Dunlop M-120 User Manual

Congratulations on the purchase of your new M-120 MXR Auto Q
stomp box! MXR effects have been favored by professional
guitarists for decades. While other effects have come and gone,
MXR’s keep getting the job done … with bulletproof construction,
quiet, reliable switching and tasteful, musically inspired tone
shaping.

DESCRIPTION

• Effect triggers equally at all playing volumes, by adjusting sensitivity
automatically.

• More adjustable tone parameters than any other auto-wah!

• Bonus “shimmer” effect, adjustable for Rate, Blend & Decay.

POWER

MXR M-120 Auto Q uses one 9-volt battery. The battery access is through
the bottom of the pedal. The Auto Q uses the Dunlop ECB03 Adapter
(ECB03E for Europe), a 9-volt DC regulated AC adapter. Plug polarity is
positive on the barrel and negative in the center. Note:Battery must be
installed to operate the Auto Q unless an AC adapter is used.

M-120 auto Q

CONTROLS

Footswitch toggles effect on/bypass (red LED indicates on).
3-way Band Switch selects favored frequency range of effect.
Range Knob controls frequency floor of effect.
Volume Knob controls overall effect volume (inactive in bypass mode).
Decay Knob controls dropoff decay of wah effect.
The “Q” Knob adjusts the intensity of the wah effect.
Blend Knob controls mix between wah and shimmer.
Rate Knob controls the speed of the shimmer effect.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

DIRECTIONS

To set up the MXR M-120 Auto Q, plug your instrument into the Input jack
and your amplifier into the Output jack. Be sure the Footswitch is in the Off
position (red LED off), or Bypass mode. Set all knobs except Blend to their
straight up, or 12 o’clock positions, and set the Blend Knob all the way off
(counterclockwise). Set the Band Switch to the Mid setting. Then turn the
effect on with the Footswitch (red LED on). Play some notes while switch­ing the effect on and off, adjusting the Volume Knob until the volume is
approximately equal in both modes. This is a good starting point for volume;
though you may want to readjust volume after making other settings.

Toggle the Band Switch between the Lo, Mid and Hi settings to select

the frequency range favored by the effect. Then adjust the Range Knob to
select the frequency floor, or how low the effect should go. Play both single
notes and chords to hear how your sound is affected.

The “Q” Knob adjusts the intensity of the wah effect by adjusting the

peak of the wah filter. The higher and narrower the peak goes (“Q” knob
clockwise), the more intense the wah effect sounds. The Volume Knob is
interactive with other controls, so that you may want to readjust it after
each new tone setting. The only other knob that impacts the wah effect is

Decay; when the Blend Knob is all the way off (counterclockwise), the
Decay Knob controls only the dropoff of the wah effect.

The final two knobs, Rate and Blend, control the “variable shimmer”

effect that is unique to the Auto Q. Turn the Blend Knobup to introduce the
shimmer effect and control which effect is more dominant, the auto wah
(counterclockwise) or shimmer (clockwise). Straight up mixes both effects
equally. Adjust the Rate Knob for the desired speed of the shimmer effect.

When the shimmer effect is blended in, the Decay Knob controls not

only the dropoff of the wah, but also the transition from wah to shimmer.
You can start a note with wah, and end it with a shimmering flourish for
sounds you can’t get anywhere else!

SAMPLE SETTINGS

To help you get started using your M-120 MXR Auto Q stomp box, we’ve
provided a roadmap of knobs and switch settings used by top artists. You’re
set to play with any of these settings or find your favorite and experiment
from there.

DUNLOP MANUFACTURING, INC. P.O. BOX 846 BENICIA, CA 94510 U.S.A.

TEL: [phone] FAX: [phone] WWW.JIMDUNLOP.COM

LYLE WORKMAN / BECK

“WOW SHIMMER”

DEAN PLEASANTS / SUICIDAL TENDENCIES

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