MXR's EVH 5150 Overdrive pedal delivers "whole spectrum" of Eddie Van Halen guitar tones

By Michael Astley-Brown
published

New pedal utilises multi-stage MOSFETs, three-band EQ, boost and noise gate

First came the phaser, followed by the flanger, then the wah… and now Eddie Van Halen finally has a signature overdrive pedal to his name in the form of MXR's EVH 5150 Overdrive.

Utilising multiple MOSFET gain stages, combined with a three-band EQ, the 5150 Overdrive promises versatile valve-like tones through all kinds of amps and speaker cabs - including the "whole spectrum" of EVH tones, from Eruption to A Different Kind Of Truth.

Elsewhere, a boost switch delivers extra gain and compression, while a built-in Smart Gate circuit limits noise - the pedal also offers true bypass switching and is powered by a nine-volt power supply.

The MXR EVH 5150 Overdrive is available in the UK from November/December 2015 for £174.99 - check out Jim Dunlop for more.

Michael Astley-Brown
Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com (opens in new tab), in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism, and has spent the past decade writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as a decade-and-a-half performing in bands of variable genre (and quality). In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe (opens in new tab).