TOP voltage question and BJFE phase/vibe thoughts...

[hawaii121]

Hello All,

I have a TOP and a MGMV and love them both, but sometimes feel like I could do with a little more headroom in the TOP. Does anyone know if you can run the TOP at 12v or 18v? I may have missed it, but didn't see anything on the voltage list.

Also, Steve and I were talking phasers as I have also been with Marty. For those with the TOP, how would you compare it as a phaser/vibe to those searching and trying to decide.

Thanks!

[SteveA]

It seems that an old school EH bad stone, MXR, or mutron may be interestiing to try out and comparre. Anyone have them or tried them ?

[melodichaotic]

Hello All,

I have a TOP and a MGMV and love them both, but sometimes feel like I could do with a little more headroom in the TOP. Does anyone know if you can run the TOP at 12v or 18v? I may have missed it, but didn't see anything on the voltage list.

Also, Steve and I were talking phasers as I have also been with Marty. For those with the TOP, how would you compare it as a phaser/vibe to those searching and trying to decide.

Thanks!

Hey Donnel,
I've actually never had a TOP, so I can't say anything on the tone/voltage--maybe shoot Donner a PM.

Vibes? Everyone has there opinion on those, because it's extended far past just being the most authentic to the Uni-Vibe.

I have/had some of the rarest vintage stuff, and I prefer a lot of the vintage phasers myself--vintage Foxx phaser, rare pedal(treadle) version of the EH Bad Stone, EH Polyphase, Colorsound Supa Phaze, and Colorsound Fuzzphaze, Colorsound Phaze 4, Mutron Bi-phase, Ibanez Jetlyzer, Ibanez Flying Pan, and the KING of phasers(among many other things) The venerable EMS Synthi Hi Fli , etc...yeah, I like phasers..

..all great pedals that excel at doing vintage sounds that I've not heard in anything modern--in fact, I had the Supa Phaze next to a really good sounding Uni-vibe, and I liked it better.

I even had a super rare Jax Vibra-chorus and thought it sounded good, but not great.

I've not tried the Prescription Electronics Vibe, nor the MJM Vibe, but I heard good things about both as well as Bob Sweet's Ultra Vibe--wasn't crazy about the Deja-Vibe, but I did have the Mayer Voodoo Vibe and I liked that--a LOT of swing with the controls to go from full on Vibe-throb to machine gun trem stutter.

I liked that take on the Uni-vibe sound because you can get that real thick smoky vibe phase strained through cheese cloth tone when it swings through the frequency sweep at lower LFO settings.

Tried the Fox Rox at one point and thought it sounded pretty good, but again, even among JUST the Vibe category, seems everyone likes to hear different things for different reasons.

In fact, if anyone wants to send their TOP my way, I'll do some comparison audio demos of the stuff I have for reference, and shoot it right back to you in a couple of days.

[SteveA]

I actually looked at the TOP manual which says its voltage range is 8-10 so I wouldn't mess with it at 12 or anything.

[thesjkexperience]

I wanted to use the TOP as a Vibe and didn't like it at all and wasn't really impressed with the phase sound either. The only Bjorn designed pedal I couldn't appreciate. I prefer the Fulltone Vibe, MDV-2, best and like a flanger more than a phaser.

[ptbarnum]

I wasn't blown away by the TOP, until I started getting subtle with the mix knob..I really like setting it around 11:30, or 1:30. It adds a great hint of modulation to the signal without being overbearing..

[jdandry]

I liked the TOP alot but it was just too mellow. But the tone was wonderful. Anyone
have try a HBE Phaser. I had one for a while and it was great. Mellow to crazy.
Right now I don't have a phaser... kinda looking.

[Donner]

Yeah the TOP is master of subtle flavor --- I dont really like PHASER sounds ~ I use them more as a garnish than an entree ..... so the TOP can do what the others cant , love that mix knob ...
BUT yes if your wanting very vocal quacky fonky phase - those are everywhere ... my faves for that are the Folk Phaser , the Phybe and the MMFX Full Flavor Phaser....

But I mostly actually use the MGMV and the Hartman Flanger and Rocket Ride Asteroids chorus at the end for modulation these days

[connor117]

hi yeah, in my research, and i cant find where now, but 9v is the suggested voltage for the TOP
pretty sure that was from bjorn but cant find it now.
for more headroom maybe move it around in the pedal chain?