switch_cave9247]

@@justafrog7997 true i guess lol

[@gunkanjima3408]

Josh doesn’t tuck you in? Dude you need to get on that. I get tucked in and read a story to

[@switch_cave9247]

@@gunkanjima3408 dang, lucky. And I just realized, if it isn't Josh tucking me in, who is it?

[@shawnmcvey7789]

@Harriet Tubman Are you wearing a mask right now? I'm not, but I'm a lizard person that lives on the reverse side of the flat earth. 🍆🆘️

[@mysweetd35]

Made me smile when you mentioned the DIY BUD box. I worked at Bud Industries in Willoughby, Ohio where these boxes were manufactured, painted, boxed and shipped. We also made huge rack mount cabs for various electronics. This was a summer Job while attending college. But my first mxr phase 90 sadly was not in a BUD box. But I loved it none the less. Sounded great with guitar and keyboards.

[@samwisegrangee]

I understand why you would limit this episode to the "vintage" era of MXR. But seriously, by this point the Carbon Copy is now such a classic it could rub shoulders with the vintage guys.

[@journeyquest1]

I bought one when they first came out and still hate the blinding laser light LEDs they started using. I prefer the old dim light.

[@CharlieMoney777]

@@journeyquest1none of my MXR pedals even have a light. Or an external power jack.

[@toothace3]

My favorite MXR record is "Crazy Train" ... Randy Rhoads through a dimed Distortion + into a Marshall. The Distortion + was also my first pedal purchase...circa 1980ish.

[@AaronEddieHYo]

Wasn't the Marshall dirty channel also dimed?

[@kraid80]

@@AaronEddieHYoRandy's Marshall settings are every knob at 6 but Bass at 2 and Presence 5ish. Rock on

[@AaronEddieHYo]

@@kraid80 thank you

[@brushcl]

Wow, giving some love to MXR! I grew up in Rochester and my first pedal was a beat to hell Micro Chorus (still an overlooked but awesome versatile pedal). I still have it,, complete with crumbling foam. I also have the reissue, which is close to the original, but not identical. Your analysis was hilarious. I love MXRs simplicity. It wasn’t until I became an adult that I realized the magnitude of MXR’s influence on pedal design. You also can’t undervalue the ease of changing values with your feet - that rubber bumper on their knobs is dope! I took my micro chorus in to an electronics shop to fix the battery clip in the mid 80s and the guy there offered to swap out a component with another value because he had worked at MXR and always like that particular part better than the one that shipped with it. Until then I didn’t know they were from Rochester but it seemed totally normal. But it made me feel special.

[@FabioOrtega]

Do you know which part and value? I'd love to try it out.

[@brushcl]

I will look and see if I can identify it.

[@BravosReviews]

So I am new to pedals. I have used effects boards in the past but have always been dissatisfied with the sound and complexity of them. I sold my boards and have been buying numerous pedals and have been very happy with the outcome and also the journey of learning about all of these. I am extremely impressed with and happy with my MXR products. They sound fantastic and are super durable. And the look is great. The color schemes make seeing your pedal choices in a dark room super easy. I am new to JHS and made my first purchase because of this show. I got the Notaklon and found out about this unique sound because of this channel. I also bought the JHS compressor. This show has given me such great education and has placed JHS products firmly in the mind as a top product. This channel is fantastic branding and it’s clear why the guy who made JHS has been such a success. Can’t wait to see more.

[@edwardlayer4259]

All of my Love was actually written by Plant for his young son who died and he considers it the greatest Led Zeppelin song. Also the album is unique as it was almost entirely driven by Jones and Plant as Page and Bonham we’re struggling with drug and alcohol addiction respectively and would only come in in the evening to record their parts.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

The synth solo rules.

[@petermickelson7412]

In the Eee--eeev...ning...

[@mattgilbert7347]

It's a phenomenal album. JPJ musical literacy is all over that one. Smart dude. Maybe it should have been "Jones/Plant" instead of "Page/Plant". I have a plant. Just thought I should mention it.

[@peteytwofinger]

my fav LZ album .

[@mariodriessen9740]

Funny, this is the only Led Zeppelin album I never bought, because I didn't really liked it whenever I heard it being played. Apart from 'In the evening', which is one of my favourite songs. Maybe I should give it another try.

