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This is a comparison between three vintage MXR phasers - a 1977 Phase 45 (Block logo, but it has the Script circuit board, absolutely identical to Script Phase 45s), the fabled 1974 Bud Box Phase 90, and their big brother, a 1975 Phase 100.
The Phase 45 is a 2-stage phaser, and is more subtle in sound than the Phase 90 - which is a 4-stage. There is much debate on forums regarding the Phase 100, but as I understand it, it's a 10-stage phaser - the confusion comes in that only 6 of the stages modulate; 4 stages are in a fixed position.
The Phase 45 & 90 have just one knob to control the rate. The Phase 100 has an additional 4-way selector switch to give you different phasing intensities. On the graphics, the horizontal lines denote the width of the phase, and the size of the circles are how much feedback is introduced into the circuit (the 'bigger circle' settings giving the phasing a watery whistle).
Which do you prefer? And why? Comment below!
Guitar is a Fender Strat through a Hughes & Kettner Puretone, recorded with a simple SM57 and an sE Electronics RNR1 Ribbon.
jp@joeperkins.co.uk
