MXR Phase 90 Script

[kramer.geetar]

So recently I bought an MXR Phase 90, the Vintage '74 Script model handwired with no true by-pass and all. Today for the first time I hooked up my Focus 1000 to it which has an EMG 81 w/ 18v mod in it. The signal chain went as follows:

Guitar > Phase 90 > Satchurator > Class 5

I noticed right away that my guitar sounded very different, with or without the pedal engaged. The tone was much warmer but not really in a good way and didn't sound like it usually does. I took the Phase 90 out of the chain and the guitar sounded as it should. Maybe the hand wired Phase 90 doesn't like the low-impedance signal I dunno cause my other guitar with a passive hum sounds amazing with it.

Any one else experience something like this before, even with another pedal?

 

[Rich_S]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

Yeah, that's why they invented buffered pedals (which solve the problem all the time) and true bypass (which at least solves the problem when the pedal is off). I noticed some tone suck with my 74 Script RI. I put a 3PDT switch in it to make it true bypass, which was an east half-measure.

I try to keep a buffered pedal in front of it in the signal chain, which can be tough since I like the phaser before my dirt boxes. If you have a buffered pedal around, try it. Even something simple will do - any Boss box is good enough. You can leave it bypassed, since you jmust want its buffer working. If that solves it for you, you might want to look into buying a dedicated buffer pedal for the front end of your chain.

The reissue Script 74 is a wonderful-sounding phaser, but it do suck some tone.

 

[kramer.geetar]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

I think if I put my MXR 6-band in front of the phaser it should be alright. I'll try it tomorrow. I forgot about the buffer, thanks for the help.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

The issue you are having is because the pedal is not a true bypass pedal but if you used passive pickups it woudl be a lot less of an issue...active pickups tend to magnify that issue.

Mod the pedal for true bypass and you'll be golden...

 

[Blackie13]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

I had the MXR EVH Phase 90...
Loved it...
BUT in bypass the signal was awfull...I was loosing all the harmonics and the punch...
I had to sell it...the 74 battery phaser can be modded to true bypass(new MXRs have the switch mounted to the board,so you have to cut the bord.And I do not know if this can be done)

 

[Aceman]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

I have to ask - is the 'vintage' REALLY better than the more recent version?

Don't you think that most changes are due to improvements and feedback by users? It may only sound different, but is it soooo different that it can't make the sound you want?

I'm really a fan of more modern pedals overall. Seriously, it's a phaser. Do you need more than the basic Boss pedal? do you really believe a 40 year old design will work better in any way than the 2005 version?

 

[Blackie13]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

I have to ask - is the 'vintage' REALLY better than the more recent version?

I wouldn't really care if you asked me...
It'a the only MXR with that terrible buffer that can be TBed...
+ Script sound...
=GREAT!!!!!

If my EVH Phase could be made TB or improve the buffer somehow my post would have been different...

 

[ErikH]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

So recently I bought an MXR Phase 90, the Vintage '74 Script model handwired with no true by-pass and all. Today for the first time I hooked up my Focus 1000 to it which has an EMG 81 w/ 18v mod in it. The signal chain went as follows:

Guitar > Phase 90 > Satchurator > Class 5

I noticed right away that my guitar sounded very different, with or without the pedal engaged. The tone was much warmer but not really in a good way and didn't sound like it usually does. I took the Phase 90 out of the chain and the guitar sounded as it should. Maybe the hand wired Phase 90 doesn't like the low-impedance signal I dunno cause my other guitar with a passive hum sounds amazing with it.

Any one else experience something like this before, even with another pedal?

I had that same issue with a more current Phase 90. I put a buffer at the output of the circuit and that helped. When the switch went bad, I decided to mod it to true bypass which did require cutting the PCB. So, yes, it is possible to do (answering Blackie's first post) to at least the through-hole component models. I don't know how simple it would be with the newer SMT models.

Best thing to do in your case is to mod it to true bypass. You'll need a DPDT if you don't want to put in a LED. If you do want a LED, you'll need a 3PDT.

