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Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:20 pm
by DiAmoroso
So I'm looking into getting a better chorus sound. Currently I'm using an Electro-Harmonix Neo Clone (basically a Small Clone in a smaller box), and I really don't like it. I am not sure exactly how to describe what I don't like about it, but it just sounds cold and goofy to me. I have also owned a Small Clone, and the other guitarist in my band has an Electric Mistress, all of which sound similar and I dislike, so I'm pretty sure what I'm looking for wont be made by EHX.

But then, I really have no idea what I'm looking for to tell you the truth. I don't have a specific sound in mind, and I don't need it for any of our material, but I do generally like the sound of chorus at the right times. The pedal would be run through either an Orange TH30 or a Twin Reverb, so since those are two vastly different amps the pedal would ideally work well with many amp flavors.

So please, tell me what chorus pedals you like, and what you like about them. I'd prefer not to spend more than $200 on this, but if there is something really special I might be willing to go over.

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:24 pm
by Maggieo
Have you tried the Boss? It's a classic for a reason.

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:48 pm
by DiAmoroso
It's been long enough since I've tried any Boss chorus that it's worth looking into. Do you recommend any particular model?

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:49 pm
by dc
Maggieo wrote:
Thu Apr 04, 2019 2:24 pm
Have you tried the Boss? It's a classic for a reason.
quoted for truth -- good enough for Robert Smith, good enough for the me. you'd be hard-pressed to improve on the Boss CE2 Waza:

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/ ... rus-review

an Ibanez CS9 would be a close second. like Boss, they've been at this chorus thing for a while now -

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 3:43 pm
by DiAmoroso
Ok, so I'm definitely going to have to try out the Boss CE-2w. I do like the chorus sounds of the Cure.

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:00 pm
by stevejamsecono
Yeah, Boss CE-2 or Ibanez CS-9 seems like the move.

Basically how I've always broken down the modulations is as thus:

EHX Units - Pretenders/Police
Boss Units - Cure/Cars/80s Pop
Ibanez CS9 - John Squire from the Stone Roses

All great flavors, just depends what you're after.

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:13 pm
by marqueemoon
Don’t own one, but I like the MXR analog chorus. It has a wide range of sounds and a dry signal mix control.

Plus it’s affordable, sparkly, and blue (the correct color for a chorus pedal).

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:15 pm
by Mike S
Tricky because I love the Small Clone. I agree that the nano versions are pretty awful. It's pricey, but try a big box Polychorus/Echo Flanger if you can.
In general, you may want to try an analog flanger to coax out the sound you want such as an Electric Mistress, Boss FB-2, or MXR M117R. Chorus is a somewhat colder sounding effect in general and a lot of effects in your songs you think are chorus, particularly with bands like Souixsie and The Banshees and TSOL are actually Flanger effects.

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:54 am
by aliendawg
Any pedal is fine as long as it's blue lol

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:02 am
by Futuron
Boss very iconic safe sound

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 4:59 am
by parry
aliendawg wrote:
Fri Apr 05, 2019 3:54 am
Any pedal is fine as long as it's blue lol
:D


I wasn't a chorus lover at all - in fact, I believe I may have left my flag somewhere in the hater camp, hahahaha...

While I've not tried a ton, I did settle in on a Boss CE3 for classic chorus sounds (not that I've written it in to anything - yet) and the Earthquaker Sea Machine because it can cover the classic, but can also forge a lot farther out in left field if needed. The thing I like most about the CE3 is actually a little trick I picked up somewhere along the way, which is switching it to stereo-mode whilst only running a mono rig. The lo-fi, tape-y effect it creates is a sound I've been chasing for years. Nicely organic and seems to sound best/more noticeable through a dry amp (not very noticeable with lots of reverb). The Sea Machine has found a place on my board because I found a setting that more-or-less sounds like a cold, clangy, slappy-echo with a watery backwash that I'm kind of over-killing lately, but it works.

I hope you find something that works for you!

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:49 am
by cestlamort
I’ll echo the boss or Ibanez recommendations.
The ibanez family seems to be a little more hifi than a CE2, or at least has more top end swirl and not as warm. The ibanez mini chorus and the boss ce2b both have blend controls, which can be nice.
Worth trying a good chorus in stereo (!).

A good old flanger can be nice too.

(I don’t know if I’ve ever seen TSOL referenced here before!)

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2019 8:01 am
by Maggieo
stevejamsecono wrote:
Thu Apr 04, 2019 7:00 pm
EHX Units - Pretenders/Police
And you've got to add the Electric Mistress to those to really nail it.

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:53 am
by Mike S
cestlamort wrote:
Fri Apr 05, 2019 6:49 am
(I don’t know if I’ve ever seen TSOL referenced here before!)
There's a photo somewhere of Ron Emory's flanger settings. I had a previous post here on how to get them with a big box Stereo Polychorus. I've tried to do it with a chorus but it just doesn't sound quite right.

The important thing is to not get a digital chorus pedal. If you thought the Small Clone sounded cold, wait till you hear that awful blue DigiTech from the '90's...

Re: Recommed A Chorus Pedal For Me

Posted: Sat Apr 06, 2019 5:55 am
by eggwheat
CE-2...boring but it’s the best mono chorus I’ve heard.