Boss Phasers Through The Years (PH-1, PH-1r, PH-2, PH-3)

Boss have produced 4 compact Phaser pedals from 1977 to 2022. In this video I demonstrate and explain each of them, giving my thoughts and opinions on each.
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0:00 Intro
0:22 Early boss pedals
2:24 clean sound
2:48 PH-1
4:34 Opinion on the PH-1
5:00 the 3 knob design
6:26 PH-1r
8:50 Opinion on the PH-1r
9:46 the 4 knob design
12:15 PH-2
15:38 Opinion on the PH-2
16:04 the 4th phase of boss
17:12 PH-3
20:59 PH-3 vs
26:11 Opinion on the PH-3
27:16 Final thoughts

[@paulyC]

Great video mate. I like how you used a green backlight to match the colour of the phaser pedal. Very niffty idea.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I'm glad someone noticed 😁

[@christiankolbe]

i can't stop thinking of that ph-1r waza great idea! boss has already two chorus pedals in the waza line NOW IT'S TIME FOR THE PHASER!!!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yesss!

[@stockholm1752]

I’ve had a PH-2 for ages and still love it. I did have a PH-3 briefly. The “barber pole” rise and fall effects were cool, but the *very noticeable volume drop* killed off my initial enthusiasm. Thanks for this demo. I’ll have to check out more of your videos.

[@preciseaudioblog]

Man the PH-1 is fantastic! What a pleasant sound to hear

[@ReedHarrison]

I have the ph3 and it does the same sounds just with way more tweaks

[@Rarebirdeffects]

Just built a Mutron optical phaser, and it sounds a lot like the PH-1. Beautifully musical. I have a Boss Super phaser and I can’t say the same. To me it goes from best to worst in the series. I definitely am a fan of the older ones.

[@preciseaudioblog]

@@Rarebirdeffects I agree with you 👍

[@zombiemosher1139]

​@ReedHarrison not really, it was very obvious from the video that they are quite different

[@robguitarwizard]

I used to have a PH1r but I sold it. I was going through a phase!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

🤣

[@LeviBulger]

Boss phasers are sooooo underrated. I know we all love a good Phase 90 (Phase 99 is my fave), but Boss phasers all have such unique LFOs. The PH3 gets a bad rap, but I like it. I normally use it in a loop with a delay with a bit higher output to compensate the volume drop. In the fall mode, with a tape delay and slow rates on both pedals, it makes such a serene sound. I was surprised to hear that the guitar player in Khruangbin uses the same combo/mode in a few of their live sets. Found out through their Gig Rundown video. Both the PH2 and PH3 are the best phasers for Clash/Reggae style licks. Guns of Brixton is built right into those pedals.

[@ReedHarrison]

I just got the ph3 and I love it

[@darwinsaye]

My first Phase Shifter back in 1978 was an EHX Small Stone. When I went to get another Phaser years after letting that one go, I got a PH-2, but my mind was really stuck on the chewy sound of the Small Stone, so I never jived with the Boss. Now, years later again, I'm glad I held on to the PH-2, because I really came to love it's unique sound.

[@zel6t9]

For me, the ph3 is perfect for dub reggae music specially the fall mode and rise mode. I always dream of having that ph3

[@ReedHarrison]

I just got one today off FB marketplace $60❤

[@willjones8801]

you can have mine 😂😂 i'm trying to get rid of it i really don't like it's massive eq change

[@zel6t9]

@@willjones8801 in that case i'll be more than happy to recieve your pre loved PH3. 🙂

[@dennisgabbeart1814]

Great video!!! Thanks for sharing your knowledge about these phasers. Very helpful.

[@NoThatRyan]

Everything I wear through that super phaser sounds beautiful.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

That was my favourite too

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

Thanks Jason. Great video.

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍PH-3 compresses beautifully ( great for hard rock - metal ) .....my 2nd choice is the PH-1R ❤

[@francisco.amorim]

Great summary. Boss should fix PH3 volume (and dynamics/attack) loss someday.

[@gwEmbassy]

good video, lots of juicy detail

[@lalob.fuentes7089]

Excelent review. Thak you.

