RhPf Electronics Mosphoros review – this boutique drive pedal doesn’t have any tone controls… or does it?
CHF149/£149/€179/$199, rhpfelectronics.com
Choosing a new overdrive pedal these days is like looking for a needle in… well, a massive bucket full of needles. If you’re looking for something with an interesting angle to set itself apart from the crowd, consider the RhPf Electronics Mosphoros: a drive pedal that has three gain knobs and no EQ controls.
READ MORE: Buzzing Bugs Bolster review – is this the ultimate dual fuzz pedal?
That’s not quite the whole story, though, because it is possible to adjust the tonality of this MOSFET-powered crunch machine – just not in the way you’re probably used to.
Image: Richard Purvis
What is it?
RhPf isn’t the snappiest of brand names, but they don’t like to make a fuss of themselves in Switzerland. This is the same company behind the Mosrawr, a high-gain fuzz aimed at pedal-stacking shoegazers, yet the Mosphoros lies right at the other end of the dirt scale: it’s a transparent overdrive, designed for organic tones and touch sensitivity.
The two main controls are for gain and output level, but what’s going on with the two mini knobs below? These are also for increasing the gain, but in specific frequency zones, so basically you’ve got separate (though interactive) bassy drive and trebly drive dials.
In theory, this offers plenty of tonal control without the need for a standard tonestack – and with the bonus of a huge dirt range, from clean boosting to what designer Thomas Besse calls “harmonic mayhem” with all three gain knobs maxed out. In practice? Let’s find out.
Image: Richard Purvis
Sounds
You have to get used to a new way of navigating with this thing. For a clean starting point, set all three gain controls at minimum and level at max – this is a perfect match for the bypass sound, with just a teeny sliver of added hiss. And from there, you’ve got three different ways to mess things up.
The tonal overlap between the mini knobs is such that going really bright and thin or dark and flabby is not on the table – really it’s all about subtle variations on the transparent theme – but this pedal has two key things on its side. One is that its fundamental voice is very nice indeed; the other is that the promised extra-wide gain range is delivered in style.
MOSFET overdrives are known for offering natural and amp-like breakup, and that’s never been more true than it is here. My main reference for transparent drive is the divine EarthQuaker Devices Special Cranker; the Mosphoros can come pretty close to the Cranker’s perfect purity, but with a looser feel and a slightly softer attack – at least until you hit the strings hard to bring out the rasp.
Blues players looking for a low-gain option to add smooth grit will have no trouble finding it here, while rockers in need of more full-on crunch will be equally satisfied. The nuclear option of all three gain knobs at full blast is fearsome but by no means unmanageable, and there’s just enough flexibility in tweaking the trio’s relative levels to ensure every guitar/amp combination can find its best voice. The touch sensitivity, meanwhile, remains impeccable even at fairly feisty settings.
Image: Richard Purvis
Should I buy one?
It’s a bit of a head-scratcher, this one. The Mosphoros is defined by the ingenious individuality of its design, but in sound terms it’s actually pretty orthodox. What this means, I think, is that it’s the overdrive to get if you’re happy with classic MOSFET drive tones but like the idea of being able to tune them in a way that feels more ‘embedded’ than simple filtering.
As a considerable bonus – one that I probably should have mentioned earlier – it’s one of the coolest-looking dirt pedals I’ve seen in a long time, especially when you switch it on and those ghoulish eyes glow orange.
Image: Richard Purvis
Alternatives
A list of good transparent-ish overdrive pedals would end up longer than the rest of the review, so let’s stick to MOSFET options. The lovely Blackstone Appliances Mosfet Overdrive ($260) has become something of a stompbox legend, but more mainstream options include the Wampler Mofetta ($200/£185) and Electro-Harmonix OD Glove ($82/£70).
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