One mod away from perfection

One knob, no bad sounds. The only issue with these modern "block logo" Phase 90s is that they have an extra resistor added that causes a volume boost and some unpleasant distortion when engaged. I highly recommend implementing the "script logo" mod by clipping R28, it's the easiest pedal mod ever and doesn't affect the underlying phaser sound.

you have to take the Z28 mod out and that can age your pedal by years

I hated the 90s, early 2000s Nu-metal sounds of this phaser once I had it (i was replacing my MXR EVH Phase 90 which i absolutely fell in love with (i'm more of a subtle phaser guy, but i use phaser on nearly everything). I hated the sound. So i researched it and found that removing the Z28 component would alter the sound back to the subtle tones i craved. IT DID AND WAS A TRULY UNIQUE AND INSPIRING PHASE TONE IN AND OF ITSELF. It was a special sound.

But after 6 years, the tone has now gone haywire and I can barely get the thing to phase at all. What we're left with is a slightly modulating boost pedal that sounds truly unique but when you WANT A PHASER YOU NEED A PHASER....

don't get this one. if you want a Phaser, built to last, get the MXR EVH Phase 90. If mine hadn't been stolen, I would've never stopped using it. Or get the Script version, but the sound on this is half-assed from MXR.

Positive

I use this with my clean tone, I stack it with my Boss CE-5 and my Strymon Cloudburst. All 3 together give a great tone

Excellent

I've owned this pedal three times and the third times the charm. Everything sounds like pure Country.

From Gear Setup

Great Phaser

The MXR Phase 90 is one of those classic pedals that a lot of musicians own, it has a very iconic sound. As a primarily Punk Rock guitarist though this pedal can be tricky to get the grasp of, not necessarily the controls since it only has the one knob but more so just trying to get it to sound pleasant in conjuntion with the other pedals - but if you are more of a Psychedelic or Funk player then this pedal would be perfect! And trust me, the phase here is incredible, just very strong.

The Phaser

Compared to EHX Small Stone this one is midrange-focused, which makes it ideal for guitar tones, but makes it sound duller for other applications. It's also more agressive, more funky. If you want your Phase 90 to be less agressive and funky, consider Script Phase 90 or EVH Phase 90, which has both Block and Script settings. As for negatives, the infamous Phase 90 volume boost. Also, why is it so rare for good phasers to have proper depth control? Overall, you can't substitute Phase 90 with Small Stone or vice versa. You need both pedals.

A holy grail of phase shifters

There are lots of phasers around, but somehow almost everyone ends up with Phase90. No other phaser sounds so natural, lush, warm and sits so great in the mix on cleans, overdrive or hi-gain distortions. Single knob control makes it extremely easy to use and offers lots of tones just right away - from subtle phasing to extreme psychodelic sounds.

However there is one minor flaw - current version, A.K.A. block logo has an awful volume boost which is quite annoying in some circumstances. Some people just get along with it, some do not. For those who do not a simple mod can be done - literally 5 minutes of work. Open up the pedal, find the R28 capacitor (manual on the web) and snip it. Problem will be gone, no more boost, just pure phase shifting.

The Classic 1970s Phaser

I was lucky enough to borrow an original 1974 Phase 90 from a friend in the late 90s when I was doing my first experiments with analogue synths, trying to sound like Stereolab. This reissue doesn't sound quite as nice as that one did, but it's pretty close. I think the Script reissue is supposed to be even closer.

The MXR phase sound is inherently richer and deeper than the EHX Small and Bad Stones, and I think it's useful to have both options. As some people have said, the MXR seems to add a tiny bit of overdrive to the guitar signal, whereas the EHX pedals sound a lot lighter and more translucent by comparison (whilst still sounding authentically 1970s). The MXR clobbers you round the head with very rich, chewy, unsubtle phasing. But if you want that 'Have A Cigar' sound, the MXRs are the only way to get it.

Excellent Pedal!

One of the most popular phaser pedals currently available is also one of the cheapest, with a selling price of less than $70 and often falls within the range of $50 to $60 if you check the used and refurbished options at the right time. The analog circuits emit a warm phaser tone that is quite satisfying right out of the box. Otherwise, the only control mechanism you will have is a speed knob, which hasn't changed much since the original Phase 90s were launched.

From Gear Setup

its a classic

for a long time Iw as a phase 90 dissenter, rocking small stones, a phase 45, a mutron... but I get the phase90 thing. Its dialed in just right to do a certain thing. The limited bandwidth loved distortion in a way a smalls tone doesn't.... great pedal. This is also THE phaser to put on fender Rhodes or Rhodes samples tog et the Fagen sound. Nothing else will do on a rhodes, not even a phase100. Everyone needs one. MXR really used to knock it outta the park in the 70s.