Rhodes Phaser Duel: Phase 90 vs. Small Stone

[@TheSwilliams92]

There's something about the sound of a rhodes with phaser that sends me to another universe. It's just got that 'my' sound thing.

[@youreallygotmenow4855]

Same exact thing for me, man! A warm phaser hooked up to a Fender Rhodes is a sound that I absolutely love. I don't know why, but it really speaks to me.

[@DanielMoralesPerez]

You already said everything. #Word ♥ ► "sends me to another universe..."

[@PianoMan-hx3ev]

The phaser is the best by far.

[@AvAfanfromfrance]

Definitely check out Lonnie Liston Smith if you don't know about him

[@neoaureus]

Yeah ! My kinda sound too…..along with the phaser on the electric violin…

[@R0b1zzle137]

Dude your playing is phenomonal, i haven't enjoyed a demo video as much as this one

[@mootbooxle]

Thank you very much!

[@alternatingbitmusic]

I agree - great playing, and very soothing to listen to.

[@drumatic]

Bro-- would you be interested in a collaborative project? Amazing stuff thank you!

[@lynndonovan2711]

Me too. What a concept - playing and listening at the same time! Very nice video, nice sounds.

[@arlingtonhynes]

Yeah, every so often he said stuff but I didn’t really process that part. Loved the playing.

[@corbinrandall6897]

Thought I was about to cry at 8:38 from how beautiful Just The Two of Us sounds..

[@gabelossusthe4th]

Never stop playing. Was blown away right when you started playing. I hope to be at your level of playing some day, that jazzy feel

[@slovokia]

I hear a lot of nice tones that remind me of 70's era jazz fusion - lovely sounds thanks.

[@guitarfan01]

Oh man, that is some sweet funk at 11:33.

[@kevgh3869]

I've watched this a few times. Sounds incredible!

[@markhammer643]

The Phase 90 was a compromise design. MXR provided only a Speed control, and went with a feedback amount, initial sweep point, and sweep width, that would work acceptably for all speeds provided. The width of the sweep can be expanded (to sweep a little higher) by reducing the value of the 3M9 resistor (there's only one in there) to 3M3 or even 3M, and conversely reduced (narrower sweep) by making that resistance value a little higher (e.g., 4M3). The feedback level is set by a 22k resistor (or 24k, depending on issue), with higher values providing less feedback/emphasis, and slightly lower ones (e.g., 15-18k) sounding more like a swept filter. Finally, the little trimmer inside sets the bias of the FETs, so that all Phase 90s start their sweep from the same point in the spectrum. It can be tweaked to go from gurgly to swirly, but remember it is not meant for regular tweaking. The earliest Small Stones had a nifty design feature that pulled back a little on sweep width as the speed went over about 2hz. The Color switch did a few things. Each position adjusted the amount of feedback, the speed range, and the shape of the sweep. One position was optimized for faster sweeps (triangular and somewhat faster modulation, and less feedback) and the other was optimized for slow dramatic sweeps, with more feedback and a "hypertriangular" sweep that would decelerate as it went lower (drawing attention to the movement of the notches in the lower range) and then speed up as it moved into the higher point of the sweep.

[@TheInterGalacticFederation]

Enjoying this timeless video in 2021 !

[@alexriesenbeck]

You started this video talking about Donald Fagen and had me hooked right away. Your playing is beautiful. Thanks for a great comparison review on these phasers!

[@mootbooxle]

Thank you so much!

[@Rhodes-im3uz]

Most of the comparison videos of MXR and small stone are electric guitars. I'm glad you did it with rhodes. I played stage piano II in the 80's, but at that time I didn't know that Richard Tee was using a small stone because there wasn't much information about overseas effectors.

[@landyachtfan79]

I grew up listening to Richard Tee's work on everything that he did, & I definitely can say right now that while the sound from a standard Rhodes or other electric piano is certainly beautiful, yet relatively nothing to get excited about, the Small Stone gives it a sound that is so hauntingly gorgeous, it is enough to make a grown man cry!!!!

[@jamo2006]

I could listen to this all day. Man. So smooth.

[@skyde32]

Everything you do sounds amazing

[@drcroxs]

Loving the Steely Dan riffs!

[@andyjordanmusic3129]

Lovely demo of the 2 phasers and beautiful playing too...!

