The Electro-Harmonix Small Stone is an Electro-Harmonix phaser pedal, currently around $230.39. Close alternatives include the Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser and the Ibanez PH Mini. It pairs well with the Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt and the EVH 5150 III.
Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Electro-Harmonix · pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Small Stone is the classic 1970s analog phaser that EHX pioneered, known for a deep, rich, warm phasing sound with lots of clarity and an emphasis on a lower-mid swoosh. Built on OTA chips rather than the FET circuitry of some rivals, it uses a single Rate knob plus a Color switch that adds extra feedback and resonance. With Color engaged the phasing is deeper and stronger with a more pronounced, vowel-like wow as the rate climbs past noon, reaching a classic underwater swirl at full speed. Compared to an MXR Phase 90 it is more gentle and dreamy with a greater speed range and a warmth often missing from other phasers, giving it a musical quality all its own. It suits funk, classic rock, psychedelic, and experimental players wanting lush, characterful vintage phasing, though some versions exhibit an audible volume drop.
What stands out
“A classic analog phaser with a deep, rich, warm sound and a signature lower-mid swoosh, built on OTA chips with a simple Rate knob and a Color switch that adds feedback and resonance”
— from the reviews
“With Color engaged the phasing is deeper and stronger with a more pronounced, vowel-like wow as the rate climbs past noon, reaching a classic underwater swirl at full speed”
— from the listing
“The Electro-Harmonix Small Stone is the classic 1970s analog phaser that EHX pioneered, known for a deep, rich, warm phasing sound with lots of clarity and an emphasis on a lower-mid swoosh”
— from the listing
“It suits funk, classic rock, psychedelic, and experimental players wanting lush, characterful vintage phasing, though some versions exhibit an audible volume drop”
— from the listing
“Built on OTA chips , it uses a single Rate knob plus a Color switch that adds extra feedback and resonance”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“The common caveats are an audible volume drop on some versions that many consider a real setback, and a strong, dreamy character that is more a featured psychedelic effect than a subtle everyday modulation”
— from the community notes
- phaser
- clarity
- psychedelic
- vowel
- musical
- lower mid
- funk
- lush
Price updated Oct 24, 2026
Genres the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
- Experimental
- Funk
Amps that pair well with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt
Diezel
27% matchWhat Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt brings here leans toward high gain — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
EVH 5150 III
Evh
24% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after EVH 5150 III in the signal chain, clear of EVH 5150 III's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
EVH 5150 Iconic 60W 212
Evh
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Put Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after EVH 5150 Iconic 60W 212 in the signal chain, clear of EVH 5150 Iconic 60W 212's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Blackstar Id:core Stereo 150 2x10''
Blackstar
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Put Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Blackstar Id:core Stereo 150 2x10'' in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar Id:core Stereo 150 2x10'''s own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Krank Krankenstein
Krank
16% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Put Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Krank Krankenstein in the signal chain, clear of Krank Krankenstein's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head
PRS
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head in the signal chain, clear of PRS MT 15 V2 Mark Tremonti Signature 2-Channel 15W Head's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Engl E670FE Special Edition 6L6
Engl
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Engl E670FE Special Edition 6L6 in the signal chain, clear of Engl E670FE Special Edition 6L6's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Blackstar DA100 Doug Aldrich Signature 100W Tube
Blackstar
15% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Run Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Blackstar DA100 Doug Aldrich Signature 100W Tube in the signal chain, clear of Blackstar DA100 Doug Aldrich Signature 100W Tube's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
See all 19 amps that pair with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone →
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
38% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (transparent → mid-forward)
The Screamer's mid-forward boost pushes into the Small Stone's phase sweep, giving it more gain to work through.
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Klon Centaur
Klon
36% matchKlon Centaur leans toward mid-forward, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices White Light
EarthQuaker Devices
19% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Put Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after EarthQuaker Devices White Light in the signal chain, clear of EarthQuaker Devices White Light's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Airis Effects 51-Filthy
Airis Effects
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Put Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Airis Effects 51-Filthy in the signal chain, clear of Airis Effects 51-Filthy's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
Dawner Prince Boonar
Dawner Prince
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
The Small Stone's vowel-like sweep gives the Boonar's Echorec-style repeats added movement before they echo. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Keeley Filaments
Keeley
18% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Keeley Filaments in the signal chain, clear of Keeley Filaments's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3
Carl Martin
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Keep Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3 in the signal chain, clear of Carl Martin Hot Drive'n Boost MK3's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high
Tone City
17% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (high gain → lush)
Put Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high in the signal chain, clear of Tone City TC-T38 Metal Storm classic British-style high's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
See all 130 pedals that pair with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone →
Cheaper alternatives
Maestro Orbit
Maestro
59% similarity“some players prefer the more open voices of a Phase 90 or Small Stone”
MXR Phase 90
MXR
57% similarity“compared to a Phase 90 it is gentler, dreamier, and warmer with a wider speed range and a musical quality of its own.”
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
56% similarityShared character: phaser, natural resonance, modulation
Providence Phase Force PHF-1
Providence
51% similarityShared character: phaser, analog, classic rock
Ibanez PH Mini Phaser Mini
Ibanez
50% similarityShared character: sweep, phaser, analog
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
50% similarityShared character: phaser, analog, subtle
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser
Walrus Audio
54% similarityShared character: sweep, phaser, natural resonance
Ibanez PH Mini
Ibanez
52% similarity“At low Speed settings it generates a slow, atmospheric motion resembling vintage Small Stone-style phasing”
Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box
Whirlwind
51% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, warm
Wylde Audio WA90
Wylde Audio
46% similarityShared character: phaser, natural resonance, subtle
Orange Series Phaser
Orange
93% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone?+
The closest matches in character are the Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser, the Ibanez PH Mini, the Whirlwind Rochester Orange Box. Budget picks: Maestro Orbit, MXR Phase 90, Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser. Boutique upgrades: Carl Martin Two Faze, Strymon Zelzah -Dimensional Phaser.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt, EVH 5150 III, EVH 5150 Iconic 60W 212 — What Diezel VH4 4-Channel 100-Watt brings here leans toward high gain — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone cost?+
Around $230.39 (live listing price, updated Oct 24, 2026).