[@alfgwahigain5544]

In Through the Out Door and Presence are the Zeppelin albums that no one seems to remember and both are fantastic.

[@mindfall82]

Dudes probably got more money in rare pedals than he does in his own company!

[@jlee2025]

Yeah, but each and every one of them is a beautiful tax write off.

[@MrShreddykruger]

@@jlee2025 sweet sweet write offs

[@jamesonjones6952]

In thru the out door has to be one of if not the most creative pieces from zeppelin

[@thomasgilmartin1]

Scott, I graduated with an EE degree from RPI in 1992. I bought an ART SGX2000 soon after. I loved that thing so much that I drove to Rochester and delivered a resume in person to ART. It was my saddest day ever when I got a rejection letter from them. I never knew that they were connected to MXR. I still have the SGX, bought new in Albany in 1993. That thing was the original Kemper/AxeFX. It's so funny to me to see people get excited about rack preamp/multifx today when I was using one 27 years ago!

[@TomCarmony]

For me, the first MXR pedal that always comes to mind is the Distortion Plus, and how it’s a key part of Bob Mould’s guitar sound throughout his career (Hüsker Dü, Sugar, solo work).

[@tulsa9999]

Great video Josh! I just finished modding my old 6-band eq and Dist+ with true bypass switch, dc jack and LED. I got rid of the battery snap in the dist+. I was inspired by your modding vids and pedal building vids, thanks for making those!

[@steveonoir]

The O’Jays For The Love Of Money - the bass intro going thru a Phase 90 is killer!

[@mendedarrows9394]

My 3 series delay just came in the mail, and it is a fantastic upgrade to what I had been using. Thanks to you and your team for the opportunity to acquire actual pedals!

[@2ndarymotion]

Phase 90: Edward Distortion +: Randy ‘nuff said.

[@dewdop]

Nope

[@2ndarymotion]

Uh, yes.

[@rickw5024]

Distortion + = Iron Maiden

[@mortonwilson795]

Great vid, really enjoyed the background story. Back in NZ I bought one of the first Phase 90s, I was working as a guitar salesman at the time - it got 'borrowed' during my band days but I replaced it with a Phase 100 which I still have. Also still have my Distortion+ - recently drilled a hole in the back so I can run it of my mains power unit, and a Dyna Comp, which needs an old style power input. Classics all! I have a Dimension D rack mount from the early 80s in the studio but wanted a pedal for the occasional bit of live work and I'm really impressed with the Analog Chorus - subtle, classy . . . the Boss Dimension C didn't quite cut it. Just need a Carbon Copy to round out the rig, now! Cheers!

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

Dave Murray from Iron Maiden used the dist+ for solos boost, the 10 band eq as an always on boost (along with a boss FA1) with his Jcm800 and the phase 90 for some solos like in Powerslave, the intro lead in To tame a land and Strange world.

[@yourguitarist]

Your passion for these little noise boxes is infectious. Thank you for sharing it with the world 🙂

[@RTFosmark]

I just want to say that I love this channel so much. Josh and Nick are good guys, and they make good videos that give me good feelings. Thanks for making good things, Josh & Nick! Edit: and whoever is the great bass player that jams with you guys, they’re good too.

[@sigu3726]

Oh my god. This channel is gold. How on earth can a man be so kind and spot on?? Im gonna buy some of his guitar pedals, and how can I send him some of my broken pedals? Love from Greenland

[@sebastyen.D_music]

Great episode, great brand. Got the Phase 90 (with the cursive logo) and the Blue Box. Just amazing ! It's funny for when it comes to talk about the Blue Box, people always mention Led Zeppelin or Jack White, which is pretty cool but I would definitely talk about the Birthday Party (Nick Cave's first band, before the Bad Seeds), especially their Live 81/82. The sound is massive and aggressive, it is pure violence and the lead guitarist, Rowland S. Howard only uses two MXR pedals : the Distortion+ and the Blue Blox, making unbelievable devilish sounds with his guitars and effects. If you never heard of it, pease check this record out (and their studio albums).

