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good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:15 pm
by friendship
My friend's got a Rhodes and I want to get him a nice phaser pedal to use with it because I don't think he has one. I'm looking at the PH-2 or just like a fucking Phase 90, idk. I've never owned a phaser but they sound so good on a Rhodes. I can't spend more than $80 but homeboy deserves the best; what would you buy for $80?
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:18 pm
by Chankgeez
Isn't any phaser a good phaser for electric piano?

Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:19 pm
by friendship
yeah that's my dilemma! how does one choose
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:19 pm
by actual
I'm in sorta the same situation. Been going between the Ibanez PT-9, a Mutron Phasor (the first version), PH-1r or some boutique one. The Greenhouse FX Sonic Orb is pretty cheap, dunno if it's 80$ cheap though. The cheapest PT-9 on Reverb is like 83$ which is a really good price for an original MIJ Ibanez imo.
Perhaps a Sovtek Small Stone or just one of the new ones?
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:23 pm
by actual
Actually the new MXR Phase 95 seems alright, it's a 45 and a 90 in the same mini enclosure, so a bit more versatile. Dunno how they compare to the real ones though.
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:26 pm
by Chankgeez
Not that listening to YouTube videos will help you decide, but it can't really hurt either:
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugJfSs2jXSc[/youtube]
I guess you'd want a phaser that won't restrict the frequency response too much. If I were playing Rhodes, I'd want to keep my lows intact.
I played this one a while back and liked it. Would probably sound good for piano:
https://reverb.com/item/2003371-rare-mi ... itar-pedal
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klCVAbUmhIo[/youtube]
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:27 pm
by actual
Then of course there's the DOD 201, another slightly boring one-knobber but they're less than 80$ new and pretty thick.
Edit: Nevermind, get the BPL
2nd edit: about frequency response, I'd definitely go for one that doesn't cut lows, but then again, it shouldn't muddy the nice highs that a Rhodes produces.
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:33 pm
by Chankgeez
Pearl phasers are always a good choice as well. (They're a little bit more than $80, but totally worth it.)
I like Eighties pedals in general.
Looks like there are a bunch of old DOD phasers for a lot less than $80 and they'd probably be fine:
https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=ph ... rice%7Casc
I've been wanting to try a Skreddy Little Miss Sunshine, but they're a lot more expensive than $80.

Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 7:35 pm
by actual
I'm not sure we're helping.
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:43 pm
by popvulture
I'd just go classic and do MXR. Phase 100s are great because they have some expanded wave options. I've got an old script one, sounds amazing on Rhodes. The newer ones have sounded good to me too, fwiw.
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 8:58 pm
by echorec
Bad Stone reissue ($73 street). That would be my choice, if I was buying for a friend.
Backup: Biyang/Akai phaser (different names, same circuit). From China, they're about $49. US dealers have them for around $65. You can cop a lot of vintage sounds with it. It's simple and straightforward. It lacks a blend pot, but it shouldn't be overpowering on electric pianos.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Akai-Phase-Shif ... xyNmZTkJOV
Honestly, though, your friend might get just as much use out of a Viscous Vibe. A lot of keyboardists use Univibe-type pedals similarly to how they use phasers. (slow pulsing sounds or limited wet signal for coloring) Also, they can be had for $70-80 in exc/NM condition.
https://reverb.com/p/tc-electronic-visc ... d_listings
[youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IiqzAsPpU4[/youtube]
TC Helix - hated it. It sounded so unnatural and fake---nothing like any phasers I've played.
PH-3 - so boring. I own about 30 phasers and this is one of the only phasers I've ever sold and never considered replacing.
DOD 201 reissue - really bland. It's not that it sounds bad (it doesn't), but it's just not inspiring if you've used other phasers.
vtg DOD 595 performer phasor - bleh. The sound is fine. It just won't wow anyone, who's used more experimental or more versatile stuff.
vtg Small Stones (diff circuit than the Bad Stone) - little noisy, no wet/dry blend.
Arion - sounds a lot like a vtg Mu-tron and is only about $50, but cheap plastic enclosure and mediocre components = durability concerns.
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 9:12 pm
by actual
Have you tried a PT-9 echo? If so, what do you think of it?
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Fri Apr 14, 2017 10:18 pm
by Iommic Pope
Ill always recommend more stages, so the new Bad Stone is a contender for a cheapie, and if you can find an Ibanez 10 series BiMode or similar, you gotta get it.
Both will retain lows amd sound like syrup. The Ibanez will do it better.
The Spundtank PH5 is also fuxking awesome, cheap as shit and probably really good for keys as your mate wont be stomping the shit out of it like a guitarbro will....is an assumption that I am making.
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 6:55 am
by MechaGodzilla
echorec wrote:Bad Stone reissue ($73 street). That would be my choice, if I was buying for a friend.
Backup: Biyang/Akai phaser (different names, same circuit). From China, they're about $49. US dealers have them for around $65. You can cop a lot of vintage sounds with it. It's simple and straightforward. It lacks a blend pot, but it shouldn't be overpowering on electric pianos.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Akai-Phase-Shif ... xyNmZTkJOV
Honestly, though, your friend might get just as much use out of a Viscous Vibe. A lot of keyboardists use Univibe-type pedals similarly to how they use phasers. (slow pulsing sounds or limited wet signal for coloring) Also, they can be had for $70-80 in exc/NM condition.
https://reverb.com/p/tc-electronic-visc ... d_listings
TC Helix - hated it. It sounded so unnatural and fake---nothing like any phasers I've played.
PH-3 - so boring. I own about 30 phasers and this is one of the only phasers I've ever sold and never considered replacing.
DOD 201 reissue - really bland. It's not that it sounds bad (it doesn't), but it's just not inspiring if you've used other phasers.
vtg DOD 595 performer phasor - bleh. The sound is fine. It just won't wow anyone, who's used more experimental or more versatile stuff.
vtg Small Stones (diff circuit than the Bad Stone) - little noisy, no wet/dry blend.
Arion - sounds a lot like a vtg Mu-tron and is only about $50, but cheap plastic enclosure and mediocre components = durability concerns.
This post plus insomnia equals me buying an arion phaser for £33 at 3am
Re: good phaser for electric piano
Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 8:39 am
by JonnyAngle
Phase 90: great at one thing
Boss PH-2: equally as great with more stages