No, I don’t expect you to watch a 4 hour video of me building this pedal (unless you really want to). I would like to say a few things now that it’s finished though!
This was the first electronics project I’ve done since I was a kid, but I never did anything with PCBs back then (I always did breadboard projects), so there was a bit of a learning curve for me. I’m used to doing mods and repairs, but populating a whole circuit board from nothing is a much different experience. The instructions were easy to follow, although they left out the part about orienting the IC sockets. Thankfully they include a photo of the completed pedal guts, so I was able to reference that to figure out the proper direction for the chips to face.
The kit includes an optional extra resistor that supposedly changes the pedal from an early Phase 90 spec to a later version. I left the extra resistor out (old spec), but I might try clipping it in to compare the sounds later. Perhaps I could add a mini toggle switch so I can go back and forth.
Anyways, it sounds… like a 70’s phaser. I don’t have a real Phase 90 to compare it to, but it sounds pretty legit to my ear. The pedal has a nice throaty tone to it and a focused sweep. The whole range of the speed control is useable. At slower speeds it provides just a little bit of movement that could help something stand out in a crowded mix, while at the top you get a rapidly oscillating phase sound reminiscent of JPJ’s Rhodes piano on “No Quarter” (which I will undoubtedly be using this pedal to cover).
The only downside to the kit is the value. A big part of the appeal of DIY pedals is that you can get some great quality stuff for half the price or less (since you’re providing the labor). This kit cost me about $70 after shipping (and a discount). I could buy a real Phase 90 for that price. If you don’t have a phaser, and are into electronics, I’d recommend it. But if you already have one, I don’t really see the value. Perhaps if I could compare the pedal directly with a vintage Phase 90, the various reissues, and the mass production models, and it outperformed them, then perhaps I’d change my tune.
I wonder if any of my buddies have a vintage one…