[@Jackmc2112]

My brother gave me an MXR Block letter phase 90 to go with my new EVH 15w lbx. I had no idea the history. Your channel is awesome. I’m 55 so that Album is very familiar to me. John Paul Jones did most of the production on that one. “I’m Gonna Crawl” is amazing too.

[@patrickbautista5107]

Y'all, I found my grandmas electric mixer from the late 80s in its original box and I immediately said " She Has The BoX!" You got me guys

[@evancihon7678]

This Deserves No Name. An incredibly stripped down and basic track that really brings me back to the early days of pedal demos and gives and extremely accurate depiction of the noise gate. keep on keep'n on

[@RobinsonRDavid]

JHS follower comments are some of the wittiest, cleverest, nerdiest, most hysterical comments I’ve read. Thanks JHS alpha nerds!

[@nathanwhitmer7395]

No, thank you, R. David Robinson.

[@lukemason7842]

Love the song names, please don't ever stop this show. I look forward to it ever week!!

[@OxaudioPhilly]

I just picked up a bud box distortion +. The thing is almost mint. Crazy how someone painting with a sears spray gun still looks this good 50 years later

[@jerryyeaaah15]

i picked one up with extremely rare diode set but that one is beat to absolute hell 😂

[@OxaudioPhilly]

@@jerryyeaaah15 oh nice. I dont know if mines rare or not lol. As long as it still works then who cares what it looks like lol. It kind if reminds me of a rat pedal but ive never had a ratt so i dont know

[@jerryyeaaah15]

@@OxaudioPhilly nice its a great pedal none the less😄

[@BWP-u3y]

Man, it's cool watching you guys jam... Y'all get 'better', every time I watch. Chord choices, drum tone... killer!

[@TyRobertsmedia]

Did you know there were multiple album covers for this record? There were about 5-6, all of the same scene, but taken at different angles at exactly the same point in time. The album was wrapped in brown paper bag so you could not see which version you were buying. Also, the swipe of "water" gives you another hint to a funky ink trick they used for the album inner sleeve. You can swipe it with a wet paper towel and the b/w print will change to multiple colors, allowing you to "finger paint" while listing to the tunes. I discovered that when I accidentally spilled a beer onto the sleeve and tried to wipe it off.

[@41DegreesSouth]

Thanks for the info! That is so cool. We need more of this in the world.

[@stevenbristow8761]

@@41DegreesSouth I have an original in through the out door album that was given to me, unopened in the cardboard sleeve with in through the outdoor lez zeppelin stamped on it and the angel stamped on the back, I still dont know which cover it is lol

[@chrisscooter1]

This album package, similar to LZiii and Physical Graffiti, was Zeppelin taking full advantage of their contract, which stipulated the record company was obligated to cover all packaging costs...so they often went nuts...In Through the Out Door required Atlantic to print five different outer sleeves, a outer brown paper sack, and a watercolor inner sleeve...in the days when a gatefold was considered a luxury reserved only for superstar artists and double albums. Even with punk on the rise, LZ could still muster up something of extravagance...they took a lot of heat for it...considered by some, a testimony to their so called “bloated dinosaur rock”...yet, the music on the in side was some of their most personal and heartfelt. The outtakes from these sessions that would end up on Coda would be some of their most ferocious.

[@TyRobertsmedia]

@@stevenbristow8761 I was in high school when the album came out, and still have it and the various pieces.

[@chrisdrake447]

I almost totally trashed the inner sleeve of my copy of this underrated album by using too much water to reveal the colours - went kinda furry. Which is not nice. Still got it, though, complete with original brown paper wrapper. Never owned an MXR Pedal, mind ...

[@sirjoshuapaul]

When you started playing the demo of the Blue Box, my 5 year old ran over to watch the video. I didn't even have to do anything, your playing and that sweet sound was enough. Well done.

[@robertohernandezjr639]

I’m pretty sure Page used a phase 90 on “Achilles Last stand”, which is in my opinion the most underrated Zeppelin song

[@markprice1847]

It is arguably their best song. That whole album is amazing.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

Also on No quarter... fast rate phaser for sure.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

That song is basically the formula for every Dream Theater song ever. Sort of. One of my favorites.

