Fixing Up My Board (replacement pedals & new toy advice)

[Higgins666]

So, recently my phaser has decided that it'd be fun to just completely die, but with abit of a problem (ie, no phaser for a gig) comes another opportunity, buying a new phaser! I'm looking on eBay to save on cash (as I'll only have about £100-£150 to play with [that's about $160-$240]).
I'm currently looking at a Boss PH-2, MXR Phase 90, or EHX Small Stone Nano, I'll be using it in the context of a quite modern rock band (Shinedown/Black Stone Cherry/Alter Bridge, with lashings of Black Sabbath & Led Zep) so I want something that wouldn't sound too out in either a modern or classic rock band, so any suggestions? (as to which of the three phasers I'm looking at would do the job best, or maybe a different phaser?)
On a second note, I'm also wanting to add an octave down effect to my board, most of the octave effects on the second hand market over here seem to be Boss OC-2s or OC-3s, so are there any other good octavers in a lower price bracket?
And finally, the other toys bit, what might be a nice thing to get for my board that isn’t overly expensive? I’m actually contemplating a new high-ish gain dirt, something along the lines of a Barber Dirty Bomb, so any suggestions as to what would be useful or fun in this department would be appreciated (I also think a compressor/EQ would be useful).

[DosiYanarchy]

well i've got a HBE Psilocybe Phaser that's in almost new condition that i'm looking to sell if you're interrested? drop me a PM if you are. As for the octaver: the OC2 is great and well worth the money, the EHX Octave Multiplexer is also in that price bracket.

as far as dirt goes: well the world is your oyster really

[FunkMetalBass]

My guitarist uses the PH-2, and he likes it. The Phase 90 has decent reviews from what I've seen.

As far as octaves go, your best bet is the POG - tracking on the OC-2 or -3 isn't the greatest if you play any quick lines.

[Chronicle]

POG and an OC-2/3 are completely different... :/

Subdecay Quasar is my suggestion. Had a Phase 90 and didn't like it. Boss PH-3...not at all..

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Chronicle

POG and an OC-2/3 are completely different... :/

Subdecay Quasar is my suggestion. Had a Phase 90 and didn't like it. Boss PH-3...not at all..

Aren't they both Octave pedals? The POG can handle multiple octaves simultaneously, IIRC, and it has great tracking.

[DosiYanarchy]

There was a Subdecay Quasar on ebay UK yesterday for an excellent price - I would have been tempted but I already have two phasers and only need 1. So i bought the guys Maxon CP9pro instead

[DosiYanarchy]

The pog and the OC3 ARE both Digital, but the sounds from each are completely different. Also the micropog can do an octave up as well as down, and personally i've never had any use for the OC2/3's second octave down.

The Pogs will track whatever you want, but its a thinner, more digital sound to my ears. not to say i havent had both on my board at the same time

[TheWoodShed]

Phaser isn't my thing, but I did own an MXR Phase 90. While the ability is limited, I found it perfectly adequate for my rock band at the time. A script version may even serve you better.

As far as octaves down goes, I happen to have acquired an older Gray box version of the EBS Octabass. It isn't TB or anything, but I was pleasantly surprised. |It is analog and gives a good dub style sound. For my EMG loaded bass, it tracks very well down to the "A". I wish I had this when we covered Sublime. Seems like one of these gray box ones can be had for around $60.00 or $70.00, and the new ones for $90.00. I don't know about Europe though.

As far as high gain distortion goes, I love the MXR M-80 Bass DI+. You can get a very good :Fear Factory" style clean/dirty mixed style distortion with it and it is a great "Swiss Army Knife" style tool to have on your pedal board. The Blowtorch even takes it up one notch higher.

This all fit your "inexpensive" reqirement.

[Smurf-o-Deth]

To put this in the SAT format, POG is to OC2 as condom is to vasectomy. In other words, two very different approaches with a different set of drawbacks toward a same goal.

[FunkMetalBass]

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

To put this in the SAT format, POG is to OC2 as condom is to vasectomy...

That is one of the most interesting analogous statements I've ever read.

sigg'd!

[DosiYanarchy]

Originally Posted by Smurf-o-Deth

To put this in the SAT format, POG is to OC2 as condom is to vasectomy. In other words, two very different approaches with a different set of drawbacks toward a same goal.

BEST.ANALOGY.EVER.



when I bought the Psilocybe I first tried the regular Phase 90, then The Script version. Even the script was more than i wanted to spend but THEN i tried the Psilocybe which was even MORE expensive and walked out with it.

The Script 90 seemed alot more natural and generally sounded better to my ears (compared to the standard phase 90).

Some people use the boss phasers, i had the PH3 and while it does have some cool features, its just not that great on bass IMO


most phasers i've tried seem to 'swoosh' too much: when they sweep, they sweep out of range of the low frequencies and your volume will seem to fluctuate. This was quite apparent on the PH3 and regular Phase 90, less so on the Script Phase 90 and i didnt notice it on the Psilocybe or the Maxon Rotary Phaser (but it does have a 50/50 wet/dry mix built in).

The Source Audio Tri-Mod Phaser has some excellent sounds but no matter what i did, it seemed to cut my lows a bit. - I found it best with a clean blend.