The Mojo Hand FX Mister-O is a compact phaser pedal launched by Mojo Hand FX in March 2021, built to reproduce the tone of the Maestro Phase Shifter PS-1, a rare and sought-after early '70s unit123. Where the original PS-1 was a large box with rocker switches, the Mister-O fits into a standard pedal format with three knobs, and it carries a $149 street price24.
The pedal is a six-stage phaser, staying true to the six phase stages of the Maestro design it takes after5267. Premier Guitar's reviewer described it as a digital pedal, so although its voice is modeled on an all-analog 1970s original, the Mister-O itself is digital2.
A six-stage phaser inspired by the Maestro PS-1
The Mister-O's lineage goes back to the Maestro Phase Shifter PS-1, designed by Tom Oberheim in 1971. MusicRadar notes that the PS-1 was a six-stage phaser, and that the Mister-O was built to "nail the dreamy '70s tones of the original Maestro units"5. Delicious Audio's coverage put the original's place in history plainly:
"Released in the early '70s, the Maestro Phaser was the device that launched this effect's long and successful existence1."
Paolo De Gregorio, Delicious Audio1
Mojo Hand FX settled on a design that keeps the original's six phase stages while adding extra flexibility the PS-1 did not have7. GuitarPlayer described the result as a compact phaser that "takes after the beloved Maestro units of the early '70s, but with added sonic versatility"8. Delicious Audio went further, saying the Mister-O "perfectly reproduces the tone of this historic and rare box and its six stages"1.
The visual design echoes the original too. Premier Guitar's reviewer noted that "Mister-O" is printed in an original font that evokes the old Maestro logo, on a white-on-black pinstripe finish with tri-color branding at the bottom2.
The controls
The Mister-O replaces the PS-1's rocker switches with three variable knobs2. Each one maps to a core phaser parameter:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Controls the rate of the LFO, that is, how fast the phase sweep moves4 |
| Depth | Sets how dramatic the effect is, from subtle to drastic phase shift15 |
| Color | Controls the amount of feedback regeneration, adding more or less "whoosh"6 |
The Speed knob is a direct modernization: Premier Guitar notes the Mister-O uses a variable speed knob where the PS-1 used rocker switches to change rate2. The Depth knob adjusts the amount of phase shift, so it can be set for a more or less drastic effect1. The Color knob is a resonance control, and Pedal of the Day described it as adding "a bit more or less 'whoosh' if desired"6.
At the fastest Speed settings, MusicRadar found the pedal can take on a vibrato character5. The one-page manual that comes with the pedal includes suggested settings based on original Maestro PS-1 voices2.
What it does not have
The Mister-O does not share the PS-1's capability for ramping between speeds, a function Premier Guitar's reviewer said enhanced the original's "Leslie-ness," and there is no expression pedal input to cover that function2. Rate, depth and resonance are set entirely with the three knobs.
In August 2021, Gibson's intellectual property counsel demanded that Mojo Hand FX stop using the Maestro mark and the Mister-O mark, after the Gibson trademark Maestro was referenced in the pedal's marketing3. Future versions of the pedal are called Mr. O to avoid confusion with the Maestro brand2.
What reviewers said
Premier Guitar reviewed the Mister-O in September 2023 and found it "a wide-frequency voice that seems to retain much of a guitar's natural color," with clear low end and an airy, present top end2. The reviewer's verdict on the low end was specific:
"Mister-O's clear low-end carves out room for other phasing nuances that make the output sound more complex and detailed2."
Premier Guitar2
That review was not entirely uncritical: the same reviewer found that "the color knob can add extra noise as you get into its weirdest zones"2. On value, Premier Guitar pointed to "the very appealing $149 street price"2.
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal shortly after its release in July 2021 and summed it up as "a faithful reproduction of a classic, along with some modern amenities to really make it a versatile piece of modulation equipment"6.
Videos
Mike Hermans
Pedal of the Day
JJ Tanis
Questions
Is the Mojo Hand FX Mister-O analog or digital?
It is digital. Premier Guitar's review describes it as a digital, six-stage phaser, even though it is voiced after the all-analog Maestro PS-1 of the early 1970s. The pedal fits in a standard compact pedal format rather than the large original Maestro enclosure.
What is the Mister-O based on?
It is based on the Maestro Phase Shifter PS-1, a six-stage phaser designed by Tom Oberheim in 1971. Mojo Hand FX kept the original's six phase stages but replaced its rocker switches with variable Speed, Depth and Color knobs, adding flexibility the original did not have.
Does the Mister-O have an expression pedal input?
No. Premier Guitar's review notes it lacks the PS-1's capability for ramping between speeds, and there is no expression pedal input to cover that function. Rate, depth and resonance are set only with the three knobs on the pedal itself.
Why is the Mister-O being renamed Mr. O?
In August 2021, Gibson's intellectual property counsel demanded that Mojo Hand FX stop using the Maestro mark and the Mister-O mark, after the Maestro name was referenced in the pedal's marketing. Future versions of the pedal are called Mr. O to avoid confusion with the Maestro brand.
How many stages does the Mister-O have?
It has six phase stages, matching the Maestro PS-1 it is modeled on. Multiple outlets, including MusicRadar, Guitar World and Premier Guitar, all describe it as a six-stage phaser.
Sources (8)
- Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter, Delicious Audio, 2021-03-16
- Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter Review, Premier Guitar, 2021-09-24
- Gibson serves Mojo Hand FX with cease and desist over use of Mister-O name, Guitar World, 2021-08-03
- The new Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter is packed with classic '70s phaser tones, gearnews.com, 2021-03-18
- Mojo Hand FX serves up some old-school whoosh and swirl with the Mister-O Phase Shifter, MusicRadar, 2021-03-19
- Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2021-07-03
- Mojo Hand FX introduces Maestro-inspired Mister-O Phase Shifter pedal, Guitar World, 2021-03-17
- Mojo Hand FX Debuts New Mister-O Phase Shifter Pedal, GuitarPlayer, 2021-03-17
