“Perfectly tailored for his light-speed arpeggios, expressive vibrato, and big, bold riffs... Prepare to be amazed”: MXR creates an expressive, no-nonsense signature overdrive for Yngwie Malmsteen

MXR is continuing its recent run of signature and innovative pedal releases with a custom overdrive pedal for neoclassical shred master Yngwie Malmsteen.

The overdrive pedal, designed to fuse Malmsteen’s “neoclassical prowess with the raw energy of rock n’ roll,” follows hot on the heels of the delay-blighted MXR Randy Rhoads Distortion+, its spacey Layers pedal, and Joshua Tree-channeling Ambient Echo delay.

A signature circuit has been developed with the help of Malmsteen to deliver clarity, expressive dynamics, and rich harmonics. As MXR says, this makes for a pedal “perfectly tailored for his light-speed arpeggios, expressive vibrato, and big, bold riffs,” but there should be plenty of scope to use this pedal outside of finger-burning exercises, too.

It offers a simple two-knob control setup, with its Level and Gain left extremely sensitive to the most minor of adjustments. “Every adjustment you make,” MXR assures us, “will have a profound impact.”

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Naturally, with Malmsteen famed for his ‘more is more’ mantra, MXR recommends cranking both dials for the pedal’s most authentic Yngwie channeling.

“This pedal is the culmination of over 45 years developing a sound that’s perfect in every possible way,” says Malmsteen, adding that players should “prepare to be amazed,” by what this pedal can do.

MXR is no stranger to simple but effective pedals when it comes to minimalist controls – with its ever-adored Phase 90 phaser the most obvious example.

Indeed, minimal knob fiddling puts greater emphasis on the pedal’s dynamic control, so it could represent one of the most responsive overdrive pedals around if the collaboration’s brief has been properly met, potentially making it a valuable asset for players of a huge variety of styles.

For those looking for a little Malmsteen flair for their pedalboard, the MXR Yngwie Malmsteen Overdrive will come as an exciting prospect. It’s set to be available for $129. A yellow-finished version is available from Sweetwater.

Head to MXR for the full story.