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Diverse Phaser Comparison
This page contains audio samples and brief description of random phaser pedals. This page is still under construction and I will try to update the informations on each phaser and add new phasers and samples whenever I get to it. This comparison is not intended to be a thorough and deep analysis of each of these pedals, but might help you get a overall view of what different pedals sound like in the same environment with the same input sample. The samples are recorded straight through a Line6 Pod XT, so no amplifiers, microphones or studios were used. Therefore, the samples will not give a very good picture of the sounds that can be achieved from each of these pedals, but since all are in the same environment a comparison can be made.
Hopefully you find these useful and interresting, any comments & suggestions are warmly welcomed!
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Boss - PH-1r
Follower of the PH-1 with an added control for resonance (adjustable feedback), made in Japan and sold from October 1980 to May 1985. This phaser is based on a 4-stage phaser, similar to the MXR phase 90. It has very large rate control from 100ms to 16s. Versatile and sweet sounding pedal.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
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Clean sample
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Phaser on, soft
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Phaser on, strong
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DeArmond - Pedal Phaser Model 1900
Treadle shaped phaser, produced from 1974-1979. This phaser has two modes - the first is a traditional LFO mode in which the pedal is used to control the rate of the LFO. The second mode is a static mode, in which the LFO is disabled and the pedal is used to manually sweep the phasing. The pedal has two switches under the treadle - the toe switch toggles the effect ON and OFF, the heel switch switches between the two modes.
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IMAGES
Effect
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Electro Harmonix - Bad Stone (USA)
The Bad Stone was released 1975 and produced until 1981. It was designed by Bob Bednarz and it was the first phase shifter to employ feedback in the circuitry. It compasses 6 stages of phases shifting with variable feedback. One speciality of this phaser is the manual mode, which lets you dial in the phase shift manually instead of using the LFO (low frequency oscillator). This enables a whole new dimension of sounds achievable, although no sweeping will occur in the manual mode.
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IMAGES
Effect
Circuit Board
Circuit Board Bottom
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Electro Harmonix - Small Stone USA Version 1
The origin of the Small Stone dates back to 1974, when Electro Harmonix president Mike Matthews hired former EMS engineer David Cockerell, whos first design for EH was the Small Stone phaser. The design was based on Davids previous work on the EMS Synthi Hi-Fli from 1971 - it is a rather unique design in that it uses Operational Transconductance Amplifiers (OTA) instead of operational amplifiers with variable resistors. It is a 4 stage phase shifter with one additional stage for feedback, which can be activated using the "Color" switch.
There are several different versions of the Small Stone, a more thorough analysis and comparison can be found in the article section.
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IMAGES
Effect
Circuit Board
Circuit Board Bottom
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IBANEZ - PT9
Phaser pedal from the Ibanez 9-series, manufactured 1982-1984 in Japan. Soft and sparkling sounding phaser with controls for speed, width and feedback.
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IMAGES
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IBANEZ - Bi-Stage Phaser BPL
This phaser is from the Master series (between the 9 and 10-series) from the year 1985. Very versatile and sweet sounding phaser which lets you choose between 6 and 10 phasing stages, which corresponds to 3 and 5 notches in the frequency spectrum, respectively.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
Sample #1
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Phaser on, soft
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Phaser on, strong
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Sample #2
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Speed 
Width 
Feedback
6 Stages
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Speed
Width
Feedback
10 Stages
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Speed 
Width 
Feedback
10 Stages
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Random phaser settings
w/ distortion
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Maestro - MPP-1 Stage Phaser
Designed by Bob Moog in the mid 70's. OTA based circuit, similar to the EH Small Stone. Extremely deep and strong phasing, very organic sound.
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IMAGES
Effect
Effect
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MXR - Phase 45
The little sister of the Phase 90 pedal. Uses 2-stage phasing (instead of 4 as in the Phase 90) for a milder and softer phasing, yet remaining very musical and organic sounding. Uses the same 2N5952 transistors as variable resistances as the Phase 90.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
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Sample #2
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Speed 
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Speed 
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Speed
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Random phaser settings
w/ distortion
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MXR - Phase 90
Very popular 4-stage phaser, using 2N5952 JFET transistors as variable resistances in combination with opamp stages to create the phase shifting. Sweet, rich sound with nice warm second harmonic distortion.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
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Sample #2
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Speed 
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Speed
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Speed
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Random phaser settings
w/ distortion
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MXR - Phase 100
The MXR Phase 100 was initially introduced 1974 and manufactured until 1982 (script logo from 1974-77, block logo from 1978-82), then reissued by Jim Dunlop around 1987. It is based on a 6-stage phase shifter and offers controls for speed and intensity and provides a versatile soundscape with warm and strong phasing.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
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Sample #2
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Speed
Intensity
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Speed
Intensity
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Speed
Intensity
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Random phaser settings
w/ distortion
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Pearl - Phase Shifter Model F-601
Although better known for manufacturing drums, Pearl offered several lines of guitar effects in the 1980s. These were manufactured in Japan and mostly designed by former Elk engineer Mr. Ito. This pedal is from the F-600 series, which predates the Pearl Sound Spice series (see Pearl FG-01 on the flanger page) and the Sound Choice series. It offers control for speed and intensity.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
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Sample #2
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Speed
Intensity
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Speed
Intensity
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Random phaser settings
w/ distortion
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Roland - AP-2
Mid 1970's phaser by Roland (pre-Boss era), uses LM2902N Quad Opamps and transistors as variable resistances.
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IMAGES
Effect
Circuit board
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Roland - AP-5
Mid 1970's phaser by Roland (pre-Boss era) with two operational modes. A regular low frequency oscillator (LFO) based phasing mode and a dynamic mode, where the rate of the phasing is dependant on the signal strenght. Cool and versatile vintage pedal.
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IMAGES
Effect
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Schaller Phaser
Treadle shaped phaser pedal made in Germany, presumably in the mid 80's. Very nice sounding phaser with easily adjustable speed control and two different speed settings.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
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Sample #2
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Speed Slow, treadle 20%
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Speed Fast, treadle 100%
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Random phaser settings
w/ distortion
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Washburn PX:8
Washburn offered a series of pedals from around 1983-1989. The phaser of this series has controls for Speed, Depth and Color and offers a soft and sweet sound with lots of spaceousness and warmth.
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IMAGES
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SOUND SAMPLES
Clean sample #1
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Phaser on, soft
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Phaser on, strong
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Sample #2
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Speed
Depth
Color
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Speed
Depth
Color
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Random phaser settings
w/ distortion
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BACK
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