The Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter is a compact phaser pedal modeled on the Maestro Phaser of the early 1970s, the six-stage unit that helped launch the phaser effect. Released in March 2021 at a list price of $149, it keeps the original's six phase stages while adding a Color control the vintage box did not have123. It sits in the phaser family alongside the maker's other modulation pedals, such as the single-knob two-stage Mojo Hand FX Nebula.
Where it came from
The model here is the Maestro Phase Shifter PS-1, which MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley described as a six-stage phaser released in the early 1970s21. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio gave the original credit for starting the whole effect: "Released in the early '70s, the Maestro Phaser was the device that launched this effect's long and successful existence"1. The Mister-O, he wrote, "perfectly reproduces the tone of this historic and rare box and its six stages"1.
Guitar World's coverage framed the design the same way: "Mojo Hand FX has settled on a design that stays true to the original's six phase stages while adding extra flexibility"3. GuitarPlayer's Jackson Maxwell noted that the compact enclosure "takes after the beloved Maestro units of the early '70s, but with added sonic versatility"4.
The Mister-O Phase Shifter is made by Mojo Hand FX, which released it as the latest addition to its effects pedal lineup3. It was new at the time of review5 and is priced at $1492.
The controls: Speed, Depth and Color
The Mister-O has three knobs, and each does a distinct job:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Controls the rate of the LFO. Mojo Hand carefully replicated the unique shape of the original's LFO waveform at various speeds, so the wave shape changes slightly as you turn it16 |
| Depth | Adjusts the amount of phase shift, from subtle to more drastic12 |
| Color | Described by Mojo Hand with, in MusicRadar's words, "really the only word that's appropriate when talking about phasers: 'whoosh'"2 |
The Speed control's behavior is worth understanding if you are used to modern phasers. As MusicRadar put it, "That is just how vintage 70s phase shifters operated, with a change of speed also changing the LFO shape"2. Turning Speed does not just move the rate; it reshapes the modulation the way the old units did.
At its fastest setting, MusicRadar found the Mister-O "can take on a vibrato character"2, which puts it in territory shared with dedicated vibrato pedals.
The Leslie-style swirl setting
Both Guitar World and GuitarPlayer pointed to the same starting point: with each knob set to 12 o'clock, the pedal aims to simulate the sound of a Leslie rotary speaker3. GuitarPlayer condensed it: "Setting the knobs simply at noon produces a Leslie-esque swirl"4. Pedal of the Day agreed and added the Maestro connection: "To most closely simulate the sound of the original with Mister-O, you can start with the Speed, Depth, and Color knobs pointing straight up to 12 o'clock"6.
So the noon position does double duty: it is both the closest approximation of the vintage Maestro sound and the pedal's Leslie-style swirl643.
Power and practicalities
The Mister-O runs on a standard center negative 9V DC supply, which is not included, and draws about 70mA1. That current draw is worth checking against your pedalboard supply before adding it to a daisy chain with other pedals. Switching is true bypass1, and the pedal fits a standard pedal format7.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day reviewed the pedal shortly after release and summed it up: "Bravo to the team at Mojo Hand FX on 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
News
Questions
Is the Mojo Hand FX Mister-O true bypass?
Yes. Delicious Audio's product page lists the Mister-O as true bypass, so the pedal takes itself out of the signal path entirely when switched off, leaving your dry tone untouched.
What power does the Mister-O need?
The Mister-O runs on a standard 9V DC center negative supply and draws about 70mA. A supply is not included, so you will need your own adapter or a pedalboard power supply output with enough current to spare.
Does the Mister-O come with a power supply?
No. Delicious Audio's product page specifies a standard center negative 9V DC supply, not included, so plan on using your own adapter or an isolated output on a pedalboard power supply.
What knob settings give the Leslie-style swirl?
With the Speed, Depth and Color knobs all pointing straight up to 12 o'clock, the pedal aims to simulate the sound of a Leslie rotary speaker. GuitarPlayer put it simply: setting the knobs at noon produces a Leslie-esque swirl, and Pedal of the Day notes those positions most closely simulate the original Maestro's sound.
How many stages does the Mister-O have?
The Mister-O has six phase stages, the same count as the early 1970s Maestro Phaser it is modeled on. Reviewers noted that Mojo Hand FX kept the original's six-stage design while adding extra flexibility.
Why did Gibson send Mojo Hand FX a cease and desist?
In August 2021, Gibson's intellectual property counsel demanded that Mojo Hand FX stop using the MAESTRO mark and the Mister-O mark, following the pedal's release earlier that year.
Sources (7)
- Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter, Delicious Audio, 2021-03-16
- Mojo Hand FX serves up some old-school whoosh and swirl with the Mister-O Phase Shifter, MusicRadar, 2021-03-19
- 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
- Gibson serves Mojo Hand FX with cease and desist over use of Mister-O name, guitarworld.com, 2021-08-03
- Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2021-07-03
- The new Mojo Hand FX Mister-O Phase Shifter is packed with classic '70s phaser tones, gearnews.com, 2021-03-18
