Something Similar to Boss PH-2

[jazzster]

Hey everyone. I'm interested in building a phaser similar to the Boss PH-2. I find the really resonant 10/12 stage phaser sounds that Mike Einziger from Incubus gets to be really cool. Anyone know of a company that makes a PCB along those lines? Doesn't have to be an exact clone of the PH-2, just some sort of analog 8, 10 or 12 stage phaser that gets those big resonant tones and is in the same vein as the PH-2.

[jimilee]

Lecturing-fx has a 10 stage phaser called the countdown. Tag board has a layout for a switchable 4 to 8 stage phaser. Tone pad has a Ross phaser layout with a mod that adds 4 more stages in increments, so I imagine you can add as many as you can afford.

I have yet to see anything that does what the boss ph-2 does. We were discussing that exact thing about a month or two ago.


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[Betty Wont]

The pedalpcb duo phase has 2 x 6 stage phasers that can be synced in series.

[Aentons]

Fyi, here is the discussion about the PH2 that Jimi referenced. It's would probably be a fairly expensive build. I got mine on eBay for $28 a couple years back.

https://www.madbeanpedals.com/forum/index.php?topic=32515.msg312354#msg312354

[lars]

If a phaser capable of up to 12 stages is what you're after, then this thread should be of interest:
https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=12193
The nice thing is that thread has a working link to the 4-page service manual, which includes a full trace of the original pcb and the parts list (some parts would have to be subbed for more available equivalents of course). That same user who posted the service manual has also built at least two boards of that phaser. The TC XII is apparently one of the best-sounding phasers ever made. I didn't know they existed until I stumbled on that thread.

[jimilee]

Daaaaamn, I didn't know that was a thing.


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[Aentons]

Hmm, I only see 6 stages in the service manual. What am I missing?

[Aentons]

For comparison, here is the schematic for the PH-2. Only 8 of the stages actually modulate. The others are fixed.

[culturejam]

Hmm, I only see 6 stages in the service manual. What am I missing?

Probably 6 modulated/swept stages and 6 fixed stages? The fixed stages add "depth" (for lack of a better word).

[Aentons]

Hmm, I only see 6 stages in the service manual. What am I missing?

Probably 6 modulated/swept stages and 6 fixed stages? The fixed stages add "depth" (for lack of a better word).

It looks more like 6 modulated stages with some feedback options. I don't see any additional fixed stages.

Edit: TC XII schematic added

[Aentons]

The pedalpcb duo phase has 2 x 6 stage phasers that can be synced in series.

This is the one that I would pick. I'm not sure it will do the really intense resonant/nasal sounds that the PH2 does.

https://www.pedalpcb.com/product/duophase/

[Aentons]

There is also the Moog MF-103 12 stage phaser. It will do 8 or 12 and it looks like they all modulate.

Here is the schematic for it:
https://www.synthxl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Moog-MF-103-Schematics.pdf

However, I don't think anyone has a diy project for this... yet

[jazzster]

Thanks for all of the information on this. A lot of it is above my head but it is interesting to learn about. It seems like the short answer to my question of an existing PCB similar to a PH-2 is; there isn't one, haha. The Duo-Phase that was mentioned looks neat but it is massive. I guess I really want a compact PH-2 style phaser I will have to learn a lot more.

[matmosphere]

There is also the Moog MF-103 12 stage phaser. It will do 8 or 12 and it looks like they all modulate.

Here is the schematic for it:
https://www.synthxl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Moog-MF-103-Schematics.pdf

However, I don't think anyone has a diy project for this... yet

Holy crap! That's the real schematic isn't it!? Any chance they have the mf102 schematic as well?

[Aentons]

Thanks for all of the information on this. A lot of it is above my head but it is interesting to learn about. It seems like the short answer to my question of an existing PCB similar to a PH-2 is; there isn't one, haha. The Duo-Phase that was mentioned looks neat but it is massive. I guess I really want a compact PH-2 style phaser I will have to learn a lot more.

My suggestion would be to try the VFE Tractor Beam. It is compact and has a ton of options including some extreme feedback which increases the resonance.