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Electro-Harmonix Classics Small Stone Phase Shifter Guitar Effects Ped...
Searched Electro-Harmonix Classics Small Stone Phase Shifteuitar Effects Pedal in Reviews
An all time classic! 
| Ease Of Use |
Much like its closest competitor the MXR Phase 90, the EH Small Stone is very easy to use. There is a single knob called rate that adjusts the speed or rate of the phase cycle. The only other control is a two position color switch that alters the tone and intensity of the effect. One position is more subtle and the other is very wet sounding. There is an input and an output jack, a battery compartment, and a power input jack. All together, it is a very simple yet effective pedal. To my ears, this guy and the Phase 90 sound similar, but the color switch on the Small Stone adds a little variety. One thing that does bug me about the EH pedals are the size, but they have addressed this issue with the XO series of pedals. But, tone is most important over anything else, so I can deal with a big honkin' phase pedal on my board, no problem.
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| Sound |
My main rig is an Egnater Mod 50 head with the Bassman and SL2 modules through either a Mesa or Marshall 4x12 cab. My main guitars are a Gibson Les Paul and Fender Eric Johnson Strat. I play metal, jazz, and prog styles. Well, I am somewhat of a phase-a-holic. I actually tend to use phasing very rarely in a song, but it is my favorite effect by far. Being a phase-a-holic, I own, have owned, and have tried lots of phase pedals. My favorite is the vintage 'script logo' Phase 90, but I also love the second version Small Stone, and the Phase 45. If you compare the current Small stone to a vintage one, the difference is relatively subtle, but definitely there. To my ears the older one is a little more refined and a little more musical. The current one is definitely a great phase pedal, a little better than the new Phase 90, but the vintage one just sounds better. The beauty of the Small Stone is just how musical it sounds. I hate pedals that call too much attention to the effect as opposed to the effect and the guitar tone as a whole. But, like a EH pedals, you can crank the rate knob and get crazy off the wall sounds. Although the best sounds lie in the middle, but you can go from very slow to crazy fast; it just depends on what you are looking to achieve for the part. It is just a nice, smooth, thick yet musical phase that is very 70's (in a good way).
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| Reliability |
EH pedals are built very well in New York, so I have no worries about this one.
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| Customer Support |
Never had to deal with them, but they have a great online forum community.
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| Liked about it |
Very musical
Quite a range of speeds
Cheaply priced
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| Didn't like |
A little on the big side in size
The newer ones don't have quite the magic of the vintage ones
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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4.0 |
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Beautiful and warm phase
| Ease Of Use |
Very easy to use. There are much less controls than many of the phasers out there like the PH-3. The rate knob gives great control over the rate of phasing, and at its extreme clockwise position makes a very psychedelic pulsing phase sound. The other control is a colour switch which has two positions.
I bought this pedal on e-bay for $70 and then sent it to Mike at Analogman, to add some modifications including a boss type power adapter, and a volume and feedback mod.
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| Sound |
I'm using an old 1970's fender strat and a fender princeton chorus amp at the moment. The phase doesn't produce that annoying screechy/distorted phase that the PH-3 often does. It's smooth and warm, very reminiscent of Pink Floyd sounds. If you want to hear this phaser at its best, check out Tame Impala. With the colour switch down, you get that warm vintage sounding, smooth phase, which pretty much no change to the guitars tone. With the colour switch up, the phase is a bit more noticeable and can be heard moving in and out more clearly.
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| Reliability |
Very reliable so far!
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| Customer Support |
No customer support any more from EH, but can be sent to places like analogman if you need the pedal fixed, modified.
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| Liked about it |
-Phase is beautiful, warm, and not over the top
-Controls are simple and effective
-True bypass
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| Didn't like |
Slightly big, maybe the size of about 2 boss pedals next to each other, but its sexy old school chassis makes up for that :)
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| Overall satisfaction: |
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4.5 |
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internal use: spec21 spec242 spec582
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