MXR size phaser - recommendations?

[hydro]

Thinking about getting a basic phaser, in an MXR-sized box. I have an EHX Polyphase which is a GREAT pedal but is too big for my board, so I only use it in certain situations.

I used to have a phase 90, but to me that thing always sounded like someone ripping a piece of paper in half. Maybe I just had a crummy one.

Anyone care to share recommendations? I don't want to spend a ton of dough on it, in the $75-$125 range maybe.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

Have you tried the MXR EVH? Also the EHx Nano Stone is another style phaser that sounds great.

 

[hydro]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

I was just looking at the Small Stone. Have not tried the EVH, I'll look for some demos -- thanks!

 

[JeffB]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

The only one MXR currently makes that is worth adarn is the 74 RI.

That said, I am a.fan of the whirlwind orange box. Made by the guy who designed the MXR way back when as his version of the way it should sound. it is more mellow in the mids. It is also the only one I have tried that reminds me of the script I used to own back in the 1980s. New ones from MXR are just too intense in the mids.

The EHX phasers while cool are a very different type of phasing sound.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

As Jeff says, the Whirlwind Orange box is a killer sounding pedal if you want that classic, rich phase sound. If you want something more subtle but also very sweet, try a MXR Phase 45.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

As Jeff says, the Whirlwind Orange box is a killer sounding pedal if you want that classic, rich phase sound. If you want something more subtle but also very sweet, try a MXR Phase 45.

I agree, my Script Phase 45 is one of my favorite Phasers. (I own WAY too many)

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

I am a big Phase 90 fan, but the current block logo version is probably my least favourite variant.

My main board has a Maxon PT999 Phase Tone, which is essentially a boutique-quality script 90.

If you are ok without a battery, you might be impressed by how good the Mooer phaser is. It has a vintage/modern (block/script) switch.

If you think the Phase 90 is too in-your-face, you will definitely not like the Small Stone.

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

I had a Sovetek EHX Small Stone and until it crapped out on me (damn Russian electronics) it sounded pretty damn good. I really liked it for my bass.

 

[Aceman]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

I'm so gonna become a Phaser junky

Personally, these days, get the EVH - "Best of Both Worlds" TOTAL Pun intended

But if space is a concern, Try the Mooer Orange Phase.

And yes - Phase 45 is what I'd like.

 

[hydro]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

I have not heard of Mooer until very recently. Is the build quality good? They are very compact, which is cool.

 

[hydro]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

And thank you all very much for the recommendations, btw - much appreciated. Lots of good ideas for me to follow up

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

As Jeff says, the Whirlwind Orange box is a killer sounding pedal if you want that classic, rich phase sound. If you want something more subtle but also very sweet, try a MXR Phase 45.

I also recommend the Whirlwind Rochester Series Orange Box for a great script Phase 90 sound, with the added benefits of true bypass and LED stock. It's an awesome script Phase 90 clone, designed by a guy from the original MXR company, and the TB and LED are a plus.

For a thicker, more univibe-sounding phaser, the Dunlop Custom Shop Phase 45 is really nice. My only quibble with it is that it is made just like the originals, which means the same old non-TB switch setup, and no LED. The LED is no big deal, actually, as you can tell when it is on without an LED. I just wish Whirlwind would expand their Rochester series to include a Phase 45 with the extra TB and LED, I'd grab one of those in a heartbeat.

I have both of these pedals, and I would suggest that having both is a good idea, as they cover different sonic territories.

Al

 

[Hecubus]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

VFE Enterprise does a spot on switchable Phase 45 and Phase 90, a decent Univibe and a bunch of sounds all its own. You can also adjust depth and feedback. I got mine used for about $120.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

Doesn't placement in the signal chain affect the tone? Have you tried putting it in different places along the chain? Back when I had pedals some 20+ years ago, I always ran guitar>drives>chorus/flange/phase>amp (such as it was). I've read where most prefer to have their coloring effects running into the drives, but when I tried it I found the tones to be intolerable. Sounded much better to me the way I had them.

 

[hydro]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

Well, I get my distortion mostly from my amp and I don't use an fx loop. But I do have a tube screamer in front of the phase and rotovibe.
I think the vibe pedal sounds awesome with the amp distortion, very Robin Trower-ey, but a regular phaser not so much. I will use it with the clean channel and the tube screamer in front to give it thickness .

In the end, through some monkeying around I managed to find space on my board for the EHX polyphase. That's an awesome phaser and it does stereo too.

I gave up my empress tremolo which was a cool pedal but overkill for my needs. Getting a voodoo labs trem instead which gives me just enough real estate for the polyphase.

Thank you guys all for the suggestions and advice - much appreciated!

 

[guitarded]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

EVH is the last one you will buy.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

The vintage phasers, the old scripts from the 70's cannot be touched in tone, and its pretty sad. I dont know what kind of fairy dust or something was in those old pedals, but your spinning your wheels even trying to get close. Just grab a clone and call it a day.
But then that goes for any reissue, guitar amp, pedal, or whatever. Just grab a decent clone like the ones mentioned above, and call it a day, and learn to live with it. best if you've never heard an original, cause then you don't know what your missing, and you'll be content.. Thats my opinion.

 

[hydro]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

Many years ago I had some kind of a phaser from the 70s that had an actual power cord you plugged into a wall. It was a box about the size of a space echo, maybe, and it had a jewel light on the front that would pulse with the rate of the phase. It was the most dope ass phaser I ever heard - talk about fairy dust - but it broke, and like a moron,I either gave it to someone or junked it. I cannot remember for the life of me what kind of phaser it was. You never realize how great all that old gear was until you don't have it any more.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

The vintage phasers, the old scripts from the 70's cannot be touched in tone, and its pretty sad. I dont know what kind of fairy dust or something was in those old pedals, but your spinning your wheels even trying to get close. Just grab a clone and call it a day.
But then that goes for any reissue, guitar amp, pedal, or whatever. Just grab a decent clone like the ones mentioned above, and call it a day, and learn to live with it. best if you've never heard an original, cause then you don't know what your missing, and you'll be content.. Thats my opinion.

Have you tried the Whirlwind Orange Box?. I think it's as close to vintage script sound as you can get, seems to use the same component types as the originals, and has the added advantage of true bypass switching and LED. I haven't tried the newer MXR Custom Shop reissue Phase 90, but it doesn't have true bypass or LED, so even if it sounds as good as the Whirlwind Orange Box, the TB and LED of the Whirlwind pedal make it the one to go for, IMO. And, as I said before, it was designed by a guy who actually was involved in the development of the of the original MXR pedal, worked for MXR Innovations, and went to great pains to make it as close to the original as possible. I don't consider it a "clone", I consider it a reissue of the original script pedal, with the upgrade of TB and LED, without compromising the tone of the original circuit.

Al

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: MXR size phaser - recommendations?

The script reissues from MXR are killer, better than any clone I've tried and as good as the originals I used to own plus they are less hissy then the oldies!

Small stones are cool too but it's not a subtle sound in any way really.

I also dig the old Boss PH-1r phaser...neat, different but neat.

All my other fav phasers are bigger than MXR size.