The Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone is an all-analog phaser pedal voiced after classic phaser designs of the past. Instead of committing to one vintage circuit, it offers four selectable voicings, 45, 90, ST and LT, in a standard-sized enclosure, with tap tempo, an expression input and a mix control123. Crazy Tube Circuits, the Greek effects maker, introduced it in November 20193, and Guitar Player's reviewer later summed it up as "a four-in-one phaser that offers a scenic tour through its classic sounds"3.
Four vintage phaser voicings in one pedal
The Cyclone's central idea is that the great phasers of the 1970s and 1990s sounded different from each other because their circuits differed, in stage count, feedback and notch placement. Rather than build one compromise circuit, Crazy Tube Circuits voiced four separate designs and put a selector on the box. The pedal's standard-sized enclosure houses four control knobs in addition to the voice selector1.
Guitar Player's reviewer called the results "four rich, uncanny emulations of vintage phaser effects"3. Beyond guitar and bass, the maker says the Cyclone can be used on any instrument and works particularly well with classic keyboard sounds4.
The voicings: 45, 90, ST and LT
| Voicing | Based on | What the maker says it sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | A classic 2-stage phaser born in the mid 1970s | "a warm, organic phaser and a rotary speaker effect"4 |
| 90 | A classic 4-stage phaser from the 1970s | "From subtle warm, shimmering modulation to all-out high velocity swoosh"4 |
| ST | The first implementation of another classic 4-stage phaser design of the 1970s | "Stronger and dirtier mid frequency notches for a whirling, pulsating and whooshing phaser effect"4 |
| LT | A highly sought-after boutique phaser pedal that came to life during the 1990s in the UK, with 4 distinct phase shift notches | "Takes an ideal space between a phaser and a vibe type of effect (depending on settings)"4 |
A few practical notes from the maker and reviewers:
- On the 45 voicing, the maker strongly suggests higher depth settings, and Guitar Player notes that in this mode the feedback control has no effect43.
- The 90 and ST voicings carry the feedback knob, which goes beyond the original designs. The original unit behind ST had a switch selecting between no feedback and a fixed amount of feedback, while the units behind the 90 and their derivatives had little or no feedback signal at all; the knob lets you dial in all those versions and in-between settings4. As Delicious Audio put it, "with the addition of the feedback knob you can emulate all these different versions and then some"6.
- The LT voicing is described by the maker as a mesmerising phaser/vibrato, sitting between a phaser and a vibe-type effect depending on settings4.
Guitar Player's reviewer was especially taken with one mode, writing that "the Cyclone may be worth the ducats for this mode alone"3.
Controls, tap tempo and expression
The control set is mix, feedback, depth, speed and mode3. The mix knob blends the wet and dry signals, which makes subtler settings possible than on vintage phasers that ran at full strength.
Two footswitches and a side input extend the speed control:
- A tap-tempo footswitch overrides the speed knob, allowing what Guitar.com's Cillian Breathnach described as "rhythmic quacks or synchronised long sweeps"1.
- There is an input for an external expression pedal to control the rate of the low-frequency oscillator, the sweep-generating section of the circuit2.
Power, bypass and hardware
The Cyclone has true bypass switching and takes 9V of DC power2. Its enclosure measures 4.75" x 2.5" x 1.5", standard pedalboard-sized3.
The current version of the Cyclone is revB, which applies to units with serial number 210 or higher. If you are comparing a used unit to a new one, check the serial number to know which revision you are looking at4.
Where it came from and what it costs
Crazy Tube Circuits announced the Cyclone in early November 2019, with MusicRadar and Guitar.com both reporting the launch of the all-analog four-voice phaser with tap tempo and expression input, priced at €189 and available at launch21. Delicious Audio covered the pedal again in September 2021, describing it as an analog multi-mode tap tempo phaser emulating four classic vintage phasers6.
Guitar Player's 2021 review listed the street price at $2093, and the maker's store lists it at €189.00 with availability in 5-6 days45. A B-stock version appeared on the maker's store but is sold out7.
Videos
Pete Thorn
R.J. Ronquillo
Mike Hermans
Questions
Is the Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone true bypass?
Yes. The Cyclone uses true bypass switching, so with the pedal disengaged your signal passes through without the phaser circuit in the path. It runs on 9V DC power rather than a battery.
What phasers is the Cyclone based on?
The Cyclone is voiced after classic phaser designs of the past rather than one specific unit. The 45 setting follows a classic 2-stage phaser from the mid 1970s, the 90 a classic 4-stage phaser from the 1970s, ST the first implementation of another classic 4-stage 1970s design, and LT a sought-after boutique 4-notch phaser that appeared in the UK during the 1990s.
Does the Cyclone have a mix knob?
Yes. The Cyclone's controls are mix, feedback, depth, speed and mode. The mix knob lets you blend the phased signal with your dry sound, and the feedback knob goes beyond the original designs, which used a switch or had little or no feedback at all.
What changed in the Cyclone revB?
The current version of the Cyclone is revB, which applies to units with serial number 210 or higher. The maker's product page identifies revB as the current version; earlier units below that serial number are the original revision.
Sources (7)
- Crazy Tube Circuits’ Cyclone provides four discrete vintage phaser voices, Guitar.com, 2019-11-04
- The wind cries "analogue phaser" as Crazy Tube Circuits unveils the Cyclone, MusicRadar, 2019-11-04
- Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone Review, GuitarPlayer, 2021-11-01
- Cyclone - Crazy Tube Circuits, Crazy Tube Circuits
- Cyclone - pedals, Crazy Tube Circuits
- Crazy Tube Circuits Cyclone Phaser, Delicious Audio, 2021-09-16
- Cyclone (B-Stock), Crazy Tube Circuits