REVIEW: MXR EVH Phase 90 pedal
The MXR EVH 90 is a phase pedal that Eddie and Dunlop worked on together to update the current Phase 90.
EVH Phase 90
- Deep rich phase
- Script switch to toggle between vintage and modern
Build quality
As with other MXR products the build quality is excellent and the print of the distinctive EVH pattern is well done.
Dial and footswitch well made.
In use
Not many controls to worry about all easy to see, but slight niggle (same as with Dime Distortion) is that the Script button is a lot smaller so can be a little cumbersome when wanting to change quickly.
Sounds
Don't just think it's for EVH fan's, this is an updated Phase 90 (although the pattern may put some people off).
You can immediately dial in the tone you remember from the early albums if that's what you want but whether used clean or with OD, you can get some cool sounding tones from this.
If you are after a phase pedal check it out, don't discount because of the association with EVH.
On the other hand if you are a die hard EVH fan then you have to check it out, but if you already have a phase pedal you might want to reconsider.
Overall
A nice little pedal but in my opinion doesn't warrant a new purchase if you already have a phase pedal.
If you are looking at getting a phase pedal (EVH fan or not), check one out.
G | H rating 3.5/5
Thanks to Strings and Things.
Some samples:
REVIEW: MXR DIME DISTORTION
The MXR Dime Distortion is a pedal that nails that brutal no nonsense tone of the late and great Dimebag Darrell.
- Scoop switch which notches the mids for a modern metal tone
- 3 band EQ
- Tough casing
- Comes with power supply
MXR Dime Distortion
Build Quality
Build quality is superb, with its tough shell, solid dials and footswitch this pedal is going to last a LONG time.
All dials worked and there were no others issues found on this review copy.
Comes with a power adaptor, might help swing the decision if you are after a distortion pedal as a lot of them don't.
In use
Comes with a power supply, which is a big plus.
Dials are all easy to use and well labelled.
Footswitch is as you would expect and easy to turn on.
Scoop switch is a little fiddly as it's a lot smaller than the other switches.
Sounds
If you are fan (like me) of Dimebag this pedal is a MUST buy..
It's by far the best distortion pedal I've come across, even for non Dimebag fans it's worth a look.
The great thing is that if you want a full on metal tone then with the scoop switch you have it, but then if you want something a bit more versatile then this has it in spades. You can turn down the gain and get anything from a little Texas blues to a rock sound just by altering the dial.
Controls (from left to right):
- Output
- Bass
- Mid
- Trem
- Gain
Overall
If you are a fan of Dimebag - get it! if not and you are after a pedal that can go from soft to heavy covering a lot of bases then try one out.
G | H rating 4.5/5
Thanks to Strings and Things.
Here is a video demonstrating the DIME tone you can get from it:
Digitech CR-7 Stereo Chorus unboxing
Picked up a Digitech CR-7 today from World Guitars, retails at £99.
Digitech CR-7
Loads of settings, can't wait to demo.
Here is the unboxing:
Cornell Overdrive Special, review and sound demo
Cornell Overdrive Special
The Cornell Overdrive Special is a versatile OD pedal that covers a lot of tones, from a crunchier blues through to heavy rock. Retailing at around £199.
Cornell Overdrive Special
Build Quality
One of the best looking and built pedals I've ever used, mirrored finish and chunky controls means its a dream to use. LED's indicate which channel is active and the switches give a reassuring CLICK, quality right through the product.
Instructions are clear and explain exactly how to use it.
Ease of use
This pedal isn't overcomplicated, although you need to read the instructions first to get a handle on the gain channels.
Dials are easy to use and offer a lot of adjustment, LED's are bright and foot switches operate as you would expect.
Battery or 9v power adaptor.
Sounds
This pedal is more suited to blues and rock players than heavy metal. Very natural sound and works great in front of a tube amp, although our sound demo was recorded using a MAC and Logic Pro. It's got a warmth about the sound that I haven't heard from other OD pedals, even the staff favourite Digitech CM-2. Works great for playing some overdriven blues on a low gain setting ala Stevie Ray Vaughan, I've also got it rocking out to Led Zep.
Killer tone, end of.
Sound demo:
Value for money
At £199 this is an expensive OD pedal and you have to consider how often you are going to use it, its the best OD I've heard and the build quality is up there with the best. If you use OD a lot then definitely consider one of these, if its an occasional fling then try a few out before purchasing.
Overall
This is the best OD pedal I've heard and with a valve amp is heaven, expensive but worth it. Its a quality product made by one of the best companies out there today, as with the amps have quality written all over them.
G | H rating 5/5
Pedals supplied by World Guitars - www.worldguitars.co.uk
Cornell - www.dc-developments.com
Digitech TL-2 Metal, review and sound demo
Digitech TL-2 Metal Distortion Pedal
The TL-2 is a high gain pedal from the Digitech Hardwire series, retailing at around £100.
