Which is more useful to you - Phaser or Flanger?

[Atomik Rooster]

For me it's phaser because the music my band plays is softer.

My old school sensibilities yell "PHASER!", but I think a flanger offers more color and tonal variety if that's what you're shooting for. If you want to showcase the bass, I think phaser is a little too subtle unless you wind it out, but then there's the danger of the effect overshadowing what you're doing musically. Subtle flanging can really complement a nice solo or add a warm layer of smooth to the groove like a phaser can't.

 

[Ryan Mohr]

My old school sensibilities yell "PHASER!", but I think a flanger offers more color and tonal variety if that's what you're shooting for. If you want to showcase the bass, I think phaser is a little too subtle unless you wind it out, but then there's the danger of the effect overshadowing what you're doing musically. Subtle flanging can really complement a nice solo or add a warm layer of smooth to the groove like a phaser can't.

Maybe we have used different pedals, but I have a Phase 90 and a Boss BF-2. The BF-2 is much more metallic, and while it's a good sound, it can be a little too extreme sometimes. The Phase 90 is very organic and thick, and adds much more warmth.

 

[Atomik Rooster]

Maybe we have used different pedals, but I have a Phase 90 and a Boss BF-2. The BF-2 is much more metallic, and while it's a good sound, it can be a little too extreme sometimes. The Phase 90 is very organic and thick, and adds much more warmth.

I've used a number of phasers including the Phase 90, and I really like the sound of the effect in general. Starting out in the 70s, it was my effect of choice until chorus and flanger came along.
My favorite flanger, favorite pedal for that matter, was an ADA I had for many years, sweet and versatile like nothing I've used since. Currently I use a Line 6 Liqua-Flange that, especially in a stereo configuration, is more robust than any phaser I can think of. I also have a Roto-Machine module, but that, as much as I like the sound, is a little too over the top for any music I play.

 

[McHaven]

Both.

+1

 

[grumper]

Phaser as it gives a more personal sound. Flanger sounds are often too obvious reminding me of other bands , e.g. Cure.

 

[JimmyM]

If I had to choose, I'd take flanger. I can duplicate phasing effects on a flanger, but not the other way around.

 

[thehangingmist]

I like them both on bass, though I only have one on my current board. Of course, with that one, I can approximate the other pretty convincingly, so it's the best of both worlds I guess.

which pedal are you talking about here, please?

 

[thehangingmist]

If I had to choose, I'd take flanger. I can duplicate phasing effects on a flanger, but not the other way around.

again same question, how do you duplicate a phaser sound out of a flanger? which pedal does it the best?
i havent ever used any of these ever before, i am asking because i'd rather go for something which can give me "best of both the worlds" if possible while sounding rich

 

[jokerjkny]

i went back and forth using either my fulltone choralflange and my subdecay quaser phaser.

i found i had to use the more extreme settings to allow the effect to be more apparent with my rather loud band.

at those settings, the flanger seemed to make things just effected, while losing the note's fundamental. whereas the phaser seemed to make the fundamental thicker along w/ the more extreme settings of my phaser.

btw, the subdecay quaser phaser is terrific for bass! it uses vactrols for a cleaner overall phasing signal. i use the more lower end'ish settings and its almost like an envelope filter meets phaser.

 

[Smurf-o-Deth]

which pedal are you talking about here, please?

Maxon PH350 Rotary Phaser. I know, because I use one too.

 

[danomite64]

Phaser for me. Too bad my Small Stone is broke.....

 

[Jared Lash]

Maxon PH350 Rotary Phaser. I know, because I use one too.

I run mine with a BOSS PS-3 in detune mode in front of it (for a bit of a metallic chorus sound) and it really sounds like a flanger.

 

[keb]

I like and use both (EHX Small Stone and Deluxe Electric Mistress).

 

[JimmyM]

again same question, how do you duplicate a phaser sound out of a flanger? which pedal does it the best?
i havent ever used any of these ever before, i am asking because i'd rather go for something which can give me "best of both the worlds" if possible while sounding rich

My favorite flanger is the Deluxe Electric Mistress. But really, any flanger can do phase. Just put it on a subtle range/filter setting. It won't be identical, but it'll be close enough for gov't work.

 

[BioDriver]

Wow, I must say I'm surprised by all the people choosing the phaser over the flanger. I've played with both (MRX Phase 90 & 100, Boss BF-2, and an EHX Electric Mistress) and I personally preferred the flanger. It just seems to fit the sound I'm looking for.

 

[Jared Lash]

Well I'm always surprised by the number of people who choose a tuner over a ring modulator.

Different strokes and all that.

 

[thehangingmist]

My favorite flanger is the Deluxe Electric Mistress. But really, any flanger can do phase. Just put it on a subtle range/filter setting. It won't be identical, but it'll be close enough for gov't work.

great!
is the deluxe version reallly different from the Stereo Electric Mistress Flanger Pedal ?? asking because i think this one does chorus too right?
maybe boo can chime in here a little too please?

 

[JimmyM]

great!
is the deluxe version reallly different from the Stereo Electric Mistress Flanger Pedal ?? asking because i think this one does chorus too right?
maybe boo can chime in here a little too please?

Hope this isn't too unpopular an opinion on here, but I find stereo effects to be a waste on bass, especially when it comes to live work. Way more hassle than it's worth. Plus it guarantees that you'll have to run two DI's and/or two rigs to get its usefulness out of it. That kind of stuff is best left to the studio IMHO. Still, you can run the Stereo Mistress mono if you want, and it's got a chorus, too. But the Filter knob is what makes the Deluxe Mistress so badass. Gives you extra control of the sweep and adds cool frequency notches to it. If the chorus is more important to you than that, get the Stereo. It's still a really good flanger.

 

[thehangingmist]

Hope this isn't too unpopular an opinion on here, but I find stereo effects to be a waste on bass, especially when it comes to live work. Way more hassle than it's worth. Plus it guarantees that you'll have to run two DI's and/or two rigs to get its usefulness out of it. That kind of stuff is best left to the studio IMHO. Still, you can run the Stereo Mistress mono if you want, and it's got a chorus, too. But the Filter knob is what makes the Deluxe Mistress so badass. Gives you extra control of the sweep and adds cool frequency notches to it. If the chorus is more important to you than that, get the Stereo. It's still a really good flanger.

i total agree with you on the stereo part. i'd be running it mono only. but the thing is me being in this part of the world.... i always tend to go for pedals which can give more sounds. the sad part is i dont like multi fx's

 

[Sven Olaffson]

Definitively Phaser for me. I tried flanger several times over the years but never managed to find a sound that I really liked. With a phaser, I can found not only one, but a lot of sounds that I like !