I've decided to go with phase as my one swirly effect. I've been using a Tone Factor Nebula and a BYOC phaser with vibe and 45/90 switches on it. I've basically been in the Phase 45/90 camp. I like the tones on the BYOC, but it doesn't seem to cut through the way I like for leads-maybe a need a volume boost?. I'm usually stacking with a dirt pedal for leads.

For phase, I like more liquidy, less chewy, and I like it darker. However the things I like in phasers may be inhibiting my ability to cut through.

I'm just wondering what others use and like. I'm considering the Red Witch, Retrosonic, maybe the Homebrew Psilocybe (but I hear it's chewy).
FWIW, I had the Pigtronix EP-1 and that phaser was too powerful/chewy.

Maestro Stage Phaser. I did a head to head comparison with two vintage Smallstones and it owned them.

A similar vibe but a very different circuit. Works really well with distortion. Even with everything maxed it never goes to complete mush but rather maintains a fast distinctive throb.

It is discussed at length in the Analogman book. Apparently it is the forefather of the current Moogerfooger phaser.

I have an old, block logo MXR Phase 100 which I currently use the most (don't find it all that chewy and, to my ears, cuts throught the mix as well as a phaser could) and an Option 5 Destination Phase, which I like but it's definitily chewy.

Perhaps a newer, EVH Phaser?

I really dig the Red Witch Moon Phaser. Of course, if you can find one of the original TC XII Programmable Phasers those are totally cool!

I think the MXR's are some of the better phasers to use with distortion. Some of the more swirly ones can get a little muddy. EVH used to use his P90 for lead because it added a little presence to the tone.

As far as other Phasers go the old Ross and EH Small Stones were both cool.

I tried the Retrosonic that is traveling around in the tourbox. It was more liquidy and brighter than my Phase 90. It also has a level control which could help with the problem of not cutting through. The Red Witch is awesome too but I hear it more on the vibe side of things. My experience with it is limited but I remember thinking that it was the best sounding and most versatile phaser I'd ever heard.

check out the Option 5 phaser, nice piece of equpment and adjustable.

i have two phaser pedals: red witch and mxr evh.
the red witch is my favorite, but only for clean sounds. for overdrive or distortion sounds the mxr fits better.

Mad Professor has a new Phaser. Haven´t tried it but these demos are really good:
http://thesegoto11.se/

H.B.E. Psilocybe ... it can be chewy but you can dial it out. Fantastic old school phase tones.

quote:

Originally posted by JoelEric26:
H.B.E. Psilocybe ... it can be chewy but you can dial it out. Fantastic old school phase tones.

+1--nicely customizable.

ask these guys...

I really like the Retro-Sonic Phaser and that's the one I would probably get if I was going to buy something new.

Call me crazy but I've been really digging my old Boss PH-1r Phaser. It's very nice sounding unit and the depth and resonance controls make it very versatile. Boss' best phaser ever IMO.

I've always dug the Phase 90. It adds just a hair of grit and presence that sounds nice.

Like others have said, the Retro Sonic that was in the Tourbox was quite good as well.

H

Pulled the trigger on a beat up old Ross phaser. I could have waited for a cleaner one, but the internet reviews were drooling, and it was $80, so I went for it.

I'll let y'all know how it turns out.