The MXR M-159 Tremolo is a stereo tremolo pedal made by MXR, launched in April 2008 alongside the Carbon Copy Analog Delay1. It is based on Dunlop's TS-1 tremolo and keeps all the effects and controls of that original pedal, including its sounds and its intensity, shape and speed controls12. The M-159 is discontinued: MXR's M305 Tremolo replaces it32.
What set the M-159 apart from a basic tremolo box was its stereo capability and its panning mode. As well as normal tremolo, where the volume swells and dips, a second footswitch turns the pedal into a stereo panner, switching the modulation phase of the stereo channel so the sound alternates between the two outputs2.
What the M-159 does: stereo tremolo and panning
Tremolo is a volume effect: the signal repeatedly rises and falls at a speed and depth you set. The M-159's depth and speed knobs control those two parameters directly, and the pedal retains the shape control of the TS-1, which changes the character of the volume sweep12.
The stereo side is where the M-159 earns its name. It offers several mono in/stereo out and stereo in/stereo out routing possibilities, using both a standard mono input and output plus a separate stereo input and output, each on a single 6.4mm TRS jack2. Its two inputs can serve either true stereo operation or two different instruments1.
The pedal carries two footswitches: a standard effect on/off switch, and a "pan" switch1. The pan switch turns the pedal into a stereo panner by switching the tremolo modulation phase of the stereo channel, so instead of both outputs swelling together, the sound alternates between them2.
MXR claimed the pedal produces a "rich and clear signal without any excess noise."1
Controls and housing
| Control or switch | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth | Sets the depth of the tremolo2 |
| Speed | Sets the speed of the tremolo2 |
| Shape | Shapes the character of the sweep, carried over from the TS-11 |
| On/off footswitch | Engages and bypasses the effect1 |
| Pan footswitch | Switches to stereo panning, alternating the sound between outputs2 |
MXR put the circuit in a smaller housing, the size of a Phase 100, designed to take up less space on a modern pedalboard2.
Power
The M-159 runs at 18 volts32. Power comes from two PP3 batteries, easily accessed via a plastic lid on the base, or alternatively an 18-volt adaptor2. The 18-volt requirement is worth noting for anyone buying one secondhand: Guitar World's reviewer noted that the voltage necessitated the use of two batteries or another arrangement3.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, found the M-159 delivered versatile tremolo effects in a practical package, with flexible routing options and a wide range of sounds, though he counted the 18V operation and an LED that does not blink in time with the tremolo speed as drawbacks2.
"Versatile tremolo effects in a practical package."
Premier Guitar called the M159 Stereo Tremolo underrated, describing it as a derivative of the Dunlop TS-1 Stereo Tremolo4. Guitar World noted that in tremolo terms, MXR is best known for its M159 Stereo Tremolo5.
Where it went: the M305
The M-159's sound did not disappear with the pedal. The M305 Tremolo, announced in October 2020, is a downsized six-mode update to the M159, and one of its modes is a recreation of the M159 MXR Stereo Tremolo362. Players after the original circuit can read about its successor on the MXR M305 Tremolo page.
Videos
tunnelvisionmusic
Marcus Serck
theperfectguitar
Questions
How is the MXR M-159 Stereo Tremolo powered?
The M-159 runs at 18 volts, supplied either by two PP3 batteries accessed through a plastic lid on the base or by an 18-volt adaptor. That voltage requirement is one reason it does not suit every modern pedalboard power supply, and it was noted as a drawback in reviews.
Is the MXR M-159 discontinued?
Yes. The M-159 Tremolo is discontinued, and MXR's M305 Tremolo replaces it. The M305 is a downsized pedal with six tremolo modes, one of which is a recreation of the M-159's sound, so the original circuit lives on as a mode on the newer pedal.
Can you plug two guitars into the MXR M-159?
Yes. It has two inputs that can be used either for true stereo operation or for two different instruments. It also has a standard mono input and output plus a separate stereo input and output, each using a single 6.4mm TRS jack, giving several mono in/stereo out and stereo in/stereo out routing options.
Does the MXR M305 include the M-159 sound?
Yes. The MXR M305 Tremolo includes a recreation of the M159 MXR Stereo Tremolo among its six modes. GuitarPlayer described that mode as a recreation of MXR's famous M159 Stereo Tremolo, so a player after the original sound can find it on the M305.
What does the pan switch do on the MXR M-159 Tremolo?
The second footswitch turns the pedal into a stereo panner. It switches the tremolo modulation phase of the stereo channel so the sound alternates between the two outputs, rather than both outputs rising and falling together as in normal stereo tremolo.
Sources (6)
- New analogue delay and tremolo pedals from MXR, MusicRadar, 2008-02-01
- MXR M-159 Stereo tremolo review, MusicRadar, 2008-05-23
- MXR M305 Tremolo review, Guitar World, 2021-04-07
- MXR Tremolo Review, Premier Guitar, 2020-12-24
- MXR unveils versatile six-mode Tremolo pedal, Guitar World, 2020-10-02
- MXR Debuts New M305 Tremolo Pedal, GuitarPlayer, 2020-10-02
