“A flexible vintage-flavoured asset for your signal…

“A flexible vintage-flavoured asset for your signal chain”: Beetronics Larva Morphing Phaser review

Beetronics LARVA Morphing Phaser: it's an orange phaser pedal, but not like any you have seen before as Beetronics decorates this feature-packed stompbox in its honeycomb, bee-inspired style.

What is it?

Beetronics has been on a run of releasing dirt pedals recently, but its latest offers modulation (plus a modicum of dirt).

The Larva Morphing Phaser is a six-stage analogue phaser pedal with an element of digital control, which has morphing capabilities between two adjustable presets, and also sports a preamp – inspired by Moog’s Moogerfooger pedals – that adds practical tonal variations.

Specs

PRICE: $249/£239
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Phaser pedal
FEATURES: True bypass
CONTROLS: Rate 1 & 2, Depth 1 & 2, Ramp Speed, Resonance, Preamp Gain, Preamp Master Volume, Ramp Shape switch, Effect toggle switch (Preamp/Phaser/Vibe), Tap/Ramp footswitch, Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard input, standard output
POWER: 9V DC adaptor
(not supplied) 100 mA
DIMENSIONS: 90 (w) x 140 (d) x 68mm (h)
CONTACT: Beetronics

Usability and sounds

There are three toggle-switched options for the sound the Larva delivers: you can have phaser, vibrato (wet signal only) or just the sound of the preamp with no modulation effect.

The Preamp has a natural warmth and is controlled by gain and master volume knobs that can be turned up to build in valve-like overdrive. The basic effect architecture of the pedal offers Phaser 1 and Phaser 2, which can be toggled with the left-hand footswitch, the transition between the two being determined by a choice of three ramp shapes and a knob that sets the ramp speed.

Each phaser has its own Rate and Depth knobs, but there’s also a knob, common to both, that adjusts the resonance for greater intensity and a flanger-like metallic ring at its extreme. The core sound is that of nice, thick classic 1970s phasing or vintage vibrato.

That Resonance knob, plenty of depth adjustment and a very wide range of speeds offers plenty of variation, but there’s even more from a secondary parameter that allows an offset shift in the LFO’s centre point.

There’s lots of scope available via the ramping options for onstage performance. The first ramp shape switches from one phaser to the other and stays there.

While using this and setting the ramp speed at minimum gives you instant switching back and forth between the two, you can also set the ramp speed for evolving transitions – perhaps emulating a rotary speaker if you set up slow and fast rates for the two effects.

The second ramp shape lets you move from one phaser to the other while the footswitch is held down, and it will ramp back when you release it. And the third ramp shape does the same but delivers an immediate switch back, making it great for momentary blasts of a more intense effect.

Verdict

Verdict: ★★★★½

Guitar World verdict: Two instantly accessible sound variations combined with the preamp’s drive options make this a flexible vintage-flavoured asset for your signal chain.