MXR EVH Phase 90 Settings Guide
The EVH Phase 90 is Eddie Van Halen's signature variant of the classic MXR Phase 90 — the same four-stage FET phaser circuit with the addition of a Script/Block switch that toggles between two different phaser characters. The Script setting reproduces the softer, more musical phasing of Eddie's 1978 recordings (Van Halen I); the Block setting produces the more intense, deeper sweep of the later production-era Phase 90. Eddie's phaser was central to the "Eruption" solo intro and "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love" — one of the most recognisable phaser tones in rock.
Used by: Eddie Van Halen
The best MXR EVH Phase 90 settings start with: Speed at 4/10, Script/Block at 0/10. Adjust from there based on your amp, guitar, and room volume. For Classic Rock / Van Halen: Speed 3/10, Script/Block 0/10.
⚡ Start Here — Recommended Settings
| Control | Starting Position | Range |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | 4/10 | Slow Sweep → Fast Pulse |
| Script/Block | 0/10 | Script Mode → Block Mode |
These are universal starting points. Adjust based on your amp, guitar, and room. Scroll down for genre-specific settings and artist-documented positions.
What Each Control Does
Recommended Starting Settings
Safe starting positions for any style. Adjust from here based on your amp and room.
All values on a 0–10 scale. These are starting points — fine-tune by ear.
Settings by Genre
Script mode, Speed 3 — the Eddie Van Halen 1978 phase setting used on Van Halen I. The Script mode produces a softer phasing character that sits under the guitar tone rather than dominating it; at Speed 3 the sweep is slow enough to hear between chords but not so fast as to become obviously rhythmic. This is the most musical phaser setting for clean and lightly overdriven playing.
Block mode, moderate Speed — the more intense Phase 90 character with deeper phase notches that cut through a high-gain signal more prominently. The Block voicing is more aggressive and defined; into a high-gain amp the phasing cuts through the distortion more clearly than the Script mode. Speed 5 keeps the sweep musical without becoming a tremolo effect.
Script mode, Speed 7 — fast phasing on a clean funk rhythm guitar. The Script mode's softer character works well on clean rhythm guitar where the Phase 90's sweeping modulation adds motion to static chord shapes. Speed 7 produces the fast, rhythmic phasing that defined late-1970s funk guitar.
Script mode, very slow Speed — the Phase 90 as a slow, subtle harmonic thickener. At Speed 1 the sweep is barely perceptible in real-time but adds a slight three-dimensional quality to sustaining notes. Script mode at minimum speed is the most transparent use of the EVH Phase 90.
Artist Settings
Documented settings used by professional guitarists on this unit.
Van Halen's actual EVH Phase 90 was positioned between his guitar and the Marshall input — before the amp, not in the effects loop. Script mode at a slow Speed (approximately 3) produces the phase character heard on "Eruption" and "Runnin' with the Devil". The phaser is subtle enough to not be identified immediately but adds harmonic complexity to every note.
Tips & Common Mistakes
- Run the EVH Phase 90 before the amp (in the signal chain between guitar and amp input) rather than in the effects loop — the phaser modulates the pre-amp signal and the amp's distortion stage adds harmonic content to the already-modulated signal, producing the character associated with Eddie Van Halen's phase sound. In the effects loop the phaser sits after distortion, which is a cleaner but less character-rich placement.
- The Script/Block switch is not just a tone colour choice — Script mode has a single Speed control range, while Block mode changes the depth of the phase notches (the frequency band being cancelled). If the Phase 90 sounds too subtle or too intense for your application, switching between Script and Block is the correct adjustment before changing the Speed control.
FAQ
MXR EVH Phase 90 — Common Questions
Best starting settings for MXR EVH Phase 90: Speed at 4/10, Script/Block at 0/10. Adjust from there based on your guitar, room, and playing style.
For Classic Rock / Van Halen: Speed 3/10, Script/Block 0/10. Script mode, Speed 3 — the Eddie Van Halen 1978 phase setting used on Van Halen I. The Script mode produces a softer phasing character that sits under the guitar tone rather than dominating it; at Speed 3 the sweep is slow enough to hear between chords but not so fast as to become obviously rhythmic. This is the most musical phaser setting for clean and lightly overdriven playing.
For Hard Rock: Speed 5/10, Script/Block 1/10. Block mode, moderate Speed — the more intense Phase 90 character with deeper phase notches that cut through a high-gain signal more prominently. The Block voicing is more aggressive and defined; into a high-gain amp the phasing cuts through the distortion more clearly than the Script mode. Speed 5 keeps the sweep musical without becoming a tremolo effect.
Speed: Phaser LFO rate — slow settings produce a broad, breathing sweep; fast settings produce a more obvious pulsing tremolo-like effect. (Slow Sweep to Fast Pulse). Script/Block: Toggle switch. Script = vintage, soft Phase 90 character. Block = more intense, modern Phase 90 character with deeper null points. (Script Mode to Block Mode)
Run the EVH Phase 90 before the amp (in the signal chain between guitar and amp input) rather than in the effects loop — the phaser modulates the pre-amp signal and the amp's distortion stage adds harmonic content to the already-modulated signal, producing the character associated with Eddie Van Halen's phase sound. In the effects loop the phaser sits after distortion, which is a cleaner but less character-rich placement. The Script/Block switch is not just a tone colour choice — Script mode has a single Speed control range, while Block mode changes the depth of the phase notches (the frequency band being cancelled). If the Phase 90 sounds too subtle or too intense for your application, switching between Script and Block is the correct adjustment before changing the Speed control.
Eddie Van Halen settings: Speed 3/10, Script/Block 0/10. Van Halen's actual EVH Phase 90 was positioned between his guitar and the Marshall input — before the amp, not in the effects loop. Script mode at a slow Speed (approximately 3) produces the phase character heard on "Eruption" and "Runnin' with the Devil". The phaser is subtle enough to not be identified immediately but adds harmonic complexity to every note.
Got the MXR EVH Phase 90? Build the rest of your rig.
Use the Rig Builder to find matching guitars, pedals and cables for your genre and budget.