Let's talk Phasers!

[Thurisarz]

Ok here's the situation, i want a good phaser for my bass, electric- and acoustic guitar. I could buy back my ol' Digitech Hyper Phase from the local store or order a new one, i don't have the chance trying the pedal out first, so i wonder what good phasers do we have on the market? Remember, i live in Sweden and all brands aren't available here.

Are the MXR's built today as they were in the 70's because they sound great or is that fixed with a simple mod if they aren't?

Thanks! :burnout:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

I do NOT like the new MXR stuff that much...the phasers and the Flanger really took a nose dive! If you can get one over there (I dont know why you couldn't) I'd look at a Sovtek Small Stone...the first ones were green and sound great but bring some good money, tha leter black ones are THE SAME CIRCUT in a black box, I have one and I love it...I even have a few recordings of my playing a Jazz bass through it and it sounds killer! Id check on ebay...
if you have the extra cahs go for the USA reissue which says Electro Harmonix on it...

Here are a few good ones...


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22669&item=3768351521&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41420&item=3769010976&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41420&item=3769011812&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=41420&item=3768588750&rd=1

good luck bro!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

The MXR I used to have sounded great, but it wasn't very versatile. It does one thing, but does it really well. As for mods, I'm not the guy to ask.

I still have my old Boss PH-2 Super Phaser, and it sounds really good too, and is more versatile than the MXR. I can get a pretty good EVH "Unchained" sweep goin on with it, as well as really good chorus/leslie like approximations. It's not as good at chorus/flange/rotary as a pedal designed specifically for those things, but it still sounds pretty darn good.

I would assume the new Boss pedals are similar to the PH-2.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

The MXR I used to have sounded great, but it wasn't very versatile. It does one thing, but does it really well. As for mods, I'm not the guy to ask.

I still have my old Boss PH-2 Super Phaser, and it sounds really good too, and is more versatile than the MXR. I can get a pretty good EVH "Unchained" sweep goin on with it, as well as really good chorus/leslie like approximations. It's not as good at chorus/flange/rotary as a pedal designed specifically for those things, but it still sounds pretty darn good.

I would assume the new Boss pedals are similar to the PH-2.

The PH-2r is a good phaser..unchained was a FLANGER...not a phase shifter, like I said the PH-2r is a good phaser but the boss PH-3 is just not that great...I have had several Boss units as well as several Small Stones, both vintage and new MXR units, a Foxx foot fazer, an old maestro unit, etc...for the money the Small Stone is a killer!

 

[JeffB]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

The PH-2r is a good phaser..unchained was a FLANGER...not a phase shifter

I may have not been clear enough in my first post.

I was saying that it can do a good approximation of a flanger and I can get a very passable "unchained" sound with it.

What is it about the PH-3 that makes it worse?

 

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

Ok here's the situation, i want a good phaser for my bass, electric- and acoustic guitar. I could buy back my ol' Digitech Hyper Phase from the local store or order a new one, i don't have the chance trying the pedal out first, so i wonder what good phasers do we have on the market? Remember, i live in Sweden and all brands aren't available here.

Are the MXR's built today as they were in the 70's because they sound great or is that fixed with a simple mod if they aren't?

Thanks! :burnout:

You can definitely do a simple mod to the MXR Phase 90 to smooth it out.
You just cut the wire on Resistor R28. I think someone on this site posted a photo of the location of it. Or do a web search, that's where I found the picture. (R28 mod)

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

I may have not been clear enough in my first post.

I was saying that it can do a good approximation of a flanger and I can get a very passable "unchained" sound with it.

What is it about the PH-3 that makes it worse?

I just do not like the PH-3...the truth is that I dislike most boss pedals in general...but their phase/chorus/flangers are just the pits IMO. I know that I just pissed a lot of people off, but I just don't like them...they just sonud kinda generic to me. I also have little to no use for Boss overdrive/Distortion boxes...at least in stock form!

 

[MrHeavyMetal]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

I've got an MXR Phase 90 from late 80's. sounds great.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

I've got an MXR Phase 90 from late 80's. sounds great.

Thats one of the last real MXR units and Im sure it sounds killer...My phase is a 73 model and I love it to death!

 

[Thurisarz]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

How do you feel about the Digitech Hyper Phase? Can a phaser be digital?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

I have had this discussion with other people before...i HATE Digitech stuff...it all seems to be real noisey and hissey, and for the most part just has a bad tone...maybe it's just me but the only DigiTech thing i own is the old trusty red WH-1 Wammy pedal!

 

[Shnook]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

Right now my two favorite Phasers are both vintage models. One's a MXR Phase 45 and the other is a Small Stone. I don't care for the Dunlop MXR Phase 90 at all and just recently sold mine to pay for an EVH Phase 90, which to my ears sounds much better. As a phase freak, I'm also looking into the Red Witch Moon Phaser after Christmas. I'm not much of a Digitech fan, so I've not tried any of their stuff. To my ears, nothing beats those old phasers from the 70's and early 80's.

 

[theboatcandream]

Re: Let's talk Phasers!

Mutron II.