Strymon Zelzah named in Guitar World phaser guide

July 2, 2026 · 4 sources

The guide's author, Chris Corfield, with contributions from Matt McCracken and Daryl Robertson, named the MXR Phase 95 as the best overall phaser¹.

The guide lists the Zelzah's controls as Sweep, Depth, Mix, Speed and Voice, with sweep modes of classic, barber and envelope, and connections including a JFET TRS stereo input, stereo outputs, expression pedal, MiniSwitch, MultiSwitch Plus, TRS MIDI and USB, powered by 9V DC¹. It describes the pedal as two phasers in one box: a four-stage phaser for classic-style tones and a six-stage phaser that it says provides flanging, chorus and other modulation¹. Among the drawbacks it lists are that the pedal is "Overkill if you just want subtle movement" and that presets are only available with an external switch¹.

Reviewer Trevor Curwen, in an expert verdict quoted in the guide, said: "Not all players will want a dedicated phaser pedal, many relying on the sort of multi-effects pedal that will 'do' phasing alongside other modulation effects. However, as phaser pedals go, you won't go far wrong with the versatility that the Zelzah provides: two distinct phaser flavours and many ways to use them, as well as the flanging and chorus that you might have got in a multi-effects unit."¹

Strymon's own announcement of the pedal describes two independent effects that can be used one at a time or simultaneously in series, parallel or split configurations, with true stereo operation running two phasers per side and an adjustable LFO offset between left and right². It lists 24-bit 96kHz converters, 32-bit floating point processing, selectable true or buffered bypass, MIDI over TRS with access to 300 preset locations, and an anodized dark purple aluminum chassis, with a 9V DC center-negative supply requiring at least 300mA². 00³.

MusicRadar's review calls the Zelzah "Strymon's debut phaser pedal" and describes the four-stage side as having controls for Speed, Mix and Depth with a three-way sweep toggle, and the six-stage side as built on a newly designed algorithm with Speed, Depth and Voice knobs, the last controlling over 30 parameters at once⁴. It gives dimensions of 102mm wide, 114mm deep and 44mm high⁴.