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Phaser Battle Royale

Jared Lash

Jared Lash

Born under punches
Aug 21, 2006
15,587
5,150
Denver, CO
#1
So I probably should have been doing phaser reviews all along, but never really thought I'd go through so many. At this point I doubt I'll have too many more pass through my hands so I figured I'd better do some real reviews.

At the moment I've got a Maxon PH-350, a Blackout Effectors Whetstone and an Earthquaker Grand Orbiter Phase Machine. Here's a pic so you can see the relative sizes:
Phasers.gif


When I have a bit more time I'll post individual reviews for each one. Honestly, they are all cool phasers and while one very clearly fits my needs more than the others, I could see how different people could prefer each one.

I've started recording some clips, but I figured a good thing would be to ask what people wanted to hear so that I could record all the remaining clips at the same time. joeinsprings has already asked for slow sweeps (with distortion I believe) but if there's anything else people want to hear, let me know.

In the meantime, here are two teaser clips. The first is more upper register and the second is a funky groove in first position. Each clip has clean bass and then each of the three phasers. They are in the same order in both clips. See if you can figure out which is which.
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]


EDIT: Phasers revealed and more clips added in post #38
 
#3
Mmmm...phasers...can't wait to hear the reviews/clips of these. If I remember what I have seen in past threads, BigO, you have owned a TON of phasers. Just curious, do you have any experience with the Subdecay Quasar or the Red Witch Moon Phase? I was looking at those and the Whetstone. I need to figure out my phaser issues in the future (phasers are not on the top of my list, but I do love them). Debating between those three.

Proton
 
#4
I have no idea which is which, but I dig the second and third ones a lot, the first not so much. Been curious about that Orbiter one for a spell, hmm.
 
#6
fishtx said:
thanks for the clips!
Click to expand...

No problem. There will be a lot more.

nad said:
I have no idea which is which, but I dig the second and third ones a lot, the first not so much. Been curious about that Orbiter one for a spell, hmm.
Click to expand...

FWIW the first one is my favorite on guitar. And the one that is my favorite on bass is my least favorite when used with the little six string. Strange how phasers always seem to work out that way for me.

Proton Lenny said:
Mmmm...phasers...can't wait to hear the reviews/clips of these. If I remember what I have seen in past threads, BigO, you have owned a TON of phasers. Just curious, do you have any experience with the Subdecay Quasar or the Red Witch Moon Phase? I was looking at those and the Whetstone. I need to figure out my phaser issues in the future (phasers are not on the top of my list, but I do love them). Debating between those three.
Click to expand...

I owned a Quasar and tried a Red Witch. The Moon Phase seemed a bit too thin on bass, but again I didn't have a lot of time with it. The Quasar is really tweakable and I wish more phasers would have a frequency knob - a handy tool. It wasn't for me, but a really nice phaser nonetheless. But unless I'm mistaken it is currently out of production.

willsellout said:
Sort of a derail but maybe in your experience you could clue me in on which phasers besides the Boss PH3 can do step phasing?
Click to expand...

The Digitech Hyperphase can. As a straight phaser I have the same problems with it as the Boss, but I actually like it's step phasing better.

Beyond that there's the out of production Prophecy Sound Infinitphase (huge and sells for a boatload if you can find them) which is a crazy piece of gear. Rumor has it that a smaller version is in the works at some point. There may be others but that's all that comes to mind at the moment.
 
#7
No idea which was which, enjoyed your playing, love phasers but other than multis, I've only owned Small Stones. Sometimes I think I should branch out and get something a little more deluxe, but I never do.
 
#8
JimmyM said:
No idea which was which, enjoyed your playing, love phasers but other than multis, I've only owned Small Stones. Sometimes I think I should branch out and get something a little more deluxe, but I never do.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the compliment.

As for Small Stones, I still think they are fantastic. I've tried a vintage 70's version (great other than the bypass) and the new NYC and Nano versions along with an old beat up Bad Stone which is a different circuit but has a similar "flavor". I'm in a nice position of being able to spend money on gear, but if I had to tighten my belt a bit I would have no qualms about going back to a Nano Stone.

The Whetstone is actually based on the Small Stone circuit.

But maybe you should try a new phaser Jimmy. I think that's only fair since your posts pretty much convinced me to get a VT Bass not once but twice. ;)
 
#9
Hey "O"...I just this week picked up a Maxon PT-9PRO+, and think it sounds really good...the manual says it's a 10 stage phaser with an internal 18v circuit...

Just curious if you've played with the PT-9PRO+, and have any feedback...
 
#10
fishtx said:
Hey "O"...I just this week picked up a Maxon PT-9PRO+, and think it sounds really good...the manual says it's a 10 stage phaser with an internal 18v circuit...

Just curious if you've played with the PT-9PRO+, and have any feedback...
Click to expand...

I think it's a great phaser. Thicker than the PH-350 because it doesn't have the fixed wet/dry mix but the 4/6/10 stage switch made the Rotary Phaser a little more versatile so I kept it instead. Still, both of those Maxon phasers are among my favorites.

When I post some clips of the PH-350 in 10 stage mode you'll be able to see how those two compare sound wise.
 
#11
The Moog and Studio Electronics phasers do step phasing.

FWIW the Subdecay Quasar sounded phenomenal to me, and the only reason I sold it was due to needing the money and not really needing a phaser. But barring any others that I find that float my boat equally, I plan to re-buy the Quasar sometime.
 
#12
Oh, and cool clips BTW, thanks for the tease. ;) I like the waveshape of the first one, but not the tone. I love the tone of the third one, but the waveshape was a boring old triangle. The second one was just "meh" on both counts. I guess if I had to pick just based on those clips, I'd choose the one with the killer tone, and use my playing to disguise the wave repetition.
 
#17
TheBigO said:
I've started recording some clips, but I figured a good thing would be to ask what people wanted to hear so that I could record all the remaining clips at the same time. joeinsprings has already asked for slow sweeps (with distortion I believe) but if there's anything else people want to hear, let me know.
Click to expand...

Well, slow phasing going into a fuzz is pretty much what I want to hear as well. But I'd also like to hear some low feedback, high speed phasing. Close to a Leslie sound, basically.

And I'm definitely looking forward to this, as these are three phasers that have my eye.
 
#19
Awesome, thanks BigO. They all definitely had distinct voices. Not sure which I prefer, I'm gonna have to hear them all with a really slow sweep first (since that's primarily how I use phasers). Also, I'd love to hear the assym and low-pass modes on the whetstone. Thanks again!
 
#20
TheBigO said:
I owned a Quasar and tried a Red Witch. The Moon Phase seemed a bit too thin on bass, but again I didn't have a lot of time with it.
Click to expand...

Do you know if the internal gain switch was changed on the Red Witch? It really makes a difference for bass. That said, I find the first two settings to be fairly useless on bass but I really enjoy the last two phaser settings and the tremophase setting is really cool.
 

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