Electro Harmonix Nano Small Stone Phaser

The Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone captures the warm, liquid sweep of the legendary Small Stone phaser in a compact and pedalboard-friendly enclosure. Based around an all-analogue circuit, it produces everything from slow, spacious movement to fast rotary-style modulation using an exceptionally straightforward control layout.

The Rate knob adjusts the speed of the phasing sweep, while the two-position Color switch changes the intensity and character of the effect. Keep Color down for a full, smooth phase sound, or switch it up to increase the feedback and create a more pronounced, hollow and resonant sweep.

True-bypass switching, low power consumption and the durable Nano-format chassis make the Small Stone an excellent choice for guitarists, bassists, keyboard players and producers seeking classic analogue modulation without unnecessary controls or menu diving.

Quick Product Summary

The Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone is a compact analogue phase shifter based on the sound of the classic Small Stone first introduced during the 1970s.

Its single Rate control provides everything from slow atmospheric movement to rapid rotating-speaker-style modulation. The Color switch increases the intensity and feedback of the phasing effect, expanding the pedal from smooth vintage sweep to a more dramatic jet-like sound.

With true bypass, simple mono connectivity and battery or external power operation, the Nano Small Stone is an easy-to-use phaser for both traditional and experimental pedalboards.

At A Glance

Feature	Details
Brand	Electro-Harmonix
Model	Nano Small Stone
Product Type	Analog phase shifter pedal
Circuit	Analogue
Controls	Rate
Additional Switching	Two-position Color switch
Bypass	True bypass
Audio Format	Mono
Input	¼-inch jack
Output	¼-inch AMP jack
Power	9V battery or compatible external adapter
Current Draw	10mA
Dimensions	4.5 × 2.75 × 2.1 inches
Main Appeal	Classic warm Small Stone phasing in a compact enclosure
Best For	Rock, funk, blues, country, psychedelic, alternative and ambient music
Suitable Instruments	Guitar, bass, keyboards and compatible electronic instruments
Condition	Brand New

Why Choose the Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone?

Classic Small Stone Phaser Sound

The Small Stone is one of Electro-Harmonix’s most recognisable modulation designs. Its warm analogue character has made it a popular choice for players seeking a phaser that can sound smooth and musical without disappearing beneath the rest of the performance.

The Nano version retains the essential Small Stone circuit and control layout while occupying considerably less pedalboard space than earlier large-format versions.

It can produce:

• Slow and spacious analogue movement

• Warm vintage rhythm textures

• Fast rotary-style modulation

• Pronounced psychedelic sweeps

• Hollow resonant filtering

• Jet-like modulation effects

• Animated clean tones

• Moving distorted textures

Fully Analogue Phase Shifting

The Nano Small Stone uses an analogue signal-processing circuit to create its modulation.

Analogue phasing produces a series of moving peaks and notches across the frequency spectrum. As these frequencies shift, different harmonics move in and out of emphasis, creating the pedal’s characteristic swirling sound.

The result is smooth, continuous movement that works particularly well with clean guitar, overdrive, fuzz, bass and sustained keyboard sounds.

Simple Rate Control

The Rate knob adjusts the speed of the phasing sweep.

Lower settings create slow, gradual movement that can add depth without dominating the original tone. These settings work particularly well for ambient chords, clean arpeggios and sustained rhythm parts.

Turning the Rate clockwise increases the speed of the sweep. Faster settings can create pulsing modulation, animated funk textures and rotary-speaker-inspired movement.

The single-knob layout makes it easy to find a usable sound quickly, even during rehearsals or live performances.

Two Distinct Color Settings

The Color switch changes the strength, resonance and overall character of the phase effect.

Color Down

The down position produces a full, smooth and rounded phase sound. This is ideal when the effect needs to add movement without becoming overly prominent.

It works particularly well for:

• Clean rhythm guitar

• Blues and classic rock

• Slow psychedelic sweeps

• Subtle bass modulation

• Chordal playing

• Warm keyboard textures

Color Up

The up position increases the feedback within the phasing circuit, producing a stronger and more pronounced effect.

This setting creates deeper notches in the frequency spectrum, giving the sweep a more hollow, resonant and dramatic character.

It is ideal for:

• Jet-like phaser sounds

• Psychedelic lead guitar

• Fast rotating-speaker effects

• Experimental sound design

• Heavily modulated riffs

• More obvious live modulation

Slow and Atmospheric Modulation

At lower Rate settings, the Nano Small Stone introduces gradual movement behind the original performance.

This can add width and depth to sustained chords without creating the rhythmic pulse associated with faster modulation settings.

Slow phasing works especially well with:

• Reverb

• Delay

• Clean amplifiers

• Volume swells

• Fingerpicked guitar

• Sustained synthesisers

• Ambient soundscapes

Fast Rotary-Style Sounds

Increasing the Rate control creates faster modulation that can resemble some of the movement associated with a rotating speaker.

