The Red Witch SOLARIA is an 8-stage analog phaser pedal from Red Witch Pedals, and it was the company's first design built around OTA (operational transconductance amplifier) circuitry rather than the FET stages used in classics like the Phase 90 or Small Stone12. It was a limited edition: designer and Red Witch founder Ben Fulton built only 79 units, each hand assembled, numbered and signed, and the pedal is now listed as sold out on the maker's site1.
Where most phasers on players' boards are 4-stage designs, the Solaria doubles the number of phase-shifting stages, which Red Witch says produces deeper, more immersive phase tones1. MusicRadar's Jonathan Horsley reviewed it in September 2024 and called it "quite possibly the most versatile phaser ever designed," one that "opens the door to pretty much any phase sound you could imagine"2.
An eight-stage OTA phaser
The Solaria's circuit is built on OTA stages, the same approach MusicRadar describes as giving a sound that is more "chewy" and "jet-like" than FET-driven phasers, putting more extreme degrees of swirl within reach2. Red Witch puts it in its own words on the product page:
"OTA phasers give a very different sound to FET based phasers. More chewy. More 'jet-like'."
The 8-stage count is the other half of the design. Red Witch notes that most phasers, naming the Phase 90 and Small Stone as examples, are 4-stage designs, and that the Solaria's doubled stage count is part of what gives it its deeper character1. MusicRadar confirmed the topology in its review, describing the pedal as OTA-driven analog circuitry and "a wholly original take on the 8-stage phaser"2.
For a player comparing phasers, the practical difference is character: a 4-stage FET phaser such as a Phase 90 gives the familiar round, vocal sweep, while an 8-stage OTA design like the Solaria shifts more of the spectrum at once with a sound both Red Witch and MusicRadar describe as chewier and more jet-like12.
The controls
The Solaria carries four knobs. Two are the traditional phaser controls, and two shape the effect in ways Red Witch borrowed from its earlier designs.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Velocity | Sets the sweep speed, from a slow crawl to an ultrafast bubbling1 |
| Mix | Blends as little or as much of the effect as you like, balancing dry and processed signal12 |
| Resonance | Feeds some of the phased signal back into itself, making the phasing more pronounced1 |
| Dimension | Wound back, the phase sound is deep and pulse-y; wound forward it becomes lighter and shimmery1 |
The Dimension control has a family history: Red Witch says it was influenced by the Trajectory control of the Moon Phaser, and Fulton based it on that control from the original Moon Phaser, so players who know that pedal will recognize the concept2. Wound back, the phase sound is deep and pulse-y; wound forward, it becomes lighter and shimmery1.
Build, bypass and availability
Each Solaria was hand built by Fulton using through-hole components, with high-spec Neutrik jack sockets hand wired in1. MusicRadar also noted that the footswitch is mounted independently of the main board, which makes the pedal more road-worthy2. The true bypass footswitch is likewise described by Red Witch as independent from the main PCB for durability1.
The Solaria is sold out and was strictly limited. Red Witch built 79 units, each numbered and hand-signed by Ben Fulton, and stated that once they sold out there would be no more12. It shipped free worldwide via DHL International express tracked courier1.
At 349 USD, MusicRadar observed that "the price invites serious phaser heads only"2. For players shopping today, Red Witch's current phaser options include the Invidium in the Apothecary series.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's September 2024 review was strongly positive on versatility:
"Quite possibly the most versatile phaser ever designed... opens the door to pretty much any phase sound you could imagine"
The review framed the Solaria as the first OTA phaser to come off the Red Witch breadboard, built with Neutrik jacks and an independently mounted footswitch, and limited to 79 hand-signed units2.
Videos
Red Witch Pedals
Questions
Is the Red Witch Solaria true bypass?
Yes. Red Witch describes the Solaria as having a super high quality true bypass footswitch that is mounted independently from the main PCB, which the maker says offers more durability and resistance to heavy use on the road.
How many Red Witch Solaria pedals were made?
The Solaria was a limited edition of 79 pedals. Each one was hand built, numbered and signed by designer Ben Fulton, and Red Witch stated that once they sold out there would be no more.
What is the difference between an OTA and a FET phaser?
OTA phasers use operational transconductance amplifiers in the phase-shifting stages, while FET phasers use field-effect transistors. Red Witch and MusicRadar both describe the OTA sound as more chewy and jet-like, with deeper, more immersive phase tones than FET-based designs.
Is the Red Witch Solaria still available?
No. The Red Witch product page lists the Solaria as sold out, and the run was limited to 79 units with no further production planned. Players looking for a Red Witch phaser would need to find one secondhand.
How much did the Red Witch Solaria cost?
The Solaria was priced at 349 USD, with free DHL International express tracked shipping anywhere in the world. MusicRadar noted that at $349 the price invited serious phaser heads only.
Sources (2)
- SOLARIA - 8 Stage Phaser - Red Witch Pedals, Red Witch Pedals
- “Quite possibly the most versatile phaser ever designed... opens the door to pretty much any phase sound you could imagine”: Red Witch Pedals offers a wholly original take on the 8-stage phaser with the high-end, OTA-driven Solaria, MusicRadar, 2024-09-06
