The StewMac Lightcycle is an optical phaser pedal, sold as a pre-built version of a DIY kit design from StewMac's Lightcycle Phasor II. StewMac describes it as their take on the Mu-Tron Phasor II, "the most versatile phaser ever made," and says it packs the tone and flexibility of the original into a pedalboard friendly box1. If you are new to the effect type, it sits alongside other phaser pedals, which sweep a series of notches through your signal for that familiar whooshing motion.
What it does
As an optical phaser, the Lightcycle uses an LED and photo resistors to create its sweep rather than the transistor stages some other phasers use. StewMac calls it "a studio-quality optical circuit that gave players precise control over lush, dynamic textures right at their feet," with a range they describe as running from rotary speaker shimmer to wild spacey soundscapes2.
On the face of the pedal you get three controls:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Depth | Sets how pronounced the sweep is |
| Rate | Sets the speed of the sweep |
| Feedback | Sets how much of the phased signal is fed back |
Premier Guitar's Nick Millevoi, presenting the pedal in a March 2024 demo, described it as having "deep functionality with depth, rate, and feedback controls," along with "a true bypass switch"3.
There is one internal control worth knowing about. TR1, a trim pot on the right side of the board, "adjusts the cycle of the LFO LED from dark to light," and StewMac's guidance is simply to set it to taste2.
The DIY angle
The Lightcycle comes from StewMac's DIY line, and it is offered both as a kit and pre-built. Premier Guitar's demo notes that the build "includes photo resistors and vertically mounted resistors, both of which are tricky to install"3. For a player who would rather skip the soldering, the pre-built version puts the same circuit in a finished pedal.
The Lightcycle is one of four pre-built pedals in StewMac's lineup alongside the Sun Fuzz, Ghost Drive Transparent Overdrive and Two Kings Dual Boost Overdrive1.
Videos
Premier Guitar
TheGuitarGeek
Pedal of the Day and StewMac
Questions
What is the StewMac Lightcycle based on?
StewMac describes the Lightcycle Phasor II as their take on the Mu-Tron Phasor II, which they call the most versatile phaser ever made. It is an optical phaser, meaning an LED and photo resistor set the sweeping of the effect, and StewMac says it keeps the tone and flexibility of the original in a pedalboard friendly box.
How much does the StewMac Lightcycle cost?
Premier Guitar's demo, presented by Nick Millevoi in March 2024, lists the price at $124.99. It is sold as a pre-built version of a DIY kit design, so the price covers a finished pedal rather than the kit itself.
What controls does the Lightcycle have?
The pedal has depth, rate and feedback controls on its face, plus a true bypass switch. Inside, an internal trim pot labeled TR1 on the right side adjusts the cycle of the LFO LED from dark to light, and StewMac says to set it to taste.
Sources (3)
- StewMac Sun Fuzz / Ghost Drive / Two Kings / Lightcycle Phasor II, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2025-09-08
- StewMac Lightcycle Phasor II Pre-Built DIY Optical Phaser, Pedal of the Day, 2025-11-22
- StewMac Lightcycle Phasor II, Premier Guitar, 2024-03-04
