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MGR/Derek Mok « MXR M-107 Phase 100 »
Published on 04/17/07 at 15:00Primarily a singer, I've been playing guitar for about 10 years, been in a band (drummer!), and have continued to record and play with other musicians on a non-professional basis. My styles range from folk to hard rock, with heavy power-pop leanings -- Big Star, not Green Day.
I bought this at Truetone Music in Santa Monica, CA for about $120. I needed an '80s-inflected tone for an upbeat rock song.
The phasing effect has a nice, instantly recognizable quality that evokes Eddie Van Halen's tone. Rhythm parts become much thicker and more hi-fi, giving chunky chord work a different dimension than ordinary high-gain crunch. Compared to the classic Phase 90 pedal, the Phase 100 also has an extra Intensity knob in addition to the Speed control, giving you that much more control over the sound.
Not much, really, except that the battery compartment is a big nuisance to get at. Why any manufacturer would still not provide simpler battery access on an effects pedal, I don't know. The Phase 100 requires that you remove four huge screws and the entire metal bottom plate, and the first time I had to put a battery in, I almost sprained my wrist because the screws were in so tight. The plastic appendices you can cap over the control knobs (the grooves on top allow you to turn the knobs with your foot) are a nice touch, but their fit is so tight that once they're on, they're very hard to get off. Finally, the knobs themselves come off the pedal with just a gentle tug. I've had two pedals do this, and I don't believe any good comes of it -- it just means you can lose the knobs or accidentally put them on the wrong way so that the indicators don't reflect the actual setting of the controls. The knobs should stay put with the pedal.
The body of the pedal is heavy and sturdy. I don't like that the knobs can be yanked off very easily, however, and the on/off switch is a bit stiff.
I love the sound of this pedal, but some construction issues (battery access, knobs, knob appendices) could use major improvement. But for what it does for my sound, the Phase 100 is worth you trying to weather some of its irritations.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
I bought this at Truetone Music in Santa Monica, CA for about $120. I needed an '80s-inflected tone for an upbeat rock song.
The phasing effect has a nice, instantly recognizable quality that evokes Eddie Van Halen's tone. Rhythm parts become much thicker and more hi-fi, giving chunky chord work a different dimension than ordinary high-gain crunch. Compared to the classic Phase 90 pedal, the Phase 100 also has an extra Intensity knob in addition to the Speed control, giving you that much more control over the sound.
Not much, really, except that the battery compartment is a big nuisance to get at. Why any manufacturer would still not provide simpler battery access on an effects pedal, I don't know. The Phase 100 requires that you remove four huge screws and the entire metal bottom plate, and the first time I had to put a battery in, I almost sprained my wrist because the screws were in so tight. The plastic appendices you can cap over the control knobs (the grooves on top allow you to turn the knobs with your foot) are a nice touch, but their fit is so tight that once they're on, they're very hard to get off. Finally, the knobs themselves come off the pedal with just a gentle tug. I've had two pedals do this, and I don't believe any good comes of it -- it just means you can lose the knobs or accidentally put them on the wrong way so that the indicators don't reflect the actual setting of the controls. The knobs should stay put with the pedal.
The body of the pedal is heavy and sturdy. I don't like that the knobs can be yanked off very easily, however, and the on/off switch is a bit stiff.
I love the sound of this pedal, but some construction issues (battery access, knobs, knob appendices) could use major improvement. But for what it does for my sound, the Phase 100 is worth you trying to weather some of its irritations.
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com