The Chase Bliss Audio Wombtone MkII is an analog phaser pedal, a revamped version of the original Wombtone Analog Phaser, which was one of Chase Bliss Audio's flagship pedals1. Like other Chase Bliss designs of its era, it pairs an analog audio path with digital control: presets, MIDI and expression control sit on top of the analog phasing circuit, and a panel of dip switches opens up deeper customization1.
When Pedal of the Day reviewed it in May 2015, the reviewer's verdict on the sound was unambiguous1:
"This is one of the warmest, richest and tastiest phasers I have ever encountered"
The controls
The Wombtone MkII carries six main knobs, two footswitches, a set of toggle switches and a dip switch panel. The control layout is almost identical to the Chase Bliss Warped Vinyl Analog Vibrato/Chorus, so players who know that pedal will find their way around quickly1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth | Controls the range of the phasing; the sweep is huge1 |
| Mix | Blend from complete wet to complete dry and everything in between1 |
| Volume | Output level with a big boost range to cut through the mix1 |
| Ramp | Increases or decreases the overall intensity of the phasing effect; works closely with the Stages toggle switch and can even be used to control any of the other five parameter knobs1 |
| Stages toggle | Works with a back panel dip switch to change the phaser's stages, or to control the tap divisions1 |
| Wave shape toggles | Two separate toggle switches to select Sine, Square or Triangle variations, which can be mixed and matched1 |
The two footswitches are a Tap footswitch for setting the rate and a Bypass footswitch, with the preset switch sitting between them1. The dip switch panel on top is where much of the pedal's depth lives: as the reviewer put it, the real customization begins "once you start messing with the entire panel of dip switches up top"1.
Expression, MIDI and presets
Beyond the knobs, the Wombtone MkII has an Expression/CV jack and a Tap/MIDI jack, which you can use to customize the effect further, whether with an expression pedal at your feet or MIDI messages from an external controller1. The preset switch between the Tap and Bypass footswitches lets you store and recall settings, so a sound built with the dip switches and wave shape toggles can be saved rather than rebuilt each time1.
A revamped Wombtone, and the Billy Strings edition
The MkII was itself a revamp, and the Wombtone line later went quiet: by 2024 the pedal had been discontinued, and Chase Bliss brought it back that August as its first-ever signature model, the Billy Strings Wombtone Analog EnveloPhaser, a retooled and resurrected version of the discontinued analog, envelope-controlled phaser23.
The signature edition keeps a rich, all-analog signal path and collects multiple styles of phasing in one place, covering classic and modern phasing, envelope filtering and modulation2. Its biggest addition over the original concept is envelope control: the pedal follows the loudness of your playing to control the phase, or the envelope can be routed to control any, or multiple, of the Wombtone's knobs2. As Pedal of the Day described it:
"You can now control the phasing directly with your playing, for responsive and tightly-synced movement."
The Billy Strings Wombtone is an analog pedal that collects multiple styles of phasing in one place, along with envelope filtering and modulation2. It runs mono in and mono out, with MIDI (program change and control change) and expression control2. Its rate can be set with a Tap footswitch, alongside a Bypass footswitch, the same arrangement as the Wombtone MkII1. Chase Bliss describes it as the company's first signature model, made in collaboration with Billy Strings as a retooled version of the discontinued envelope-controlled phaser3.
The Billy Strings Wombtone is a retooled revival of the earlier Wombtone, an analog envelope-controlled phaser that Chase Bliss had discontinued4. It is the maker's first signature model, built with Billy Strings3. The Wombtone MkII carried the same Tap and Bypass footswitch arrangement for setting rate and bypassing the effect1.
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Questions
Is the Wombtone MkII analog or digital?
The Wombtone MkII is an analog phaser. Its audio path is analog, while its control side is digital, which is what allows the pedal to offer presets, MIDI and expression control alongside the analog phasing circuit.
Does the Wombtone MkII have tap tempo?
Yes. The pedal has a dedicated Tap footswitch for setting the rate, and the tap divisions can be changed using the Stages toggle switch together with a back panel dip switch. External tap is supported through the Tap/MIDI jack.
Can you control the Wombtone MkII with an expression pedal or MIDI?
Yes. The pedal has an Expression/CV jack and a Tap/MIDI jack, so you can connect an expression pedal or send it MIDI messages to customize and control the effect while playing.
What wave shapes does the Wombtone MkII offer?
Two separate wave shape toggle switches let you select Sine, Square or Triangle variations, and the two switches can be mixed and matched for different combinations of LFO shapes driving the phasing.
What is the difference between the Wombtone and the Wombtone MkII?
The MkII is a revamped version of the original Wombtone Analog Phaser, one of Chase Bliss Audio's flagship pedals. It keeps the analog phasing but adds a preset switch between the Tap and Bypass footswitches, along with the expanded dip switch panel for customization.
Sources (4)
- Chase Bliss Audio Wombtone MkII Analog Phaser, Pedal of the Day, 2015-05-31
- Chase Bliss Billy Strings Wombtone Analog EnveloPhaser, Pedal of the Day, 2024-09-28
- “If there's a phase sound you're dreaming of, it's probably in here”: Chase Bliss launches its first ever signature pedal with the limited edition Billy Strings Wombtone Analog EnveloPhaser, MusicRadar, 2024-08-28
- Chase Bliss Billy Strings Wombtone Phaser, Delicious Audio, 2024-10-23
