Best Phaser Pedals
A phaser creates a sweeping, "swooshing" effect by splitting the signal, shifting the phase of one copy, and recombining them — producing peaks and notches in the frequency response that sweep up and down in cycles. The result: a swirling, liquid modulation.
Best Phaser Pedals
MXR Phase 90 — £90 | Best Classic Phaser
Four-stage phase shift, one Speed knob, Script logo mode switch (adds an R100 resistor for a slightly softer character closer to the original 1974 circuit). The Phase 90 is the definitive phaser — Eddie Van Halen on "Eruption," David Gilmour on "Have A Cigar," Jimmy Page on "Kashmir."
Single knob: Speed controls the rate of the phase sweep. Slow = subtle, ambient. Fast = dramatic, pronounced. Start at 9 o'clock and adjust.
Best for: Classic rock, hard rock, psychedelic. The reference phaser tone.
EHX Small Stone — £75 | Best Vintage Character
Four-stage phase shift, Color switch (brighter/resonant mode vs darker standard), Rate knob. The Small Stone has a thicker, more saturated phaser character than the Phase 90 — slightly less transparent.
Color switch: Engaged adds resonance and emphasis to the phase notches — more dramatic and synth-like. Standard mode is more subtle.
Best for: Funk, psychedelic rock, players who want slightly more "body" than the Phase 90.
Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter — £90 | Most Versatile
Four- to twelve-stage phase shift, Step mode (rhythmic phase shifts), Rise/Fall directional modes, Stage selector. The most feature-complete phaser under £100.
Multi-stage: Moving from 4 to 12 stages produces increasingly complex, thicker phasing — 12-stage is dramatically deeper than 4-stage.
Best for: Players who want more than the simple one-speed Phase 90 — step phasing for rhythmic effects, multi-stage for different character.
TC Electronic Helix Phaser — £100 | Best Modern
Four phaser algorithms (Vintage, Lush, 12-Stage, Triggered), TonePrint capability, tap tempo. The Helix's triggered mode produces a phaser that rhythmically syncs to playing dynamics.
Best for: Modern players who want tap tempo-synced phasing and multiple algorithm types.
Phaser Placement
Standard placement: after overdrive, before delay and reverb.
Guitar → Overdrive → Phaser → Delay → Reverb → Amp.
Choosing Between These Four
Want the simplest, most proven option? The MXR Phase 90's single-knob operation removes decision paralysis entirely — set the speed and play. Its use across Van Halen, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin recordings means it's also the reference tone most "phaser" mental images are built from.
Want more body and a less transparent, more colored sweep? The EHX Small Stone's thicker, more saturated character (especially with the Color switch engaged) suits funk and psychedelic playing where the phaser is meant to be a prominent texture, not a subtle enhancement.
Want the most tonal range from one pedal? The Boss PH-3's stage count selector (4 to 12) and Step mode cover territory from a subtle Phase 90-like sweep to a dramatically deeper, more synth-like modulation — useful if you're not sure yet which phaser character suits your material.
Want tap-tempo sync and multiple phaser types in one unit? The TC Electronic Helix's algorithm switching and TonePrint customization suit players building a more programmable, modern pedalboard rather than a vintage-style fixed-character phaser.
Common Mistakes
Confusing phaser with chorus when shopping. As covered in the FAQ below, the two effects are mechanically different (phase cancellation vs. pitch-modulated short delay) and produce distinctly different textures — a chorus pedal won't deliver a phaser's swooshing character.
Assuming more stages always means "better." A 12-stage phase shift isn't objectively superior to a 4-stage — it's simply a more dramatic, complex effect. Many classic recordings (Eruption, Kashmir) use the simpler 4-stage character the Phase 90 provides; more stages can overwhelm a mix if the material calls for subtlety.
Setting the speed too fast for the musical context. A fast phaser sweep works for dramatic, attention-grabbing moments but becomes fatiguing under sustained rhythm playing — slower settings suit continuous use much better.
Running phaser after fuzz without testing the interaction. Like flanger, phaser can interact unpredictably with fuzz circuits depending on the fuzz's design — worth testing pedal order rather than assuming the standard overdrive-then-modulation placement always sounds best.
ToneStakr's Take
For most players, the MXR Phase 90 remains the right first purchase — its one-knob simplicity means it gets used, and its exact character is the reference point most other phasers are compared against. Players who already know they want a thicker, more colored texture (funk, psychedelic) should go straight to the EHX Small Stone instead of starting with the Phase 90 and upgrading later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best phaser pedal?
The MXR Phase 90 (£90) is the best overall choice — the most famous, most used, most immediately musical phaser available, with one knob and instant results.
What is the difference between phaser and chorus?
Phaser uses phase cancellation (notch filtering that sweeps across the frequency range), producing a "swooshing" character. Chorus uses a short delay combined with pitch modulation, producing a "shimmering" character. The two are related but mechanically distinct effects.
What music uses phaser?
Van Halen ("Eruption"), Pink Floyd ("Have A Cigar"), Led Zeppelin ("Kashmir"), and Shuggie Otis ("Strawberry Letter 23") are frequently cited reference recordings. The effect is widely used across 1970s rock, funk, and psychedelic music generally.
Where should a phaser go in the signal chain?
Standard placement is after overdrive or distortion, before delay and reverb: Guitar → Overdrive → Phaser → Delay → Reverb → Amp. As with flanger, fuzz pedals specifically can be an exception worth testing in either position.
Can a phaser be used on bass or other instruments?
Yes — phaser is a common effect on keyboards (especially electric piano) and is usable on bass, though more sparingly, since heavy phase modulation on low frequencies can make a bass line feel less grounded in a mix.
Is a multi-stage phaser worth the extra cost over a simple one-knob unit?
Only if you specifically want access to a wider range of phaser characters — for players who know they want the classic 4-stage sweep and nothing more, a simple pedal like the Phase 90 delivers that exact sound without paying for flexibility that won't get used.