Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
- Thread starter Matt42
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Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
Don't overlook the DOD 201 Phasor mentioned earlier. Great pedal. I did an a/b test with this and a vintage MXR phase 45 that I owned. They sounded very similar, with the DOD being just a good sounding, but with modern features (true bypass, LED & DC power jack). Sold the MXR and the DOD is permanently on my board. They are inexpensive as well!
Don't overlook the DOD 201 Phasor mentioned earlier. Great pedal. I did an a/b test with this and a vintage MXR phase 45 that I owned. They sounded very similar, with the DOD being just a good sounding, but with modern features (true bypass, LED & DC power jack). Sold the MXR and the DOD is permanently on my board. They are inexpensive as well!
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
I always dug the Small Stone more than the Phase 90. Chewier, and slower. A friend built the BYOC Phase Royal, and that fixed many of the problems I have with a Phase 90.
I always dug the Small Stone more than the Phase 90. Chewier, and slower. A friend built the BYOC Phase Royal, and that fixed many of the problems I have with a Phase 90.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
I will say, I'm not a huge fan of most of the TC modulation lines, but I've heard some seriously amazing sounds from that phaser.
I will say, I'm not a huge fan of most of the TC modulation lines, but I've heard some seriously amazing sounds from that phaser.
Gainstage
New member
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
Should that be "TimmaPage"?
Thing is with all pedals everything is subject to the chemistry of ones personal gear rig, their hands and technique and how they use the pedal and where.
Someone's amazing loved pedal may not work all that well on someone else's gear chain. I look for pedals that have a degree of versatility as not everything works in multiple options.
You sort of have to try things out and see if they work on your stuff. Fundamental issues are analog or digital, photocell or digital vibe. They make so much great stuff these days it's hard to find something that is unusable. I have had less problems and longer life of not trading out or dropping the EVH 90 and photocell vibes. But there are a million pedals out there. I tend not to mess with inexpensive bargain type pedals as they have always been a short lived experience in quality and versatility. Having had more versions of Vibes and Phaser than I can remember, I currently do not have any. I loved my Vibe when I was into my Strat era but now that I am a Les Paul freak I find less use for the pedal. As for a Phaser I need another one as the one in my modeler leaves much to be desired. As to mention the EH Phaser it has a different weird throw on the sweep in its color mode which is very cool. Nice to have a unit that can do both basic options. I always end up having connection option issues with EH but for some rigs they are great. Option5 and Keeley's green phaser are amazing and versatile. Trying to pin down an ideal is about like narrowing down the best drives, just too many that sound great.
Should that be "TimmaPage"?
Thing is with all pedals everything is subject to the chemistry of ones personal gear rig, their hands and technique and how they use the pedal and where.
Someone's amazing loved pedal may not work all that well on someone else's gear chain. I look for pedals that have a degree of versatility as not everything works in multiple options.
You sort of have to try things out and see if they work on your stuff. Fundamental issues are analog or digital, photocell or digital vibe. They make so much great stuff these days it's hard to find something that is unusable. I have had less problems and longer life of not trading out or dropping the EVH 90 and photocell vibes. But there are a million pedals out there. I tend not to mess with inexpensive bargain type pedals as they have always been a short lived experience in quality and versatility. Having had more versions of Vibes and Phaser than I can remember, I currently do not have any. I loved my Vibe when I was into my Strat era but now that I am a Les Paul freak I find less use for the pedal. As for a Phaser I need another one as the one in my modeler leaves much to be desired. As to mention the EH Phaser it has a different weird throw on the sweep in its color mode which is very cool. Nice to have a unit that can do both basic options. I always end up having connection option issues with EH but for some rigs they are great. Option5 and Keeley's green phaser are amazing and versatile. Trying to pin down an ideal is about like narrowing down the best drives, just too many that sound great.
jtougas
New member
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
Try out making your own TonePrint in the software, see how far that can take you.
Try out making your own TonePrint in the software, see how far that can take you.
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
That would make the huge assumptions I have a clue what I'm doing! But yes, next step for sure.
That would make the huge assumptions I have a clue what I'm doing! But yes, next step for sure.
warner-211
New member
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
evh phase 90 bbe soul vibe nuff said
evh phase 90 bbe soul vibe nuff said
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
Okay. Man tough call after only one night. The Helix has a mix Knob and that's nice. The Lunar allows mix via the software.
I need to dig into the software on both.
If you are a no instructions just twist the knobs guy, I feel like the Helix wins. The Lunar has a knob that fully ccw is a sine waveform. Fully clockwise is a block wave for and in between blends. That wasn't intuitive at all until I RTFM.
Tone Prints vs the many option SA gives you. Not sure you can go wrong with either. More testing this week.
Okay. Man tough call after only one night. The Helix has a mix Knob and that's nice. The Lunar allows mix via the software.
I need to dig into the software on both.
If you are a no instructions just twist the knobs guy, I feel like the Helix wins. The Lunar has a knob that fully ccw is a sine waveform. Fully clockwise is a block wave for and in between blends. That wasn't intuitive at all until I RTFM.
