The Electro-Harmonix Small Stone is an Electro-Harmonix phaser pedal, currently around $239.58. Close alternatives include the Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser and the T-Rex Sweeper 2. It pairs well with the Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass and the Quilter Aviator CUB.
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.
- phaser
- analog
- clarity
- psychedelic
- vowel
- lower mid
- lush
- funk
Price updated Aug 27, 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
Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass
Vox
32% matchThe Small Stone's analog phase sweep adds movement into the compact Vox bass combo's own EQ and compression.
Quilter Aviator CUB
Quilter
13% matchInto the Aviator Cub's chimey, touch-sensitive breakup, the Small Stone's subtle phasing adds movement without smearing that pedal-platform clarity.
Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head
Carvin
13% matchRun the Small Stone's vowel-y analog sweep after the Legacy 3's gain stage and the phasing stays lush instead of thinning the mids.
PRS MT100
PRS
13% matchRun the Small Stone's lush, vowel-y sweep after the MT100's tight, medium-gain crunch so the phasing colors an already-thick tone.
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchSynergy SL2 Module's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchFriedman BE-Mini Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchHughes & Kettner Warp 7's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Peavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head
Peavey
tonal matchPeavey 6505 MH 20W Mini Head's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Pedals that stack with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone
Ibanez Tube Screamer
Ibanez
36% matchThe Screamer's mid-forward boost pushes into the Small Stone's phase sweep, giving it more gain to work through.
Suhr Rufus Reloaded
Suhr
35% matchRun the Rufus in front of the Small Stone so the high-gain fuzz gets swept by the phaser instead of drowning its vowel-y sweep.
Dawner Prince Boonar
Dawner Prince
27% matchThe 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)
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp
Beetronics
20% matchRun the Small Stone's vowel-toned sweep after the Buzzter's transparent clean boost, so the phase has a clear, unshaped signal to work with.
ThorpyFX Electric Lightning
ThorpyFX
16% matchRun Electro-Harmonix Small Stone after ThorpyFX Electric Lightning in the signal chain, clear of ThorpyFX Electric Lightning's own gain stage
Browne Amplification Carbon V2
Browne Amplification
16% matchElectro-Harmonix Small Stone's analog warmth voice goes after Browne Amplification Carbon V2 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Browne Amplification Carbon V2's own bright character
Mr. Black Bloodmoon
Mr Black
15% matchKeep the Bloodmoon after the Small Stone — the vowel-y phase sweep stays clear and the reverb just adds a dark tail behind it. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Amptweaker Tight Drive
Amptweaker
15% matchRun the Small Stone's vowelly analog phase sweep after Tight Drive's own gated distortion settles, so the modulation moves a defined tone.
See all 148 pedals that pair with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone →
Cheaper alternatives
Maestro Orbit
Maestro
73% similarity“some players prefer the more open voices of a Phase 90 or Small Stone”
Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser
Walrus Audio
72% similarityShared character: sweep, phaser, natural_resonance
Catalinbread Many Worlds
Catalinbread
71% similarityShared character: sweep, rich, phaser
JHS Pedals JHS 3 Series Phaser
JHS Pedals
71% similarityShared character: phaser, natural_resonance, subtle
Valco Black Hole Vintage Phaser
Valco
71% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, analog
Maestro PS-1A Phase Shifter
Maestro
71% similarityShared character: phaser, subtle, simple
Boutique & premium upgrades
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser
Spaceman
74% similarityShared character: phaser, natural_resonance, subtle
T-Rex Sweeper 2
T Rex
71% similarityShared character: phaser, natural_resonance, subtle
Wylde Audio WA90
Wylde Audio
70% similarityShared character: phaser, natural_resonance, subtle
Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone
Crazy Tube Circuits
70% similarity“includes emulations of the MXR Phase 90, MXR Phase 45, Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, and the rarer Lovetone Doppelganger phasers”
Ibanez PH Mini
Ibanez
70% similarity“At low Speed settings it generates a slow, atmospheric motion resembling vintage Small Stone-style phasing”
Walrus Audio Monument CS
Walrus Audio
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 Spaceman Explorer 6-Stage Phaser, the T-Rex Sweeper 2, the Wylde Audio WA90. Budget picks: Maestro Orbit, Walrus Audio Lillian Multi-Stage Analog Phaser, Catalinbread Many Worlds. Boutique upgrades: Carl Martin Two Faze.
What pairs well with the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Vox Mini SuperBeetle Bass, Quilter Aviator CUB, Carvin Legacy 3 VL300 100W Amp Head — The Small Stone's analog phase sweep adds movement into the compact Vox bass combo's own EQ and compression..
How much does the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone cost?+
Around $239.58 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).