Is There Actually A Difference? A Small Stone Shootout 

Big stones on that Small Stone.

"If you squint with your ears" is a great phrase.

The first issue Small Stone (SS) - the 6-chip version - had a genius aspect that I don't think is on any of the other issues. Coming off the LFO, there was a resistor/capacitor network that added a bit of lag and attenuation to LFO speeds that exceeded about 1.6hz. In other words it *automatically* dialed back the sweep width for faster speeds, which is exactly what a person would do with a 2 or 3-knob phaser that had a separate Rate and Depth control. Another aspect that is not widely appreciated is just how much the Color switch is doing, accomplishing several changes at once, with a simple flick of the switch. When filter or time sweeps are being produced, slower sweeps sound more musical if they pass through the low part of the sweep more slowly. This is a consequence of how our hearing, or perception of sound, works. The LFO on the SS can take on the more commonplace triangular waveform - steady up and down - *or* by tweaking some resistor values, become what many describe as a "hypertriangular" waveform; triangle at the "top" of the sweep, and sinusoidal at the "bottom". This results in the slowing down at the bottom of the sweep, to accentuate the movement of notches and resonances, and a speeding up at the top of the sweep. At the same time, one half of the Color switch also introduces more or less feedback, depending on position. So, one Color position is optimized for slower sweeps, implementing a hypertriangular LFO and introducing more feedback, while the other switch position reverts to triangle and lessens feedback, for a sound that is optimized for faster sweeps. Unsurprisingly the range of sweep speeds also changes a bit with the Color setting. Because of the electronic design, one of the nifty things you can do with it is change each phase shift stage to a lowpass filter, simply by moving one end of the capacitor in that stage. Forty-some years back, the late John Blacet did this with what he called the phasefilter, aimed at synth users. I realized one day that his could also be done with the SS (although NOT with FET-based phasers like the Phase 90), and installed a switch to turn two of the phase-shift stages into lowpass filter stages. The result is sonically ineresting. And if one lifts the dry signal such that you're left with two phase-shift stages in series with two lowpass filter stages, the result is delightfully swampy-sounding and dead sexy at the right speeds. It provides an intriguing mix of vibrato, auto-wah, and a sort of tremolo sound. I used to have a black Russian SS, and modded it with a couple of switches. I split the Color switch into two independent switches: one for feedback, and the other for waveform. I also installed a toggle to lift the dry signal to provide vibrato, and another toggle to reroute the capacitors in two of the phase-shift stages and go from phase-shift to lowpass or back again. The overall result was an SS that could take on a broad range of "identities" and produce sounds you wouldn't associate with an SS.

Thank you, kind sir. This was very useful.

Thanks for the video. Giving a deeper look into the use of a phaser besides the pedal comparison

YES!!!! THE SMALL STONE EPISODE

If you think of clock noise as a metronome then it becomes a feature.

Loved the comparison. I see a Maxon CS 505 in the background. Can you please do a comparison between the early 80s CS 505 and the Maxon PAC 9? Thanks

My biggest problem with the SS - V2, second gen graphics - was the huge volume drop when engaged. The Boss PH-1r was the opposite, with a ludicrous volume leap when switched on. Now, I have a Boo Instruments clone of the PH-1r, which is quiet, doesn't play hob with the volume and sounds superb.

This is a very interesting study on dark to bright over the years, or perhaps from less resonance to more. The differences are subtle but they're there. For me the midbox USA reissue is the standout due to its balance of warmth and presence.

Hey, I want to buy a Small Stone but I’m in turmoil in between V2,V3 standard and V3 Russian, which would you recommend?

I don't think I've ever used the color switch "on" on my Small Stone, I'm in the "too much" crowd. Maybe cool with some other dramatic effects or a synth though. I have the 00's nano before the black version for what that's worth.

Ah man that lfo speed up and slow down at the end of the first Jam, nice work homie

Would LOVE to see a review on that Reverend Eastsider S. I like the idea of a strat, but the shape just doesn't do it for me. Always thought this would be a cool addition if it can kind of fit that brief.

Awesome

I bet you’ll say in your upcoming phaser type breakdown, but is the phase 100 jfet or hwat?

I had the big box one and it was noisy as all get out...but boy do I miss it. It was like...chewy? I don't know how to describe it. I have the modern nano as a replacement and it's fine, of course, and I'm sure no one else can hear the difference but...I can feel it :)

i have the green sovtek version... super janky looking but sounds amaze ballz

Am I the only crazy one here or did the US reissue one have a off-kilter oscillation? Like a "wah-wa-wah-wah-wa-wah" kind of phasing where the Russian and the nano were more even in that regard. I dunno, but I heard that and like it better.

My Russian Small Stone has a pretty noticeable volume drop unfortunately.

Whoa, that beginning jam was awesome! And that was before the phaser turned on!

Top speed is the main difference to me.ive had two v4s and a nano version with the stupid logo and the nano doesn't go as fast as the v4 and yes I do use the cool ring mod sounds you can get at such speeds on a v4

Holy cow, the case on the Russian one looks heavy duty like a ProCo Rat case.

I have a small stone, i am not sure on the age, it belong to my late father, he died in 1985 (well before his time!) so not sure what its worth etc

There are differences, sure, but to my ears they all sound really nice. I don’t think anyone would be disappointed with the current production unit.

The USA reissue should be True Bypass as well as the Nano. My V2 and V3 benefit from buffers before and afterwards and don’t tend to find any volume drop to be worse than any other phaser.

I like the presenters style.

my very favorite Phaser next to the PH2...RED N BLACK ftw

I always thought that the “color” switch made my guitar sound like it was chewing gum 🤓

Fave without color on - reissue Fave with - Russian

Hail Queen Lizard....BigBoxBeauty

the color switch is just a resonance control. i promise U, there's no supercharger components in this circuit.

The key difference I can hear is that the new design looks like a vomit accident.

There is no "a" in psychedelic.