BJFE / BearFoot fx Guitar Effects Community

It's not necessarily just an EVH tone I am after, certainly not going to get a striped superstrat hoping I get closer, I like my Les Pauls, it's more a generic early script phase 90 sound I want, but only for certain applications - i.e. songs the band will cover.
Many recorded instances of the script phase 90 are considered classic examples of phasing, but I am only looking to get close the actual phasing sound, not as concerned about the rest of the rig, if that makes sense.

I like the early phase 90 tone, I like the demo sounds from the TOP, I was just hoping I could get a close enough phase 90 tone from the TOP and not have to run two phasers lol

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 you could do that, comparing to a genuine early example to help us get settings on the TOP, that would be amazing, and I am sure I wouldn't be the only one extremely grateful.

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.

This is where the TOP really excels - where you want some phase type modulation that doesn't shout "phase shifter" at you. Not to say it won't do the obvious thing as well. The Page examples, as far as the phasing, are likely pretty easy with the TOP. Stacking the MGMV with TOP just to thicken the sound can help get some of that sheer density Page gets (I imagine) through overdubs or ADT.

Incidentally, the TOP and MGMV combo can do a fantastic Univibe thing, easy to get that heavy Trower-esque throb. Sweet!

Although I've never seen mention of it in articles or discussions, that rather metallic sound Page used with some frequency on later Zep albums (and on tunes sometimes identified as Phase 90 use) sure sounds more like a flanger to me (I mean flanger pedal, not tape flanging). Perhaps someone can shed some light on that.

If you could do that, comparing to a genuine early example to help us get settings on the TOP, that would be amazing, and I am sure I wouldn't be the only one extremely grateful.

Maybe I can find time over the weekend - busy week here of prep for a day in the studio. But, now I'm curious to compare them myself.

Hi,

A few notes on TOP:

The Mix control allows to cw Add option and to ccw Substract in terms of how the modulated signal is mixied with direct signal.

Tip to get mild phasing as early phasing effects were set mix to cw and resonance ccw.

During the phasing war in NYC in the mid 70's the effects grew in intensity to impress more in the music store and as Eh brought out the Small Stone MXR increased the intensity of Phase 90 hey you've got hang on in there
Ah, that's just one example but then
After that there were more intense phasers

Try and compare these settings

Mix fully cw, Speed 11oc, Resonance fully off to fully on......

This gives the closest approximation to standard phasing sounds while TOP is tuned for guitar range and will therefore move more in the midrange and not go either so low or so high as standard phasers.

Try setting Mix fully ccw which gives a deeper phasing effect

The reason for the Mix control is to make it possible to set subtle effects and thus make phasing effects that can be used in many more applications than those that are obvious but also those that appear just at the tail of notes......


Have fun
BJ

Well, I did dig out the old Phase 90 and did a bit of comparison. Not much useful I can add to Bjorn's suggestions. I found that the TOP with mix at around 3:00 or 9:00 and Resonance at 11:00, and treble rolled off on my guitar, it came quite close to the Phase 90. "3 or 9"? you ask. Depended on whether I was going into clean or dist. and also the speed setting on the Phase 90.

One thing I couldn't quite replicate is the slight muddiness the Phase 90 imparts during its sweep.

Phase 90 will return to the closet. TOP stays on the board.

Thank you everyone for your input and advice, it has been most helpful.

I stumbled across this demo last night, and it almost seemed like the demo was made for me to see based on this thread lol



So I have decided to skip waiting around for a used one and just order new. It will be here Tuesday and I cannot wait.

i don't think you will be unhappy with the TOP.

i am gonna experiment with mine and see how close to a phase 90 i can get. maybe i will borrow a phase 90 and do a shootout demo between the two.

one thing is for sure.....the TOP has a LOT of tones in there. the phase 90 is more of a one trick pony.

Well, the delivery ended up being later than Tuesday - I got it today.

Didn't get much of a chance to play it at home, but had a band practice tonight and it sounded amazing. The mix control is brilliant, really helped get a good thick balance between dry and wet. It pretty much spent the majority of practice with resonance either at 11 o' clock or full on, and the mix at 3 o'clock. Will have a better mess around with setting tomorrow.

I just feel bad about ripping off the little rubber feet so I can stick some velcro on and attach the thing to my board. Will probably do that tomorrow though lol