[@plexibreath]

Everything comes together in Achilles, every member is reaching as far as they can. Yes, Led Zeppelin always did that, but this is the best example in my opinion. I few years ago I learned all the guitar parts and recorded it, there were so many more parts than I originally realized, I'd listen a little closer and "yep, there's another part I gotta learn".

[@robertohernandezjr639]

@@plexibreath you know what, I never thought of it that way but it’s so damn true. Literally everyone in that song just goes all out and I think that’s why I love it so much. But yeah I mean even that intro has multiple guitars on it so you’d imagine the rest is pretty crazy

[@natehalliwell4226]

This is a return to form!! Yay josh does read my comments lol Recently I asked you to show MXR some love, and this is awesome!!

[@jppagetoo]

Don't get snarky with me! In Through the Out Door was the sound of High School for me. It was all over the radio when it came out. I still love All of My Love, it's just a song that resonates with a special time in my growing up. Lot's of other good songs too on the album, Carouselambra is a synth workout with a guitar break that works well. In the Evening uses a then new guitar effect the Gizmotron (a future episode???). I'm Gonna Crawl, is Zep at it's bluesiest. Hot Dog made the country charts! A lost gem because it was different.

[@glassslide]

In Through the Outdoor was the first Zep record for me too!! Been hooked on their greatness ever since, LOVE the solo on Fool in the Rain; Favorite use of MXR pedals---early VH!!!

[@billydenkmusic]

Some favorite recordings in which MXR pedals are used: In Through the Out Door - Led Zeppelin: MXR Blue Box Van Halen I, II, Women & Children First, Fair Warning - Van Halen: MXR Phase 90, MXR Flanger Blizzard of Ozz - Ozzy Osbourne: MXR Distortion + ...and many more!

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

Iron Maiden + phase 90= Strange world, To tame a land intro lead, Powerslave solos and leads.

[@kalebaldwin5398]

Thin Lizzy - Bad Reputation, Live and Dangerous, Black Rose (there's Phase 100 all over those albums, on both guitar and bass) Randy Rhoads and Robin Trower both used the old M134 stereo chorus, the big yellow one with the built-in power supply - the only vintage analog chorus I know of that can self-oscillate (it uses a Reticon chip like the M117 Flanger, as opposed to an MN3002 or 3007 like most other chorus pedals of that era). They're really noisy, but they have a lot of range and headroom. Andy Summers used the Dyna Comp on pretty much everything The Police recorded. I think that, along with the Echoplex, is even more crucial to his sound than the Electric Mistress. Oh, and speaking of Andy Summers, he used a Phase 90 on "Hole in My Life", another favorite of mine. And think of how many great recordings were made using a Distortion+ and/or that blue six-band EQ. I believe Glen Tipton and KK Downing used those to boost their Marshalls, same with the Iron Maiden guys. Alex Lifeson used a Distortion+ from Hemispheres up until Grace Under Pressure (in front of Hiwatts, and then Marshall Club & Country combos). And all Vivian Campbell had for the first Dio album was a Distortion+ and a JCM 800. Before Tube Screamers and SD-1s, that was the typical go-to pedal.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

@@kalebaldwin5398 dist+, 10 band eq and phase90 for Dave Murray.

[@gpah58]

Anything by the Police: Dyna Comp as well as some Phase 90 on the earlier records

[@robertross9074]

This video is like revisiting my three decades experience with pedals. I had an original full set of script MXR pedals in the 1980s. What I loved about them is they stacked well and were built like tanks. Compare an MXR pedal to a Foxx! I never liked the distortion, yet loved the Dyna Comp, Phasers, EQ, Analog Delay, Chorus, and Blue Box. Still do. I kept all the boxes for over twenty years, then lost them in a flood. All I have left from that set is an MXR ashtray the dealer gave me when I ordered the set! Make an offer.

[@Bob2884]

Smashing Pumpkins using the phase 100 on their Siamese Dream record but my fave with the effect is Mayonaise, complete with op amp big muff!

[@stenyxx]

Just got my first JHS pedal today. Love it and I love you too buddy ❤️

[@mytourdad]

I think Reverb and ebay should add a new category "Effect box" to help make Josh feel better. Seriously.

