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The phase shifter pedal is part of the modulation family of effects. It’s known for adding space and body to your notes and chords and creates a classic swirling or whooshing movement, which was originally developed to simulate the sound of a rotating organ. Since then, they’ve been adopted by musicians such as Eddie Van Halen and Kevin Parker and are a go-to for many guitar, bass and synth players.
When choosing the right phaser pedal, you’ll need to understand a few features. For instance, should you go analogue or digital? What waveforms are available? We'll walk you through the options you’re likely to encounter on your search and recommend ten all-time greats from MXR, Boss and more, plenty of which are under £200 and £100. Hopefully, this will help you find that ever-elusive perfect tone.
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So, without further ado, let’s jump into the features of pedals and what to keep an eye out for. We’ve avoided mentioning classic controls such as speed, rate and depth as these are generally found on most pedals, or at least something similar to this. Instead, we’ll be focusing on controls and physical attributes that set the pedals apart.
The analogue vs digital debate is as old as time itself. And while we could get involved and even choose a side, the reality is that both offer the same outcome but in a different way. Therefore, it’s all about finding what flavour you prefer, and this usually means trying a bunch until you find the right one.
Chances are, this isn’t the first pedal you’ve bought. So, consider what circuits are in the other pedals that you like. Are these digital or analogue? Enthusiasts will tell you that they prefer analogue pedals due to their warmth and organic nature, but the reality is that as technology is advancing so fast, it’s becoming much harder to distinguish between the two.
Also, even though many players prefer analogue due to their sound, these pedals tend to have a much more limited capacity in terms of waveforms or stages (more on these later). Hence, digital pedals are known as being more versatile, with many more tones in them.
However, there are other waveform options available that will give you different sounds. Apart from pure sine, the other two regular waveform options are square and triangle. However, there are actually up to 8 different choices, which can be found on larger, more complicated pedals.
Not all pedals have this option, though. When the manufacturer doesn't give you the ability to change, nor mention the waveform, you can expect they have used the classic pure sine.
Another feature that has a big say on the tone of the pedal will be the shift stages. A phaser can have 2, 3, 4, 8, 10 or 12, which create different phased sounds. These options, particularly the higher numbers, are only generally found on digital pedals. While there’s some technicality behind it, you can relate higher stages to a longer and wider sweep.
If you’re opting for an analogue pedal, then the highest stage you’re likely to have is four. As with the waveforms, not all companies divulge what options they have if you can’t alternate. Therefore, you can presume that a pedal is a four-stage option if not stated. This is the classic sound from the 70s, which is often considered the standard for phase shifters.
Now let's move on to some of the practicalities of purchasing a pedal, namely, how you plan on powering it. When it comes to phasers, as they’re part of the modulation family, you can expect them to require more power than simpler pedals such as overdrives, tube screamers or fuzzes.
With most pedals, you’ll have the option of supplying the power via a 9V cable or a battery. However, our recommendation would always be to utilise the 9V. We say this because it isn’t going to cut out on you just as you're about to hit the solo section of the set, leaving your tone flat and your heart broken.
Furthermore, some pedals don’t even offer the option of being battery-powered. This is likely down to their smaller size or their greedy consumption, which a battery wouldn’t satisfy.
Finally, you’ll want to consider the size. If you’re a budding pedal enthusiast, there’s a likelihood that you either have a pedalboard set up or you’re planning to get one soon. So, with that in mind, it would be better if your phaser fitted snugly on said board. Thankfully, they come in a range of sizes from smaller, compact pedals to larger units.
Moreover, if you’re a gigging musician, you’d probably prefer your gear to be as light and compact as possible. Sure, one bulkier pedal won’t make too much of a difference, but if you think this way when setting up your gear, you’ll end up with a pedalboard that takes up three-quarters of the stage – which the rest of the band might not appreciate.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | MXR M290 Phase 95 | £94.00 Mid | Effectively Four Phasers in One | ||
2 | Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Phase Shifter | £59.00 Low Mid | The Best Phaser for Tighter Budgets | ||
3 | Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter | £117.53 Mid | Stomp Away Because This'll Never Break | ||
4 | Mooer MPH2 Liquid Phaser | £64.99 Low Mid | Proof That Good Things Come In Small Packages | ||
5 | Empress Effects Phaser | £369.99 High | For Those Want Every Phasing Possibility | ||
6 | Source Audio Lunar Phaser | £145.00 High Mid | Limitless Ways to Fine-Tune Your Modulation | ||
7 | Walrus Audio Lillian | £175.37 High Mid | The Unique Control Will Give You a Unique Tone | ||
8 | MXR EVH90 | £115.80 Mid | Get That Trademark 80s Phaser Sound | ||
9 | TC Electronic Blood Moon Phaser | £30.80 Low | The Perfect Way to Dip Your Toes Into Phaser | ||
10 | Fender Lost Highway Phaser | £96.70 Mid | Lets You Operate Two Separate Phaser Channels |
The phaser was MXR's first foray into the pedal world. Their Phase 90 became iconic and is arguably still the benchmark that other companies refer to when creating their products. Here, we have their updated Phase 95, which is, for all intents and purposes, is a 4-in-1 pedal.