Tone Prints vs the many option SA gives you. Not sure you can go wrong with either. More testing this week.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
I've had several MXR Phasers including the EVH. Their bypass circuitry just bugs the hell out of me. Even the EVH has the "hard-wired bypass" which isn't any better. I ended up getting a Whirlwind Orange Box. This IS the original Script Phase 90 built by the same guys that started it all in the early 1970's. It is true bypass (though that may not matter to some but compared to the MXR bypass, I'll take it), DC power jack and a LED. This one is staying on my board.
I've had several MXR Phasers including the EVH. Their bypass circuitry just bugs the hell out of me. Even the EVH has the "hard-wired bypass" which isn't any better. I ended up getting a Whirlwind Orange Box. This IS the original Script Phase 90 built by the same guys that started it all in the early 1970's. It is true bypass (though that may not matter to some but compared to the MXR bypass, I'll take it), DC power jack and a LED. This one is staying on my board.
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
Winner is the Helix. The Lunar is going back. Why? I prefer the mix control on the face of the helix vs having to set it in the software on the Lunar. And honestly the Helix just flat out sounds better to my ears. The Lunar can do a lot of things but those things aren't rocking my world.
Winner is the Helix. The Lunar is going back. Why? I prefer the mix control on the face of the helix vs having to set it in the software on the Lunar. And honestly the Helix just flat out sounds better to my ears. The Lunar can do a lot of things but those things aren't rocking my world.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
I got to try the Helix when I stopped into the local guitar store to pick up cables yesterday. I'm definitely super impressed, it's a GREAT sounding pedal, a real winner.
I got to try the Helix when I stopped into the local guitar store to pick up cables yesterday. I'm definitely super impressed, it's a GREAT sounding pedal, a real winner.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
IMO, the three pedals that need to be "real" and not digital sims are Wah, Fuzz and Uni-Vibe. The way the odd impedances interact with each other and the guitar pickups is very unique. Everything else can be simulated pretty well at this point, and if you don't need the uniqueness of a Vibe, there are quite a few good phasers that can cop a similar vibe for a lot less money. (In fact, even though I am a Vibe fan, I've played Breathe with a Small Stone and Too Rolling Stoned with a Phase 90, no one cared other than me.
)
That being said, maybe the Viscous Vibe will change my mind! Really I'd love a mini Helix, especially with the Tone Print you can probably dial in a great phaser with it.
IMO, the three pedals that need to be "real" and not digital sims are Wah, Fuzz and Uni-Vibe. The way the odd impedances interact with each other and the guitar pickups is very unique. Everything else can be simulated pretty well at this point, and if you don't need the uniqueness of a Vibe, there are quite a few good phasers that can cop a similar vibe for a lot less money. (In fact, even though I am a Vibe fan, I've played Breathe with a Small Stone and Too Rolling Stoned with a Phase 90, no one cared other than me.
)That being said, maybe the Viscous Vibe will change my mind! Really I'd love a mini Helix, especially with the Tone Print you can probably dial in a great phaser with it.
TimmyPage
New member
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
Though I will add that I use my Strymon Mobius with an expression pedal as a wah and it sounds absolutely amazing.
IMO, the three pedals that need to be "real" and not digital sims are Wah, Fuzz and Uni-Vibe. The way the odd impedances interact with each other and the guitar pickups is very unique. Everything else can be simulated pretty well at this point, and if you don't need the uniqueness of a Vibe, there are quite a few good phasers that can cop a similar vibe for a lot less money. (In fact, even though I am a Vibe fan, I've played Breathe with a Small Stone and Too Rolling Stoned with a Phase 90, no one cared other than me.
That being said, maybe the Viscous Vibe will change my mind! Really I'd love a mini Helix, especially with the Tone Print you can probably dial in a great phaser with it.
Though I will add that I use my Strymon Mobius with an expression pedal as a wah and it sounds absolutely amazing.
Re: Looking into adding a vibe pedal and upgrading my Phaser, need some suggestions
My personal preferences:
Phaser: Boss silver screw PH1
Vibe: Earthquaker Depths.
The Phase 90 is an old standby but I just want a liiiittle more tweakability. The Phase 100 is too much - the Boss PH1 is just right. #goldilocks
I used to have a JAM Retro Vibe - gorgeous sound but very expensive and prone to some noise. Internal trimmers were a set-n-forget thing. The EQD had all the controls on the face of it and while it isn't an incandescent bulb it IS an optical circuit, not a modded phase circuit.
My personal preferences:
Phaser: Boss silver screw PH1
Vibe: Earthquaker Depths.
The Phase 90 is an old standby but I just want a liiiittle more tweakability. The Phase 100 is too much - the Boss PH1 is just right. #goldilocks
I used to have a JAM Retro Vibe - gorgeous sound but very expensive and prone to some noise. Internal trimmers were a set-n-forget thing. The EQD had all the controls on the face of it and while it isn't an incandescent bulb it IS an optical circuit, not a modded phase circuit.