[@wdye5150]

Oh man. What a great episode. I love MXR. You have GOT to do a few more episodes. We need to see the cheap 2000 Series and all the great modern reissues and signature pedals. There's so much more ground to cover here. MXR Trilogy!

[@TheElrondo]

"He hasn't the box" Good week, second JHS video 😁

[@Rick-uu5yo]

That was fun. I still have by late 70s MXR Distortion complete with rubber knob cover. Before I bought my first volume pedal, I would put my right heel on the rubber knob over the "output" knob and do my best Xanadu intro volin-ing by twisting my foot. It fed a 60's WEM Copycat into my 50W Marshall Artiste head (with reverb) and a very heavy SAI 4x12 cab. Good old, super-low budget days; the only thing that was bought new was the MXR. My old MXR rubber interior also disintegrated years ago and has been replaced by soft black felt cloth. I never knew about the link with Alesis and ART; I have old equipment from both.

[@jasonmoyer]

Phase 100 with the rate maxed + Minimoog playing a low E = the intro to "Cars"

[@Tom.Klingl]

I vacumed the brittle foam carefully out of my Dynacomp script logo. Worked very well. The foam padding in the box had disintegrated as well...

[@jjulch]

Never realized the MXR Phase 90 was the sound of 70's porn. LOL

[@KumoGoesFast]

i usually think of an envelope filter or wah, is it actually a phase 90?

[@DynamicRockers]

Phase 90 on Rhodes is the sweetest

[@winkydee]

@@KumoGoesFast oh yeah, you gotta have variety. Porn funk has quite a bit of variety, I know cause I'm a pervert!

[@winkydee]

It doesn't hurt to throw some fuzz on it too, or hair if you'd prefer.

[@Simonebardazzi]

Phaser is porno. In Italy it was a real classic on soft core films, b movies and things like that. It's hot and sexy...

[@ZonkerRoberts]

What amazes me is that it's taken this long for JHS to do a video about MXR. Very cool. I lived in Rochester during MXR's heyday and have friends who worked at MXR and ART.

[@markowalski1]

I'm pretty sure Death Cab used the Distortion + for Cath, a guitar tone I still can't get over

[@dewdop]

Really good song

[@jspanos500]

I have an old beat to hell Phase 90 (block logo, no led, script logo stamp on the back plate). This pedal has such a delicious mid boost. 100% freaks out the squares when engaged.

[@BetweentheBeans]

Curious if you're a fan of Ween at all. Dean Ween used the ever living hell out of the Blue Box. Every time I hear it, he comes to mind immediately.

[@jamesohare4776]

Try to watch the videos as often as possible. Although many of the pedal explanations are over my defoliated head, even at age seventy the effects are absolutely fascinating. Have been playing for three years and am still working at mastering pedals. Ah, if only I were younger. Please keep up the great work.

[@victorortiz193]

MXR distortion plus was Randy Rhoads' weapon... Awesome guitarrist, awesome pedal...

[@chucklakeridge7944]

That Phaser 45 and Dist+ may be the best sound of the video. Until I saw this, I didn't know that I needed to know all this MXR history. Why? Because you, Josh, have a contagious pedal nerd curiosity that gives an appreciation to the evolution of the sounds we are chasing. Well done.

[@gramsci420]

In Through the Out Door: When you learn that it was really John Paul Jones’ band all along

[@gramsci420]

It took years to grow on me but now I think it’s their most original album

[@RMosack]

And the album that inspired me to buy a Blue Box ... which was a pedal that was virtually impossible to dial in. Thought I would sound like Jimmy on Fool in the Rain. Nope!

[@dannomusic47]

@@RMosack Nobody ever mentions that it doesn’t sound as if it is only a Blue Box, it also sounds like a phaser is employed on it with the Blue Box. That’s what my ear always hears anyway. Another cool seventies sub octave effect example is on Jeff Beck Wired album on Come Dancing.

[@RMosack]

@Busta Speeker The MXR Blue Box was (is?) a simple fuzz pedal that provided an octave down sound too. Heck, maybe it was two octaves. I can't remember anymore. But the big piece for me is that it was very finicky.