[@ShawnStack1]

That was right on, man. Wow! That was so cool to watch and listen to you digging those sounds. Thanks so much.

[@obietom]

This video was exactly the comparison that I was looking for, on exactly the instrument. Thank you so much for taking the time! Just ordered a small stone.

[@ivanmay7890]

Richard Tee is one of the best keyboardists of all time, & he is somebody I always think of when I hear a Paul Simon record.

[@mootbooxle]

Ivan May I couldn’t agree more!

[@trashboi-bk]

Beautiful work! I learned more than I ever expected to know about phasers! Thank you!

[@vocalchords88]

One of the best demo videos I've seen. Great feel.

[@nielswil]

That is what i like about Rhodes. I have had synthesizers over the past 25 years and always had 3 different rhodes sounds. The Roland U-220 had the best sound. Thanks for sharing, subscribed.

[@scottdetter]

God to see young guys like you really knowing your stuff.

[@Claidheambmor]

Wow, I love your playing! I just ordered a mid-2000s Small Stone for guitar use - so looking forward to it.

[@mootbooxle]

+Pico Ferret Thanks very much! You're gonna like that Small Stone!

[@Claidheambmor]

You're right, I adore it! The most inspiring pedal I've bought in years. Kinda turned me onto psych-rock haha.

[@thecordova1]

Dude!!! I just stumbled upon this video after looking at phaser reviews. I very distinctly remember you having a video about a DIY talkbox you made with Dilated Peoples stickers. I think I saw it when I was 18 and it inspired me to make my own talbox back then. I'm 34 now. Time flies!

[@mootbooxle]

thank you for taking the journey with me!

[@dilliot2k]

sound so good man, glad to seeyou make a new video

[@Electro4locos]

I could just listen to your steely dan covers all day! Bravo!

[@candlelight33]

5:21 you hit the note just right it gave me Lonnie Liston smiths vibes. What song was it?

[@mootbooxle]

totally! Kind of a weird cross between Lonnie Liston Smith “Expansions” and Jamiroquai “Use The Force”

[@terrytees]

Sounds great Moot. Love to see your videos back, You got impeccable taste.

[@jonbarr9195]

I love the sound of the Rhodes, and both pedals sound great for different sounds. Thanks for taking the time to mic it up and get the sound perfect!! You’ve got a nice tone and a great touch!!

[@TheSecondNature]

has anyone tried the vintage ibanez PT-909? I have one from 1979, and I find it more fluid and "liquid" than the MXR, but I've never tried the Small Stone so I can't compare. I use it on guitar, do keyboards players use it too?

[@mootbooxle]

I haven't used an old Ibanez phaser, but I'd love to, if I can ever get hold of one! I've gotten into collecting phasers. I have four at the moment (I did have five but I gave the Behringer to a friend).

[@TheSecondNature]

+mootbooxle the Ibanez is excellent, BUT I have to check the morley volume phaser out!!! It looks and sounds incredibly interesting

[@TheMegaAnimator2000]

Seriously though, keep making informative videos on all the music technologies you own. They're wonderful

[@carlbowles1808]

I like them both for different uses. Good job. 👍👏

[@polara01]

I just discovered your channel and was blown away by your unique style. If this were the 70s you would be a producers secret weapon and they would lock you in the studio and throw away the key! lol but seriously your rendition of the two of us was awe-inspiring and motivated me to pull my old Rhodes out of storage and get back into it. I bought a used mxr 90 about 25 years ago when I was the John Paul Jones in a Zep tribute band for the No Quarter sound and it seemed to get me close to his live tone, but on the studio track he had a Horner electra-piano which had a tighter, almost wurlitzier tone...kinda in between the two but weighed a ton and was tough to transport so the Rhodes was always used live. Anyways, not sure if that was of interest to you but would love to hear you try to get the tones from pink Floyd Dark side of the moon...seems like the ran the wurly through something because it had a very sharp attack and was over driven like crazy but sounded killer! I think the track "money" best illustrates this and really compliments the guitar work and I think makes the rhythm section bark like it does and nobody ever discusses it or points that out that I have seen...? How do you think they were able to get that tone I never could figure that out...

