The PastFX Nick James Foot Phaser is a phaser pedal made by PastFX in collaboration with Nick James of Peril Pedals, based on the Foxx Foot Phaser V11. The original Foxx was a treadle-style phaser from the 1970s whose design allowed the phase speed to be controlled by knob or treadle, and PastFX notes that it is Version 1's design that is most synonymous with Brian May2. PastFX also builds related phasers including the PastFX Foot Phaser Deluxe, the PastFX Rotary Phaser and the PastFX Gallstone.
Where the circuit comes from
Foxx released several versions of the Foot Phaser with different numbers of phase stages and circuit design3. The Nick James Foot Phaser takes the V1 circuit as its starting point1. The original's treadle design let players control phase speed by foot or by knob3, and the PastFX version carries the speed control forward as a knob with a two-position range switch.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed knob | Sets the rate of the phase sweep3 |
| Depth knob | Sets the intensity of the effect3 |
| 2 speed range switch | Selects between two speed ranges3 |
| LED indicator | Shows when the effect is on3 |
The Phase Sweep Bias trimpot
Inside the pedal, a blue precision trimpot adjusts the Phase Sweep Bias. It has a 25-turn rotation to cover the entire value of the potentiometer3. PastFX's adjustment procedure:
- Set the range switch to fast and turn both Speed and Depth knobs fully clockwise.
- Adjust the trimpot until phasing becomes audible.
- Switch to slow and fine tune3.
Hand-matched JFET transistors
The phasing circuit uses 10 hand-matched JFET transistors. PastFX says the pedal "requires considerable testing to find a set of 10 matching transistors. This involves testing thousands of transistors by hand"1. Matching matters here because the phase stages need consistent transistor characteristics for the sweep to work as intended; the matching work is part of why each unit is built as it is3.
Power and build
The pedal runs on 9V DC from a 2.1mm jack, negative tip supply, in the Boss style13. PastFX states it "requires considerable testing" only of transistors; on power, the manual is specific about the supply:
"Regulated, Isolated Linear / Transformer based supply is highly recommended"
PastFX recommends a regulated, isolated linear or transformer-based supply rather than a daisy-chained or switching supply3. The pedal draws approximately 10 mA3. PastFX also notes that product specifications are subject to change without notice1.
Build details from the manual include quality components such as Neutrik jacks and Lumberg DC sockets, a powder-coated enclosure with a UV-printed graphic, and a compact modern-sized footprint3. PastFX lists free shipping to most countries, with USA customers noted separately1.
Videos
The Pedal Picassos
Pedal Experiments
Questions
Who designed the PastFX Nick James Foot Phaser?
The pedal is a collaboration between PastFX and Nick James of Peril Pedals. It is based on the Foxx Foot Phaser V1, the version of the original treadle phaser that PastFX describes as most synonymous with Brian May.
What is the Phase Sweep Bias trimpot for?
The blue precision trimpot sets the phase sweep bias so the phasing effect sweeps correctly across its range. It has a 25-turn rotation to cover the entire value of the potentiometer. PastFX's procedure: with the range switch on fast and both Speed and Depth knobs fully clockwise, adjust the trimpot until phasing becomes audible, then switch to slow and fine tune.
How much current does the Nick James Foot Phaser draw?
PastFX's manual states the pedal draws approximately 10 mA, which is a light load that most pedalboard power supplies can handle on a single outlet.
Why does the pedal use hand-matched JFET transistors?
The phasing circuit needs a set of 10 matching JFET transistors. PastFX says finding them requires considerable testing, involving testing thousands of transistors by hand, so that the phase stages behave consistently.
What power supply does the Foot Phaser need?
It runs on 9V DC from a 2.1mm jack, negative tip, in the Boss style. PastFX highly recommends a regulated, isolated linear or transformer-based supply.
Sources (3)
- Nick James Foot Phaser, pastfx.com, 2026
- Foot Phaser Deluxe, PastFx, 2026
- PastFx_Nick_James_Foot_Phaser_Manual_Dec_2020.pdf, PastFx, 2020-12