I have to ask - is the 'vintage' REALLY better than the more recent version?

Don't you think that most changes are due to improvements and feedback by users? It may only sound different, but is it soooo different that it can't make the sound you want?

I'm really a fan of more modern pedals overall. Seriously, it's a phaser. Do you need more than the basic Boss pedal? do you really believe a 40 year old design will work better in any way than the 2005 version?

The original/old design is warmer and a more subtle phase. The modern model is more in your face and actually, it distorts the signal a little bit. Still a good phaser, but still a different sound. The design being used now was done back in the 80's and used ever since. There may be a few changes here and there but the sound is basically the same. Somewhere in the last few years they went from through-hole components to SMT components and every model (except for the '74 Script RI) uses the EVH PCB. It's just a matter of what parts are left out.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

I think if I put my MXR 6-band in front of the phaser it should be alright. I'll try it tomorrow. I forgot about the buffer, thanks for the help.

Please note that the 6-band EQ is not buffered bypass either. It is the same crappy simple bypass as most other MXR pedals.

Best thing you can do is replace the switch and wire up true bypass, or get a bypass box (Loop Master and others make such things) and run it through that.

Is it the model without LED? This will dictate what type of switch you need to buy if you decide to mod the pedal.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

I have to ask - is the 'vintage' REALLY better than the more recent version?

Don't you think that most changes are due to improvements and feedback by users? It may only sound different, but is it soooo different that it can't make the sound you want?

I'm really a fan of more modern pedals overall. Seriously, it's a phaser. Do you need more than the basic Boss pedal? do you really believe a 40 year old design will work better in any way than the 2005 version?

Well, if you want the middle 70's Phase 90 sound the 74 ri STOMPS the new ones as well as the EVH one...

There were changes made due to customer feedback BUT once MXR went to being a Dunlop product there were a LOT of changes that were made due to keeping costs down...

Will a 40 year old design work better than a new one...no but it will sound different and that counts for something...it's all about what people want...for some guys a [hase 90 of any kind is the wrong phaser, for others it is THE phaser...

 

[kramer.geetar]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

Yea its the model without the LED, the hand-wired '74 Custom Shop Vintage model.

Its doing this while the pedal is on OR off with EMG's, its not making the guitar sounds as it should when engaged using EMG's only.
The thing is I absolutely LOVE the pedal, I used to own the standard block logo version and did the R28 mod to it which made it sound great but this thing is awesome, such a 70's vibe to it. Not sure if it just goes well with my amp but the Marshall Class 5 that I have makes it sound fantastic. I'm not 100% sure if I'll even keep the EMG's cause they're not exactly blowing me away and the guitar sounded better when I had a TB4J in there.

 

[Blackie13]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

Erik you cut the board?
How?Got any schematics?
Anything?
I would be very interested

Thanks a lot!

 

[ErikH]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

Erik you cut the board?
How?Got any schematics?
Anything?
I would be very interested

Thanks a lot!

Yup. I cut the board using a dremel tool. It is a very tricky process because of a trace that runs across the top of where the switch is mounted on the PCB. I accidentally severed that trace and had to do a little surgery to connect the points.

Once cut, then it's a matter of connecting leads to the circuit in/out and the in/out jacks.

Here's a few diagrams from when I did the modification:

Labelled: This shows where the poles of the stock switch connect to.

Color Coded Key: Same as above, just color coded.

Finished: Take note at where the LED is connected to on the switch, the top center lug.

 

[Blackie13]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

Thanks a lot mate!!!!!!
Can I do the same with the EVH phaser?
It seems that the pcb is different...

 

[ErikH]

Re: MXR Phase 90 Script

Thanks a lot mate!!!!!!
Can I do the same with the EVH phaser?
It seems that the pcb is different...

No, you cannot do it to the EVH phaser based off my diagrams. It's probably possibly to do, but the in/out points of the circuit will be different. The EVH and all other non Custom Shop models use SMT components and even the EVH PCB, as I mentioned before. It's just a matter of what parts are left out to make it the orange block Phase 90 with LED.