EHX Small Stone Phaser, Classic vs. Nano chassis

[Hendro]

So I've been looking at getting a phaser, but my pedal space is limited, I loved the tone of the EHX Small Stone, but it's downside was it's size. So, I spotted a Nano Small Stone Phaser. Is there, tonally, any difference between the two, because I loved the Small Stone tone, and I've known that many similar smaller versions of original big pedals can sound worse. Any opinions?

Thanks

[Captain Zero]

I tried one out a while ago. I didn't notice anything different from my other Small Stones, except that it didn't have any volume drop.

I have a Sovtek and 2 US versions.

[fr8_trane]

Originally Posted by Captain Zero

I tried one out a while ago. I didn't notice anything different from my other Small Stones, except that it didn't have any volume drop.

I have a Sovtek and 2 US versions.

Heresy! The gigantic old pedal is OLD. Therefore it is automatically better than the new pedal.

Seriously the little pedal sounds good, has no volume drop issue and can be powered with an adapter. The old pedal MAY actually sound better but I never got a chance to A/B them. All I can say is that the nano sounds like a small stone which is to say... MUCH cooler than the overrated MXR phase 90.

[Hendro]

Originally Posted by fr8_trane

Heresy! The gigantic old pedal is OLD. Therefore it is automatically better than the new pedal.

Seriously the little pedal sounds good, has no volume drop issue and can be powered with an adapter. The old pedal MAY actually sound better but I never got a chance to A/B them. All I can say is that the nano sounds like a small stone which is to say... MUCH cooler than the overrated MXR phase 90.

Sounds good, and I totally agree on the Mxrs. They make nice pedals but I never understood what all the fuss over the Phase 90 was about

[fr8_trane]

Originally Posted by Hendro

Sounds good, and I totally agree on the Mxrs. They make nice pedals but I never understood what all the fuss over the Phase 90 was about

The phase 45 OTOH is a great phaser and very different from both the phase 90 and the small stone.

[goodhonk]

due to the top mount jacks of the big box they take up about the same space. the nano has a piercing bright tone with the color switch in the up position, and mine still had a volume drop. i prefer the big box; to minimize the volume drop place the ss after a buffered pedal.

[James M]

I have the Nano and like it a lot...but haven't compared it to the big box one...

[Mike Hulme]

The Nano is damn cool. Very warm and round...it's got a nice analog feel to it and works nicely on my Strat and synths as well.

TIP: Buy a variable voltage adapter (i've got 1-12v) and play around feeding it lower voltages. The voltage amount works as a kind of dry/wet control, the higher the voltage, the more obvious the effect. It also affects the speed of the LFO, allowing you to get some really slow rates. 6V works really well and pretty much nails that vintage Jean Michel Jarre sound on strings.

Cheers,

Mike.

[SackvilleDan]

I spent a few hours on a Saturday a while back AB'ing the Nano versus current model big-box Small Stone, and ended up buying the big box.

The nano was quite a bit noisier, and didn't have as much low end; the big box sounded clearer. I have no idea why, but that's what my ears told me.

Get the big box!

[fellsilver]

I had the Nano and ditched it for a big box version. Here's why: the tone was definitely there with the Nano, but for some reason the Nano would make a ticking, bumping sort of sound in bypass if it wasn't immediately after a good buffer. The noise would vary with the rate of the knob, and I only heard it in bypass.

Yes, the noise was still present without a battery, with various adapters including a PP2+, with different instruments (guitar, bass, keyboard), with different amps and in different places. The noise is totally absent in the big box version, and I couldn't be happier with mine!

[charmboy]

Originally Posted by Mike Hulme

The Nano is damn cool. Very warm and round...it's got a nice analog feel to it and works nicely on my Strat and synths as well.

TIP: Buy a variable voltage adapter (i've got 1-12v) and play around feeding it lower voltages. The voltage amount works as a kind of dry/wet control, the higher the voltage, the more obvious the effect. It also affects the speed of the LFO, allowing you to get some really slow rates. 6V works really well and pretty much nails that vintage Jean Michel Jarre sound on strings.

Cheers,

Mike.

Interesting, I've never heard this. Is it possible that the SAG control on my PP2+ could serve as the intensity knob I've always wished for on my Small Stone?

Also, for those concerned about the volume drop on the big box, the Analogman mod corrects this.

[SBLP]

I've recently picked up a Nano Stone. Absolutely love it. Using 9v AC I think. I dunno if that's the recommended use, but it works for all my other pedals and it seems fine. A/B'd with a buddy's Small Stone (80's v3 I think?).

Volume drop on the big box, and the bypass took out some high-end sparkle. The sweep range was greater in the Nano--both slower and faster. Sounded is a bit clearer and organic. I really dig it, and the true bypass was a HUGE improvement over my Behringer tone sucker "Vintage Phaser"'s crap ass buffer or hardwire or whatever they claim it is.

Simple, yet totally versatile. I like some of the crazier, multi-function boutique phasers, but on a board, the little Nano is all I'll ever need.

[juujuuj]

Originally Posted by Mike Hulme

The Nano is damn cool. Very warm and round...it's got a nice analog feel to it and works nicely on my Strat and synths as well.

TIP: Buy a variable voltage adapter (i've got 1-12v) and play around feeding it lower voltages. The voltage amount works as a kind of dry/wet control, the higher the voltage, the more obvious the effect. It also affects the speed of the LFO, allowing you to get some really slow rates. 6V works really well and pretty much nails that vintage Jean Michel Jarre sound on strings.

Cheers,

Mike.

interesting; want to know more
is it true with others effects?(flanger, tremolo)

[todd richman]

I have played the original Version 2 ("Small Stone" written in orange graphics) from around 1977, a reissue large enclosure and a Nano and the original is far superior to either the large reissue or Nano. In fact, the Nano is not even close seriously. Do yourself a favor and try an original from 1975-1977-they are not that expensive-usually under $150 on ebay or through a dealer like the ones at gbase.

Here is some comparison info for you:

http://www.pedalarea.com/small_stone.htm

I highly recommend staying away from the Nano!!

[pedal4plus]

First I tried the nano with the 1 spot, didn't like it, too subtle, high frequencies boosted too much on color up and noisy. Then I tried with a no name 1-12V variable adapter set at 9V, wow, what a change, sounded much nicer, but still there was some high frequency boost on color up. I think this is not true for the big box. I really wanted to buy the big box, but ended up with the nano, and unfortunately EHX will never reissue the big box. Small stone really helps me to cherish childhood memories which IMO a phase 90 can't. Now i always play the nano with the variable adapter.