Non-Original MXR Pedals
Analog Man Guitar Effects
These pedals have been turning up on ebay for the last few years. They are coming from California. Someone bought up a ton of random old MXR parts, and many semi-completed pedals (I guess) and made "NOS" MXR pedals out of them. But they did not use all MXR parts and the pedals are often not very well made.
Here is
an "MXR" envelope filter I got in for some mods. Note
that the parts are random, some carbon comp resistors, some film.
Also some sockets are used, but sockets DO NOT FIT in an MXR pedal
due to construction, so good luck getting the bottom plate on.
Also note the parts are not put in straight and some have some
leads soldered together on this side of the board for some reason.
Here are the pots in this pedal, new ALPHA pots instead of
original CTS pots. The original pots are the only way to date an
MXR pedal, so this pedal is not very valuable even if someone
could get it working, as the date codes and pots are gone. See my
FAQ for date code decoding info.
I have also seen these "NOS" pedals turn up with pots with the
last digits as 0318 which means 2003 18th week. The original
MXR pots have a shaft sticking through the middle on the back of the pot
and the numbering on the pots will usually start with MXR
as they had them specially made. Also
check for MEXICO on the switch, with a date code like
0329 = 2003 26th week Mexican switch. MXR used USA made
Carling switches until very late, then may have used some mexican ones.
Original Mexican MXR switches should have UND LAB marking on it
and some voltage rating, not the date code.
Here is the back of the board. Notice the lousy soldering and that the board had several broken traces, which was probably why MXR never used it and probably discarded it. Someone tried to put jumpers on the board to fix the traces, but it did not work.
Most original MXR pedals should have a paper sticker inside initialed by the assembler and final tester. It is divided in four squares and usually under the battery. There should be a serial number sticker too, usually on the side of the battery. The ones from California do not have these stickers.
If you see a NOS MXR pedal, ask about the date codes, and try to get a picture of the inside to see if it's original. If the board is shown with some new looking foam on it, (to hide the actual board) that is another bad sign.
We don't have many old MXR pedals for sale (we dont deal with vintage gear much anymore) so we are not trying to sell you our pedals instead of these. We are just trying to help people understand original pedals, which are about twice as valuable as a non original pedal.
Good luck!!