TL-2
Build Quality
The hardwire series are a solid batch of pedals, as is proof with the CM-2 earlier reviewed. Metal construction, battery compartment under the footswitch and well manufactured dials, this is one classy pedal. Not a problem if dropped, bullet proof.
Take a look at our unboxing to see what you get in the box, also gives a good idea of the available settings.
Ease of use
All dials are clearly labelled, easy to use and give resistance which gives you confidence they wont move mid song. Dials go left to right, two inner ones have additional dials for extra settings, these inner two would be a bit fiddly to use on stage. As with the other Hardwire pedals it comes with the patented stomp lock, allowing you to lock down your settings with a plastic cover so they are not moved during your performance.
Nothing out of the ordinary, click on and off.
Sounds
This is HIGH GAIN, kills other pedals I've used for playing anything from heavy rock to thrash metal. You can nail the tones of all your favourite metal bands, think Metallica, Iron Maiden.
There is a lot of adjustment so you can go from a fuzzy Van Halen tone all the way to a thick Metallica (think Sad But True) sound and with the volume control you can play at bedroom levels without annoying the neighbours.
Sound Demo:
Value for money
£100 is a lot for one distortion pedal but you can rest assured that Digitech have done their homework and produced a cracking distortion pedal with loads of adjustment. You might want to try the Boss HM-2 if you are on more of a budget and do a comparison, take a listen to both before parting with your hard earned cash.
Overall
This is an excellent distortion pedal and with the adjustment available, very versatile. If you are after a high gain pedal then definitely consider this against anything else you are trying, it's worth the extra bit of money for the build quality. If you are looking for something more old school blues/rock then look at the Digitech Hardwire CM-2 instead.
G | H rating 4/5
Vox Time Machine review and sound samples
Vox Time Machine, Joe Satriani Series
Vox Time Machine
The Time Machine is a delay pedal with a host of features to make this one of the most versatile pedals on the market.
Build Quality
Vox have put a lot of effort into this pedal and it shows. The chicken head controls, LED's, switches and case are all of high quality, although it does have that hollow sound which makes me not want to drop it incase something becomes loose inside. The box is well presented and contains a wealth of information about the pedal and its creator, the amazing Joe Satriani.
Ease of use
All controls are clearly labelled and the foot switches have a satisfying click when pressed. One thing for me that makes this stand above other delay pedals are the LED's. The LED glows RED or GREEN depending on whether you are in modern or vintage mode, but the killer feature is that it blinks with the timing selected, even if you have tapped your own into the unit. Battery compartment is on the bottom of the unit, no problems there and you can also plug in a 9v power adaptor.
Sound
There is a massive amount of adjustment thanks to the chicken head controls, which allow you move it a miniscule amount rather than fixed stops as in some pedals. I compared this to a Boss DD3 in my review and the Vox comes out on top. The delay sound is very natural, what I'm trying to say is you don't lose any tone and the sound reproduced in the delay sounds the same as the original. There is some difference between between the modern and vintage sounding delay (although not massively noticeable) and the hi-fi / lo-fi switch is good at eliminating any highs.
Sound Demo Video:
Value for money
This is a bit more expensive than other delay pedals on the market and if you rely on a good delay pedal for "your sound" then look no further than this, if its not your primary concern but fancy adding a delay pedal to your armoury then you may want to look at something a little cheaper. That said, for the amount of adjustment on this then its worth spending a little more.
Overall
You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned Joe much in this review and thats for good reason, this pedal isn't just for fans of his music. You could take his name off the product and it would still be a cracking delay pedal, one of the best available in my opinion and worth the extra cash. Build quality is great, sound is amazing and feature list is long.
G | H rating 4/5
Thanks to World Guitars - www.worldguitars.co.uk
Digitech TL-2 Metal Distortion – unboxing
Unboxing the DIGITECH TL-2 METAL DISTORTION.
Digitech TL-2
Retailing around £100
In my opinion Digitech are making the best pedals on the market at the moment and from the initial check on this one it still looks to be that way, built to last.
If you are after more of a Tube Screamer check out the CM-2 instead, this is for metal heads.
Full review coming soon.
Pedal supplied by World Guitars , dont forget to mention us when you call.
VOX Joe Satriani Time Machine unboxing
Second of our unboxings of the new gear, this time its the VOX TIME MACHINE.
Vox Time Machine
These are a series of pedals developed by VOX and JOE SATRIANI to help you reproduce his tone, pity not the playing too though.
This is a multi-function delay pedal, retailing around £150.
Full review coming soon.
Pedal supplied by World Guitars and as always remember to say you saw it on Guitarist Hub.
Cornell overdrive special unboxing
Unboxing of the CORNELL OVERDRIVE SPECIAL pedal.
£199
Cornell Overdrive Special
Initial thoughts are that this is going to get scratched, oozes quality with the mirrored finish but if you like to keep things pristine then you could be in trouble. Although Cornell have been in touch and stated that it is made of stainless and any scratches should polish out.