Although a phaser does not reproduce the complete behaviour of a dedicated rotary-speaker simulator, the Small Stone’s fluid sweep can add convincing motion and energy to blues, funk, rock and country playing.

Works with Clean and Distorted Sounds

The Nano Small Stone can be used with both clean and driven guitar tones.

With a clean signal, the effect sounds open, fluid and clearly defined. Placing it before or after overdrive and fuzz produces different results.

Before distortion, the phase sweep is processed by the gain pedal or amplifier, creating a more integrated and compressed modulation sound.

After distortion, the phasing is applied to the complete driven tone, resulting in a broader and more obvious sweep.

True-Bypass Switching

The pedal uses true bypass, allowing the input signal to pass directly to the output when the effect is switched off.

This makes it suitable for players who prefer their inactive effects to be removed from the signal path.

Compact Nano Enclosure

The Nano Small Stone delivers its analogue circuit in a tough die-cast chassis measuring approximately 4.5 × 2.75 × 2.1 inches.

Its narrow format makes it easier to fit alongside tuners, drive pedals, delays and other compact effects on a crowded pedalboard.

Low Power Consumption

With a current draw of approximately 10mA, the Nano Small Stone places very little demand on a compatible pedalboard power supply.

It can also operate from a standard 9V battery, making it practical for simple setups without a dedicated power unit.

Why Choose an Analogue Phaser Pedal?

A phaser creates movement by combining the original signal with a phase-shifted version of itself. This produces a series of moving peaks and notches across the frequency spectrum.

Unlike chorus, which often creates the impression of multiple instruments playing together, a phaser produces a sweeping and filtering effect.

Unlike a flanger, which can have a sharper and more metallic sound, a phaser is often perceived as smoother, rounder and more fluid.

An analogue phaser can be used to:

• Add movement to clean guitar chords

• Animate sustained lead notes

• Create psychedelic rhythm sounds

• Add texture to bass guitar

• Produce rotary-style modulation

• Soften static synthesiser sounds

• Add movement before distortion or fuzz

• Create wide ambient textures

• Bring life to repetitive riffs

• Add subtle modulation during recording

The Small Stone’s simple controls make these sounds accessible without requiring detailed knowledge of modulation parameters.

Who Is the Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone For?

Classic Rock Guitarists

The warm analogue sweep works naturally with valve amplifiers, overdrive pedals and sustained lead playing.

Psychedelic and Stoner Players

Slow Rate settings create broad, drifting movement, while the Color switch introduces the more resonant character needed for dramatic psychedelic effects.

Funk Guitarists

Faster Rate settings can add rhythmic motion to clean chord stabs, muted patterns and percussive single-note playing.

Blues Musicians

The pedal can create fast rotary-style movement or add subtle depth behind overdriven lead guitar.

Country Guitarists

Used carefully, the Small Stone adds movement and colour to clean picking without obscuring note definition.

Alternative and Indie Players

Its distinctive analogue character works well for unusual rhythm textures, layered guitar parts and modulation placed before fuzz or distortion.

Bassists

The Nano Small Stone can add movement to bass lines, sustained notes and synth-style parts. The Color-down position is particularly useful when a smoother effect is required.

Keyboard and Synthesiser Players

Sustained electronic instruments provide an excellent source for phasing, allowing the moving frequency notches to remain clearly audible.

Recording Musicians

Its direct controls make it easy to create repeatable modulation sounds during tracking, re-amping and production sessions.

Players with Compact Pedalboards

The Nano enclosure provides classic Small Stone phasing without the footprint of a larger vintage-style pedal.

What’s Included?

• Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone Analog Phase Shifter pedal

• 9V battery

External power adapter not included.

Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Every effects pedal supplied by Fair Deal Music is checked by our experienced team before dispatch.

Our assessment includes:

• Enclosure and control inspection

• Input socket test

• Output socket test

• Rate-control operation

• Both Color switch positions checked

• Slow and fast sweep assessment

• Footswitch and status LED test

• True-bypass operation

• Battery operation

• External power input check

• Final presentation and packing inspection

Technical Specifications

General

Specification	Details
Effect Type	Phase shifter
Circuit Type	Analogue
Audio Format	Mono
Bypass Type	True bypass
Controls	Rate
Additional Switch	Color
Current Compact Version Introduced	2006
Original Small Stone Introduced	1974
Dimensions	4.5 × 2.75 × 2.1 inches
UPC	683274050041

Controls

Control	Function
Rate	Adjusts the speed of the phasing sweep
Color Down	Produces a full, smooth and robust phase sound
Color Up	Increases feedback for a more pronounced, resonant phase effect
Footswitch	Switches between effect and true-bypass modes
Status LED	Illuminates when the effect is active

Connections

Connection	Details
Input	¼-inch mono jack
Input Impedance	100kΩ
AMP Output	¼-inch mono jack
Output Impedance	15kΩ
Power Input	Centre-negative DC barrel connection

Power Requirements

The Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone can operate from a 9V battery or a compatible external power supply.

