This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(June 2007) |
MXRis aNew York–based manufacturer ofeffects pedalsfrom Rochester. The company was co-founded in 1972 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood[1] [2]and incorporated as MXR Innovations, Inc. in 1974. The MXR trademark is now owned byJim Dunlop.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Consumer electronics |
| Founded | 1972 |
| Headquarters | Rochester, New York |
| Products | effects pedals |
| Parent | Dunlop Manufacturing |
| Website | http:// jimdunlop |
History
editMXR co-founders Terry Sherwood and Keith Barr met as high school students atRush-Henrietta Senior High Schoolin Henrietta, New York, a suburb of Rochester, New York. Together they started Audio Services, an audio repair business, where they repaired stereos and other music equipment in their rented basement apartment. This experience led them to form MXR and they began producing their first original effect pedal design: the Phase 90. This was quickly followed by the Distortion +, Dyna Comp, and the Blue Box. Michael Laiacona joined this early MXR team in a sales position. Barr later left MXR and went on to foundAlesiswhile Sherwood and four managers/engineers of MXR, John Langlouise, Phil Betette, Tony Gambacurta and Richard Neutrour, co-founded Applied Research & Technology. Mike Laiacona and his wife went on to foundWhirlwind USA.[3]
Jim Dunlopacquired the MXR brand in 1987 and continues the pedal line of original MXR classics, such as the Phase 90 and Dyna Comp, as well as modern pedals like the Carbon Copy and Fullbore Metal. Dunlop has also added a line dedicated to bass effects boxes, MXR Bass Innovations, which has released the Bass Octave Deluxe and Bass Envelope Filter. Both pedals won Editor Awards in Bass Player Magazine and Platinum Awards from Guitar World Magazine. The MXR Custom Shop is responsible for recreations of vintage models such as the hand-wired Phase 45, as well as doing limited runs of pedals such as the Custom Comp.
Reference Series (1973–1984)
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(1975-1981)
(1975-1981)
The first MXReffects pedalwas the M-101MXR Phase 90phaser.The Phase 90 was used on the first twoVan Halenalbums.[4]The MXR Phase 45, followed, as well as a programmable version, the Phase 100. Like other pedals of the time, MXR pedals prior to 1981 did not have LEDs, A/C adaptor jacks, or true-bypass switching.
The first period is known as the "Script period," in reference to thecursivelogo on the case. The earliest script logo pedals were made in the basement shop of the MXR founders[5]and the logos were silk screened. These very first pedals can be identified by a slightly larger font "MXR" on the case.
The "Box Logo Period 1" began around 1975-6 and lasted until 1981, and is named for the writing on the front of the box. The "Box logo period 2" started in early 1981 and went until 1984, when the company stopped making pedals. The main change in this era was the addition of LEDs and A/C adaptor jacks. These pedals used 1/8 "power jacks and had exactly the same circuit board as their pre-1981 box logo brothers.
| Model | Effect Name | Year Intro |
|---|---|---|
| MX-101 | Phase 90 | 1974 |
| MX-102 | Dyna Comp | 1974 |
| MX-103 | Blue Box | 1974 |
| MX-104 | Distortion+ | 1974 |
| MX-105 | Phase 45 | 1974 |
| MX-106 | Noise Gate Line Driver | 1975 |
| MX-107 | Phase 100 | 1975 |
| MX-108 | 10 Band Graphic Equalizer | 1976 |
| MX-109 | 6 Band Graphic Equalizer | 1976 |
| MX-117 | Flanger | 1976 |
| MX-118 | Analog Delay | 1976 |
| MX-120 | Envelope Filter | 1976 |
| MX-133 | Micro Amp | |
| MX-134 | Stereo Chorus | |
| MX-137 | Power Converter | |
| MX-138 | Power Plate | |
| MX-142 | Distortion II | |
| MX-143 | Limiter | |
| MX-144 | Loop Selector | |
| MX-148 | Micro Chorus | 1982 |
| MX-152 | Micro Flanger | 1982 |
| MX-157 | Headphone Amp | 1982 |
| MX-180 | Omni Multi Effects | 1983 |
| MX-181 | Omni Footswitch | 1983 |
Commande Series (1981–1984)
editIn 1981, MXR introduced theCommande Series,a line of plastic (Lexan polycarbonate) pedals. Their design departed from the Reference Series in several respects. The input, output and power jacks were all moved to the top of the case to allow a tighter grouping on the floor, or pedal board.
- M-161 MXRPhaser
- M-162 MXRPreamp
- M-163 MXRSustain
- M-164 MXROverdrive
- M-166 MXRTime Delay
- M-167 MXRStereo Chorus
- M-168 MXRStereoFlanger
2000 Series (1982–1984)
editThe Series 2000 was a complete rework of the Reference and Commande lines of pedals. They were higher quality pedals, with electronicFETswitching and dualLEDindicators. They had a contoured, all-metal chassis and an easily removable battery. They had a fully rubberized bottom and were remote-controllable. Most of the pedals had dual outputs with distinctly different sounds.
