MXR

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MXR was a popular electric guitar effects manufacturer based in Rochester New York, started in 1972 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood.

The first MXR pedal was the Phase 90.

Other original pedals manufactured were:

MXR Dyna Comp (Compressor)
MXR Blue Box (Analog Distortion and Octave)
MXR Distortion+
MXR Envelope Filter
MXR 6 Band Graphic Equalizer
MXR Headphone Amplifier
MXR Micro Amp
MXR Micro Chorus
MXR Noise Gate & Line Driver
MXR Stereo Chorus
MXR Phase 90
MXR Phase 100.

MXR also had a line of pedals that had an AC cord attached to them and were 4 3/4" wide by 3 1/2" tall. They included:

Flanger Model 117 - made famous by Eddie Van Halen, controls for Manual, Width, Speed, Regeneration, gray with white lettering
Analog Chorus Model 134 - controls for Manual, Width, and Speed, bright yellow with black lettering
Distortion II Model 142 - controls for Drive, Resonance, Filter and Output, in a mustard yellow case with black lettering
10 Band Graphic Equalizer, in a bright blue case with white lettering
Analog Delay - controls for Delay, Mix and Regen (feedback), green with white lettering

One of the things that made MXR pedals different was their rubber knob covers that allowed the performer to change settings while playing just by twisting the knob with their foot.

Artists who have used MXR pedals include:

Eddie Van Halen (MXR Flanger and Phase 90)
Jerry Garcia (Distortion +)
Keith Richards(Phase 100 on the song “Shattered,”)
Thurston Moore (Phase 90 and Blue Box)
Joe Perry (MXR Phase 90, Dyna Comp, Flanger and Equalizer).

There is some discussion as to the different types of pedals, as the early ones had logos in script whereas the later ones had block letters.

MXR also had a line of professional rackmount effects used by the likes of David Gilmour and Mike Rutherford of Genesis. All were in bright blue with white lettering. These included:

flanger/doubler
digital delay
chorus
flangers
dual 15 band EQ
Model 125 31 band EQ
Model 172 1/3 Octave Graphic EQ
Model 129 Pitch Transposer
dynamic expander - black face vs. bright blue

In 1983, MXR also made one of the first multi-effect rack units for guitar and bass, the Omni. The omni had 6 different effects in it, including Sustain, Distortion, Delay, EQ, Flanger and Chorus. The main unit was a 2RU with separate controls for each effect. There was a floor footpedal that allowed you to turn on and off the different effects as well as changing the distortion/EQ order to change your sound.

MXR expanded into other fields, and at one point offered the Model 185 digital drum machine.

In the 1983-1984, MXR came out with their worst line of products, the Commande Series. Probably aimed at introducing inexpensive pedals to counteract the flood of pedals from Japan, they helped seal MXR's fate.

In 1984 MXR closed. Sherwood and MXR engineers Richard Neatrour and Tony Gambacurta started Applied Research & Technology or ART while Keith Barr went on to found Alesis Electronics.

Jim Dunlop (the company famous for the Cry Baby Wah-Wah) bought MXR licensing rights and currently manufactures reissues of some of the classic MXR effects pedals. They have even created their own new models in addition to the original line up. They have even come out with some signature pedals. Including a Eddie Van Halen Phase 90, and Flanger.