The Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser Limited Edition DARK is a limited edition finish of the Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser, a phaser pedal built around a six-stage analog phaser circuit with a preamp and a "Vibee" mode, all with morphing capabilities1. What sets the Larva apart from a standard phaser is that it holds two independent phaser settings at once, and you can either use them separately or ramp between them for transitions no single-speed phaser can do1.
The DARK edition is the same circuit in a limited dark finish. It is sold out at the maker's store, where it was listed at a regular price of £154.00 and £192.001.
Two phaser settings and a morph between them
The core idea of the Larva is simple: instead of one phaser, you get two. The left controls set the rate and depth for Phaser 1, and the right controls set the rate and depth for Phaser 21. Each phaser is a full setting in itself, and the pedal lets you use them one at a time or morph between them1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Phaser 1 Rate and Depth (left) | Sets the rate and depth for the first phaser setting1 |
| Phaser 2 Rate and Depth (right) | Sets the rate and depth for the second phaser setting23 |
| Effect toggle | Chooses between the phaser, Vibee, or just the preamp1 |
| Ramp footswitch | Hold to trigger the ramp morphing movement1 |
| Bypass footswitch | Hold to enter the alternate control mode3 |
The payoff of having two fully independent settings is the range of the morphs. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that "the independent sets of rate and depth controls for each phase circuit enable morphs between very different phase textures"4. A slow, shallow sweep can ramp into a fast, deep one, and because both endpoints are yours to set, the transition lands exactly where you dialed it.
The ramping system itself is not new to Beetronics. The maker describes it as something explored previously with the Zombee and SeaBee pedals, combined here with the phaser circuit1.
Phaser, Vibee, or preamp
The effect toggle gives the Larva three personalities. It selects between the phaser, Vibee, or just the preamp1. The difference between the first two comes down to signal routing: as the maker explains, "Vibee is essentially the wet signal from the phaser modulation, and the phaser combines both wet and dry signals"1. In practice that means the phaser setting behaves like a classic phase shifter with dry signal blended in, while Vibee gives you the modulated signal alone, closer to a vibe-style effect.
The preamp has its own lineage. Beetronics says it "was inspired by the classic Moogerfooger line by Moog, which had an amazing preamp"1. With the toggle set to preamp only, the pedal works as a straight preamp with the modulation out of the path.
How the footswitches work
The Larva has two footswitches, and both do more than their labels suggest563:
- Ramp footswitch: hold it to trigger the ramp morphing movement between your two phaser settings1. Premier Guitar's reviewer found the effect stays fixed where the ramp ends "until you hit the left footswitch again"4.
- Bypass footswitch: hold it to access the alternate control mode. The ramp LEDs change to white while you hold, indicating you are in that mode3.
Guitar Pedal X's writeup of the Larva Dual Morphing Phaser describes the same switch layout in more detail, with a tap/ramp footswitch (tap for tap tempo, hold for ramping) and a bypass footswitch whose double tap flips between the two phase settings6.
Analog circuit, digital control
The Larva is a six-stage analog phaser1, and Premier Guitar likewise describes it as "the analog 6-stage Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser"4. Guitar World characterized it as "a six-stage analog phaser with an element of digital control"7, which fits the modern features layered on top: the ramping, the alternate control mode, and the LED feedback. The pedal is true bypass1.
Where it came from
Beetronics describes the Larva's circuit as inspired by the classic Moogerfooger line by Moog, noting that line "had an amazing preamp"8. The DARK limited edition carried a regular price of £154.00, shown at a sale price of £192.00 and marked sold out9.
The Larva's preamp circuit has its roots in an earlier design. Beetronics says the pedal "was inspired by the classic Moogerfooger line by Moog, which had an amazing preamp"1.
Limited editions and Custom Shop versions
The DARK finish is one of the limited editions of the same pedal. Alongside the DARK, Beetronics has offered the Larva in a Limited Edition Breaking Bee finish10.
Beyond the limited editions, there is a Custom Shop line. The Custom Shop versions are numbered LV992 through LV1004, plus a Custom Shop 420 edition113. These are individually numbered variants of the same Morphing Phaser circuit rather than different circuits.
The Limited Edition DARK is sold out at the maker's store, and the Custom Shop versions have also shown as sold out111. If you want a Larva, the standard Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser and the Beetronics Larva Dual Morphing Phaser pages cover the circuit in its other forms.
Videos
Beetronics FX
AndyDemos
Danilo Vicari
Questions
What is the difference between Phaser and Vibee on the Beetronics Larva?
Vibee is essentially the wet signal from the phaser modulation on its own, while the phaser setting combines both the wet and dry signals. The effect toggle on the pedal lets you choose between the phaser, Vibee, or just the preamp, so you can use the same underlying circuit as a classic phaser, a vibe-style effect, or a clean preamp.
Is the Beetronics Larva true bypass?
Yes. Beetronics states the Larva Morphing Phaser, including the Limited Edition DARK finish, is true bypass, so with the pedal off your signal passes through without buffering or coloration from the effect circuit.
Is the Larva Morphing Phaser analog?
The Larva is a six-stage analog phaser. Guitar World described it as a six-stage analog phaser with an element of digital control, which covers the modern features such as the ramping system and tap tempo layered on top of the analog phase circuit.
Is the Larva Limited Edition DARK still available?
No. The maker's product page lists the Limited Edition DARK as sold out. The standard Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser and other finishes have also shown as sold out at times, so availability depends on when you look and on restocks or secondhand listings.
How does the ramp morph footswitch work on the Larva?
You hold the ramp footswitch to trigger the morphing movement, which ramps between your two phaser settings. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that hitting the left footswitch again leaves the effect fixed where the ramp ended. Holding the bypass footswitch instead enters an alternate control mode, with the ramp LEDs changing to white to show you are in it.
What are the Beetronics Larva Custom Shop versions?
Beetronics offers Custom Shop versions of the Larva numbered LV992 through LV1004, plus a Custom Shop 420 edition. These are individually numbered variants of the same Morphing Phaser circuit, sold alongside limited edition finishes such as DARK, Crystal Neon, Red Fade and Breaking Bee.
Sources (11)
- LARVA Morphing Phaser • Limited Edition • DARK, Beetronics (www.beetronicsfx.com)
- LARVA Morphing Phaser • Limited Edition • RED FADE, Beetronics
- LARVA Morphing Phaser • Limited Edition • Crystal Neon, Beetronics
- Beetronics FX Larva Guitar Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2025-01-18
- [LARVA Morphing Phaser
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-12-19
- Guitar World's 30 favorite guitar pedals from the past 5 years, Guitar World, 2025-06-02
- New Pedal: Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser, Delicious Audio, 2024-11-19
- Beetronics Larva: Magic Morphing Phaser for Endless Vibes, gearnews.com, 2024-11-19
- LARVA Morphing Phaser • Limited Edition • BREAKING BEE, Beetronics (www.beetronicsfx.com)
- LARVA Morphing Phaser • Custom Shop • 420, Beetronics
