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A heavyweight phaser battle
- Thread starter Jared Lash
- Start date
I sent an email to Maxon asking that and was told there wasn't. Why not open it up and see for myself? Because it's got star screws (for which I don't have a screwdriver) and it says very clearly on the back plate not to remove the screws. So I'm just going to take Maxon's word for it.
Yup... that phaser was so close to perfect... but not quite. I replaced it with a Maxon PT-9 pro+ and haven't looked back yet
Honestly, after all the phasers I've tried, the Small Stone is still my second favorite right after the PH-350. It's a fantastic phaser for the price. What's funny is that my guitar player and I have found that the phasers we like best on bass aren't our favorites on guitar and vice versa.
Nope, haven't tried a flanger hoax. There are two things that have put me off trying one so far. (1) it's too big for my board. As it is the Phantasm would have really been pushing it and (2) I don't really have any interest in the pseudo flanging or sounds other than phasing.
Thought about it? Absolutely. Seriously considered plunking down the cash for one? Not really. Honestly, the Phantasm was really pushing it for me in terms of price. I have watched the Phaseomatic YouTube video from Pro Guitar Shop though. It seems to have a ton of cool features, but it's just more than I'm willing to pay. Especially since I get the feeling it may be too thin sounding on bass. But again, it doesn't really matter. I've hit my price ceiling on phasers already.
Not a bad phaser at all. That's another one I have tried. I had it for a week or two before returning it to Musician's Friend. I took a flyer on it because I liked my George Dennis Chorus Flanger so much. Still do, but I just don't use it in what I currently do.
One last note on the Phantasm. This morning I spent some time tweaking the sensitivity trimpot to optimize it for my bass and it makes a big difference. You can get some very funky sounds out of it with the depth high and the axis in the bass range. Somewhat like the EP-1 or Polyphase in envelope modes, but sharper, with ab envelope filter type attack but a phaser sounding finish if that makes sense. Using the ACD & ACS with the axis toward the higher frequencies (you really can't go much past 12 o'clock on bass) and a high rate/low depth you get some MXR Auto Q type shimmer sounds.
If I didn't already have a filter I liked (two actually) and another pedal coming that can do filter sounds, I would consider it more strongly. But I just want a thick phase tone, so it's headed back from whence it came.
Warts and all, the PH-350 may just be my beast. I would have a hard time going to a 4 stage phaser again, and I like it better than the Moog, so I'm not sure where (if anywhere) I'll go next.
Could Toadworks mod the Phantasam for ya to be thicker, a small outfit should be up for custom work.
Possibly, but I don't think it's all that likely. And again, I've already plunked down my max amount of cash for a phaser. Plus, if I'm going to return it for a refund, I only have a couple days to send it back.
I really didn't plan on returning it (I've already reorganized my board in anticipation of it being what I wanted) but it's headed back tomorrow morning.
Ah shame, you wouldn't think it'd be so hard to find a great phazer, I thought the Phantasm was gonna be incredible, but said I'd wait it out, lucky, I guess. 
Ah shame, you wouldn't think it'd be so hard to find a great phazer, I thought the Phantasm was gonna be incredible, but said I'd wait it out, lucky, I guess.
Ok, this is something I was afraid of. Now when I say I hate the MXR Blowtorch, it isn't that big of a deal because there are others who love it and you get both sides. But considering I'm the only TBer to post about the Phantasm (and maybe the only one to own one - mine is serial number 10) I don't want every reference on this pedal to be, "oh somebody tried it out and said it sucks on bass".
It doesn't suit my needs. But that doesn't mean it won't work for other people. Again, very tweakable, a sweet sounding phase tone and zero noise, not to mention the ACD and ACS controls which are very cool.
I look at it the same way I look at the EMMA DiscomBOBulator. Great sound, but not a wet enough filter for me. But others like it because it "lets more of their actual tone through". I'd look at the Phantasm the same way. It can do the "For the Love of Money" sound just fine. And someone that wants a funky phase sound that doesn't overtake their clean sound completely, it could be just the thing.
But my preferences are just different. I'm not a "touch of phase/chorus/filter/grit" type of player. I'm more of a "holy crap, what did he just step on?" kind of guy. And the PH-350 is much closer to that for me.
Nope, nothing to be afraid of, I wouldn't just take someones advice randomly, you went into great detail describing it, and its exactly what I don't want in a phazer, I'm looking for a deep heavy, agressive, thick sound with one, kinda Larry Graham meets doom/sludge metal, mabye with a cutting high end too, but that wouldn't matter if I can get the rest. The "holy crap" idea sounds more in line with what I want. The Boss one, the more I mess with it the less I can find in this direction, seems to ruin my distortion too.
Yeah, that sounds like my experience with the Boss PH-3 too. At first it was very much, "look at all the cool noises" and it was only $99. But I didn't like it with dirt (which I do a lot), it cut too much of my lows (which is why I started blending it) and even though I like prominent effects, the Boss seemed to complete replace my tone.
Honestly, I think the PH-350 might be the phaser for you too. A lot of what I liked about the Boss and almost none of the things I didn't.
I really liked the step phasing though. Other than the Infinitphase (which I tried briefly at my friend Desmond's studio) I don't know of any other phaser that does it.
bongomania
Commercial User
Exactly, the first day I saw the PH-3 it was like "OMG! Phazer! Larry Garaham!" and I ran into the shop and bought it on the spot without trying it. 
First few weeks were great, like you said cool noises, but the longer I own it the less it does what I want, the minute I click it on its like someone threw a blanket over my amp.
I'll check out the PH-350.