You see, the company gives you the option to flit between the 95, the 90 or the 45 version of their phasers. Plus, on top of that, you have the option of utilising the famous script circuit, which is the original that put them on the map. All of this is included in a compact, space-saving pedal for a mid-range price. Brilliant.
The Small Stone from EHX might be one of the cheaper options in our ranking, but this is a favourite of many famous guitarists such as David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) and Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) as well as being all over Radiohead's OK Computer.
It's a simple phaser with only a colour switch and rate control. However, it's the rich whooshing tone that keeps people coming back time and time again. If you're working on a tight budget, then this would be our go-to option.
A guitar pedal article wouldn't be complete without the inclusion of the biggest brand in the industry, Boss. They're the inventors of the compact pedal and pretty much have a quality pedal for any effect that you could desire. The PH-3 has the classic speed, depth and resonance controls, plus a mode that switches between 4, 8, 10 and 12 phase stages.
The feature that many players love about Boss, though, is their practically indestructible chassis. These things are bomb-proof, so no matter how much you get into your set, you can stomp away and never have to fear breaking them.
The MPH2 Liquid Phaser from Mooer is part of their micro-series, making it ideal for players who are short on board space. It also has a robust metal casing and should easily stand up to the wear, tear and stomping of a gigging musician. Plus, while it's compact, it still packs a punch on the technology side.
Within the chassis, there are three different waveforms to choose from, ensuring plenty of tonal variety. Coming in at a great price, this pedal offers a lot of tone for the money, making it ideal for those who are willing to spend a little more without having to remortgage their homes.
This pedal from Empress Effects has practically every style of phaser that a guitar player could ever want. The all-analogue circuit provides three different stages of 2, 3, 4, and while these aren't the spaciest, they are a better option than most other pedals with this circuit. On top of that, there are a total of eight different waveforms.
While all of this technology might indicate that the pedal is going to be gargantuan, it comes in at a pretty compact size, so you don't have to worry about it taking up too much space on your board. It's pricey, but the chances are, you'll never need another phaser again.
This digital pedal from Source Audio is somewhat of a Swiss army knife when it comes to different modulation effects. On the phaser side of things, there are three classic modes controlled by the four onboard knobs, which provide access to an array of different phasing sounds.
However, the pedal can be connected to MIDI and then to the Neuro application. This offers a limitless amount of ways to fine-tune your modulation sounds. Moreover, the device also has a tap tempo, meaning you'll never be out of time with the band.
The Walrus Audio Lillian will add a deft touch of flair to your guitar or keyboard tone. The pedal has 4 or 6 stages and the regular rate width and feedback controls. However, it's the inclusion of the D-P-V that makes this pedal stand out. The letters stand for Dry - Phase-shifted - Vibrato, and the knob lets you mix between these to find your unique take on the phase.
We also have to give hats off to the graphics of this pedal. They're interesting and distinguishable and are sure to get a few nods from gear heads. It's expensive, as shopping boutique often is, but the great tone is there for those willing to pay for it.
Eddie Van Halen might be the guitarist most people associate with the phaser effect because while many other players used it here and there, Eddie made it part of his core sound. Therefore, it's unsurprising that MXR, the company he used religiously, created a signature version to help fans recreate his classic tones.
As well as duplicating the EVH sound, the pedal also comes in an enclosure adorned with the famous graphics that he had on his guitar. It's not the most versatile of options, but if you're looking for that trademark 80s phaser sound, this is a great one to consider.
The Blood Moon is a phaser from the widely popular range by TC Electronic. It offers all the classic controls like rate, depth and feedback on a four-stage phaser. Not only that, but unlike many other cheaper pedals, this still comes in a robust and hardy metal encasing, meaning it will survive gigging.
It's not the most compact option on our ranking, so you might want to think about the size-to-tone ratio, and it's also a little heavier than many others. That said, if you're looking to dip your toe into the phaser world before committing to this effect, this bargain could be the perfect place to start.
First up in our ranking, we have this pedal from Fender. It has a fully analogue circuit that offers either four or eight stage phasing, as well as two channels that allow you to switch between a slow or fast speed. Each of these channels also has its own controls, meaning you'll have the ultimate control over the mix.
One other feature we particularly like with these pedals is that they're full of LEDs which makes them easy to read, even on a dimly lit stage. Sadly, the sound slightly misses the classic tones that many players are looking for. Still, it could be ideal for those looking for something a little different.
We're going to go out on a limb here and assume that you're interested in picking up more than just a phaser pedal – at least as soon as you get paid, anyway. And while we know that scrolling through reviews can be fun when you've got the time, we've got loads of pedal buying guides below for when you don't.
No. 1: MXR|M290 Phase 95
No. 2: Electro-Harmonix|Small Stone Phase Shifter
No. 3: Boss|PH-3 Phase Shifter
No. 4: Mooer|MPH2 Liquid Phaser
No. 5: Empress Effects|Phaser
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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