[@bluemovie8911]

New subscriber here; excellent informative video with no BS. I’ve been umming and ahhing between these pedals and just ordered a PH-2 after watching this. Can’t wait to get stuck in! Keep up the good work - more Boss vids please! (I’ve finally admitted I have a problem, this will be my ninth Boss pedal…)

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

The PH-2 is one of my all time favourites ✨️

[@scottdwhite50]

Great comparison!👍

[@deeseen3495]

Great stuff man

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thanks

[@michaelfowler3187]

The arpeggiator / sample-hold sounds are indeed tough to use with how rhythmically rigid they are but if you use them to create a pad into a wet reverb or hide some of those rhythmic teeth and it becomes more of an octave sweep thing, it can really make some ethereal stuff. Otherwise you can sort of get to a "throw away your television" chili peppers tone

[@ricky4214]

the ph-2 is perfect, i hope it never breaks, ive been through a few phasers and the ph-2 just does it for me

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Me too

[@ricky4214]

@@JasonAyalaSpare thanks for the review, great video, i've got a crazy urge to go flip that pedal on now

[@_viy]

Ph-1 sounds the best! No throaty sounds & pretty clear guitar tone

[@SiliconBassist]

They could 100% do the rise, fall and step settings with analog technology. The first two are just one different LFO waveform with opposite polarities. Sawtooth for cutoff modulation instead of the more common triangle and sine waves. The step mode could just be a triangle wave fed into a sample & hold circuit. Having a choice of input waveform and gate length would make that setting more useful as well. Also expression pedal inputs are common in fully analog effects units. Also since you mention the hybrid idea, that touches on another common design choice, especially these days. The use of digital modulators (LFOs, envelope generators, etc.) to control an otherwise analog pedal (perhaps more common in synthesizers than pedals though). Sorry for the wall of text. I did find this video very helpful, and I definitely agree that there should be a Waza Craft phase shifter pedal!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Glad you found it interesting

[@memriloc]

Cool. Jappy uou did the phr vs as ive the three knob but picking up a ph1 tomorrow. Also have a mxr which to me is the so looking forward to using the ph 1

[@Allison_Chaynes]

I have the ph2. Great pedal

[@FlankinspanK]

I agree with your conclusion. They should release a Waza version that doesnt suck tone and gives you all the features available and then something.

[@nickg5256]

Awesome review bro...I sold my PH-1R back in 2016, very very impulsive stupid desicion. but I have the rest of the collection. BOSS has the best sounding phasers!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I agree

[@JeremiahDaniel1995]

PH-3 Phase Shifter is amazing 💚

[@sean_shimmer]

solved the volume drop by putting in a loop of a lineselector pedal that i use for volume droping pedals like fuzzes, and making it louder than unity actually brings the pedal to life more than i expected and useable way, the freq loss that usualy happens is less percieved

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Very clever

[@yasha4106]

so in other words, the only way to fix that is by a line selector? sad, i thought that you could mod the pedal

[@sean_shimmer]

@@yasha4106 that is just what I found to work, or u could ride the volume knob if u wanna sacrifice all the things that that might do sonically and practially

[@sean_shimmer]

@@yasha4106 that was just my solution to get by big muff louder that my clean.... And it works for that to so I thought I'd mention it. So as a fuzz solution it works if u don't care about the volume knob riding for overdrive fuzz which alot of people count on . (Like the overdrive/preamp use that people use for fuzz. Line selector open ups a world of creative uses. I have 2 phasors , one in front and one in back of drives and throw it in the line selector that has my fuzzs. So I use dod 201 2 stage phasor for univibe shit much more musical and syrupy. . But in the chain on line selector I use the ph3 for over the top phaser stuff for noise maker basically . They are not phasers but totally use them two different monsters complelty. I had phase 90 and that was best sounding one I think for by the book phaser sound but I gifted it to a friend

[@sean_shimmer]

@@yasha4106 maybe if u have a 2 channel ao u can dedicate the 2nd channel as a level booster

[@ontherhodes8088]

I have all four too, but the Rhodes still sounds great through the PH-1.

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

I sold my 0000 CE-2 recently. It was a huge sounding pedal.

[@indiekiduk]

Really great info thanks, I was going to buy a PH-3 but I won't because of the volume drop.

[@ReedHarrison]

I just got a ph3 today. I didn't notice any volume drop at all

[@FloydColor]

The PH1 and PH1-R are very beautiful. Never liked 2 and 3. Very nice review.

[@WoodysAR]

You are: 59? :) (I am 53 I LOVE the PH-2) I bet it is a Generational Music taste thing!

