Vintage Phase 90 question

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SpiderWars

SpiderWars

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Does a vintage block logo MXR Phase 90 with the ‘Script mod’ done sound like a vintage script logo Phase 90?

The vintage scripts are stupid expensive but block logos from the late 70s-early 80s aren’t. The mod is just snipping one resistor out…that resistor is what makes the block logos louder, more harsh, more mids, etc.

After watching a few YouTube videos the vintage ones have a slightly different midrange, not so ‘middy’ like the reissues but yet has a presence that the reissues lack. In other words, it just has a better fidelity. It is very subtle. And the swoosh is more subtle in the vintage ones, which is what I want.

I don’t want a bunch of swoosh, it’s more for the chewy tone…without mucking with it too much.
 
Just use a power supply that has a "sag" feature for a couple of the power taps..

I use a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power, and it has 2 taps that you can dial a micro adjust knob and control the voltage.

Run it at about 7.8V rather than 9V and you'll be able to control the amount of effect.
 
I have a Script Phase 90 and 100. The main difference I hear in the new vs old is when the direction of the sweep changes. The new ones are very sharp while the vintage is a smoother change.
Never tried a block letter since always having this Script.
But on my board is the EVH Phase 90. Using the Script and EVH side by side on the Script mode is very very close.
 
Ben Waylin said:
Just use a power supply that has a "sag" feature for a couple of the power taps..

I use a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power, and it has 2 taps that you can dial a micro adjust knob and control the voltage.

Run it at about 7.8V rather than 9V and you'll be able to control the amount of effect.
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TBH, the motivation for improvement is the tone more than the effect. That slightly different midrange to me makes a big difference. That's why I was hoping I could get an old block logo and do the mod. They are cheap enough I should just get one and try it. I have a Analogman modded Script and a Retrosonic which is a clone with more knobs and they both sound good, the Retrosonic being much less noisy. However they both have that mid push that's too much.
 
SpiderWars said:
TBH, the motivation for improvement is the tone more than the effect. That slightly different midrange to me makes a big difference. That's why I was hoping I could get an old block logo and do the mod. They are cheap enough I should just get one and try it. I have a Analogman modded Script and a Retrosonic which is a clone with more knobs and they both sound good, the Retrosonic being much less noisy. However they both have that mid push that's too much.
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For what it's worth, I have the MXR Custom Shop CSP101SL Script Phase 90 LED Pedal, and it does the thing.

Uses the NOS chip, but has an LED on/off indicator, true bypass, DC power jack .. The only thing I do is lower the DC voltage down about a volt and it's golden.

Your mileage may vary.
 
I thought maybe a really cryptic Rebus puzzle but I couldn't figure it out.
 
All of those early script phase 90’s varied a bit. I’ve had a bunch and kept only one. I do have a block logo from 78-79 that sounds very close after I did the R28 mod. The mod is simple…I wouldn’t cut it, I would unsolder and use some heat shrink tubing to cover the end so you can put it back to stock if necessary.

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I've tried the 'script' mod on a block logo Phase 90, it sounded ok, nothing I've heard compares to a vintage script logo one, very subtle and chewy!
 
psychodave said:
All of those early script phase 90’s varied a bit. I’ve had a bunch and kept only one. I do have a block logo from 78-79 that sounds very close after I did the R28 mod. The mod is simple…I wouldn’t cut it, I would unsolder and use some heat shrink tubing to cover the end so you can put it back to stock if necessary.

View attachment 337155
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Stradazone said:
I've tried the 'script' mod on a block logo Phase 90, it sounded ok, nothing I've heard compares to a vintage script logo one, very subtle and chewy!
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Thanks for posting both of you, That's a lot of firsthand experience there!

I guess I'll know soon enough, I already ordered one. I had such bad luck with the vintage MXR Flanger that I was avoiding the vintage Phase 90. I think I bought two defective/duds back-to-back and gave up and bought the EVH Flanger. But the Phase 90 is more for the tone than the effect.
 
Got the '77 block logo. I put the Reissue '74 Script in one loop of a true bypass 2-loop switcher and the '77 Block in the other loop and left the Retrosonic right after the switcher in the chain. Then after comparing I unsoldered R28 in the '77 and compared again. Lifting that resistor definitely creates a scoop in the tone.

The two MXRs sound closer to each other than the Retrosonic sounds compared to either. It just has a slightly different voice. It is way more quiet than the MXRs and has more control (it also has Level and Depth), it's a great pedal. The '74 reissue with Analogman mods is the noisiest but it sounds more like the '77 with or without the R28 mod. It sounds somewhere in between the unmodded '77 and the modded '77.

Between the 3 I like the '74 reissue the least. I'm going to leave both the modded '77 and the Retrosonic on the board and give them some time. Try a few other guitars.
 
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