The MXR Series 2000 sported six models. These original pedals in the series included the Dyna Comp, Distortion +, Phaser, Stereo Chorus, Stereo Flanger and Time Delay. In late 1983 MXR announced a digital sound effects pedal generator simply known as the Junior. The Junior was released in early 1984 and was added to the other six pedals in the Series 2000 line. The Junior boasted four sound effects: a laser, a clap, a snare and a high hat. The effects weresamplesstored on a replaceable 24-pinROMchip that was produced by MXR. MXR continued to manufacture most of the Reference, Commande and 2000 Series pedals until they closed down in 1984.
| Model Number | Effect Name | Year Intro |
|---|---|---|
| M-201 | Phaser | 1982 |
| M-202 | Dyna Comp | 1982 |
| M-203 | Stereo Flanger | 1982 |
| M-204 | Distortion+ | 1982 |
| M-206 | Time Delay | 1982 |
| M-250 | Stereo Chorus | 1982 |
| M-210 | Junior | 1984 |
MXR Rackmount Effects
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MXR M-131 Pitch Transposer Display
MXR M-129 Pitch Transposer
MXR M-126 Flanger/Doubler
MXR also had a line of professionalrackmounteffects used by the likes ofDavid Gilmour,[6]Stuart AdamsonandMike Rutherford.The first product introduced was the Digital Delay, which had delay times from 0.08ms to 320ms, but users could purchase additional plug-in memory boards that were user-installable and could increase delay times to 1280ms.[7]
Maximum Delay (msec)
| bandwidth | 1 Memory Board | 2 Memory Boards | 3 Memory Boards | 4 Memory Boards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20KHz | 40 | 80 | 120 | 160 |
| 10KHz | 80 | 160 | 240 | 320 |
| 5KHz | 160 | 320 | 480 | 640 |
| 2.5KHz | 320 | 640 | 960 | 1280 |
| Model Number | Product Name | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|
| MX-113 | Digital Delay | 1976 |
| MX-122 | Case for Delay | |
| MX-124 | Dual 15-Band Graphic EQ | |
| MX-125 | 31-Band Equalizer | |
| MX-126 | Flanger/Doubler | |
| MX-129 | Pitch Transposer | |
| MX-510 | Pitch Transposer with LED Display | |
| MX-136 | Dual Limiter | |
| MX-151 | Delay System II | 1982 |
| MX-175 | Digital Time Delay | |
| Pitch-Shift Doubler |
In 1983, MXR introduced one of the first multi-effect rack units for guitar and bass, theOmni.[11]The Omni had 6 different effects: sustain, distortion, delay, equalization, flanger and chorus. The main unit was a 2U with separate controls for each effect. There was a footpedal (M-181) that enabled the player to switch the different effects on and off, as well as changing the order of the distortion and equalizer effects, a master bypass as well as an effects loop. Since 2006, the "M-181" product number has been re-appropriated by Jim Dunlop for the MXR Bass Blowtorch Overdrive pedal.
MXR Desktop Effects
editIn 1980 MXR released the MX-114 Two Channel Graphic Equalizer. From the 1980 Catalog: "The Equalizer's wide dynamic range and interface characteristics allow for a variety of applications. the frequency response of a system can be tailored to compensate for room acoustics, speaker aberrations and program material. Horizontal control placement and the equalizer's compact case permit easy manipulation in studio mix down situation. P.A. applications include: suppression of major feedback frequencies, compensation for high frequency attenuation in miking and rejection of unwanted signals (60Hz hum and noise) Two channels permit separate main and monitor equalization.[12]
Drum Computers
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In late 1981, MXR got the resale rights in the US to sell theKIT(M-178), a digitaldrum machine.In early 1983, MXR released the M-185[1]MXRDrum Computer,similar to Roger Linn'sLinn LM-1drum machine with individual pads for the instrument sounds and individual volume controls for each sound.
Jim Dunlop and MXR
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Jim Dunlopbought the MXR licensing rights and currently manufactures reissues of some of the classic MXR effects pedals. Dunlop has created new models in addition to the original lineup, including signature pedals such asEddie Van Halen Phase 90andFlanger,andZakk Wylde'sWylde OverdriveandBlack Label Chorus.[13]
Products
editReferences
edit- ^Art Thompson, Dave Thompson,The Stompbox,Backbeat Books, 1997, p. 106
- ^"In Memoriam: Keith Barr 1949-2010", Mix Magazine Online, Aug 25, 2010http:// mixonline /news/keith_barr_obit_2508/
- ^Art Thompson, Dave Thompson,The Stompbox,Backbeat Books, 1997, p. 106-111
- ^"Eddie Van Halen's Rig and Tone Techniques".
- ^Rob Hughes, "Selectron to Distribute Rochester Series Pedals", MI Pro, Oct 2009http:// mi-pro.co.uk/news/30577/Selectron-to-distribute-Rochester-pedals
- ^Tolinski, Brad (September 1994)."Welcome to the Machines".Guitar World.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-06-17.Retrieved2011-07-29.
- ^MXR 1980 Catalog
- ^1980 MXR Catalog
- ^1980 MXR Catalog
- ^1982 MXR Catalog & Price List
- ^"MXR".18 October 2021.
- ^1980 MXR Catalog
- ^"Current MXR Pedals Catalog".