boss ph-3 and phasing dilemmas

[varunkapahi]

i tried searching around but couldnt find what i was looking for. so here is how it goes; living here in India i have never gotten a chance to try any phaser pedals. i have heard clips online here and i know i want a phaser. now its boiling down to digital v/s analogue thing in my head (as in say boss ph-3 or nano small stone)

the thing is that i know nano small stone is a great phaser for bass but ph-3 does a lot of different kinds oh phaser sounds. so what should i really do man?

a friend told me boss ph-3 really thins out your tone. is this true? the reviews on harmony central also say that it really colors up your tone. anyway am not looking to spend more than $120

on the other hand i keep hearing nano small stone is an awesome phaser for bass and i dig its clips in the fx wiki but it does what it does and thats it! but like bigO i cant buy multiple phasers and figure out which ones i like and perhaps even keep all of them so anyway please help me decide on what to go for. thanks for reading

[4stringmangler]

i can't speak for the ph3, but do yourself a favor and buy a boss ph1r, that is one thick sounding phaser

[K2000]

The PH-3 does a few different things, but is not very subtle. I didn't really care for it, to be honest. Your mileage may vary.

[Jared Lash]

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

a friend told me boss ph-3 really thins out your tone. is this true?

Yes, to varying degrees depending on which mode you use. I ran mine in the loop of my blender, mostly for that reason.

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

the reviews on harmony central also say that it really colors up your tone.

It does. That's the other reason I ran mine in the loop of my blender.

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

on the other hand i keep hearing nano small stone is an awesome phaser for bass and i dig its clips in the fx wiki but it does what it does and thats it!

True enough. You have all the information, you just need to decide what phaser fits with what you want to do. The PH-3 is more fun, has more modes and does step phasing which I really liked. The Small Stone is darker, richer, more organic and won't change the natural tone of your bass nearly as much.

Having bought and sold both of them, I can say that at times I miss the EHX, but not the Boss. I think it's a better phaser for more experimental stuff, but otherwise I'd choose the Small Stone.

Originally Posted by varunkapahi

but like bigO i cant buy multiple phasers and figure out which ones i like and perhaps even keep all of them

I need to find a 12 step program. . .

[varunkapahi]

hey thanks!
has anyone tried the ibanez tone lok ph-7 phaser? or feel free to recomend any other phaser i should check out for less than or around 100$
i

[Jared Lash]

I've only tried them in store, but I didn't really care for the Ibanez or the Digitech Hyperphase. The Ibanez sounded ok in 4 stage mode but it was awful (IMO) in eight stage mode. Both pedals are very obviously digital. On the other hand, the Digitech has a bunch of modes like the Boss and I remember liking it's step mode better. The Boss in step mode is more "controlled" sounding and the Digitech more "wild".

Again, take that with a grain of salt as I don't have more than 5 minutes or so experience with the Ibanez. My favorite budget phaser is the Small Stone, but again it depends on what kind of music you want to make.

Also, if you use passive basses, the Phase 90 is worth checking out. I liked the Small Stone a bit better, but the real problem for me with the MXR (and most clones based on it) is that a hot signal from what used to be my main bass would cause them to distort a bit. But other than that, they are solid phasers.

[varunkapahi]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

I've only tried them in store, but I didn't really care for the Ibanez or the Digitech Hyperphase. The Ibanez sounded ok in 4 stage mode but it was awful (IMO) in eight stage mode. Both pedals are very obviously digital. On the other hand, the Digitech has a bunch of modes like the Boss and I remember liking it's step mode better. The Boss in step mode is more "controlled" sounding and the Digitech more "wild".

Again, take that with a grain of salt as I don't have more than 5 minutes or so experience with the Ibanez. My favorite budget phaser is the Small Stone, but again it depends on what kind of music you want to make.

Also, if you use passive basses, the Phase 90 is worth checking out. I liked the Small Stone a bit better, but the real problem for me with the MXR (and most clones based on it) is that a hot signal from what used to be my main bass would cause them to distort a bit. But other than that, they are solid phasers.

between phase90 and nano small stone i am decided i want to go for the stone. am just considering if those extra modes the digital phasers offer. what is 4,8, etc stage you mentioned?

[kevteop]

I suppose it depends what sort of music you play. Would a stepped phaser be useful to you or do you just want a more traditional sweep?

You may decide to buy a pedal because of its many options, but when it arrives you find one setting you like best and never turn the knobs again.

[varunkapahi]

Originally Posted by kevteop

I suppose it depends what sort of music you play. Would a stepped phaser be useful to you or do you just want a more traditional sweep?

You may decide to buy a pedal because of its many options, but when it arrives you find one setting you like best and never turn the knobs again.

thats where its coming back you to again!
like i said in the first post i havent ever played around with a phaser i have no clue i just want a nice pedal

[Mark Olson]

In my experience with it the boss PH-3 is nice for making some weird noises, but if you just want a solid, musical phaser tone, personally I would recommend you a Nano Small Stone way over something like a PH-3, which I don't really like it's phase tones. The Nano Small Stone is much simpler to use, great if it's your first phaser, and can give you a variety of tones with the various speed settings as well as a nice, warm, organic classic phase tone in one position of the switch and a really funky overstated phase tone in the other one. You really can get a good, musical variety of phase tones from the Nano Stone, and keep a good solid tone.

[varunkapahi]

so i want a phaser..........
a flanger
a filter
a delay
and oh yes a tuner too