Musitronics/Mu-Tron Phasor II

Very easy to use - you have a on/off rocker switch for powering up, the standard on/off stompbox switch, and three controls - feedback, depth, rate. These are the standard 3 for phase effects regardless of what they're called here. Five minutes of knob-fiddling is all you'll need. No manual required.

This is a fantastic phase - and being as they don't manufacture them anymore - I recommend picking one up if you come across it. I love old effects like this. Big, clunky, and well built. This thing sounds great on every set-up I've tried it with. Even my crappy mex-strat sounds super-funky plugged into a 4-track with this phase. What I really like about this phase is that it really becomes part of your sound when you're playing. Most phasers sound like they track underneath what you're playing - but this one really swallows up your notes. Plus it is really quiet when you are not playing. It does'nt have that annoying swooshy-jet hiss when you are not playing. A really versatile effect, too. I don't know any players that use it for sure - but I can easily get a decent Small Stone like sound ala Nirvana's "Come As You Are". I can also get that great phase sound on the Red Hot Chili Pepper's intro to "Soul To Squeeze" with the Mu-tron. I play a lot of Hendrix & funk - so I use the effect a lot. The unit is powered by a 3-prong plug - so wall-wart haters beware. I have a feeling you'd have to change the batteries every 10 minutes anyway, though, if it did take them. The only thing I don't really like about the unit is that it has to be powered (but not "on") for everything else it is connected to to work. It doesn't rob tone - but there is a slight compression effect even when turned off but powered up. (The compression is really a big part of the units sound). The controls have a huge range on them - turning the rate all the way up to 10 makes for bizarre space sounds.

Seems fairly strong. I mean it's still here from the 70's so it could'nt be too fragile. However, I'll probably not gig with it because it cost so much & the Small Stone re-issue is only around $65 now. This puppy is a studio gem. They have not made these for over 25 years - so don't even think of a warranty.

This really is a cool effect. I would definitely try and replace it if it broke or got stolen. The compression I mentioned makes it a great phase to use with distortion, by the way.

all pedals are easy to use... the phase II has 3 knobs. one for speed, depth, and regeneration. it doesn't take long to create some cool sounds, just fiddle with the knobs.

i really enjoy this pedal. it has its own unique phase sound. it sounds nothign like a small stone or a phase 100. i dont know how to explain the sound really. it is extremely thick and syrupy. instead of just adding atmosphere to the sound, it swallows the sound up with each cycle. unlike most conventional phasers, it doesn't have that airy jet sound most of the time. it can make the guitar sound almost as watery as drops of water gently falling from the faucet. with my jazz chorus amp and strat, it doesnt sound very thick with a slow setting with clean guitar, untill you tune the speed up a notch, then it takes over the sound! the phase II is not a crappy phaser where you can only here the cycling in the backround, you actually hear each wave pass through your playing. it is the greatest with distortion. i use four different phase shifters for different sounds in my pedalboard. i use a vintage small stone for quiet atmosphiric mellow sounds, the script phase 100 for jet sounds, and the phase II for spacey solos and sounds where you want the audience to hear the effect sweep though. the sound is really huge with distortion, i really think its almost a biphase, maybe a poorman's biphase. i can repeat exactly the phasing on smashing pumpkins songs like plume, frail and bedazzled, and the solo in mayonaise; you know that sound you hear where it sounds like the guitar is ripping the air and pushing it into your ear. for some reason when i use it with one of my fuzzs, usually a big muff or hot cake, it doubles the bass and volume. this sound is incredible for solos. if i hold a low note and vibrato, my amp shakes up and down and things fall off my shelf. i really love the thickness of this pedal, all phasers should have a small stone sound and a phase II sound for all occasions. and it is really clean too, if you dont have it first.

i think this is reliable, it is made out of thick metal, and all the components are unstoppable

none

i never use the word awesome, unless something is......and this pedal is awesome. it is the best phaser for distortion i have ever used, making it great for solos and weird shit. but it is not versatile.