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Best phaser under $250

S

Shish

Sep 17, 2010
463
13
Milwaukee, WI
#1
I'm selling my M9 and I want to get a good phaser because I use this effect more than any other modulation.
I tried once Moog Phaser and I really liked it but it's huge and can't be fed by my Gator power supply.
So now I'm considering following pedals:
1) Subdecay Quasar DLX - pure madness, I'm not sure I'd get classic phaser though. And it's the most expensive.
2) T-Rex Tremonti - can be found for $180 new. Although I've never seen it in any board. I like its features like 4/8 stages and Bite knob.
3) Blackout Effectors Whetstone - pretty versatile as demos show.
4) Subdecay Baby Quasar - I heard it's too subtle. The cheapest option.
5) Subdecay Quasar (old version I guess)

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Never heard anything about it as well.
6) Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter

Can you give me any advise about these phasers? I need deep slow phase tone and some room for experiments.
 
#2
I have been through a bunch but never got to try the Subdecay. I did settle on the Homebrew Electronics Psilocybe as it works so well on bass with no loss of low end, no clipping, no drop in volume, its not too subtle and has just the right amount if tweakability.
 
#8
Shish said:
1Can you give me any advise about these phasers? I need deep slow phase tone and some room for experiments.
Click to expand...

Here's my experience (for what it's worth)

1) Subdecay Quasar DLX

Yes, it brings the crazy. But as a straight phaser it's still one of the most versatile ever made. The "normal" waveshapes are limited to sine and triangle but considering that most phasers don't have any options as far as waveshape it's hard to complain. Does everything the baby quasar does and adds the switch between 4/6/8 stages which is a huge bonus to me.

Only real downsides are price (hard to complain with all the features though), the huge number of controls making it a bit hard to find exact tones used previously and some LFO noise. But it's a marvelous feat of pedal building really.

2) T-Rex Tremonti

The only one on your list I haven't tried. Sorry. If it had a six stage option (my favorite phasers are six stagers) I probably would have checked it out by now.

3) Blackout Effectors Whetstone

Basically a souped up Small Stone. In fact, while my guitarist at the time loved it, I'd actually probably go with the simpler Nano Small Stone as I didn't get much out of most of the additional features. For example, I find 2 stage phasers too subtle on bass, and the high speed "ring mod" like sounds were too noisy to be usable. The asymmetric switch was very cool though.

4) Subdecay Baby Quasar

Very cool phaser. The frequency knob is the most genious control here. I just tried this one out to see how it compared to the Dlx and the original model. It really is the foundation for the Dlx. I wish it had the 6/8 stage switch and a simple waveshape selector and then I'd absolutely own it. That said, if you want a 4 stage phaser this one is great sounding and tweakable.

5) Subdecay Quasar

Didn't A/B this one with the Baby Quasar (or the Dlx) so it's hard to say how much difference there really is. For whatever reason I liked the Baby Quasar more than the old version.

6) Earthquaker Devices Grand Orbiter

Very thick and pulselike phasing. Not clean and sparkling like a lot of high phasers. This one is dark and thick. The dry kill is cool for seasick like modulation. The Orbiter sounds fantastic with dirt.

Also, I agree with the recommedations of the Psilocybe. Great 4 stage phaser with it's own character that sounds good with dirt.
 
#9
Where are you located Shish? If Northern California is your locale, you should attend the TB GTG in Oakland next Sunday... among other things, there will be a gathering of the pedals, so you might be able to try a number of devices including phasers before you buy.

BTW, Jared is more or less the last word on phasers on TB, as he's tried and commented on them all (search).
 
#12
Matt Dean said:
Where are you located Shish? If Northern California is your locale, you should attend the TB GTG in Oakland next Sunday... among other things, there will be a gathering of the pedals, so you might be able to try a number of devices including phasers before you buy.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately I'm in Milwaukee.
I really like an option of switching stages so T-Rex currently on the top of my list. At least I will tell other people whether it's good or not:)
 
#17
red witch moon phaser is my favorite phase in any price range.. you can probably get one fairly easily under $250.

it is a bit subtle, but to me "less is more" applies here. a phaser that takes over and is really resonant, is a cool effect- but i love the red witch for the way it just adds a bit of warm liquidy sounding phasing. i really love mine, but it doesent get much love around here.
 
#20
I have the Grand Orbiter, and I really like it. I haven't had much experience testing out different phasers though, but I bought it based on soundclips and reviews of it, as it seemed to fit my description (which sounds similar to your description).

If you like, I could make a couple of soundclips.
 

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