In 1982, Tom Scholz, visionary guitarist and founder of pioneering hard rock band Boston, designed and released the Rockman X100 headphone amp through his electronics company Scholz Research & Development (SR&D). It was more than just a headphone amp: with recording console connectivity and several tone-tweaking features and built-in effects, the X100 became the secret weapon in the studio that would go on to define the polished, chorus-laden sound of 1980s arena rock. The MXR Rockman X100 Analog Tone Processor revives the signature sonic character of that headphone amp in stompbox form. Aided by veteran MXR engineer and SR&D alum Bob Cedro, the MXR design team captured the same crystalline cleans, crunchy harmonics and shimmering modulation as the original, with the same four tonal presets, carefully calibrated compression and bucket-brigade chorusing, plus mono and stereo modes and optional external mode switching. A key component of the original X100's sound was a complex compression circuit for keeping the signal clear whether clean or dirty, tuned for a slow release on clean modes and a fast release on dirty modes, with the overall amount of compression tied to the Input Gain level. The pedal offers four presets selectable via the MODE button: CLN2, the default, for a clean, crystal-clear tone; CLN1, offering a mid-focused EQ curve for a tight, punchy sound; Edge, with moderate clipping highly sensitive to Input Gain and that cleans up nicely at low guitar volume; and Distortion, delivering high-energy overdrive and sustain for fluid lead tones. Dedicated Input Gain and Volume sliders tailor your levels, and the same classic MN3007 bucket-brigade chip found in the original headphone amp infuses every riff with shimmering chorus at the push of the Chorus button. An off-board switch such as the MXR TRS Split + Tap can be connected for foot control of the Mode switch, and in stereo the pedal can send the signal of your selected mode to L/R channels while varying the chorus between the two sides for a more spacious, dynamic effect.

Highlights

• Recreates Tom Scholz's original 1982 Rockman X100 headphone amp in stompbox form, developed with SR&D alum Bob Cedro
• Four selectable presets: CLN2, CLN1, Edge and Distortion
• Complex compression circuit with slow release on clean modes and fast release on dirty modes, tied to Input Gain
• Classic MN3007 bucket-brigade chip delivers the original's shimmering chorus
• Mono and stereo modes, with independent L/R chorus variation in stereo
• Optional external mode switching via an off-board switch such as the MXR TRS Split + Tap

Specifications

All our pedals are tested on arrival, and regularly after that. Fast, tracked delivery to Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, Melbourne & Australia-wide.

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