All user reviews for the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Mk4

(Originally written by charlou la fouine/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Analog phaser.

It's great if you're looking for a phaser, so I give it a 10...

If you're not looking for a phaser, it's not the right tool ...

UTILIZATION

The configuration is too complicated. I had to call NASA engineers to get some help and we spent three months finding out how to turn a knob and depress a switch...

The possibilities are very limited for people who like to experiment, but if you're one of those you'd better buy a factory not this pedal. With this pedal there's only one way to go!

SOUND QUALITY

Good and warm effect but with some volume loss... This is the weakest point of the pedal...

I use it with my Flying V and my Yamaha RGX 620DZ connected to an Ashdown 60DSP amp head and it works pretty good... Except for the irritating level drop...

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for two years and I think it's a good phaser for people who want to try out this sort of effect. If you want more than that buy another tool (especially considering the level loss which is unbearable)... I hadn't tried out many other phasers before so it's a getting-to-know thing for me and in that sense it's ok...

A bulky effect pedal with average value for money. I don't think I would buy it again because I want another phaser sound, but I recommend it anyway...

One last tip to wrap it up: if you depress the switch and turn the control fully up you get a very funny "bubble" effect which is great to anger your bandmates during rehearsals.

(Originally written by sonnyscallywag/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Old-school phaser... Analog, solid-state pedal.

The PSU connection could be a problem... But if you wanted to get creative you would go buy a PSU with 1/8" plug and you wouldn't have a problem.

UTILIZATION

Very easy setting... Just plug in and you already get the right sound character... Don't complicate yourself! There's one knob to control the effect's speed and one switch to select between phaser and shifter, and it's more than enough!!!

No need for a user's manual.

You can easily set the rate, and switch between phaser/shifter with your foot. The setting won't match your drummer's beat perfectly but that's not necessary for a phaser effect anyway (it's not a delay).

People that say foot setting is impossible with this pedal should tell me how they manage with the Boss and its four tiny controls.

SOUND QUALITY

This pedal is a real vintage phaser, not a gizmo that requires 30 years of use to produce the sound you want, or a toy with 36 useless controls.

It sounds good right away. The secret to get more or less effect is the speed control.

Some people might say they want a very fast effect with a low mix but that's nonsense because high-speed phaser is always clearly audible.

The unit produces a warm sound and THERE IS NO VOLUME LOSS on the contrary to what a person here wrote (check the condition of your gear before writing a review... especially when 95% of the users say the opposite of what you think).

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using it for a couple of days and it produces exactly the sound I was looking for.

This effect sounds vintage and doesn't alter the guitar's tone.

I tried out the Boss but it has no vintage character even though it tries really hard. I also tested the Fender which also has a very comprehensive foot control but it doesn't sound like I want. I tried out the Maxon (copy of the '74 MXR Phase90) but you don't have the option to choose between phaser and shifter. I tested the EHX WORM but the pedal's function is different (Auto wah, tremolo, etc.)...

I would buy it again a dozen times because it's exactly what I was looking for. If I hadn't tested it I would have bought the Maxon Rotary Phaser. It's not the same price and in the end I found exactly what I was looking for with the Small Stone.