[@xsm5525]

PH1-R is my favourite uni-vibe pedal of all time.

[@FloydColor]

@@WoodysAR Loool ! i'am 39 years old 😅

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

I’ve been playing since the mid-70s. I’ve had all of the Boss phasers. I hated the PH-3. I got an old mid-70s Phase 90 and sold the PH-3. MXR nailed it in 1974.

[@valentineboyko1583]

Ph-3 is sucking in a vintage sounds but very good in a modern stuff. I've used it allot, but now I'm playing with my vintage Guyatone Ps-007 phazer and this unit is very nice!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Love Guyatone

[@zombiemosher1139]

First Phaser i bought was the PH-2, still have it but I prefer the EH Small Stone over it. I'd probably like the PH-1r as it seems to cover the same ground as the Small Stone with it's own flavour.

[@leonardodiaztrejo2324]

Great video. I think the newer boss algorithm Prime Phaser found on the Md-500 (and other multifx I believe) is absolutely insane. That would probably be a great idea on a possible digital Ph-4

[@jacobh9344]

*PH-5, Boss doesn’t use the 4.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

@@jacobh9344 PQ-4.

[@rafaelcabralwilliams]

​@@jacobh9344Why not? They used the 8 on the DD-8

[@RPMusicStudios]

Nice comparison. Bleed the Freak!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

AIC!

[@wesmitchem825]

Wow I got a ph3 but now I want a ph2 just for that great double phaser sound on the first mode

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

You should be able to get it with the PH-3, just set it to 10 stage mode, turn the depth right up and the resonance up to 2:00.

[@SomeoneElsesDrink]

Bought a PH-1r because of your video. It’s brilliant. But I noticed something on another video - they said that the resonance control all the way down is actually negative feedback, not switched off. Apparently the middle position, 12 o’clock, is the ‘off’ position. Will have to give it a test later.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Glad you like it. That's possible with the negative feedback, I've only just learned that other pedals do that.

[@evamalmberg]

Hej! BOSS gör väldigt bra pedaler och deras Phaser låter fräckt!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

väldigt fräckt!

[@carlosgimeno335]

Lástima que no entienda mucho, porque el vídeo me parece muy interesante y muy bueno. Suenan muy bien los Phaser. Me encantan el Super Phaser y el Phase Shifter. ❤😊

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Gracias, podría poner algunos subtítulos en estos videos.

[@lucasvicentehuertahuentena5894]

​@@JasonAyalaSpareporfavor subtitulos en español 🎉

[@stuartchapman5171]

Love the sound of the ph2. The ph3 rise and fall are great in slow mode gor noise, dark and light ambient soundscapes. I have a ph2 type Behringer pedal, not as good as the Boss.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yeah, I love the PH-2

[@zerosoma33]

I’m gonna say it’s either the PH-1 or the PH-3. The video game sounds of the PH-3 are too unique. Buying one tonight probably

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I did a video using the PH-3 and others to make video game sounds.

[@naicanpark483]

why is it the sound of ph2 not sound as loud as phr1

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

@naicanpark483 I didn't notice a volume drop between the two, however, there was a volume drop with the PH-3.

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I have all 4, currently, the PH-1r is on my board.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

😃

[@sixbladeknife44]

I have all of them except the PH-3, I bought the PH-2 the month they were released…now that’s middle aged for ya! 😅 All great phasers, I have a real soft spot for the unique sounding PH-2.

[@tommygreenwood5049]

lets see a ph-2w or ph-1rw release this year

[@tomadeney8860]

Hey do they compare to the phasers on the Boss MD500? Great video by the way!

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Thanks, I'm not sure as I haven't tried the MD500

[@yasha4106]

is there any way to mod the ph3 to increase the vol of your guitar? to fix that drop of vol?

[@harryballsonya4347]

Bought one of these from a Hock shop in the 90's for $25 , wish i kept it! HAH they cost hundreds now

[@Musicislife668]

I bought two PH2 so I can use both modes at the same time

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

😄

[@SoundCastle00]

Ph1 all day😊

[@soulfinger]

I'd like to see a PH-1r Waza Craft version with a 6-stage mode.