Specification	Details
Operating Voltage	9V DC
Current Draw	10mA
Polarity	Centre-negative
Battery Type	9V
Battery Included	Yes
Recommended Electro-Harmonix Adapter	9.6V DC 200mA
External Adapter Included	No

When operating from a battery, inserting a cable into the Input socket activates the pedal’s power. Disconnect the input cable when the pedal is not being used to preserve battery life.

Where Should the Nano Small Stone Be Placed?

There is no single correct position, but the following placements provide useful starting points.

Before Overdrive or Distortion

Placing the phaser before gain produces a more blended and integrated effect. The distortion processes the moving phase signal, often creating a warmer and less obvious sweep.

After Overdrive or Distortion

Placing the phaser after gain creates a stronger and more dramatic modulation effect because the complete distorted sound is being swept.

Before Delay and Reverb

This is a common arrangement. The delay and reverb repeat the phased signal, creating a natural sense of space and movement.

After Delay

Placing the phaser after delay applies the sweep to both the original note and its repeats. This can produce more experimental and animated textures.

Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone Compared with Other Modulation Pedals

Nano Small Stone vs Chorus

A chorus pedal typically creates a wider, doubled sound by adding a slightly delayed and modulated copy of the original signal.

The Small Stone produces a sweeping filter-like movement with more obvious changes across the frequency spectrum.

Choose chorus for width and doubling. Choose the Small Stone for swirling movement and resonant sweep.

Nano Small Stone vs Flanger

A flanger usually produces a sharper, more metallic comb-filter effect and can create dramatic jet-plane sounds.

The Small Stone generally sounds warmer, smoother and more rounded. Engaging the Color switch gives it a stronger and more resonant character without losing its recognisable phaser identity.

Nano Small Stone vs Electro-Harmonix Bad Stone

The Bad Stone offers additional control, including manual phase adjustment and a six-stage phasing design.

The Nano Small Stone is more straightforward, using a single Rate control and Color switch to deliver its classic sound.

Choose the Small Stone for immediate operation and traditional EHX phasing. Choose the Bad Stone when additional manual control is required.

Nano Small Stone vs Digital Multi-Modulation Pedals

A digital modulation pedal may provide several phaser types alongside chorus, flanger, tremolo and other effects.

The Nano Small Stone focuses entirely on its analogue phaser circuit. It is ideal for players who prefer a simple physical interface and a dedicated modulation sound.

Nano Small Stone vs Rotary-Speaker Effects

A dedicated rotary pedal simulates the complex movement of rotating speaker horns and drums.

The Small Stone does not attempt to recreate every part of that system, but faster Rate settings can provide a useful rotary-inspired sweep in a much simpler format.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Nano Small Stone an analogue pedal?

Yes. It uses an analogue phase-shifting circuit.

Is the Nano Small Stone the same as the classic Small Stone?

The Nano model is designed to provide the recognised Small Stone sound and control layout in a smaller enclosure.

What does the Color switch do?

The Color switch changes the amount of feedback within the phasing circuit.

The down position produces a smoother and fuller sweep. The up position creates a more pronounced, hollow and resonant effect.

Can the Nano Small Stone create subtle phasing?

Yes. Use a slow Rate setting with the Color switch down to add gentle movement without overwhelming the original signal.

Can it produce dramatic phaser sounds?

Yes. Switch Color up and increase the Rate to create a more intense, resonant and animated sweep.

Is it suitable for bass guitar?

Yes. It can be used with bass for smooth modulation, moving sustained notes and more experimental textures.

Can it be used with keyboards?

Yes. The pedal can process compatible mono instrument or line-level signals, although particularly strong output levels should be adjusted carefully.

Does it use true bypass?

Yes. The pedal uses true-bypass switching.

Can it run from a battery?

Yes. A 9V battery is included.

Is a mains adapter included?

No. A compatible 9V centre-negative adapter is available separately.

Does the pedal have a depth control?

No. The intensity and resonance are changed using the two-position Color switch.

Can it create a rotary-speaker-style effect?

Faster Rate settings can create a rapid, rotating-style movement. A dedicated rotary simulator will provide more detailed control, but the Small Stone offers a convincing modulation effect with a very simple layout.

Fair Deal Music Verdict

★★★★★ 5/5

The Electro-Harmonix Nano Small Stone is a genuine modulation classic distilled into a compact, durable and refreshingly simple pedal.

Its analogue circuit provides the warm, fluid sweep that has made the Small Stone a favourite across rock, funk, blues, country and psychedelic music. The Rate control covers everything from slow atmospheric movement to rapid rotary-style modulation, while the Color switch instantly transforms the sound from smooth and full to hollow, resonant and intense.

For players seeking a distinctive analogue phaser without complicated controls or a large pedalboard footprint, the Nano Small Stone remains an outstanding choice.

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• Expert advice from knowledgeable musicians

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