Guitar Journal: MXR Randy Rhoads, Jack White Roto-Echo and more
Two Signature Stompboxes and a Boutique Tube Amp
5,0 / 5,0 | 
This week, we take a look at the latest Third Man Hardware collaboration with Black Mountain, which has resulted in the Roto-Echo delay pedal for Jack White. In other stompbox news, MXR has just announced another limited-run Randy Rhoads pedal. Finally, we take a brief look at the new 3rd Power LYRA handcrafted tube amp.
Guitar Journal
Third Man Hardware
The Roto-Echo is a new delay pedal designed for Jack White, a collaboration between his Third Man Hardware brand and Black Mountain. Mr White has a serious pedal habit, and this latest stompbox was designed to make controlling the delay as simple as possible when playing live.
Freewheel Technology
It allows players to make adjustments with their feet, right in the middle of a performance. Instead of bending down to tweak knobs like on other pedals, the Roto-Echo features a spring-loaded roller wheel on top.
This allows players to control key delay parameters—including blend, feedback, and delay time—with a simple roll of their foot. Black Mountain has dubbed this Freewheel Technology, and it looks like an intuitive way to control a delay whilst playing.
Delay
The design offers an analog-style dealy wth short 30ms slapbacks up to long 600ms repeats. The pedal itself is designed to be a compact and rugged design, which will easily handle a player’s full body weight during use. Making it perfect for using on stage or in the studio.
MSRP – $279
MXR Randy Rhoads Special LTD
This latest MXR Randy Rhoads Special LTD is another limited-run take on the polka dot Distortion + model, which launched in 2024. This latest version is also based on one of Randy’s guitar finishes and is based on his gold and white Jackson Concorde V.
Therefore, it is the same pedal as the 2024 model and a recreation of the original, just in a new limited-run finish.
Distortion +
The Distortion + is based on the same pedal Randy used and has the same control layout of Output and Distortion as the previous model. Again, this pedal was developed with the direct involvement of his sister, Kathy Rhoads.
Pricing & Availability
More of a collector’s piece and priced accordingly, this one is probably going to be fans of Randy and anyone who is chasing his distinct tone. It does come with an exclusive collector’s booklet, so you have that to help as an excuse for your pedal addiction.
MXR Randy Rhoads Special LTD at Thomann, priced $234/£208/€239 and should be shipping in a few months. I’m guessing it will also sell out pretty quickly again, so you should order sooner rather than later if you need one in your life.
3rd Power LYRA
This new 3rd Power LYRA is a handcrafted tube amplifier that combines the best of two legendary amps—the 1962 Deluxe and the 1965 Deluxe—into one elegant boutique package. It is a 20W, dual 6V6, 5AR4 tube rectified amp and is going to appeal to players who want vintage tones, but with modern build quality.
Head & Combo
Available as either a head or a 112 combo, the LYRA is built for players who want authentic tone and unmatched versatility. This amp allows guitarists to effortlessly switch between the warm, raw character of the early ’60s and the refined clarity of the mid-’60s.
With meticulous attention to detail and premium components, the LYRA captures the soul of two eras while offering modern reliability.
Vintage Tone
Each of the amp’s two signal paths is pure tube, making it feel alive and responsive to every note. You can plug into either channel or use your favorite AB-Y pedal to access both at the same time.
The amp also includes a built-in tube-driven spring reverb and a patented VenueMode attenuator, which lets you dial the power down to 20W, 12W, or 5W.
The LYRA is hand-wired and hand-built in Minneapolis, MN, and features custom-wound USA-made transformers by Heyboer.
Pricing
The head version is priced at around $2,799, and the 112 combo at $3,299.
This might also interest you
