4 Ways to use a Phaser Pedal
Some of you have been hurt by phasers. You were young. Maybe you were old. What matters is that a phaser let you down. Maybe you got burned out on a phaser. Maybe you misunderstood the phaser. In this article, I’m going to metaphorically take your hand and lead you into some deep healing. How deep? That’s up to you.
Coincidentally, a lot of phaser pedals literally have a control called Deep. Let that simmer in your skillet for a while.
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In the 1970s, one guitar effect ruled them all: the phaser. It basically gets started when synthesizer genius/guru Tom Oberheim creates the first phaser and turns it into the Maestro Phase Shifter PS-1A. Instead of the traditional stompbox design, this is a larger box that’s meant to be mounted on a mic stand and features three paddle rocker knobs. You’ll hear the Maestro Phase Shifter on a lot of classic recordings in the very early seventies.
Then Keith Barr takes his own approach and creates the MXR Phase 90 around 1974. From this point on, the phase effect is unstoppable. It's on every stinkin’ record. Everybody wants one, so much that landmark companies like DOD actually got their start building phasers. But as the years pass, the phaser gradually declines in popularity. These days it’s a staple on many pedalboards, but as a guitar effect it’s still very misunderstood.
I’m here to change that, by showcasing four super easy, super cool ways you can utilize your phaser. Namely–
The mid-slow technique. Set your blend knob at the halfway mark, rate just a little before the halfway mark, width maxed out, and then turn down the feedback knob. This effect is best accompanied by a quality compressor pedal like the 3 Series Compressor.
The Tame Impala technique. If you want to emulate Kevin Parker’s unique technique, you’ll want to pair your phaser with a quality compressor and a delay like the Waza Craft BOSS DM-2. On the phaser itself, increase the rate, turn down the feedback, max out the width, and add in some extra blend (slightly past the halfway mark).
The quintessentially ’60s technique. This specific sound was first popularized in the sixties by guitarists like Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. Specifically, David Gilmour used the phasing sound in a very slow way, which boils down to almost the same exact settings we used in method #2, but with the rate turned down. The results wouldn’t be out of place as a bonus track on Dark Side of the Moon.
The Van Halen technique. Who hasn’t wanted to emulate the Godfather of Rock and Roll? It’s easier than you may think. For starters, you want to pair your phaser with an overdrive pedal like the JHS Angry Charlie. Then set the phaser to a low rate, low width, and low blend, which approximates the sound of Van Halen's MXR Phase 90. Party on, dudes!
More than anything, I hope this article has helped you see phaser in a new way, and– if you’ve never had a chance to play one before –has motivated you out the door to your local music store to try it out in person. Who knows? This may be the start of an entirely new phase of your life.