MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

[thinline]

I'm wondering whether to get a small stone or phase 90. I'm looking for a lush, yet subtle phaser which works well under arpeggiated chords, and such. It will always be on a slow-ish setting, never more than 12 o'clock. I play music that sounds like a mix of coldplay, rhcp and muse. Oh, and my setup is a 1981 Thinline tele, line 6 echo park, Red witch flanger, Way Huge Swollen Pickle, Blackstar Ht-dual into a Vox AC30.

Thanks for the help, guys!

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

While they are both classic tones, neither one is particularly subtle. Of course you should try them both out, but consider an MXR Phase 45. I have a vintage one that is a great subtle phaser, but MXR has recently reissued it, so you can get it new.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I'm a big fan of the small stone for clean sounding arpeggios and chordal playing, although I haven't used the smaller box version.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I'm a big fan of the small stone for clean sounding arpeggios and chordal playing, although I haven't used the smaller box version.

Have you fixed the volume drop on it or does yours not have it/not bother you?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I'll roll up the guitar knob a bit if I need to match volume. I tend to leave it on for most of the song when I'm using phasing anyway, so it's not as big a deal.

 

[Aceman]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

werd - Phase 45 for subtle.

 

[Mincer]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

Between those 2, the nano stone sounds better...the color switch makes more subtle, too. For tone, too, the nano sounds better to me in an A/B/C test with an old Ross phaser too and the Phase 90,

 

[Brow]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I had both a Phase 90 and a Nano Small Stone but ended up selling both.

I preferred the Small Stone for clean tones and the Phase 90 for overdriven 1s.

I'm able to get in the ballpark of both with my HBE Psilocybe so had no problem with moving them on.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

As stated above the Phase 45 is a beautiful yet subtle phase, sounds great clean or dirty without ever being OTT.

 

[hermetico]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I'm wondering whether to get a small stone or phase 90. I'm looking for a lush, yet subtle phaser which works well under arpeggiated chords, and such. It will always be on a slow-ish setting, never more than 12 o'clock. I play music that sounds like a mix of coldplay, rhcp and muse. Oh, and my setup is a 1981 Thinline tele, line 6 echo park, Red witch flanger, Way Huge Swollen Pickle, Blackstar Ht-dual into a Vox AC30.

Thanks for the help, guys!

For that, please take a look to Mad Professor's Tiny Orange Phaser. Has both sounds and, you can dial up as much as you wanted of each one so, it can be subtle or dramatic.
One of the best phasers, IMHO.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

For that, please take a look to Mad Professor's Tiny Orange Phaser. Has both sounds and, you can dial up as much as you wanted of each one so, it can be subtle or dramatic.
One of the best phasers, IMHO.

Going to have to look into that. Also a Blackout Whetstone.

 

[misterwhizzy]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I can't speak to the Small Stone, but I would say I am not a fan of the Phase 90. It boosted the mids just enough to push the amp into more overdrive. I usually only use phaser on clean tones, so that push would screw things up. The Wylde Phase fixes that perfectly, and I'm a fan, but it's not subtle. From my experience, I'll have to concur with most of the posters above and say Phase 45.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I had a Phase 45 for a long time and I think you'll enjoy it.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

There is nothing subtle about a Small Stone IMO.

Agree that the Phase 45 is what you want for subtle phasing.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

Does anyone make a "modern" phase 45 that can use a power supply & has true bypass? I really like the idea of the 45...except for the few inconvenient "vintage" attributes.

I'm sick of the phase 90 as it seems to distort quite a bit, and, like others on this thread, I'd like a more subtle phasing...although if I could get rid of the distortion, I'd be fine with the 90.

 

[James Rock]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I personally would go a small stone because I love that sound and really want one think the MXR sound is ok but I prefer the harmonics of an OTA phaser. But not really subtle maybe something with a depth and feedback switch. I use a Phase 100 and that has some subtler settings.

 

[JOEBACCA]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

I've owned both the EHX Nano Small Stone & MXR Phase 90. It's all a matter of personal taste but I prefer the Modulation of the Phase 90 more than the

Small Stone. IMO the SS Modulation is very scattered, it goes from bright and clear to dark and muffled and seemed to swallow up the dry signal. Where

as the Phase 90's Modulation melds with your dry signal IMO and doesn't dominate your overall sound in comparison to the Stone. However there are a

few variations of Phase 90's which have audible differences such as the modern "Block Logo" which has a very pronounced MidRange and is the most in

your face sounding Phase 90 variant. Then there is the more subtle and very smooth sounding "Script Logo" Phase 90. I currently have the EVH Phase 90

which has both Block & Script versions in one pedal. On the upper left of the EVH Phase 90 there is a button that toggles between the two sounds. You'll

have to try both to see which one you'd prefer. I'll take the Phase 90 over the Small Stone.

 

[JeffB]

Re: MXR phase 90 vs EHX nano small stone?

All you folks who are tired of the heavily pushed midrange of the MXR boxes, needs to try the Whirlwind Orange Box.
Much more subtle than any version MXR makes at this time.

Also, the more hot and midrangey your pickup is the more any Phaser will accent that midrange when it is on.


To me this question is apples and oranges. The MXR is very different from.the EHX. They both sound good. My understwnding is the EHX is some kind of souped up Maestro circuit.