A JHS-led Resurrection of a Powerhouse Phaser
Out of production for decades, the classic Ross Phaser has been revived by (who else?) Josh Scott and JHS pedals! This immaculate tribute to the original Ross Phaser was designed and built in JHS’ Kansas City, Mo.-based facility, sporting a circuit that’s genuinely faithful to its vintage predecessor. Subtle sweeps, swirling psychedelia, and wide-range warble — the Ross Phaser’s simple Rate and Recycle control scheme runs the gamut of vintage-style phase tones. Plus, JHS saw fit to upgrade the Ross Phaser with a host of modern upgrades, not least of which is the all-new secondary Univibe mode inspired by a vintage Japanese pedal from the late 1960s. And while the Ross Phaser is tonally true to its orange-colored predecessor, we can’t help but appreciate how JHS decked this pedal out with full-featured modern functionality upgrades, including an indicator LED, soft-touch bypass, and drastically reduced noise floor.
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2-in-1 design provides funky phase and psychedelic univibe
The original Ross Phaser is revered as one of the vintage era’s finest OTA-based phaser pedals, sporting just Rate and Recycle (essentially intensity) controls to dial in your tone. JHS first replicated this iconic circuit in its full analog glory, then upgraded it with an all-new voicing: Univibe mode.
- Phase: While you might be tempted to compare this pedal to another classic orange-boxed phaser pedal from the 1970s, the truth is that the Ross Phaser boasts a distinctive tone all its own. What does it sound like? A full-bodied wash of unabashedly vintage-style sweeping modulation. Sweetwater guitarists find that while the Ross Phaser effortlessly tackles everything from rapid siren-like fast settings to glacial-paced subtlety, the Ross Phaser truly shines when you turn down the rate and crank up the intensity for vibrant and harmonic-rich textural rhythms.
- Univibe: From the Legends of Fuzz series to its 9-way overdrive pedals, it’s clear that JHS has an affinity for multi-voiced pedals. Hey, we’re not complaining — it’s like getting multiple pedals in the same box! The Ross Phaser continues this trend with a unique Univibe setting based on a Japanese pedal from the late 1960s. This setting perfectly captures the pulsing and psychedelic vibe of an old-school univibe stompbox, and it’s a stunning addition to the Ross Phaser’s already impressive range of modulation tones.
Myriad modern enhancements
From their iconic slanted enclosures to their recessed control knobs, JHS’ line of Ross pedals spares no expense when it comes to vintage authenticity. Of course, this comes as no surprise, considering Josh Scott’s status as one of the world’s foremost guitar pedal historians. That being said, the original Ross designs have pushed well into retirement age at this point, so JHS saw fit to make a few modern functionality upgrades to pair with the line’s thoroughly vintage-accurate tone. Each pedal now sports a soft-touch bypass and a drastically lowered noise floor for a much cleaner operation overall. Additionally, each and every pedal in the Ross lineup comes equipped with an alternate JHS-style voice, accessed by the click of their side-mounted switches.
Josh Scott’s Ross renaissance
The story of Ross pedals begins in the early 1960s with the birth of Kustom Amplification, Charles A. “Bud” Ross’ solid-state line of distinctive tuck-and-roll amplifiers. These amps would make waves in the hands of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Johnny Cash, and The Jackson 5. By the time the mid-1970s rolled around, the ever-restless Bud experimented with the still-growing market of guitar effects pedals. He ultimately chose Ross as the moniker for his series of stompboxes. While the pedals were by all accounts top-notch, Bud eventually sold the company and exited the music business for good. By the ’90s, Ross was all but a footnote in pedal history.
Thereafter, Ross pedals were relegated to cult-classic status — until 6-string virtuoso Trey Anastasio of Phish achieved his idiosyncratic sound courtesy of an old grey-boxed Ross Compressor. Since then, the demand for vintage-style Ross pedals skyrocketed, with precious little supply. Luckily for guitarists everywhere, JHS’ Josh Scott has teamed with Bud’s grandson, Cameron Ross, culminating in a complete relaunch of the Ross lineup! Each pedal is manufactured in JHS’ Kansas City, Missouri-based facility to the same exacting standards as the company’s own products, and to the same sonic specs that defined Ross pedals in their heyday. After decades of inactivity and exceedingly rare reissues, Ross pedals couldn’t be in better hands.
Ross Phaser Pedal Features:
- Classic OTA-based phaser that precisely captures the vibe and tone of the Ross original
- Built to the highest standards by JHS pedals in Kansas City, Mo.
- Supplies the lush, sweeping phase of the original Ross Phaser, in addition to an all-new Univibe mode based on a legendary late 1960s pedal from Japan
- Ultra-simple Rate and Recycle (intensity) knobs grant you everything from a super-subtle touch of movement to all-out swooshing phase
- Modern upgrades include an LED indicator, soft-touch bypass switch, and a significantly lowered noise floor
- Slanted enclosure and recessed knobs inspired by Ross’ original line of pedals