[@goodman1127]

PH-2 the best phaser pedal ever made

[@sparkyguitar0058]

My PH-2 has been modded to be PSA-9v. But I never got on with this pedal cause when switched on took over the sound. Couldn't really hear delay, reverb or even O D. Got a Mooer liquid phase and it's just way better in mixing with other pedals. And it has 3 different waves which in my opinion really change phase sounds for each song. Wave and speed.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yeah, the PH-2 has a very pronounced phase sound. You either like it or you don't.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

@@JasonAyalaSpare It's not something I would get rid of. Especially since it's modded 9v. But that could also be the extra noise problem. Who cares, I got about 15 older Boss pedals most modded. And I found out this is a black label model. So that's early Japan production I think

[@stompfolks]

a pedalboard on a desert island !! yes indeed, but how about the power supply !? i got two ph2. one is destroyed then i bought a second one and modded it. superfine

[@eoinjennings519]

This is one that maybe needs the WAZA treatment - I have a ph3 but gave up on it due to tone suck and it’s probably the weakest Boss pedal I have

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yep, I was amazed at how much I liked the others more than the PH-3

[@ezraestrada4992]

It will be interesting if Boss release a WAZa version.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yep, I'd be very interested

[@LentilsOverkill]

12:41 You are incorrect about this. The feedback IS, for all intents and purposes, instant. The reason it sounds like the sweep has echoes of itself is because the PH-2 has at least twice the stages as its predecessors, which results in more peaks/troughs on the frequency spectrum. As those several resonances sweep through the most prominently audible range of the audio spectrum one after the next, you get a sort of repeating effect to the sweep. This is considerably less noticeable in 4 stage phasers like the Small Stone, Phase 90, and PH-1(r), in part because they only have 2 notches (and peaks, if you up the resonance), and because the notches and peaks are wider than those of higher-stage phasers. Phaser is not really a time based effect, it’s more akin to a filter in practice.

[@LentilsOverkill]

As for mode 2, the main reason it sounds different is that where mode 1 has 8 stages, mode 2 has 12.

[@JeremiahDaniel1995]

23:13 Pink Floyd 🌈

[@gethynwilliams]

On the volume.drop on the ph-3 - I feel like I have the opposite problem, I find the volume too high / the effect too pronounced. I have mine after my drive pedals (which may be a fix for anyone suffering volume drop) but think I might put it pre drive to compensate...

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

It would benefit from having an effect level control.

[@gethynwilliams]

@@JasonAyalaSpare ah man, I want a wet dry control on every pedal

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

I like the PH-1r the most. The PH-2 is pretty unique and has its own sound. It’s a bit underrated as it came in the chorus obsessed 80s. PH-1 I don’t have but I’m sure the 1r is better. Avoid the PH-3, it’s a sterile digital unit with little depth and panache.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

The PH-1r is an absolute gem

[@dingao000]

1984

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

Yeeaah!

[@newmystery7753]

21:40 is that suicidal dream by silverchair?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

It's Bleed the Freak by AIC

[@newmystery7753]

@JasonAyalaSpare Oh I knew it sounded familiar. Thanks

[@user-JM1967]

Is there any stereo analogic phaser?

[@yasha4106]

arion sph 1 is your best friend

[@ArrakisOCE]

Great video and comparison. The PH-3 is rubbish and probably the least reliable Boss pedal made. The sound is ok but they often fail leaving only step, rise and fall stages working. Those three modes are also useless for anything other than playing alone.

[@nicktaber2969]

Did anyone else hear the Alice in Chains?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

I did!

[@nathanweinstein2766]

The sweep of the PH-3 is consistently unpleasant, as though it doubles back on itself - very distracting

[@pattepato4592]

I don't why but the thumb nail being antichronological hurts me.

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

It originally went from largest to smallest.

[@charlespancamo9771]

Irrelevant as they are all pure garbage compared to early 80's peavey phaser. Notably - Session 500 mk iv. The heritage might be just as good and it also has a 'freeze' feature but I haven't heard it in person. The session one is the only phaser I could ever want. What it may lack in extra features it completely dominates in sound. It's so transparent it's crazy. No dumbass laser sounds like here and almost all other phasers. I will likely never have a better phaser in my life.

[@MrBeen992]

how do they compare to MXR phasers ?

[@JasonAyalaSpare]

The PH-1 is very similar to the phase 90, but the PH-2 & 3 are very different. I did a video comparing phasers and vibes that you might be interested in.

[@georgefromgreece4119]

​@@JasonAyalaSpareexactly