The Schulte Compact Phaser is a Schulte phaser pedal. Close alternatives include the MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase and the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second. It pairs well with the Marshall Plexi 1959SLP and the Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head.
Schulte Compact Phaser
Schulte · pedal
The Schulte Compact Phaser is a vintage phase-shifting effects unit that formed part of Ritchie Blackmore's outboard effects setup during his Deep Purple and Rainbow years, adding a swirling, modulated texture to his guitar tone distinct from the more common flanger and chorus effects other 70s hard rock guitarists favored. As with much of the era's boutique European effects gear, detailed specifications and production history are less documented than for the more famous American and British stompbox brands, but its use in Blackmore's rig places it within the broader wave of phase-shift technology that became a signature texture across 1970s rock guitar.
What stands out
“The Schulte Compact Phaser is a vintage phase-shifting effects unit that formed part of Ritchie Blackmore's outboard effects setup during his Deep Purple and Rainbow years, adding a swirling, modulated texture to his guitar tone distinct fr…”
— from the listing
“In a chain a phaser like this sits after any gain-shaping pedals, modulating the already-shaped tone”
— from the community notes
“Its use case was adding phase-shift coloration to specific passages, a subtler, more atmospheric effect than distortion or wah, typically used selectively”
— from the community notes
“Vintage effects specialists note that European boutique phase-shift units from this era, the Schulte included, are generally , despite offer…”
— from the reviews
“Vintage effects collectors and Blackmore gear researchers discuss the Schulte Compact Phaser as a relatively obscure piece within his overall rig, worth remembering precisely because it shows his effects choices extended beyond the more com…”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“modulated texture to his guitar tone distinct from the more common flanger and chorus effects other 70s hard rock guitarists favored”
— from the listing
“detailed specifications and production history are”
— from the listing
- phaser
- already shaped tone
- rock
- hard rock
- lead
- three dimensional
- phase shift coloration
- vintage effects
Genres the Schulte Compact Phaser is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the Schulte Compact Phaser
Marshall Plexi 1959SLP
amplifier
16% matchWhat Marshall Plexi 1959SLP brings here leans toward aggressive — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head
Dumble
15% matchDumble Overdrive Special Amp Head leans toward dynamic, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt goes after Schulte Compact Phaser in the chain
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Synergy SL2 Module after Schulte Compact Phaser
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 after Schulte Compact Phaser
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Marshall Studio JCM900 SN20H goes after Schulte Compact Phaser in the chain
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Put Friedman BE-Mini Head after Schulte Compact Phaser
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Hughes & Kettner Coreblade goes after Schulte Compact Phaser in the chain
Pedals that stack with the Schulte Compact Phaser
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
11% matchBeetronics Overhive's own transparent character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes earlier in the signal chain
MXR Distortion+
MXR
11% matchMXR Distortion+ leans toward gritty, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay
Maxon
7% matchPut Maxon AD-9 Pro Analog Delay after Schulte Compact Phaser in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Schulte Compact Phaser — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star V3
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
7% matchRun Old Blood Noise Endeavors Dark Star V3 after Schulte Compact Phaser in the signal chain, where it won't crowd Schulte Compact Phaser — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction
Death By Audio
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Death By Audio Destruction goes in front of Schulte Compact Phaser in the chain
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Put Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 in front of Schulte Compact Phaser
Subdecay F-Bomb
Subdecay
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Subdecay F-Bomb goes in front of Schulte Compact Phaser in the chain
Warm Audio Jet Phaser
Warm Audio
tonal matchWarm Audio Jet Phaser belongs after Schulte Compact Phaser, since modulation reads clearest once the core tone is set
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase
MXR
69% similarityShared character: phaser, hard rock, distortion
Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second
Heavy Metal Fx
67% similarityShared character: phaser, hard rock, distortion
MXR 20th Anniversary Zakk Wylde Signature Phaser
MXR
57% similarityShared character: phaser, hard rock, distortion
Alchemy Audio Phasor II
Alchemy Audio
57% similarityShared character: phaser, lead
Subdecay Quasar Phaser v4
Subdecay
55% similarityShared character: phaser
Wylde Audio WA90
Wylde Audio
54% similarityShared character: phaser, distortion, lead
Demon FX Sibling Analog OTA Phaser Just
Demon Fx
53% similarityShared character: phaser
W-LM Phased Out
W-LM
52% similarityShared character: phaser, lead
Tone City Summer Orange
Tone City
52% similarityShared character: flanger, phaser
Mooer Liquid Phaser 5 Phaser modes
Mooer
51% similarityShared character: phaser
Mooer Phaser Player
Mooer
50% similarityShared character: phaser
Rocktron Reaction Phaser
Rocktron
50% similarityShared character: flanger, phaser
See all alternatives to the Schulte Compact Phaser (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Schulte Compact Phaser?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR ZW90 Wylde Phase, the Heavy Metal FX HMFX Phase Riot Factory Second, the MXR 20th Anniversary Zakk Wylde Signature Phaser.
What pairs well with the Schulte Compact Phaser?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Plexi 1959SLP, Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head, Mesa/Boogie JP-2C John Petrucci Signature 60/100-Watt — What Marshall Plexi 1959SLP brings here leans toward aggressive — that's worth building a pairing around.