SmallAxeMusic.com Blog

From the stages of Madison Square Garden to the recording studios of Abbey Road, MXR effects pedals have shaped some of the most iconic guitar tones in rock history. Here's a look at the legendary players who trusted MXR to define their sound.   Jimmy Page – Led Zeppelin's Sonic Architect Jimmy Page's insatiable appetite for sonic experimentation made him a natural MXR user. He famously used the MXR Blue Box, an octave fuzz heard to stunning effect on tracks like Fool in the Rain. As for the MXR Phase 90 — while no confirmed footage or interview has pinned...

POT Codes are a great way to date your vintage MXR pedal but it’s not a surefire way to tell which MXR case housing you have and which PowerPlay adapter you need. 

MXR pedals are iconic — but powering them correctly means knowing exactly which vintage or reissue version you have. Here's how to identify your pedal and find the right no-drill, no-battery adapter for it. Phase 100 (Block or Script Logo) If you have a vintage MXR Phase 100 — whether it's a block logo or script logo version — you're in luck. One adapter covers both: 👉 PowerPlay MXR Vintage Phase 100 No Drill 9V Battery Pedal Adapter for Block and Script Logo No drilling, no batteries, no guesswork. It fits both versions. Small Case Pedals — It's All About...

Since trying to copy Jerry Garcia's tone by buying vintage MXR pedals (It didn't work), I learned that many popular 1970s and 1980s guitar stomp boxes ran on 9V batteries only and couldn't accept a wall power supply. Sure, the owner of a 1974 MXR Bud Box Script Phase 90 could drill or modify the case to accept 9V power. Then, again, that might damage the pedal and it would surely slash the value of a rare pedal that might be worth $400 to $500. As a result, I was constantly scrambling to find or buy 9V batteries. Inevitably, I...