Dunlop - MXR EVH Modern High Gain Pedal

The MXR EVH Modern High Gain Pedal is the result of a direct collaboration between MXR and Eddie Van Halen, initiated in 2015 with a clear objective: to design a pedal capable of delivering a modern, brutal, precise and structured high-gain, without sacrificing the definition or intelligibility of the playing. This pedal doesn't seek to imitate any particular amp, but to offer a true saturation preamp capable of making its mark in any professional rig.

The heart of the circuit is based on a gain architecture designed to preserve articulation, even at very high saturation levels. The Gain and Output controls balance compression, attack and output level, so that heavy riffs and saturated leads remain perfectly legible. The sound remains dense, sharp and structured, with no crushing of the signal or loss of dynamics.

The Bass / Mid / Treble EQ section offers precise control over the spectrum, allowing the pedal to be adapted to different amps, cabinets and playing situations. This active EQ gives access to a real sculpting of the sound, from ultra-tight modern metal to more open and organic high-gain textures.

The Boost switch acts as an extra gain stage, designed for solos or passages requiring extra saturation and sustain. It's not just a volume boost, but a real gain extension, coherently integrated into the circuit architecture.

The 55 Hz / 80 Hz selector adjusts the bass response. At 55 Hz, the lower end of the spectrum becomes more massive and ample, ideal for low tunings and wide rigs. At 80 Hz, the response is tighter and more percussive, with better rhythmic definition in fast attacks.

To ensure clean operation at high gain levels, the pedal incorporates an adjustable noise gate. This allows precise control of background noise without altering the natural dynamics of the playing, an essential point in modern high-gain configurations.

The MXR EVH Modern High Gain Pedal is aimed at guitarists looking for powerful, precise and professional saturation, capable of fitting into demanding modern rigs. It works equally well as a main distortion pedal in front of a clean amp or as a gain stage in front of an already saturated amp, in the studio or on stage.