Electra MPC Module 1 - Phase Shifter

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MPC 1 - Phase Shifter

Electra Catalog Description

With special wave modification switch giving synthesized effect previously attainable only in recording studios.

The MPC01 - Phaser collection - Top Left is an early "type 1" phaser, Top & middle right show the more familiar phasers (but note the color switch is on opposite sides of the top), middle Left illustrates 3 different versions of phaser and their color switch locations. The bottom shows off the phaser's "guts".

Review by Mike C

Most MPC models came with two standard modules, the Phase Shifter and Power Overdrive. The 'Phaser' replicates the sound of a Leslie cabinet (used in some organs and keyboards). In the true Leslie cabinets the speaker revolves inside the cabinet, so the MPC module replicates the 'circular' sound with you controlling the 'length' of the 'circle' via the knob on the front of your guitar.

A very cool effect, I like it on about the 4 setting. A short burst to 10 gives you a spacey sound, not bad, but probably not a sound you would want to sustain through an entire song.

Works very nicely with softer tunes and moods, but doesn't feel like an outcast in stronger settings.

The Phase Shift module comes with a 'color' switch, a physical switch on the module itself. (upper left in the photo above, better pic coming soon!) The drawback is that this switch defeats the whole concept of the MPC ideal! If you want to turn the color switch on or off, you would have to stop playing, open the back of the guitar, remove the module, flip the switch, replace the module, and THEN continue. Trust me, you will NOT use this switch!

Review by Webmaster

I love the phaser, I find it almost as nice as a vintage MXR Phase 90 I used to own. Like Mike Cantrell suggests, I usually leave it around 4 as that's where I feel it sounds best. The color switch baffles me, it's inconveniently placed (you have to open up the module cavity, and take the module out to activate it). Unless you are on a severe 60's flashback on acid...the color switch will probably not interest you ;-) The phaser and power overdrive were the 2 modules that were most often offered with the MPC guitars, therefore there the ones you'll mostly see with used guitars today.

Review by Steve H

I think this is a really good sounding guitar phaser. It obviously shares some of the '70's vibe of the MXR and EH Small Stone. The color switch, though not accessible during performance, is much like the switch on a Small Stone. One setting is more subtle, the other is more intense. By the way, I have three different versions of the MPC 1. The first is the typical imprinted plastic case with the color switch on the left side. Another seems to be older, it is an entirely different plastic box, a paper label glued on, and the switch is on the right side. It is either a prototype or a very early production example. The third one is a normal imprinted box, but the switch is screw mounted and on the right instead of the left. It's possibly a transition version linking the early prototypes and the production version. Sharing what surely is a similar, if not identical circuit design, all three sound similar, but the "prototype" has a slightly different high end response.