What can an ideal phase shifter do?

Before we look to see if the Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter is worth the hype, let’s take a quick look at what a phase shifter is.

A phase shifter is a pedal that gives your guitar signal a swirling effect. It replicates your input signal and takes it out of phase i.e, it changes the period of vibration of your sound but maintains its frequency.

After that, this pedal recombines these signals, so the difference becomes notable. This effect was one of the earliest guitar effects, it ruled the 60s. Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter is one of such pedals.

Three generations of Boss Phasers

The PH-1 Phase Shifter was one of the first BOSS pedals to hit the market in 1977. The BOSS PH-2 took over in 1984 after the scarce PH-1 model which was discontinued in 1981. 

The Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter took over in 2000. Unlike its PH-1 and PH-2 ancestors, the PH-3 is a digital pedal that gives the player much greater control and an array of sound options. Let’s check out these modifications.

What makes the Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter unique?

The modern-day Boss PH-3 Phase is a better version because it is digital. This upgrade gives you greater control over the effect on your signal.

Alongside control over depth and resonance, this pedal has a mode switch that allows you to choose between 4, 8, 10, and 12-stage phases. It also provides “Rise and Fall modes”  (your phase effect is either always going up or down).

The Boss PH-3 Phase Shifter has a wild step mode that applies a sweep cycle that proceeds in “stairstep”. This effect is easier to hear than explained. Thanks to the tap tempo and optional expression pedal features, it is safe to say that the BOSS PH-3 delivers the best of both vintage and modern worlds.

With Tonepedia, you can have a firsthand feel and compare these effects here.