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dm-2
Bronze Member
Ireland
81 Posts |
 Posted - 08/25/2005 : 00:23:27
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I'm after the vintage phaser sound but thinking I might have to go outside the Boss family to get it. Having said that, I had a PH-3 before, sold it and now wish I hadn't. Any thoughts??
I know obviously that the Small Stone and Phase 90 are a lot less versatile but in terms of a vintage phase sound, are they much better than the Boss PH pedals?
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phenry20
Bronze Member
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 00:57:40
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| My recommendation would be to get the PH-1/PH-1r along with the PH-2 ( MIJ if possible ). The PH-1's were 4 stage phasers just like the Small Stone and Phase 90. The PH-2 was a 12 stage phaser ( deeper overall phase ). Then you've got vintage phasing covered and augment with the others if you really dig phase and want tonal variations from similar circuits. That's the route I'm going and have recently acquired an Omnifex 701P phaser, a DOD FX20 Vibro Thang and would love to get ahold of the TC phaser for low $$$ (ROTFLOL). I've played the Electro Harmonix and MXR models ( 45 / 90 / 100 ) and would consider adding those down the line as well. But the aforementioned Boss units would be a great place to start. And notice I didn't mention the PH-3. No offense to lovers of that one BTW. Why did you sell yours out of curiosity? |
Edited by - phenry20 on 08/25/2005 00:58:16 |
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arcanon1313
Silver Member
USA
414 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 01:45:43
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I beleve that the PH-2 has two stages of phasing, mode 1:ten stage phasing, mode 2:twelve stage phasing. Sorry dude just didn't want DM-2 to miss that info.  |
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phenry20
Bronze Member
USA
105 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 02:04:30
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| You know, I thought about that but I checked that darn Boss Book again and it listed the PH-2 as a 12 "step" in it's DATA section but then also says "up to 12 levels of phase" so you could very well be correct. ( and ARE, update follows at end of post ) It lists the PH-1r as being a "4 step" in the DATA section and the PH-3 as being 4,8,10,12,Rise,Fall,Step for "stages". But I had always remembered it having two different stages so I appreciate your post. I also haven't confirmed that the EH SS is 4 stage but will verify that A.S.A.P. - UPDATE! I have seen support that the Small Stone is 4 stage/step/level and the Bad Stone sounds to be a "6". For whatever it's worth. UPDATE Ver 2.0 - Confirmed through Boss Pocket Dictionary Vol 6. PH-2 is 10 stage on Mode I, 12 stage on Mode II. Checked the Roland website but of course they didn't have PH-2 manual, just the PH-1, PH-1r, PH-3. Gotta love those Pocket Dictionary's. Boss is cool on so many levels. |
Edited by - phenry20 on 08/25/2005 02:22:36 |
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dm-2
Bronze Member
Ireland
81 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 13:36:12
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Thanks for all the advice guys! I actually had a PH-2 a few years back, I used to use it to cover Manic Street Preachers' "If You Tolerate This". It was a great sounding pedal but at the time I went completely anti-effects and sold it. phenry will hate to hear this but I sold the PH-3 cos I didn't have room for it on my pedal board and other pedals were more important!! Alas, you are right phenry, it's not a good reason to sell a pedal!
Anyway, I want a phaser back once and for all but mainly to get that rotary speaker sound but maybe also some Bob Marley. The PH-3 was perfect for that and as money is being saved for a Fender Strat 69 NOS, I'm only going to be buying one pedal. I also like the rise and step effects on the PH-3 so unless the EH or MXR pedals are infinitely better than the 4 stage mode on the PH-3, I think it's going to be PH-3. |
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arcanon1313
Silver Member
USA
414 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2005 : 21:16:56
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| I think that your choice is well founded in the PH-3. i figure that if you want 4-12 stage phasing than that is the best deal for the money. Good luck with the strat when you get it. |
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walrus121
Silver Member
USA
187 Posts |
Posted - 10/01/2005 : 00:46:48
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| Yeah, but has anyone done a quality comparison between the four different Boss PH pedals? |
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dm-2
Bronze Member
Ireland
81 Posts |
Posted - 11/19/2005 : 14:58:17
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It's been a while since I last posted on my Phaser dilemma so here's an update!
