The Electra 875 Phase Shifter is a vintage phaser pedal made by Electra for a short time in the late 1970s. It is essentially a rebranded Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, the compact phaser Electro-Harmonix first released in 1975, and it carries that pedal's approach: a single speed knob and a switch that deepens the phase effect. Pedal of the Day, which featured the 875 in October 2019, called it "a kind of rare, vintage and killer-sounding phaser"1.
Where it came from
The Small Stone that the 875 is based on first appeared in 1975. TONEHOME lists the original version as the Small Stone Phase Shifter v1 from 1975, with a v2 following in 197821. Barry Rudolph's review likewise refers to "the original 1975 Small Stone phase shifter"3. The Electra 875 arrived during that same era, produced briefly in the late 1970s before disappearing from the market1.
Controls and power
The 875 keeps its control layout simple, in keeping with its Small Stone roots1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Vario Phase knob | Controls the speed/rate of the LFO wave that controls the effect1 |
| Color switch | Adds in some feedback and phase intensity1 |
The 875 runs on a 9V battery or a 3.5mm power source1. The 3.5mm connector is not the barrel connector used by most modern pedalboard supplies, so powering one on a modern board takes some care.
What it sounds like
Pedal of the Day describes a range of uses across the Vario Phase knob's travel: "At low levels, you get a sort of tone enhancer, adding in just a smidge of effect to your original sound," moving up to a spinning, pulsating effect at higher settings1. The same review found the pedal friendly to your core tone for its age, noting that it "isn't as much of a tone sucker as many pedals from this era happen to be"1.
Who has used it
The 875's best-documented player is Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs. Pedal of the Day names him as the pedal's most famous player in its 2019 feature1.
Finding one today
Because the 875 was only produced for a short time in the late 1970s, Pedal of the Day noted in 2019 that "these boxes are becoming harder and harder to find"1. Players looking for the same circuit in a current production pedal can look at the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, which remains in the catalog in its modern form1.
Videos
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Electra 875 based on the Electro-Harmonix Small Stone?
Yes. Pedal of the Day describes the Electra 875 Phase Shifter as essentially a rebranded Electro-Harmonix Small Stone, the phaser Electro-Harmonix first released in 1975. The 875 was produced for a short time in the late 1970s, which is why the two pedals share so much of their character and circuit design.
Does the Electra 875 take a battery?
Yes. The Electra 875 runs on a 9V battery, and it can also be powered from a 3.5mm power source. Players should note that the 3.5mm connector is not the center-negative 2.1mm barrel standard used by most modern pedalboard power supplies.
What does the Color switch do on the Electra 875?
According to Pedal of the Day, the Color switch adds in some feedback and phase intensity. With it engaged, the phasing effect becomes more pronounced and colored; with it off, the effect sits back in the sound.
Which guitarist has used the Electra 875?
The most famous player of the Electra 875 Phase Shifter is Adam Granduciel of The War on Drugs, as noted by Pedal of the Day in its 2019 feature on the pedal.
Is the Electra 875 hard to find?
Yes. The 875 was produced for a short time in the late 1970s, and Pedal of the Day noted in 2019 that these boxes were already becoming harder and harder to find. Expect a vintage-market hunt rather than a store-shelf purchase.
Sources (3)
- Electra 875 Phase Shifter Phaser, Pedal of the Day, 2019-10-29
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- Electro-Harmonix Small Stone Reissue, barryrudolph.com, 2021