[@Patrick-857]

@Busta Speeker It's essentially a sub octave fuzz. A normal octave fuzz clips your signal so it's pretty much square waves, and then puts them through a circuit like a bridge rectifier, which phase inverts the signal. This flips the negative side of the wave cycle, which has the effect of doubling the frequency. The Blue Box instead uses a simple logic chip to count the heavily clipped waves coming in, and only passing through every third one I believe. It's a pretty simple circuit, and notoriously difficult to control.

[@bb_lz9790]

Great video! I had forgotten about the cards, which I once had. Bought a Dynacomp, Microamp and Flanger in the late '70s. They're all gone and I regret not keeping them (and also not buying a Phase 90).

[@Dillion203]

This wasn’t a video about pedals. This was a call for cards and boxes.

[@less_concerned1221]

Blizzard of Oz ... MXR Distortion+ used by Randy Rhoads. I loved ‘In through the outdoor’ as a kid. I would play the chords for ‘All of my love’ on my cheap Yamaha keyboard over and over again.

[@eduardobologna1214]

Dave Murray used a MXR Dist + on Iron Maiden’s classic álbuns.

[@Brooksjo1]

Also used a Phase 90 for his solos when playing live, EG Live after death

[@joshtomlinson8169]

Twinkle twinkle little ABC is the ultimate JHS pedals demo jam, the soul and beauty of that lick is pure

[@davebarone506]

Was the first distortion peda I remember in the 70s, was like magic

[@Ndlanding]

Great video! The only MXR pedal for me was and still is my "micro amp" (No capitals!) I got it back in the early 80s when I switched from a Les Paul to a Tele, to boost the signal that was getting lost in my pedals (Memory Man, TS9 and Chorus (DOD?)). It's a great way to add a clean boost and I used to leave it on all the time. It's still with me, and I don't remeber ever changing the battery (you have to unscrew the bloody base of it to do so!) The foam on the bottom is a wee bit dodgy, but the pedal still works like a dream.

[@chrisfit]

The current MXR custom dirt pedals are all very very good sounding useable pedals.

[@danielg.w5733]

Hüsker Dü and Fugazi are my favourite distortion+ bands(that pedal was used on most if not all the records of both bands while they were active). Such an iconic tone

[@davidsommerville2213]

The Blue Boy is what Jimmy Page used on his solo on “Fool in the Rain.”

[@BillDerBerg]

Blue box

[@YorsTruL33]

@@BillDerBerg blue balls

[@MatsDagerlind]

I started using MXR pedals in the mid to late 70's and some of them are still some 40 + years later among my favourites, like all the three classic phasers, the dyna-comp and the distortion +. The latter one i have these days replaced by the Distortion III, which I think sounds even better and for a reasonable price holds its own against any boutique overdrive/distortion pedal, no matter the price tag. I've owned several other MXR pedals as well, but the above mentioned are my favourites and will probably always be

[@ironz18]

When I see MXR,I think of EVH. That simple.

[@jasondrummond1318]

Best Commentary Yet.....! I've love my P90, but use my Carbon Copy all the time... I always think of E.V.H. and the randy roads live sound when I think MXR.

[@lescouse]

Guitar shops like people who play “In the evening” still a brilliant album.

[@williamaeronlewis]

I was talking to Vic Chesnutt at a show, and he had an MXR distortion + that he ran his acoustic guitar through, which i took note of because I have used one forever, so i was nerding out about that a little bit and i told him I had read that Randy Rhoads used to use one, which he seemed stoked on. Really sweet guy.

[@baba52]

I hope Spirit doesn’t demonetize you over using their riff.

[@STRATMAN1969]

ha I see what you did there. I'm just glad there's not signs in guitar shops that say no taurus cuz I am one and that would be confusing ; )

[@sandervisser790]

Thank you for doing record time, Josh! It took me a while to start listening, but I finally stopped skipping the section and listen to the music. It helps me break a bit outside of the musical bubble I'm in and I believe that might help me become a better musician, listening to unfamiliar records.

[@bubbaw1234]

The trading card bit made me spit out my strawberry juice!

