Doing Things Wrong

KMise Vintage Phas Pedal

First, I am bound to state that I received this pedal at no cost for review. Having gotten that out of the way …

A phaser is a fairly simple device. It adds a swirling effect to the sound. Most 'classic' phasers have just a single control for the speed or rate of the effect. The only other control on this pedal is a mechanical true-bypass switch. This effect cannot take a battery, you will need a 9v power supply, I recommend a 1Spot. Batteries today are expensive and very poorly made anyway.

Construction is good, with a strong two-piece anodized aluminum casing. All the controls and jacks are supported by the case, not the circuit boards. The only weakness is the plastic shaft of the knob, which could break if abused. That makes this pedal more suited for the studio or bedroom than the road.

When engaged, the pedal gives you the classic phas effect, with no noise or change in volume. There's just not a lot to a phaser. I have one other phas pedal, and the two are quite comparable, this one having a more pronounced effect and greater speed range. For the price, this pedal is a great value - good sound and good construction, small enough to fit anywhere.

Summary: I like this pedal.

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The belt attachment is what makes it far superior to an ordinary spindle sander. Belts have a far greater working area than the small cylinders most spindle sanders have. They last longer and are cheaper to replace, and are available in a wider variety of grits. The #36 belt is ideal for removing material to make a rough shape, then clean up with a #80. The big end of the belt drive is a 2-1/2" diameter, which turns out to be by far the most useful part of the machine, and exactly matches many of the curves on a Fender neck. Of course, there are smaller spindles all the way down to 1/2" for tight spots. The flat on the belt will cut reasonably straight for small parts that fit entirely in it, but anything that overhangs the ends is going to be gouged by the rollers unless you are very careful - light touch and always moving the workpiece. It's good exercise.