[@maalain323]

Love that 70's Vannelli sound

[@MacXpert74]

I really love your Rhodes sounds and playing. I'm also a big fan of Donald Fagen and Steely Dan. So I do also like the Phase 90 sound. But both phasers sound cool to me. The character is a bit different and the Small Stone is indeed the more versatile one for sure.

[@InflatablePlane]

I too love the jazzy, Donald Fagen phased Rhodes sound. It's just a too perfect tone that is agonizingly absent these days :/.

[@vampyros1]

+InflatablePlane Agreed... the Fagan/Rhodes/Phase 90 sounds are unbeatable. Never mind the fact that he's a genius composer.

[@AS-wy1ck]

Lol

[@shondasheepundefined5374]

lonnie liston smith is also who comes to mind when you think about the sound but he used it for a more psychidellic slow sound

[@csokishus]

10:00 pnuma trio vibes, sooo good

[@mirrorimagemaskart3039]

I have a 76 Rhodes and a biphase but my biphase was taken apart before I got it and they couldn't figure out how it went back so I have to get it back together.i'm excited to try it myself. amazing video

[@mootbooxle]

Thank you! Hope you get it working! The Bi Phase is amazing!

[@bendavies4072]

SUCH a helpful vid! Thanks so much for sharing. I bought an MXR Phase 90 a little while back and this vid finally explains the 2nd harmonic distortion as an idiosyncrasy in design (and not a flaw with my particular unit). I have a 78 Janus Suitcase as well as a Stage "FrankenRhodes" with Peterson Preamp. I can absolutely see the appeal of each pedal now that it has been explained. Top shelf vid - and excellent chops. Thanks!

[@FPV_Cam]

Awesome Moot! Loved all your videos, hope you keep putting stuff out there!

[@ramimahka4636]

What a brilliant demo! You are a great player, and I agree with you on which pedal sounds better. However, the original Phase 90 sounds much smoother than the block logo one - a vast difference in mid range emphasis and distortion.

[@mootbooxle]

thank you very much! I did a demo of the vintage version as well. I much prefer it to the block logo, even after doing the modification to my Block logo one.

[@raphaelbiazotto]

Juuuuust the two of us...lovely, i like the tone in that song, never noticed it was a phase pedal.

[@joshuabond7222]

Beautiful Sounds , Thank you for your informed demo mate

[@voyeurmusic4467]

First time i enjoyed that much a demo video. I feel that Sound is my instrument for ever.

[@DoctorJezz]

Great, knowledgeable informed review. Many thanks - mine will be a small stone after all then ;)

[@cfishel15]

Great demo! Glad to see you back!

[@supahfly1972]

Dude. Wow. At 0:49 and 9:28 I am totally feeling you, bro. I've really gotta stop screwing around and get a setup like yours. Thanks for describing all your equipment too.

[@ED-wi4sx]

That is a lovely sounding Rhodes! With or without effects.

[@gijsyo]

Awesome. Cool that you're back.

[@fredmanteghian5913]

Old post but KZbin knows I dig me some Boots. I purchased a Mark V last year and use a vintage Mutron (the original non numbered model) with it. I love it. I had an original in 70s and I foolishly sold it for $50. The one I have now I purchased about 5 years ostensibly for my guitar. But it is a bit noisy and you can hear it pumping subtlety. When I got the Rhodes I tried it and fell in love. It sits on top of the Rhodes. Before going into my amp (1973 Fender Pro Reverb) I also have a nice original Visual Studio’s H2O pedal which offers both phase and delay for additional color. Although with phase it’s either or, not both. The small stone sounds awesome and offers so many possibilities.

[@RoomAtTheTopStudio]

I love the sound of the Small Stone. I'm going to get one to go with the Logan String Melody that's coming into my studio in a few weeks. I am really looking forward to using the phase sound on it.

[@jaydy71]

Really nice comparison. They really sound quite different and I guess both have their place. Your playing is awesome, dude! It really helps to judge these phasers too. I had a big Mutron Bi-Phase a long time ago, and selling the thing was one huge mistake (I kinda needed the money at the time and someone made me an offer I couldn't refuse). That thing sounds awesome and 'alive'.

[@TomMcDonaldBass]

I found your music through a wurly/rhodes playlist on spotify. I really dig your stuff, and really inspired me to get my own Wurlitzer. I had no idea you made videos until I started look up effects for it!

