The Poison Noises Ray Gun Phaser V2 is a compact phaser pedal that offers eight different phase effects in one box. Rather than committing to a single phaser circuit, it lets the player switch seamlessly between 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 stages, and it adds Pitch, Flange and Aliaser phaser modes that go beyond conventional phaser sounds. Pedal of the Day reviewed it on its release in September 2022, when Poison Noises was putting out new versions of its entire effects pedal lineup1.
Eight phase effects in one pedal
The headline of the Ray Gun Phaser V2 is its range of phasing options. A phaser works by splitting the signal and shifting the phase of part of it, and the number of stages in the circuit shapes how deep and complex the sweep is. Most phasers fix that number; the Ray Gun makes it a choice, with the ability to switch between 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 stages, and the reviewer found it hard to compete with the Ray Gun on phasing options1.
| What the pedal offers | Detail |
|---|---|
| Phase effects | 8 different phase effects in one compact pedal1 |
| Stage counts | Switchable seamlessly between 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 stages1 |
| Extended modes | Pitch, Flange and Aliaser phasers1 |
| V2 addition | Volume control1 |
Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that "with the ability to seamlessly switch between 2, 4, 6, 8, or a whopping 10 stages, it is hard to compete with the Ray Gun" on phasing options1.
"with the ability to seamlessly switch between 2, 4, 6, 8, or a whopping 10 stages, it is hard to compete with the Ray Gun"
The last three of the eight effects are the Pitch, Flange and Aliaser phasers. The reviewer described them as "added to keep tone chasers busy for days on end," creating new sounds past the pedal's more traditional settings1. Players who want a flanger-adjacent sweep in the same box may also want to compare against dedicated flanger pedals.
The V2 and the overhauled lineup
The V2 adds a volume control to the original Ray Gun's formula, which Pedal of the Day said was included "to push this pedal to the next level"1. It arrived in September 2022 as part of a wider refresh: Poison Noises was releasing new versions of its entire lineup of effects pedals around that time1.
The 2022 V2 lineup the review places the Ray Gun in includes:
- Hall of Mirrors Reverb V22
- The Seesaw Pitch Shifter V23
- The Postman Envelope Filter V24
- Tractor Beam Optical Tremolo V25
- Glut Cheeks Fuzz V26
- The Narc Fuzz Distortion V27
The Ray Gun Phaser V2 is a revised version of the original Ray Gun. The difference the review highlights is the added volume control; players comparing the two versions should weigh that against the original's layout.
Who it suits
Pedal of the Day frames the Ray Gun's range as running "from basic solo/duo guitar work to shoegaze, noise rock," with the reviewer writing that "the Ray Gun will guarantee that your guitar tone is armed and ready"1. For players in those louder, textural styles, the Pitch, Flange and Aliaser modes are the obvious draw; for players who want a straightforward phaser, the lower stage counts cover that ground. A broader look at the type is on the Phaser Pedals page.
Videos
Poison Noises
Pedal of the Day
Questions
How many phase effects does the Ray Gun Phaser V2 have?
Eight. Pedal of the Day describes the Ray Gun Phaser V2 as offering 8 different phase effects, all in one compact pedal. The last three of those effects are the Pitch, Flange and Aliaser phasers, which the reviewer said were added to keep tone chasers busy for days on end, creating new sounds beyond the pedal's more conventional phaser settings.
How many stages can the Ray Gun Phaser V2 switch between?
The pedal can switch seamlessly between 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 stages of phasing. Pedal of the Day's reviewer wrote that with this ability it is hard to compete with the Ray Gun on phasing options, since most phasers fix the number of stages in their circuit while the Ray Gun lets the player choose.
What is new in the V2 compared with the original Ray Gun?
The V2 adds a volume control, which Pedal of the Day said was included to push the pedal to the next level. The V2 was also released as part of a newly overhauled lineup, with Poison Noises releasing new versions of their entire range of effects pedals in 2022.
What are the Pitch, Flange and Aliaser modes?
They are the last three of the pedal's eight phase effects. Pedal of the Day describes them as Pitch, Flange and Aliaser phasers, added to keep tone chasers busy for days on end by creating new sounds that go past the classic phaser territory covered by the pedal's other modes.
Is the Ray Gun Phaser V2 suited to shoegaze?
Pedal of the Day's review says the pedal runs from basic solo or duo guitar work to shoegaze and noise rock, and the reviewer wrote that the Ray Gun will guarantee that your guitar tone is armed and ready. The Pitch, Flange and Aliaser modes give players looking for unusual textures a wide field to explore.
Sources (7)
- Poison Noises Ray Gun Phaser V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-09-17
- Poison Noises Hall of Mirrors Reverb V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-08-05
- Poison Noises The Seesaw Pitch Shifter V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-08-26
- Poison Noises The Postman Envelope Filter V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-08-12
- Poison Noises Tractor Beam Optical Tremolo V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-09-02
- Poison Noises Glut Cheeks Fuzz V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-09-03
- Poison Noises The Narc Fuzz Distortion V2, Pedal of the Day, 2022-08-13
