The MXR ZW90 Zach Wylde Phase is a signature phaser effects pedal designed in collaboration with guitarist Zakk Wylde, made by MXR. It is Wylde's take on the MXR Phase 90, one of the most familiar phaser designs in the pedal world, and it keeps that pedal's single-knob approach: classic analog phaser modulation with one Rate knob controlling the sweep speed1.
What it is and how it works
The ZW90 is a phaser in the Phase 90 mold. RockBoard's product page says it "provides classic analog phaser modulation using a single Rate knob to control the sweep speed"1. MusicRadar's review describes the same layout as "a standalone Speed dial, basic input/output and an industry-standard footswitch"2. There are no other controls: no depth, no feedback, no mode switch. That single-knob simplicity is the Phase 90 lineage. The original Phase 90 was a four-stage phaser with a single knob to control the rate of the effect, and writers have long pointed to "the simplicity of the classic single-knob MXR Phase 90" as part of its appeal34.
The pedal's format is deliberately old-school. MusicRadar notes the scuffed metal chassis and a stage-friendly on/off LED, which the reviewer said "claws back some points"2.
How it differs from the standard Phase 90
The ZW90 is a variant of the MXR Phase 90, which carries the model number M10151. MusicRadar calls it "the big man drops his spin on the MXR Phase 90" and notes it is a little pricier than the standard version, by £92. The standard Phase 90 remains MXR's reference point for the design, and the company has since built a family around it, including the Phase 95, the EVH Phase 90 and the Deep Phase. For more on the effect itself, see the site's guide to phaser pedals.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's review sums up the case for the pedal in three lines: "Interesting sounds. Tough build. Stage-friendly LED."2 The same review flags two drawbacks: the hardwire bypass, which the reviewer found "a little disappointing" next to true bypass, and the price, calling it "relatively expensive at £134" and "the kind of standalone unit that small-time metal bands can cope without"2.
"It's a little disappointing to find this unit is hardwire (as opposed to true bypass, which doesn't weaken your guitar signal)."
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Questions
Is the MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase true bypass?
No. MusicRadar's review notes the ZW90 Wylde Phase uses hardwire bypass rather than true bypass, and the reviewer found that a little disappointing, since true bypass does not weaken your guitar's signal when the pedal is off. Players who keep many pedals on a board may want to factor that into their signal chain planning.
How is the ZW90 different from the standard MXR Phase 90?
The ZW90 is Zakk Wylde's spin on the MXR Phase 90, designed in collaboration with the guitarist. MusicRadar describes it as a little pricier than the standard version, by £9, and notes it keeps the same old-school format: a standalone Speed dial, basic input and output, and an industry-standard footswitch, with a scuffed metal chassis and a stage-friendly on/off LED.
How many controls does the ZW90 Wylde Phase have?
One. The pedal provides classic analog phaser modulation using a single Rate knob to control the sweep speed, according to the product listing. MusicRadar describes the same control as a standalone Speed dial, alongside basic input and output jacks and an industry-standard footswitch.
Who is the ZW90 Wylde Phase named after?
The pedal is named after and designed in collaboration with guitarist Zakk Wylde. RockBoard's product page calls it a signature phaser effects pedal, and MusicRadar's review describes it as the guitarist's spin on the MXR Phase 90.
Sources (5)
- ZW90 Zach Wylde Phase by MXR, RockBoard (rockboard.de), 2026
- MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase review, MusicRadar, 2011-09-26
- 5 Reasons Everyone Needs a Phaser, EarthQuaker Devices, 2023-02-21
- Meet your maker: MXR at 40, MusicRadar, 2014-12-04
- MXR® PHASE 90, Dunlop (jimdunlop.com)
