Source Audio Lunar Phaser review

A freak-out phaser

  • £129
  • €173

MusicRadar Verdict

Several shades of phasing nicely covered, with many more sounds waiting in the wings.

Pros

  • +

    Versatile.

Cons

  • -

    Very few.

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While the Lunar's toggle-switch offers three variations on the phaser theme, along with Speed and Depth controls, we also get a Shape knob that affects the LFO, morphing the sine wave into a harder-edged square wave.

There's also a Resonance knob, for dialling in a more metallic sound. Vibe is modelled after a Uni-Vibe and reproduces throb and warble well, while an expression pedal gives you the foot-controlled speed variations of the original.

Classic is a simple four-stage phaser like the MXR Phase 90 - which it can emulate nicely when dialled in correctly - but it goes beyond what the single knob on a 90 could conjure up, particularly with the Resonance knob emphasising the 'wow' of the sweep.

Multi delivers an eight-stage phaser effect that's more complex and is a great freak-out tool for end-of-set knob manipulators, especially after distortion.

Trevor Curwen has played guitar for several decades – he's also mimed it on the UK's Top of the Pops. Much of his working life, though, has been spent behind the mixing desk, during which time he has built up a solid collection of the guitars, amps and pedals needed to cover just about any studio session. He writes pedal reviews for Guitarist and has contributed to Total Guitar, MusicRadar and Future Music among others.