[@fredmanteghian5913]

2020 here: He has 4 albums on Tidal. I just downloaded his oldest 2014

[@paradox7743]

Love your playing -The Small Stone gives it that early Joe Z Weather Report feel-I am a guitar player and love the Small Stone it's more transparent and subtle,I just picked up a Moog MF-103 Moogerfooger 6/12 Phaser and am in Love/This pedal has changed the way I play because the possibilities are endless & unlike the Small Stone which is cool for funky Jimi riffing,the Moog is unreal with Mega Distortion,Awesome Video Bro!

[@patrickmoore3538]

Excellent video, thank you for sharing, such a pleasure to watch and hear your beautiful playing. I also have an eighties Rhodes 73, Roland JC-120 and the Phase 90 and the Small Stone. I have always had great difficulty in not having distortion with my Rhodes and the phase shifters. Have you learned any secrets regarding this problem since this video was made, like how does D. Fagen and all the rest get a distortion free sound? Thanks again.

[@guitarslim1989]

I want to learn how to play the rhodes is a beautiful sounding instrument

[@mootbooxle]

nothing like it!

[@EphemeralProductions]

especially with a chorus pedal connected to it!

[@AlexBallMusic]

Peachy. Your playing is wonderful too.

[@mootbooxle]

Alex Ball really appreciate you mate :)

[@AlexBallMusic]

@@mootbooxle Ditto.

[@brendanreilly2580]

Incredible! Thoroughly enjoyed this video.

[@sauce_aux]

Damn !! The feedback sings while it sweeps through those bands!

[@mootbooxle]

Sauce_Aux yeah!! it sounds even more awesome on something that sustains, like a synth pad!

[@garethmontanarello684]

Fantastic playing and a great video! I loved everything about it!

[@mootbooxle]

thank you so much!

[@bigtimelakersfan5836]

Thanks so much I’m not a keyboard player but i do dabbled with the bass guitar. I totally appreciate your playing and style!!!

[@Ston247]

The MXR is a nice, warm delicate swirl. Good for over driven guitars. Small Stones are watery, gooey liquid sounding. They're both good. I use 4 phasros for different tones. FYI Bernie Worrell used an MXR Phase 100 on the clavinet.

[@yesgeorge333]

Jesus. The sound of summer right there. So fucking beautiful I could cry!!!!!!!

[@jonathanzohany1454]

Try a vintage black russian sovtek small stone..best phaser i have ever used. and the DOD phasor 201 is a very light phaser that might suit a rhodes well

[@mootbooxle]

I will keep my eyes peeled for one!

[@ChristopherKarl]

I have both of those pedals, but am a guitarist learning how to play keys. If I sounded like you, I'd never leave my house.... Beautiful.

[@Fluxwithit]

Hey just what I was looking for :) and now I'm subscribed

[@mootbooxle]

Well hey Flux! Fancy meeting you here. Thanks for stopping by!

[@tunnis7us]

oh man this was just what I was looking for to how to get that classic funk jazz phaser filtered sound on rhodes :)

[@MattSmith-iq1ld]

Why did they stop building these?? I have yet to hear a synth that come close to emulating one. It is such a classic sound, and so portable.

[@Whatevah232]

you are shredding that thing man, nice to see

[@pontuxicues]

Want to record?

[@je7647]

awesome playing

[@ANPHKI]

Beautiful playing...

[@ChristianSchonbergerMusic]

Rhodes + Phase 90 = instant Steely Dan! :-) Love your Rhodes BTW. The voicing is just great, awesome sound. Awesome demo!

[@mootbooxle]

Christian Schonberger Thank you Christian!

[@FernandoOnGuitar]

Gorgeous playing

[@tedbrookins]

Very nice playing, brother!

[@sunilsolanki]

Small stone all the way. Good to see you back man.

[@Rhythmicons]

Small Stone sounds excellent on the Wurlitzer also! I thought the Moog 103 was the best Phaser ever until I got my '77 Small Stone. But I noticed that sometimes the low notes are cut out on parts of the sweep.

[@gregorymason3913]

I really enjoyed your video. I also really liked your playing. Great style!

