Curious about the Tiny Orange Phaser

[The Luke]

Hello all,

Recently I find myself looking to add some more effects to my playing, which for the longest time was just Les Pauls, Crybaby Classic (works brilliantly for me) and a Marshall JCM800. I have since added a black label CE-2, a Keeley SD-1 and Nova Delay. I generally play hard and heavy rock and classic rock.

Now I am after a phaser. I will mostly be using it for the EVH or Jimmy Page kind of phase sound, so yes the old MXR Phase 90 tone is pretty much the one in mind. I had been looking to get the handwired 74 reissue modded with true bypass, an LED and 9V in.
However, after being reminded that the Tiny Orange Phaser exists by September's Guitarist magazine (UK), I find myself liking the sounds it can get. Seems very versatile. And not a great deal more expensive than a modded MXR, especially used.

So my main question is, in all of its versatility, can the TOP get a classic Phase 90 type of sound? I realise the TOP is a much finer piece of equipment than the MXR, but it's still the sound on recordings that I like. If it could do that, and more, I would be very tempted.

[Strat-o-lux]

The classic Phase 90 sound covers a pretty broad range. Early script models were often as much dirt boxes as phase shifters. Later production was more hi-fi. All of the different Phase 90 clones I've played were quite different from each other depending, presumably, on which particular Phase 90 the designer used as a model.

That said, the TOP is very much Phase 90 in character, is fully functional throughout the range of its controls (that's unique), and just sounds f**king great. I'd say you can get pretty much any Phase 90 sound you'd want from the TOP, unless you want your phase shifter to also provide significant distortion. It's really a fine, versatile phaser.

[The Luke]

Thanks for the response.
You are correct in it covering a broad range. I am thinking more of the sound of the script logo, as in Achilles Last Stand or Van Halen I. Not that I play much like either, but that's the sound I have in mind - the 74 handwired reissue kind of sound.
I'm not really looking for a phaser to provide distortion and want to run it in front of my amp. I get most of my gain and sound from my amp's dirty channel, and just roll the guitar volume back for cleaner tones.

My band are looking to throw a couple of Van Halen covers in as well, so that Van Halen type of phase 90 tone would have to come first, the other sounds would just be a bonus. What settings would you suggest to get that kind of phase from the TOP?

[Donner]

yeah with t he resonance control and the blend/mix control you can dial in a Phase 90 sound thats useful for any rig - being able to get just the right mix is what is so perfect about this one

[Strat-o-lux]

My band are looking to throw a couple of Van Halen covers in as well, so that Van Halen type of phase 90 tone would have to come first, the other sounds would just be a bonus. What settings would you suggest to get that kind of phase from the TOP?

That would really depend on the rest of your rig, as well as just which VH tunes and to what extent you're trying to exactly replicate the recorded sound. As Donner said, the extraordinary tweakability of the TOP will allow you to get just about any Phase 90 sound you might want.

I have a bunch of vintage phase shifters including a very early "bud box" script Phase 90. They mostly sit in the closet, while the TOP lives on the pedalboard. Hard for me to imagine anyone being disappointed with the TOP.

[The Luke]

I realise the rest of the rig plays a large part, but I am not looking to exactly mimic the VH tone. I like the sound I have, just wouldn't mind adding just the phaser in the style of early VH, a generic VH phaser if you will, for the covers - which we haven't quite decided on yet, but probably from Van Halen I or 1984.

I am glad to hear this thing is nice and tweakable. Some of the samples and demos I have heard are very nice, and have seem to show to wide range of sounds the TOP can get. I can see myself working some of TOP examples I have heard into my own songs, I was just curious about getting something more specific, i.e. script MXR sound.

[Bobby D]

you know......being completely honest -- if you REALLY want the script logo phase 90 sound, i think you should get one.

i know the sound you are seeking, as i used to play the VH stuff back in the 80s, and used a script logo phase 90, and it sounded RIGHT.......apart from my sloppy playing

the TOP is a GREAT PHASER, probably the warmest thickest and most variable three knob phaser EVER......i love the TOP a lot.......but i don't think it will "nail" the sound of a script logo phase 90 for EXACTLY the same sound as early EVH.

the Dyna Red, however, gets a REALLY good brown sound and can get you some "fair warning" era EVH fo sho


if some of you other TOP users could provide me with some settings YOU think are the closest to the phase 90, i would love to try them. the TOP does have a very wide range, and BJ's suggested settings that i used in my two demos really opened my ears up quite a bit with the TOP. i think the TOP and the SWAW are the two most hard to dial in pedals in the MP line.......but BOTH of them sound REALLY good when you DO learn them properly

[Strat-o-lux]

but i don't think it will "nail" the sound of a script logo phase 90 for EXACTLY the same sound as early EVH.... if some of you other TOP users could provide me with some settings YOU think are the closest to the phase 90, i would love to try them.

I'd think some other aspects of early EVH tone would be more elusive than the phasing. Not really my thing so I don't pretend to much EVH expertise.

Time allowing, I'll dig out the old Phase 90 and give it a shot. But, my very early Phase 90 doesn't sound quite like what's on the EVH recordings - seems there was some variation, at least early on, among the script logo circuits; can't speak to the Dunlop reissues. TOP needs HB to emulate the level of distortion present in my Phase 90 if it's driven much at all (no, it's not defective).

If this guy's primary goal is cloning EVH, perhaps you're right - get the Phase 90. Otherwise, no contest. Does sound like he's got broader ambitions than just that.

[Bobby D]

yeah, i love my TOP.......its a great guitar phaser, perhaps the best!

but i would indeed like to be able to dial in a phase 90 sound. i am currently borrowing a single humbucker van halen style geetar, the 5149 /2 "Shamer" guitar that was built for Dweezil Zappa by Lee Garver at GMW Guitars, so i m PRETTY close t having the "right" guitar for some van halen songs.

the DRD really sounds GREAT with hubmuckers....WOW

[melodichaotic]

I can't really comment on the TOP, although from Slim's video demos, it sounds like it can cover a lot of bases, especially with the blend knob. And like Donner mentioned, along with the resonance control, I'm sure you can dial up LOTS of flavors from thick and chewy, to subliminal.

I say this knowing that when you have a blend knob on ANY effect, it's like having another channel strip on a mixing board, which equates to lots of control.
Also keep in mind that Eddie's examples most of the time were run into his raging Marshall, and that he had stated early on that he used the Phase 90 as a treble boost as well. The overloading from the Phase 90 blended quite well with his already saturated tone(I have some excellent examples of this from a 1976 VH bootleg taken from the sound board with minimal processing).

Jimmy Page's examples tend to be on the cleaner side("Kashmir"), although the intro to the "The Rover" get a bit more crunchy, but not nearly so as Eddie. Of course, also "10 years gone" is another great example of the Phase 90 sound.

I might say get the TOP first and see if it covers the bases for you since everyone plays and hears EQ a little differently, and with the added control, might be a better overall match with YOUR rig.