Between flanger, phaser, and chorus. I know some people swear by putting phaser or flanger in front of their dirt. But for me, with an MXR Micro Flanger, it was just too subtle in front of my dirt pedals. I just obtained an MXR Phase 95, and currently have after dirt with my flanger. They’re both going into front of amp, which I do have on the dirty channel, but with low gain. And my chorus is in the loop along with delay and tremolo.
Phaser is one that seems to work well both before and after dirt, just depends on what you want to get out of it.
For years I was putting my Phase 90 after dirt and it was pretty cool that way, but it does push the phasing effect to its absolute extreme. Then one day on a lark a couple years back I tried moving the phase before dirt, and just absolutely loved how subtle it sounded. The feeling of movement was still there, but not way in your face any longer, and it just seemed much more natural and beautiful sounding to me.
But it isn’t ‘wrong’ in the slightest to put phase after if having that more extreme sound is what you want/need
Thanks @WholeLottaButtStuff (do you play bass? lots of bottom end there). I noticed the phaser is much more prominent than the flanger, both before and after dirt. Could just be from my choice of pedals! I found the flanger way too subtle before dirt. The phaser was still noticeable before dirt, and I could work with it (like if I were in a band and covering a song I’d want to order more like what the original player did), but just for at home noodling right now I like it slapping harder after. I think if I ever get back into a band I’m going to have to go for a loop switcher so I can setup playlist banks.
I do play both bass and guitar… but I’ve never actually used phaser with bass, so I can’t really comment on what would work best it.
When I comes to bass effects, I like filter type effects, but that’s pretty much it.
I like my phase 90 (script version) before dirt. It’s subtler, more natural and kinda pink floydy / phishy. Every once in a while I’ll try it after dirt and it doesn’t sound as nice to me… Kinda artificial.
I’m still figuring out where to put my Mooer Elady (which I use for subtle chorus sometimes)… It seems less picky about pre/post dirt but I could be wrong… Still figuring it out!