Very well packaged and built, can't wait to plug it in.
Full review coming soon.
Pedal supplied by World Guitars , dont forget to say you saw it on Guitarist Hub.
Boss DD-3 Overview
BOSS DD-3
The BOSS DD-3 is a digital delay pedal that I have discovered recently.
It's got the usual sturdy Boss pedal chassis and battery access and the normal line IN and OUT.
Dials (from left to right)
- Echo Level
- Feedback
- Delay Time
- Mode (3 preset delay modes and a Hold function)
It's one of the best delay pedals I've played and holds up in both bedroom and gigging situations.
Check it out.
Sound demo coming soon.
Boss ME50 – Overview
ME50
The BOSS ME-50 is a few years old, but you can pick up plenty of second hand bargains these days.
It comes packed with loads of effects and is a great practise aid.
Some of the features I use the most are:
- Tuner
- OD - Tube Screamer
- Chorus
- Delay
- Wah
- Volume pedal
If you are looking at an affordable alternative to having loads of pedals in the bedroom then I would recommend one of these, especially since the ME-70 is now out you can pick these up at a great price.
The main area I use mine for is practising against backing tracks as it takes headphones and an Mp3 player.
I wouldn't recommend using one in front of a valve amp as they tend to over process the sound but for the bedrooms a great solution to not annoy the neighbours.
G | H rating 4/5
BOSS CS-3 Review
The BOSS CS-3 is a sustainer pedal in the familiar shell that you would expect from a BOSS pedal.
CS-3
Price: £59
The sustainer sits in front of the rest of your pedals to boost the lower signals giving a very textured tone, which doesnt get lost even at low volumes.
Out of the box
As you would expect from other BOSS pedals has battery access under the footswitch and takes a 9v, build quality is excellent and in the same vein as their other pedals.
Controls
Connections and controls
One IN and OUT.
From left to right: Level, Tone, Attack and Sustain.
Sounds
The effects of having a CS3 have to be heard to be believed, adds a boost to your tone that cant be got from using any other pedal. You have to be careful with how much sustain you use as its easy to over process your sound using it but once you have played around and hit that sweet spot I guarantee you that you will have this in the ON position constantly.
Works with OD and Clean but the best application is using it with a neck pickup ala Santana and Slash.
Overall
Best sustainer available on the market and at a price that wont break the bank.
G | H rating 5/5
Digitech Hardwire CM-2 Review
The CM-2 is an OD pedal in a similar vein to the Ibanez Tube Screamer.
Digitech CM2
Price - £99
Out of the box
First impressions are that this pedal is built to last, constructed like most other pedals out there but this has nice chunky alloy dials and two things that make this even more of a gig worthy pedal. First is the nice glow in the dark sticker that can be applied to the foot switch and secondly the Stomplock, which allows you to secure all of the present settings in place with the use of a plastic guard that fits on top of the dials. The battery location is situated under the footswitch allowing for easy access, just as you would expect.
Connections and controls
As expected 1 in and 1 out.
Dials are (from left to right): Level, Low, High, Gain
Then there is another switch just below these which is Classic (in the Tube Screamer, low gain OD) and Modified (another gain stage for playing heavy rock).
Sounds
This is one of the best OD pedals I've heard. I play mostly blues and rock and I can get anything from SRV to Metallica, if you are after a heavier sound then I would recommend checking out their TL-2 Metal pedal instead.
The main advantage I found was being able to have more control over my OD at lower levels without losing tone, which when using the drive from a valve amp is difficult especially at bedroom levels. If you are into texas blues and classic rock tones then this is the pedal you need.
Overall
When compared to some other OD pedals this may seem expensive but the quality of the pedal justifies the price tag. A hard wearing, great sounding pedal that will last for years. For me though where this pedal comes out into its own is being able to play at home on a sensible volume without losing any quality of your tone.
G | H rating 5/5
Boss RV-5 Review
Boss Rv-5
Digital Reverb from Boss, the RV-5
Price: £99 (£129 when purchased)
Out of the box
This shouldn't surprise anyone already familiar with a BOSS product, standard case in the same metal construction as the other ones in the line. Battery compartment located under the footswitch, with easy access.
Connections and Controls
4 IN and OUT, 2 mono and 2 stereo.
Dials are (left to right): E.Level, Tone, Time, Mode (spring, plate, hall, room, gate and modulate).
Sounds
This pedal covers all you could ever want from a reverb pedal, from discrete all the way up to monster hall reverb. The killer feature on this pedal though that makes it stand above others is the MODULATE function, check out this YT video:
Overall
If you have a reverb pedal or have it built into the amp then you may not want to spend £99 on another pedal, but if you love that modulate setting then this is a must buy.
G | H Rating: 4/5
Visual Sound 1 Spot setup
Already posted the unboxing but thought it would be useful to show you how to connect using Daisy Chain connections.