As for the step, it is really cool, but I can't find any practical use for it yet.
First few weeks were great, like you said cool noises, but the longer I own it the less it does what I want, the minute I click it on its like someone threw a blanket over my amp.
I'll check out the PH-350.
As for the step, it is really cool, but I can't find any practical use for it yet.
Does it do step phasing? I know the filter does sample & hold, but I hadn't really looked into their phaser.
bongo, you're like that little devil on my shoulder. And the angel must be on his break. Fortunately for me (and my wallet) the ModMax isn't close to fitting on my board. I can't deny that all their stuff is really intriguing to me.
You know, I've come to realize that having my girlfriend (ex? we'll see) living with me was good for my GAS. Because at least I'd get the raised eyebrow and a "did you buy MORE bass stuff?" look which at least guilted me into spending less on effects.
Well, I tried a couple more phasers, so I figured I'd update the list. Of the ones I recently tried, the old DOD FX20 was terrible, and the 401 was too subtle but the 490 was thick as molasses. I'm not sure if I'll keep it, but I actually ended up having to put it in the loop of my blender for best results. The HBE is a great phaser - I like it a lot. The Stage Phaser was nice and thick, but I think the one I played with was damaged - it had a very noticeable volume drop and just sounded a bit off. I got a second chance with my old guitar player's Infinitphase. Not good for classic phase tones, big and bulky and complicated but man what a fun thing to play around with.
Anyway, here's the list. At the moment I've still got the EP-1, the Psilocybe, the DOD 490 and the Maxon. I think the PH-350 is going to be like the XXLB for me where I keep looking for something to knock it off my board but it sticks around.
DOD FX20 (original)
DOD 401 Phasor
DOD 490 Phasor
Boss PH-3
EHX Nano Small Stone
EHX Polyphase
George Dennis Phaser
H.B.E. Psilocybe
Maestro Stage Phaser
Maxon PH-350 Rotary Phaser
Moog Phaser
MXR Phase 90
MXR Phase 100
Pigtronix EP-1
Prophecy Sound Infinitphase
Subdecay Quasar
Toadworks Phantasm
Tonefactor/Mojo Hand Nebula
Phasers I haven't tried but want to - Mutron Phasor II, TC Electronics B/K, Toneczar Halophaze and the Diamond phaser.
Anyway, here's the list. At the moment I've still got the EP-1, the Psilocybe, the DOD 490 and the Maxon. I think the PH-350 is going to be like the XXLB for me where I keep looking for something to knock it off my board but it sticks around.
DOD FX20 (original)
DOD 401 Phasor
DOD 490 Phasor
Boss PH-3
EHX Nano Small Stone
EHX Polyphase
George Dennis Phaser
H.B.E. Psilocybe
Maestro Stage Phaser
Maxon PH-350 Rotary Phaser
Moog Phaser
MXR Phase 90
MXR Phase 100
Pigtronix EP-1
Prophecy Sound Infinitphase
Subdecay Quasar
Toadworks Phantasm
Tonefactor/Mojo Hand Nebula
Phasers I haven't tried but want to - Mutron Phasor II, TC Electronics B/K, Toneczar Halophaze and the Diamond phaser.
mikeboth
The last thing you'll ever see
Glad you enjoyed it.
These things are pretty much identical to a single Biphase channel - for some reason you left the Biphase off your list.
bongomania
Commercial User
I'll keep watching with great interest. I'm on the list for a Halophaze, but it's been maybe 18 months, and who knows how much longer it will be.
Glad you enjoyed it.
These things are pretty much identical to a single Biphase channel - for some reason you left the Biphase off your list.
Wow, I never noticed your user title before. As for the Bi-Phase, I was told that they sucked lows like crazy so either that's not true, or it means the Phasor II would also drop out the low end.
But more importantly, what are the chances of the Infinitphase coming back?
Honestly, if price and pedalboard space weren't factors, I'd love to have one. In fact, I think a stripped down and smaller version would be incredible. Maybe with a couple set patterns for step phasing rather than complete controls for each step. Setting that thing for step phasing and rolling back the smoothness is one of my favorite effects sounds ever.
mikeboth
The last thing you'll ever see
I'm looking at re-engineering it to fit a off-the-shelf (but still large) box, so we'll see ... there's plenty of great phasers out there meanwhile, as you've discovered.
I didn't notice the Biphase lacking in bottom when I owned one before, but that was 5+ years ago now. It, or the Mutron II, would still be worth a shot, if for no other reason than people won't be asking why you haven't tried it / them.
are you trying the old EHX polyphase or the new Stereo Polyphase?
the new one was designed by Mike Beigel (Mutron pedals designer) and L Sound (dude who repairs and calibrates Mutrons).
I own it and think it can get pretty thick.
the new one was designed by Mike Beigel (Mutron pedals designer) and L Sound (dude who repairs and calibrates Mutrons).
I own it and think it can get pretty thick.
It was the new Polyphase. This was months ago in the store, just to see if I liked it better than the Pigtronix. IMO, the EP-1 was better, especially as a filter.
My recollection of the Polyphase was that it seemed to phase "around" the bass note if that makes any sense. Not like a blend per se, but like the sweep focused on the higher harmonics. Again, very subjective views based on limited time with it, but it didn't float my boat. My current guitar player didn't like it either, which is odd since he usually likes phasers on guitar that I don't like on bass and vice versa, but it was pretty harsh sounding on guitar, at least to us. The only phasers we've both liked so far are the Maxon PH-350 and to a lesser extent, the George Dennis.
For the record, he freaking loved the Phantasm. He was not happy that I sent it back.
