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School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 1:30 am
by Snowblind
So I am thinking about possibly adding a phaser type pedal to my board. However, I don't really know anything about them. Seems like the obvious two options are Small Stone or Phase 90, but I was wondering if there are any "sleeper" phasers out there. Also, if a Small Stone or Phase 90 really seems like the best choice, which one? All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks :thumb:

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 1:42 am
by Wes Mantooth
Blackout Effectors Whetstone :drool:

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 1:47 am
by Snowblind
That's pretty expensive haha but thanks for the recommendation. I should have mentioned this in my first post but I'm looking for something pretty cheap (Under $100, if possible $50 or below) which is why I was on the look out for any possible sleeper pedals...

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 1:55 am
by 01010111
Those really are THE two variants unless you want to venture into more univiby territory. Most phase pedals around are based on one of those two. Around here the popular versions are the whetstone, small stone, and the Grand Orbiter, phase 90.

I'm a big fan of the dod phasers. The 201 and 401 are based on the phase 90 and strangely the 490 is based on the small stone. Ive owned the 201 and 490, they're both awesome. I've been curious about the Mystic 90 it's a script 90 with a depth control.

The DOD's can be had for under $100 most the time on eBay, the 490 is harder to find and a little ove $100 typically but it is awesome. I really need to make a demo (looks down and kicks feet).

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:04 am
by devnulljp
If you want a Phase 90, get the Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box. It's a handbuilt vintage phase 90 with TB and an LED for about $80 used. Much better than any of the modern Dunlop/MXRs.

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:12 am
by Achtane
I feel like I'll enjoy phaser more than flanger. I kinda want to build a Phase 100 or something...don't have the cash to drop on an ultra-sweet phaser.

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:19 am
by Holy Schnikes
I'm a big fan of the Small Stone, super simple and sounds really thick and warm. The Malekko phaser is really cool as well, tiny footprint and sounds supreme, different flavor than a Small Stone though. If you're looking for simple, effective, and inexpensive, either would be a great choice.

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:20 am
by kbit
devnulljp wrote:If you want a Phase 90, get the Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box. It's a handbuilt vintage phase 90 with TB and an LED for about $80 used. Much better than any of the modern Dunlop/MXRs.


I love to see Whirlwind stuff recommended on forums.

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 2:56 am
by DarkAxel
I'f you're really a tweaker with tons of time for experimenting and finding new sounds, i'd suggest Flanger HOAX by EHX... it's a bitch to tame but has SO MANY MODULATION SOUNDS...

Phase 90 and SS are classics, you can't really go wrong with them... i personally love Boss PH-1 and PH-2
PH-1 for the more classic stuff. If you want more versatile pedal, find a PH-1r with the Regen knob or whatever it's called
PH-2 can do more far-out stuff, it can do awesome slow deep swooshy phasing but when you back of the Regen, you can get more classic phasing as well. It's a 12-stage phaser though so it'll always be a bit more extreme, despite being Boss pedal it's pretty "unique". Oh and with Regen totally off and Depth set right, it can do nice leslie tones (rate maxed... i'm no leslie expert, but i really loved that)

If you want more controls, i'd try EHX Polyphase (stereo version probably). it has a cool envelope filter and tweakable phaser. I wasn't able to get all the sounds i wanted though. Oh and it can do square wave phasing ;)

Not so long ago i bought Pigtronix EP-1 here on ILF and i was really impressed :) it's in the more alternative ballpark, it's not really easy to get "classic" phasing, but it can do some crazy stuff! And the envelope filter is the best i've heard. Also it has an awesome leslie tones

and of course Whetstone is THE phaser i'd like to own :) i'd even swapped the EP-1 for it... it's a bit expensive for me though

edit: my two cents... a non-logical monologue about my experiences with phasers ;)

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 3:27 am
by devnulljp
kbithecrowing wrote:I love to see Whirlwind stuff recommended on forums.
You work there? That's pretty cool.
When are we going to get a Blue Box?
(And why can't I find Whirlwind cables any more?)

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 5:11 am
by coldbrightsunlight
SS and Phase 90 are classics for a reason, both very good at what they do they sound pretty different. Personally I prefer the small stone but that's all up to you, the phase 90 is more subtle and probably a bit brighter, try to find which works best with your rig. Like other people have said, I reckon clones (like the DODs) are a better call, a lot of them have stuff like depth knobs which the originals don't and that's reaaally useful.

If you can get a phase 100 of some sort, that's definitely worth trying out, they're super chewy and thick (all over london calling), quite different to small stones and phase 90s.

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 6:49 am
by univalve
i personally hate slower phasers that are not in time. so my vote goes to the moog cause of the CV connections.

Flanger HOAX has also pretty phaser sounds and a lot more for a quite good price. but huge pedal with stupid jack postitons (input on the left upper corner)

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 6:53 am
by Jenesis
Grand Orbiter gets my vote.

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 6:56 am
by DarkAxel
univalve wrote:Flanger HOAX has also pretty phaser sounds and a lot more for a quite good price. but huge pedal with stupid jack postitons (input on the left upper corner)


shit, forgot about that :grumpy:

Re: School me on phasers...

Posted: Thu May 12, 2011 7:21 am
by Jenesis
It's not a big deal.