I went ahead and bought a PH-3 (again) and as soon as I got it, realised that:
a) I definitely didn't want a digtal phaser
b) I was only going to use the 4 stage mode
c) It was going back on eBay
So I sold my second PH-3 this year bringing my total of Boss Phasers bought and sold to 3. (I sold a PH-2 MIJ some years back).
I am now trying to decide between an MXR Phase 45, MXR Phase 90 Script/BYOC Phase 90, EH Small Stone or a Boss PH-1r. Primarily the sound I'm after is the effect David Gilmour uses on Breathe. Versatility is a secondary concern.
Can you guys help me decide??
Phenry, you seemed to have played all these pedals, what's the closest to Breathe in your opinion? |
Edited by - dm-2 on 11/19/2005 15:00:54 |
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jan
Copper Member
USA
37 Posts |
Posted - 11/24/2005 : 08:36:33
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| I have a Boss PH3, an old script MXR Phase 90, and my favorite, a Boss PH1r. |
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telemike
Copper Member
47 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2005 : 16:02:22
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| Is the PH-3 bad for being digital? Does it sound good at all? |
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dm-2
Bronze Member
Ireland
81 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2005 : 18:52:28
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It depends on the sound you're after. The PH-3 is a great all rounder and the new rise, fall and step stuff is cool. Personally, for the kind of music I play, I would only ever really use a 2 or 4 stage phaser so I felt that I should concentrate on phasers dedicated to that.
I'm now torn between a EH Small Stone USA or a MXR EVH Phase 90. Having said that, I have still to test drive one of the new Dunlop Uni-Vibe pedals. |
Edited by - dm-2 on 11/29/2005 18:53:35 |
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mattpas
Bronze Member
USA
74 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2006 : 19:33:53
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| I have an old PH-1r and have just tried the MXR EVH Phase 90. I think the MXR is warmer and fuller and doesn't take over or increase the volume like the PH-1r. I like the MXR a little better but it is all a matter of taste. |
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stahlhart
Platinum Member
1318 Posts |
Posted - 08/13/2006 : 20:28:00
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I have a PH-1r and a Maestro PS-1A. Since they're both four stage units, they sound similar when the PH-1r's resonance control is down, but the PH-1r starts to more resemble a PH-2 once you start to crank the resonance up.
The Maestro unit is the same one that John Paul Jones put his Fender Rhodes through for "No Quarter" and Alex Lifeson also used for all of the early Rush albums, but unfortunately it is quite large and cumbersome by today's standards:
http://www.geocities.com/jpjkeys/rhodes.html
...but it has a certain nonlinear characteristic to its sweep that I like -- it's hard to describe in words, but what it sounds like is a "bounce" at the bottom, actually two bounces... so the sweep will go up, then down, then bounce-bounce, then up again. It's most noticable in the medium position; on slow and fast it does not stand out as much.
I think that things like this will be the most distinguishing differences as you go from one phaser to another, and you just have to go therough them and listen closely until you find the one that has the character you're after.
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boss freak
Gold Member
USA
663 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2006 : 00:46:26
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| The PH-1 and PH-1R are by far my favorite phasers. |
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bosshog
Silver Member
Canada
493 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2006 : 15:54:55
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I have a PH-1r and I have to say I was a little dissapointed. It just sort of is that bit muddy. I know the MXR 90 is solid and warm and I am thinking about trading. The PH-2 that I tried had a great sound. It might interesting to try that one out.
Can anyone comment on the PH-3 'rise' and 'lift'? It sounds like an interesting feature...
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 08/14/2006 : 23:02:04
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i had a thread on this site called ..boss phasers which one..? and i got some great feedback on it....the general consensus came down on the sideof the ph2 so i bought a ph2 on ebay and its on my pedalboard as we speak..i've been using it for about 6 months now and i love it...i also bought a bf2 the i got for 55 euro,,i'm not mad about digital effects especially modulation ones....i have 2 dd3's on my board but i never found boss delays too cold or sterile,they have (i think)analog circuitry and only the chip is digital..anyway scotty moore uses one ..so if it good enough for him ..who am i to argue....but my ph2,bf2 and my ch1 are all analog...just my 2 cents.... |
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Small Stone v Phase 90 v PH-1r v PH-3
