Phasers: use case suggestions

Which phaser did you have? If it was too in your face, did it not have a depth or effect level control?

 

I like them slow, a la Waylon and Chris Stapleton.

How many stages was the phaser you were using?

 

Doesn't either an MXR Phase 90 or 45 ( style) have just a Rate knob? ( effect mix/ depth are pre-set)
I've owned phasers before ( many years ago) but just never kept as I like a small board, and don't want a pedal on there for just a few songs.

* I do have a Chorus and a Mix control is a must!

 

Are you using it with distortion/overdrive or just with clean tones?

The PH3 has a setting for 4, 8, 10 or 12 stages. I had one briefly, and I liked it OK, but it's definitely an in-your-face effect.

Yep, Phase 90 has just a rate knob. That's why I asked. It's my favorite phaser tone, but you're stuck with the depth and effect level unless you want to mod it (and I was *this close* to modding mine for an effect level knob). With distortion, you can turn the rate all the way down and to the EVH thing. With clean tones, I like to put the rate around 12 o'clock and get a kind of warble sound. You can use it this way instead of a chorus or flanger. But yeah, if you want it less subtle then you need one that has an effect level control.

 

He can also get a Phase 45 or DOD 201 and have a 2-stage phaser, which are more subtle. The Phase 95 has the 90 and 45 in one box, so that's an option, as well.

 

There's also the MXR Phase 100, which as 4 intensity settings.

 

Just kinda figure out how to play along with the effect. As in timing the playing to the rate of the effect.

I figured that one out listening to Waylon.

 

With a clean tone I can set my PH-3 to 8 stage phasing and the put the other knobs all at about 10 o’clock and it’s fairly subtle. You can definitely tell it’s a phaser but it’s not overbearing, at least to my ears. Finding a rate setting that fits the songs tempo is very helpful.

 

Best Use Case: Saving the universe.

 

They’re great for goth and death rock and post punk. They also sound great with some dirt.

 

I have a phase 90, had a phase 100 back in the day. I’d like to add a mixer to it. It is too in your face but fun for vintage Van Halen and that kind of stuff.

I’ll leave this here:

 

Source Audio Gemini. It’s whatever you want. You set all the parameters and can be a phased, flanger, or chorus.

 

I've always figured less stages makes the effect more subtle, not more stages. That's why some people prefer the Phase 45 to the Phase 90.

 

If I ever decide to part with the Phase 90, I think I will try the BYOC Phase Royal.

https://buildyourownclone.com/collections/phase-royal/products/phaseroyal

It has input and output level controls and a wet/dry control in addition to regeneration, depth and rate. The phasing part of the circuit is a module, and there's 4 modules to chose from. A 4 and 8 stage Phase 90, Ibanez Flying Pan or EHX Small Stone.

 

I use my phase 95 very sparingly in a couple of numbers a night. Usually to add some movement to a slow, laid back section or in the lead up to a bridge or solo to wind up some spacey tension or signal a change.

it can also do big synthy textures with sustained distorted chords under a driving choppier rhythm guitar and bass. Nice combo.

Easy to overuse.. like chorus. Make it count.

 

True, but the 4 stage doesn’t sound as good to me for some reason.

 

I use a Boss PH3 set on the 4 stage setting for the Ol' Waylon sound. It's the first pedal I go into. I use a CS3 Compressor and a volume pedal after it. I find having the compressor after the phaser makes the effect more subtle, and having the volume pedal after it makes up for any volume drop after it's engaged.