Phase

Julian Goldwhite · Post by **Julian Goldwhite** » 4 Aug 2009 2:52 pm

Any recommends for a phaser? I'm looking for something that will sound like Sneaky Pete on Jackson Browne's version of Take It Easy.

All the best,

Julian

Jon Light · Post by **Jon Light** » 4 Aug 2009 3:53 pm

Why would you want to ruin the sound of a steel like that!?

JOKING!!!!

Jim Sliff will be the strong info source but I'll be surprised if it isn't the good old industry standard MXR....just on the general principle that they pretty much defined the phaser. They now have an assortment of reissues that is very confusing to me so I would need guidance if I were to look in that direction.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 4 Aug 2009 4:31 pm

I have the original (scripty) Phase 90 and Phase 100. The 90 is too subtle, so I prefer the 100 for deeper and more varied EFX. The one on the JB cut sounds different, though, so I'd guess that's a Colorsound or maybe an old MuTron BiPhase (which is my fave, I just don't own one right now).

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 5 Aug 2009 6:15 am

Sneaky's phase sound is really wild to me.
I mean this in the best possibe way...at times he doesnt even sound like a pedal steel to me..its like some wacky watery tone generator...really unique and wonderful. I cant figure out what he's doing in the slightest.

But I know he used the mutron phaser.
They are very expensive now.
I wonder if anyone could tell us which modern phaser comes closest to the mutron?

I own a phase 90 and love it, but it is really subtle. Im thinking of getting some other phasers to broaden the palette a little. small clone, phase 100...and if I coud find a deal on a mutron for sure I'd do that.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 5 Aug 2009 6:31 am

Ben, a Small Clone is a chorus pedal. I really like those old Electro Harmonix Small Stone Phase Shifters. To me they're the best! I have one of those and also an MXR Phase 90 and I like the small Stone best.

I currently use a MusicMan 212-HS One Fifty which has a built in phase that's great sounding. I use it mostly for that "Waylon Jennings" thing.

Another old phaser which sounds pretty good are the old DOD's, they're cheap but effective.

The first phaser I ever had in the early seventies was a Maestro Phase Shifter, I'd like to have another one of those!...JH in Va.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 5 Aug 2009 8:30 am

Same as JH. Old original Small Stone with the Color switch. Great sound IMO.

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 5 Aug 2009 9:31 am

yup, I meant to say stone not clone....

Those maestros are cool looking...HUGE footprint.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 5 Aug 2009 10:40 am

I agree that the MXR phase 90 is the gold standard for phase. I think most who have used one for a long
time would agree that there is a difference in
sound with the type battery used and how far along in its drainage. I like the sound with the plain
old carbon battery, although I mostly use alkalines
for their longer life.

Loren Claypool · Post by **Loren Claypool** » 6 Aug 2009 7:10 am

I have the MXR Phase 45, 90, and 100 - three very different animals. The 90 and 100 have been addressed in this thread, I'll add the the 45 is also a wonderful device, perhaps my favorite of the three. It's not a "whoosher", it's very transparent and subtle. Joe Riffanucci describes the Phase 45 as "a poor man's Univibe". Different tools, as they say, for different jobs.

Brad Sarno · Post by **Brad Sarno** » 6 Aug 2009 4:38 pm

I would add that I think the two true gold standard phase shifters are the MXR Phase 90 and the EH Small Stone. Both are really great, and not all that different.

The Phase 45 is quite beloved as one of the sweetest "subtle" phasers. The Mutron Bi-Phase is one of the true holy grails of phasers, hard to find and lots of dough.

Brad

Craig Coffman · Post by **Craig Coffman** » 7 Aug 2009 6:26 am

I bought a small stone in the seventies, because nearly ever sound Pete came up with was wonderful. It seemed to get the job done. Would have to listen to that cut again to be certain, but nevertheless a great pedal.

Daniel Morris · Post by **Daniel Morris** » 7 Aug 2009 5:22 pm

I haven't owned it long enough to find out if I can mimic Sneaky Pete's sound, but I recently purchased the revised Effectrode Phaseomatic:
http://www.effectrode.com/website/phase ... r_main.htm
The sound quality is absolutely superb - warm, round, lush. It doesn't offer all the possibilities of the Cusack Tap-a-Phase (which I haven't tried), but if you're looking for a really excellent sounding phase, without a load of bells and whistles, I'd heartily recommend this one.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 7 Aug 2009 6:27 pm

I use an Electro Harmonix Nano Small Stone for steel, and an MXR Phase 90 for guitar.