[@dr.zarkhov9753]

Josh, it's good to see others saving vintage cardboard advertising minutia for manufacturers products. Yeah, I'm weird like that too. I may actually have that Rolling Stone MXR Innovations ad lurking in an old box of vintage mags. Those cards are just the sort of things I might sort of kinda obsess over collecting. Love paper ephemera. Especially advertising for consumer goods. An old friend had one of those script lettered phasers and I remember how sweet it sounded when he played. I think I still actually have his Ross fuzz pedal. Hmmm, maybe I ought to go look for that one! The channel is awesome and I love that you're taking the time to do the deep dives into the history of all these great pedals. Thanks!

[@nedward5871]

"Alissis?" I thought it was always called "Aleesis..."

[@bud9269]

Ditto

[@DynamicRockers]

@@bud9269 Alesis wedge reverb and quadraverb2 racks are really nice and cheap

[@bud9269]

@@DynamicRockers considering i already spend waaaaay too much on music stuff, ill have to check those out too! Lol

[@unemployablegraduate]

For some reason I always said ‘Alay-sis’, which is also wrong.

[@DynamicRockers]

@@bud9269 I bought a quadraverb2 in August for 50$ and the big reverbs like the hall and the routing capabilities are really worth it

[@dylanhurrymusic]

My favourite record featuring MXR pedals is most likely Wish You Were Here! In Through The Out Door is actually my favourite Zeppelin record. The riffs are monolithic, and Page's playing/tone on the entire record is fantastic. Nice shoutout to an underrated classic!

[@s.w.matteo6679]

If a Bud box ever walks in to my pawn shop I'm buying.

[@kevinr.3542]

I'm sure you guys will make a fair offer for it too and not pretend offering 1/5 of its value is the best you can do.

[@s.w.matteo6679]

Pacific Beach Loan and Jewelry. That's just not the way we do business.

[@RobUttley]

You guys make the best show on KZbin. Absolutely love it. Thank you. x

[@ReddestRosa]

Rochester NY represent!! 🤟

[@sumgui6010]

I find it fascinating that you make such awesome pedals yourself, yet focus so much devotion, respect and time to showcasing other peoples work. Do you ever talk about your motivations behind this in a video? What do these other builders think of being on your show, it must be an honour!

[@gabrielmyre]

If I had kept all the pedals I bought during the last 40 years I'd have a wall display just like Josh's.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

All of value or some trash too?

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

I did. lol With c19 and a permanent job loss I live off of selling them. The 50 great ones are all gone. At 73 one just gets philosophical about it all :-) I spent my life doing my own original material so even had and sold a couple of 50's LPs, an original V, a 63 Strat, a Firebird and more great stuff . I always live in the present. I wrote 21 new tunes over about 3 years and am rehearsing my power trio to present them. I am on my third 50 watt Plexi. This one does not get sold! I have 70 pedals split onto 2 boards patch together to play live. I better stop here before I write a book.LOL

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

@@Paul_Lenard_Ewing oh I'm sorry for the first part but glad you enjoy your present and have a band to have fun with. keep rockin'

[@gilianadam9122]

Quality content as always! I come for the nerdy stuff, stay for the jams. Have an old '77 Distortion + which was sold as a reissue for dirt cheap, but turned out to be the real deal. Cleanig out the dreaded foam had me swearing like a sailor, but even after playing many dirt pedals nothing beats a D+ into an old cranked Marshall!

[@zachshipstead5247]

Got the sugar drive, got the mini fuzz, got the analogue chorus. I will punch in the throat if you get too close to them.

[@zachshipstead5247]

Oh yeah, the 10 band eq too.

[@bradleyjonhutchinson]

Great video, brother! I absolutely love the new JHS 3 line. You’re creating a very respectable legacy. Keep up the great work!

[@tickertapetragedy2450]

Weird details and collections but TOTALLY skip over the fact the In Through the Out Door had 6 different covers and came wrapped in brown paper?

[@spaidly]

Also, if you wet the album slip covers the drawings on them would turn different colors. I learned this by accident when I spilled a drink on one.

[@JackDauph]

This mxr history video was sick and one of the most chill and funny from jhs. The trading card dedication was a amazing touch. I learned today!!

[@sampopkin]

Phase 100 used all over London Calling album

[@josephcorcoran8714]

I had an MXR Flanger which had a hardwired power cord. I think it was an M117R. I had it from about 1981 until my wife sold it at a yard sale in 2000 along with my Kramer guitar.