The first thing that came to my mind when I started reviewing MXR EVH 117 Flanger Pedal was that I never really cared for signature products. Signature model instruments, for example, have always seemed pointless to me. I feel like there’s no reason to buy a product just because of the name that is attached to it.
It seems absurd that people would actually want to go out and play shows with Stevie Ray Vaughn’s signature cheaply inscribed on the headstock by a machine. It is not like it’s actually his guitar, and nobody thinks that it is. If I had one of his guitars and it was actually signed, do you honestly think I would be out playing in dive bars with it? No way, Jose!
The thing that I had to consider with pedals is that the game is a little different. Eddie Van Halen actually used certain MXR effects pedals and created a “signature” sound with them. If you, too, have the same exact pedal, then you can generate the same exact sounds. And MXR EVH 117 Flanger is exactly that.
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First Impression of MXR EVH 117 Flanger Pedal
The MXR EVH 117 Flanger is an awesome unit for the effect. It didn’t matter whether this thing sounds like Eddie Van Halen’s tone or not. I was extremely pleased with how great the effect sounded anyway. I always appreciate his talent but was never a huge Van Halen fan. For that fact, I can’t really compare the way the pedal sounds to a lot of the songs it was used on. I just know this device has an amazing flanger that is sure to make huge additions to all kinds of music.
The Interface
The pedal is constructed with four knobs for leveling. The controls are Manual, Width, Speed, and Regen. With a four panel range for developing unique flange, it is no wonder that players as popular as Eddie Van Halen relied so heavily on this staple device. There is also an EVH switch that immediately engages the exact settings that the guitarist used on the band’s song, “Unchained”. I didn’t really care for the tone myself. Though I know this is a huge selling point for the company, and a lot of guitar players really love that tone.
Price
It’s not a cheap flanger pedal, but in my opinion, it could go for a lot more. The MXR EVH 117 Flanger pedal goes for $169 on Amazon. It’s a great price, but it’s even better when you compare it to Boss BF-3, which goes for $179.
MXR EVH 117 Flanger Sound Demo
Finishing Thoughts
This is a great pedal whether you’re looking for the EVH sound or not, because it’s highly capable of producing a huge variety of other sounds, too. It’s priced very reasonably, and it’s one of the best flangers when it comes to value for money. If you like EVH flange tone, this is obviously a great pedal for you, and If you just want a solid flange pedal, I think this is a really great one!
If you liked this post, check out our other pedal reviews, there’s plenty more from where this came from,