The Ross Phaser is a phaser from the relaunched Ross range built by JHS. It carries two fully variable knobs plus a push-button option switch on the side, and it includes a Uni-Vibe voicing alongside its phaser sounds. In Guitar Pedal X's 2023 appraisal of the new Ross pedals against their MXR counterparts, the reviewer gave the Ross Phaser the win over the MXR Phase 100 despite its higher price1.
What it does
The Ross Phaser produces phasing effects, the sweeping, filtered sound created by a phaser pedal, and adds a Uni-Vibe voicing for a broader range of modulation textures. Its control layout is deliberately simple: as Guitar Pedal X's Stefan Karlsson put it, the pedal offers "just having 2 fully variable knobs (and a push-button option switch on the side)"1. The side-mounted button switches the pedal's voicing options, including the Uni-Vibe setting, which Karlsson singled out: "I love the fact that the Ross comes with a Uni-Vibe voicing"1.
Design and price
The new Ross range uses what the reviewer describes as a period-correct recessed enclosure with modern top-mounted jacks, a nod to the enclosures Ross adopted in 1978 after threatened legal action from MXR led the company to design its own housings with recessed knobs. The pedal listed at $189 USD as of August 20231.
In the same review's head-to-head with the MXR Phase 100, Karlsson's verdict was clear: "the Ross Phaser takes the win here therefore even though it's $40 more"1.
The Ross line has changed hands several times. Cameron Ross attempted a revival as Ross Audibles in 2019, and a 2020 partnership with Josh Scott of JHS Pedals relaunched the brand, leading to five reissue pedals in 2023. Pedal of the Day reported in August 2026 that a new ROSS ERA 6 series revival begins with the ROSS Phaser, so versions of this pedal may differ by era.
Questions
How much does the new Ross Phaser cost?
The new Ross range carried a list price of $189 USD as of August 2023, according to Guitar Pedal X's review of the range. The reviewer noted the Ross Phaser cost $40 more than the MXR Phase 100 he compared it with, but still gave the Ross the win in that comparison.
What is the Uni-Vibe voicing on the Ross Phaser?
The Ross Phaser includes a Uni-Vibe voicing, selectable via the push-button option switch on the side of the pedal. Guitar Pedal X's reviewer Stefan Karlsson singled it out for praise, writing that he loved that the Ross comes with a Uni-Vibe voicing alongside its phaser sounds.
Sources (1)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2023-08-24
