The naked truth. MXR Phase 90 and EHX Small Stone Nano - episode 11

In today's episode I'm testing out the MXR Phase 90 and the Electro Harmonix Small Stone Nano. Both the Phase 90 and the Small Stone were produced in 1974 and were direct rivals. Nowadays the stock versions of both pedals are produced with Surface Mount technology and have a true bypass switch. They are similarly priced with the MXR being slightly more expensive.
Guitar gear used in this video:
- MXR Phase 90 Phaser pedal
- Electro Harmonix Small Stone Nano Phaser pedal
- Gibson Les Paul Studio
- Ibanez Custom RG 550
- Fender American Stratocaster
- Yamaha RBX765A Bass guitar
- Two Notes Torpedo Captor
- Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier
- Celestion G12T-75 speakers
- Avid Pro Tools
- Shure SM 57 mic
- Behringer B 906 mic
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[@VibeAlchemy]

Hey everyone, thanks for watching! And please subscribe- we really appreciate the support. Do you have a favorite Phaser pedal that you use? Tell us here!

[@kevinkinnu341]

Both sound really good.
Best demo I have found on these pedals

[@VibeAlchemy]

Thanks, Man

[@Friedenf]

Always my fav. Small Stone. (in my set-up Stone v2 and Yamaha ph-1)
Thanks for demo.

[@VibeAlchemy]

Right on, Man. V2 is cool. I have a v3 and the reissue aside from the one in the video 😂

[@coldwar1977]

Great demo!!!!! Enjoyed it.

[@VibeAlchemy]

Hey! Thanks a lot!! I'm glad you enjoyed it

[@markharwood7573]

Thanks. That's helped me to decide on the Phase 95 if my new cheap unit turns out to be noisy. The Script and 45 options offer more subtlety at useful rate settings.

[@VibeAlchemy]

Thanks Man. I'm glad you found the info useful. I also have the Phase 100- and that's a pretty cool pedal too.

[@andredegiant3876]

The down position on the Small Stone is subtly delicious, up is like a phaser filtered through an episode of The Jetsons lol

[@VibeAlchemy]

Yeah, 😂it's true the upper position is not particularly appealing except when the rate knob is low.

[@BenFreund]

@@VibeAlchemy Great video. I'm trying to sort out what modulation pedals I need, and this is really helpful. FYI the up position has a use if you slow the rate down, and really want to emphasize the effect. Tame Impala use it beautifully like that th-cam.com/video/d33C8IE7WnQ/w-d-xo.html

[@VibeAlchemy]

@@BenFreund Hey thanks, Man. Yeah that's what I meant, I agree, but I still prefer the upper position sounds attained with the older versions of the pedal.

[@davidsummerville351]

Great demo.

[@VibeAlchemy]

Thank you! glad you enjoyed it.

[@mikemph7779]

Fuzz pedals like the Keeley moon and Walrus Audio’s Eons would be nice to see and hear.

[@VibeAlchemy]

Thanks for the suggestion 🤘

[@koffus]

After all, you can’t go wrong with any of these two classics. At some point of the speed knobs, they can get really similar. Overall, the MXR is smoother and more friendly. The EXH can get really crazy and sounds a little but sharper to me. But, again, both are classics.

[@kevinkinnu341]

Which phaser do you have on at the beginning and what is the setting?

[@VibeAlchemy]

I used the Phase 90 and I think I remember the setting was Eddie's setting he used on "Unchained", so around the 9 o'clock position

[@jayward7549]

Just bought a phaser pedal,,,,from the amp ,,,where does it go ,,,I believe it goes before overdrive pedals,,,,any help. Appreciate

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍 EHX 🎸

[@VibeAlchemy]

Right on! 🔥

[@igorgolembiovskiy3323]

What kind of solo is that at 6:28?

[@VibeAlchemy]

Hey Man, I was just jamming on the backing track I composed. 🎶

[@psicodesia]

I have the Small Stone with the new design, and I ran into a problem because when I have it together with a Chorus Boss, with daisy chain, it makes an annoying noise in the amp, I don't know if something is wrong, but hey 🤭 I hope this information is useful to some one. 😉And good comoparisson

[@VibeAlchemy]

Hey man, thanks for the comment. Have you tried switching the order of the pedals? Or maybe it could be a grounding problem. Have you tried using the 9 volt battery for the pedal instead of plugging it in?

[@Suthrnfried]

I discovered with my own EHX pedals they don’t like daisy chains as much as Boss does. Run it isolated power and it should be happier.

[@markharwood7573]

I tried a daisy chain exactly once, and bought a proper power supply. I now use a Truetone 1 Spot Pro CS7 and a Nordell unit. I still run a MEL9 on its own though.

[@jasondorsey7110]

​@@markharwood7573Proper isolated power supplies aren't a "fun" purchase but they're worth every penny...also I have run into quality/reliability issues with some late model ehx pedals, particularly with the footswitches...yet I plugged in an old green bassballs after 17 years sitting in a box and it worked as well as the day I bought it

[@lieong]

any update Small stone to Chorus?

[@MikeMichaels1987]

I call the 2 o clock position 1975

[@VibeAlchemy]

Cool, Man! WYWH 🔥

[@frankfrank7921]

How come the writing on your shirt doesn't have an accent?

[@CC-fi3pp]

Phase 90.

[@mateoatehortua3716]

Yo prefiero el Small Stone, el switch de color me permite alcanzar velocidades más rápidas.
Yo sé que hablas español, Roberto!
Un saludo.

[@VibeAlchemy]

Muchas gracias! The Small Stone sounds great. I prefer the oldest version of it. Ciao!

[@Elaleyelunivese]

very rare sounds on ehx ....xtrange noice