[@ProbTron]

I like the clean sound the way it is.. just the way it is :)

[@Jinglejangleboy]

Marvelous player !

[@bimscutney1242]

Allan from All Them Witches plays a Rhodes through a Pro Co Rat and an MXR Carbon Copy delay. It’s actually a very mellow tone.

[@mootbooxle]

Big fan of the Carbon Copy on Rhodes! with the modulation engaged it is a beautiful tapey sound.

[@ewwitsantonio]

Lovely playing, perfect way to demonstrate these pedals on a rhodes. :)

[@ClarkyUK1]

Brilliant demos! You are a fantastic player and really show the merits of each phaser. Cheers!

[@mootbooxle]

ClarkyUK1 Cheers Clarky! Thank you!

[@marshallviard7594]

The Small Stone and all the Electro-Harmonix effects function very well. You play very well.

[@philippedebourg]

Try the tc electronic SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger, it's amazing! (And stereo!!!)

[@paulj0557tonehead]

I had all of these I used on guitar, Wurlitzer 120 piano, and Hammond A100, Vox Jaguar, Farfisa FAST 4 organs *Mu-Tron II* , an *MXR Phase 90* , and built the *Phase Shifter (w/Vibrato)* from *_Craig Anderton's Electronic Projects For Musicians_* *Mu-Tron II* is the least desirable imho. The dry signal just sits there unaffected and modifying wet/dry mix just renders a louder phased sound, but the dry is still unaffected underneath. Also not as smooth of a sweep from factory (you can adjust trim pot inside though. Even with that said, in the right band setting, with guitar especially, because of the Resonance control (bottom knob) a guitar solo can sound very sweet and intoxicating. *MXR Phase 90* is a great pedal! One _Sweep Rate_ knob and the factory wet dry mix renders a good 'affected signal' sound. You can't go wrong with a Phase 90. *Phase Shifter (w/Vibrato)* Electronic Projects For Musicians. An excellent, very versatile pedal that uses 5 optocouplers CLM6000 (build your own w/ hack. I built mine when CLM6000's were $3-4 ea. so I used them). BUILD IN METAL BOX OR SHIELD BOX WITH FOIL. This pedal is very versatile! Nice wet affected signal, Resonance, wide ultra slow-fast sweeps, True Vibrato (with flip of one switch) is excellent! I prefer it over other vibrato pedals because this pedals sweep can barely move if you desire, and yet the pitch shift can be intense! I call it my *DE-TUN-ATOR!*

[@Quad8track]

These sounds are amazing!

[@cthulholmhastur5317]

God that Rhodes sounds beautiful. And are u kidding about that distortion!? Sounds great!

[@azombiestool]

Dude I could listen to you play all day. Man. You're inspirational. I play alot of guitar bass and drums and love the classic shit. I really wanna try to transpose things from guitar to piano but piano is far more dynamic of an instrument, considering the amount of notes. Keep playing!

[@pitlempens1741]

The moment you can use your Wurli as a stand for your Rhodes phasers you have won at life

[@robertjosephkeil]

SO tasty. Love the phase 90. Thanks for this.

[@vilewills]

Your playing intrigues me very much.

[@norahidvegi846]

Phenomenal demo! thanks for sharing!

[@monsterjazzlicks]

Beautiful tones there Moot! I have Rhodes and a MXR Phaze-90 pedal.

[@SweetSpotGuitar]

The Block logo Phase 90 has feedback from one of the stages back to an earlier stage (4th stage output back to 2nd stage input). The Script Logo version has no feedback. You can find mods to snip that feedback resistor and hook those circuit nodes to a switch or knob for some great variations. I have a 3-way DPDT on-off-on switch on mine with no feedback, stock feedback, and almost enough feedback to make the thing oscillate, but not quite. I call it the WOW Mod. :) I would be happy to mod yours if you wanna talk about it. I'd also be up for looking at your broken Mutron.

[@thestever]

Awesome video! I'd be curious what it sounds like to run the Rhodes into the Small Stone at a super slow setting and then into the MXR at a faster setting.

[@effiefs9561]

very nice playing there!

[@TrentSolo]

GREAT playing!

[@brianlee5455]

8:37 OH YEAH!! I could listen to you for hours bro!! Agreed on the Small Stone. They are the BOMB! Joe Walsh loved them!