Section for the review of Sobbatt Pedals..

Please State Model and Gear You Use....

The Sobbatt PhaserBreaker II is just an awesome pedal. I used it threw my AC30 and the Vibrato or Phaser just sounds great.... I would give it 9 out of 10

Yes, the PhaseBreaker II is terrific! I was looking for something a little nicer to replace my Reissue Small Stone and took a chance on this one. Huge sound, and very versatile. The Small Stone doesn't even compare. You can get so many different sounds out of this thing. I don't know if it is true bypass, but it does not suck your tone at all when bypassed. When engaged, it is very transperant and can go from very subtle to all out phasing madness. Though I mostly use it for phasing, it has a great vibe function for those into the Hendrix sound. It looks really cool too!

I am thinking of trying the Fuzz Breaker out. Anybody use one of those?

I had posted this is in the Guitar Pedals forum but thought I would put a copy here (easier to find). One thing I didn’t mention was equipment used – all Strats various configs, PUP, and models. Primary for this review was a stock SRV model. Used in stereo El-84 amp (lexicon Signature 284), a pair of Blues Juniors, and a Gibson Falcon (6V6) amp.

"Well I had to try one – so this is my report.

Technical first:

First, it is NOT true bypassed – but it doesn’t suck tone so I guess the buffer is pretty good. In my case it doesn’t matter since I keep everything except my PW, SF, and SHO in a large bypass strip. It is not even virtual or “Maxon like” TBP – i.e., bypassed but still have components in signal path which could possibly load the signal. If you remove power and/or battery there is no signal passed at all. this answers one of the questions someone asked earlier. It does work off of battery or standard Boss style adapter (negative center post).

Second – It looks like it easily can be made TBP (it also could have been made TBP at factory but wasn’t). The switch is a 2PDT, and the LED comes off the circuit card. However, the switch is mounted directly to the circuit card (I’m leery of this – but we’ll see how it holds up) there isn’t much room between circuit card and the top of the case housing to install a new switch and run wires to card. The switch is a little “soft” but it may hold up forever who knows.

Third – the grounds from the I/O jacks are connected via a VERY SHORT piece of wire to ground on circuit card edge. The ground for the 3P3T switch (the Phase1, Phase2, and vibrato selector switch) is jumpered to the input jack; thus getting ground to circuit card via input jack. This is effective but weak looking. Looks like jacks could easily be replaced and wired to card without any problems if they became a problem.

There are two pot adjustments on card – but didn’t touch them (sound discussed below).

The PB2 is a solid looking, and feeling pedal - other than the on/off switch mounted to card (I don’t like these configs – they can lead to problems) and I/O jacks which look like they might have grounds eventually breaking off from card. Both weak points could easily be fixed/repaired (if broke) or made better by anyone good with a soldering iron.

Actually as with most pedals, if not overly abused this thing might hold up forever.

Sound:

GREAT!

Like OD’s and anything else sonic interpretation is in the “ear of the beholder” but this WILL be replacing my venerable Mutron Phasor II. Nothing wrong with Mutron I just wanted a smaller pedal.

I will try and describe each mode (Phase 1 – which is where I will be keeping mine set, Phase 2, and Vibrato) but I want to get Vibrato out of the road first.

Vibrato:

Most people don’t seem to like or have a use for this function but I use it more than most and like to play around with it. MY CC and Ultra Vibe (as well as my Deja which is in the closet) have a Vibrato but I like the one on the PB2 better than either of these two. However, I love the univibe sound on the Ultra Vibe and next the Captain Coconut (and my Mojo should be on the way soon I hope - BOB???). I think the PB2 Vibrato will become my main vibrato as well as phaser. The PB2 Vibrato is a little more “wet” and can be more finely controlled due to the depth and Jag knobs (the Jag appears to set where on the wave the vibrato or phase takes place – operation or concept similar to the C.C. Center control).

Phase 1:

My favorite of the two phase modes is Phase 1 position. It’s not as deep or “wet” sounding as Phase 2 and is a little less bright but is very organic sounding. Phase 1 mode seems to become part of the guitar sound and doesn’t just ride on top of the guitar notes. Some comments – the Depth, Jag, and Rate knobs go from about the 7 o’clock (min) to about 5 o’clock (max) this seems to be normal for most pedals. The depth knob when at minimum has almost no (very imperceptible) phasing. However, the bass response is rolled off from guitar. At 9 o’clock the depth starts to kick in where it is now perceptible and some bass response is back but still sounds like an amp with bass rolled off and mid rolled up. At around 1030 to 1100 the phaser starts to become a phaser as most of you would recognize and most of the frequencies are back and being noticeably sweep through the phase cancellations (which is what a phaser does) of course by this setting the Jag has much more effect. At around 12 to 1 o’clock you have a nice classic phaser sound (for me Jag is set around 11-12 and Rate around 1 o’clock) but this is now more effected by where the Jag is set. From around 1 o’clock to end of travel the depth becomes more noticeable (deeper – which is what a depth know should do) but never “over the top” sickly deep. After about 12 to 1 o’clock on the depth the Jag has significant impact on sound.

In the Phase 1 mode I was able to get a good, but not great, univibe like setting. It doesn’t get that “thump” that I expect from a univibe (BOB I’m dying for my Mojo Vibe). The PB 2 could be used as a “poor mans” vibe in a pinch. I have never found a phaser that does the univibe thing well – but this is closer than most phasers. I also didn’t get the PB2 to do univibe sounds nor do I use a vibe as a phaser substitute (and I don’t use flanger’s in lieu of chorus’s either).

Phase 2:

This is a good phaser mode (but not my favorite) It is deeper and wetter and a little brighter sounding. In this mode it sounds as if the “regen” has been turned up (or on) by 3 db. In this mode the depth knob will take you to that over the top, “sea sick” state if you want to go there. And in this mode the Jag position is VERY noticeable. Actually I used the Phase 2 mode to pick where I wanted the Jag to be set.

In all modes the rate’s slowest setting is about 5 seconds (a very slow sweep) to faster than I would ever use it in any mode.


IMHO – It’s a keeper and I think I have found MY final phaser (your mileage may vary). It can be set to sound like an old MXR 90 as well as a Mutron (but not the Bi-phase – I have never heard any stomp box that beats a Bi-phase). It appears durable (other than items mentioned above) and is not priced beyond most effects today (maybe just a tad). It says “hand made” on the bottom but the circuit card and case are clearly mass produced – so I guess they mean hand assembled.”


Final note – I have used this now for a few weeks and the more I use it the more I like it. It is extremely versatile as mentioned by Sledge and indeed has a hugh tone.

lgk

Can the Phasebreaker II get the same sounds as the two settings on an EH Smallstone phaser?

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