Asheville Music Tools APH-12 12-Stage Phaser - Purple

The Purple Phaze

Analoger Series APH-12:

100% Analog 12-Stage All-Pass Filter, Dynamic Phaser, Vibrato Pedal

The Analoger™ Series APH-12 is a 100% analog 12-stage phase shifter with deep functionality in a compact footprint. It delivers not only classic phaser tones, but many features and sounds not normally associated with traditional phasers. With a selectable number of all-pass stages from 1 to 12, and our signature control voltage processing, multiple flavors of modulation sit at your fingertips. The APH-12 delivers classic or extreme phase shifting, faux Leslie warble, vibrato and tremolo, vocal envelope followed filter funkiness, and striking multi-peak EQing. Designed by Hawker, this pedal continues the legacy of high stage count phasers and adds some surprises and special features to install Purple pHaze all in your brain.

“A box of rain will ease the pain, and love will see you through”

What Makes the APH-12 Special

This isn’t your father’s monster, wood-sided phaser.

Instead of simply updating a lost 12-stage phaser of the past, we rolled our own from the ground up.

At the start of the APH-12 Phaser project, we spent much time deciding how to bring something special to the table with our unique Asheville Music Tools touch. We knew it had to go beyond the usual expectations of phasers to achieve new sounds coupled with cross-generational appeal. It couldn’t just recreate what Hawker or others had done in the past. Furthermore, it needed to be in a guitar and pedalboard-friendly format that balanced size, features and sound quality to keep it approachable.

At its core, the APH-12 nails that classic 12 and 6-stage phaser sound with warm overdrive on tap. From there, we went a little wild. We exploded the low stage counts and out of phase odd stages to create vocal and filter sounds that are rarely heard in phasers. We know of no other phaser that has done this. Did you know that a 1 stage phaser is a high pass filter and makes for a great tremolo sound? Or that a 2-stage phaser is a notch filter? Or that 3 stages (with envelope control) can challenge any auto-wah out there?

From there we created a uniquely sculpted regeneration circuit that sums the feedback at a different part of the loop than most phasers. This accentuates the notches of the comb filter and gives more pronounced resonance, for an attention-grabbing intensity without uncomfortable sibilance.

Next we knew we had to add the envelope follower, based on our AFG-1 flanger circuit, to the APH-12 as well. This feature adds funky, expressive capabilities to your playing dynamics in a way that typical asynchronous modulation just can’t touch. If our beta testers are any indication, you will get lost in it!

Then there are all of the signature AMpT touches you have come to expect, including our new saturation circuit with drive, our smooth and natural sine wave, exponential (rather than linear) LFO modulation, a two-speed LFO switch, and a calibrated mix switch to give you three distinct phaser sounds from subtle to deep phasing and vibrato. And of course, we added external expression or control voltage capabilities for those adventurous enough to go beyond the front panel controls.

Developing the APH-12 was a fascinating learning experience: with all the excitement of a 12-stage phaser (and of course, there is nothing quite like a 12-stage phaser with a 2 minute sweep) we were surprised to learn how much we loved the under-explored character of the out-of-phase 3 and 5 stage modes, or the utilitarian tremolo-like sounds of 1 and 2 stage modes. Add on top of that the power of envelope followed modulation, and we knew we had something special. Far from a simple phase shifter, this is a versatile modulation toolkit for discerning guitarists and bold sound designers alike.

Specifications

Electrical Specifications

• Type: 100% Analog signal, modulation and control path
• Power: 9VDC @ <125mA. 70-100mA typical. Up to 200mA start up. Standard pedal center negative 2.1mm x 5.5mm barrel.
• Input impedance: >1MΩ
• Output impedance: 1KΩ Max
• Maximum input signal: -10dBµ / 0.25VRMS = 1% THD, +1dBµ / 0.87VRMS = 10% THD
• Maximum output signal: -0.9dBµ / 0.7VRMS
• Noise Reduction: 12.5dB HF emphasis 3dB = 1.4kHz
• Stage options: 8 Total, 1-12 stages: 1-6, 9, 12. Odd # = out of phase.
• Sweep Range: Center 25Hz to 10kHz typical. 3Hz to <50kHz with use of LFO, Envelope or external Control Voltage.
• Resonance: Off to self-oscillation using EXP input coupled with knob position.
• Rate: LFO RATE, Type: Sine Wave. Slow <0.01Hz to 2.3Hz (3.3Hz with CV control). Fast <0.3Hz to 78Hz (~115Hz with CV control)
• Envelope: Positive SWEEP control of modulation. Fast Attack, medium release.
• Amount: LFO depth control from OFF to ~60% of SWEEP.
• Drive: Up to 30dB of boost with increasing saturation and mid emphasis as gain is increased.
• MIX Switch: 3 Position; Mix: FX/Mostly dry, 50/50, VIB/100% wet.
• MOD Switch: LFO Selector: Fast, Slow, Envelope
• Expression / CV: 4-way switch: Sweep, Regeneration, Rate or Amount external control additive to front panel knob, extending range. TRS jack usable with CV or Expression pedal, (CV range 0-5V). Ring supplied current limited ~5V output. Control input on Tip.
• Bypass Footswitch: effect on/off. True Bypass: LED indicates LFO rate or Envelope pre-amount signal.

Physical Specifications

• Genuine Hammond™ die-cast aluminum enclosure
• Dimensions: D=4.95” (12.5 cm), W=3.75” (9.4 cm), H=2.25” (5.8 cm)
• Weight: 14oz (425g)

Note: All specifications subject to change at the whim of our overlords