MXR EVH Modern High Gain Pedal: Beyond The Brown Sound
When you need fat low end and a punchy response the EVH Modern High Gain has you covered
4,4 / 5,0 | 
MXR has officially announced the release of the EVH Modern High Gain distortion pedal. Capturing Eddie Van Halen high gain amp tone in a compact stompbox.
5150III Gain
This latest MXR EVH pedal is aimed at guitar players seeking that 5150III Van Halen amp tone. The EVH Modern High Gain distortion goes further than the previous EVH 5150 Overdrive pedal and moves into high gain territory.
Eddie’s Amps
Designed after a long-standing partnership with the late guitar legend Eddie Van Halen, this new stompbox promises to deliver what MXR describes as the “uncompromising and crushing” tones previously reserved for EVH’s own 5150III amplifiers.
It isn’t going to be subtle, but you knew this before you started reading. I think it could be a lot of fun; let’s take a look and see what it has to offer.
Beyond the ‘Brown Sound’
The collaboration, which dates back to 2015, aims to fill the final gap in the EVH-MXR lineup. While previous pedals have captured Eddie’s iconic “brown sound,” this unit focuses specifically on the searing high-gain characteristics of his amp’s third channel.
This pedal was built to offer players maximum control over extreme saturation without sacrificing clarity. At its core, the unit features a highly responsive interface that mirrors the layout of a professional amplifier head.
Precision EQ
A dedicated 3-band EQ (Bass, Mid, and Treble) provides exact control over the tonal character. A unique 55Hz/80Hz toggle allows players to shift between a fatter low end and a punchier response. For those seeking even more intensity, the integrated Boost switch increases saturation and sustain, reaching new harmonic heights.
Recognising that high gain often comes with unwanted hum, the pedal includes an onboard Noise Gate. This feature is designed to tame the signal at high volumes, enabling the “clean, tight chugging” that modern metal demands.
This Noise Gate and the Bass shift switch are standout features that set the pedal apart from standard distortion boxes, allowing it to adapt to a wide range of genres from classic hard rock to aggressive modern metal.
Pricing & Availability
The list price is $269.99 for this new high-gain red devil, and I expect we will see it at dealers very soon, once NAMM has finished.
It has big boots to fill, as the MXR EVH 5150 Overdrive is a highly regarded overdrive pedal that has been around for the best part of a decade now, so it has a following.
We will update you as soon as it becomes available at Thomann.
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