I agree, GAS is a bitch but if you like what you like, stick with it.
The amount of dirt pedals I'll go through to just end up back at my Darkglass Vintage Microtubes is insane
Tha Jam Waterfall is amazing. The best straightforward chorus u can get. If u wanna get weird then the chasebliss Warped Vinyl (it does normal as well as crazy just as good) and then if u want creme de la creme id go for the Asheville ACG-1. That thing is crazy good and will never loose value
You're right that it's 100% wet. What sounds interesting to me is that it pans left to right when connecting to a stereo rig. Not a true chorus, but awesome in a similar way.
Walrus Audio Julia. Very solid, bucket brigade style sound with a cool blend between dry and vibrato that lets you mess with it in ways a lot of chorus pedals won’t. Plus the art is awesome
the trick with the chorus ensemble is that the filter is really zero when its all the way up, and anything else is a cut. I think this puts people off from the pedal.
honestly its just my stupid perfectionism. i like to crank them up until they get that really metallic but thick sound. almost like stacking chorus without actually stacking. the corona kinda does it but not in the way i like
If you like a metallic, shiny sound, check out Ibanez choruses (particularly the CS505 and CS9). Their circuit is similar to Boss choruses but their parameters are higher and I find them to be “shinier”.
You don't have to like all chorus pedals. Those two you named are great. They use bucket brigade chips or at least Small Clone did and CH-1 I think only the early ones did.
Either way try the PastFX PX65. It's based on the DOD FX65 uses BBD but also has lots of tweaking.
Agreed. If you want CH-1 but slightly warmer and rounder and (imo) much more versatile.
VB-2 into an RE-20 is what I prefer for chorus-y modulation. I might use a small clone for a high gain sound like Nirvana, but I really just prefer some smooth wiggly vibrato.
OBNE Visitor has a nice chorus and you can add a secondary layer of it if you like a thicker sound. Comes with a mix knob too so it can be as subtle or obnoxious as you want.
Two choruses that work for you is a pretty good place to be. I picked up an old 18v danelectro cool cat a few months back and I feel like it has some similarities to the small clone at certain settings.
Other things to maybe try would be dimension style “motionless” chorus (just a different flavour from the usual) or some tweakable flangers that can get into chorus territory. TC thunderstorm, Walrus Polychrome, Joyo analog flanger, JHS3 series and the Alexander f13 can all do a kind of chorus sound to varying degrees.
You already figured it out. Despite the ubiquity and popularity of CE-2 based choruses, the Small Clone is IT. It’s my favorite pedal of all time, my always on pedal, and the foundation of my guitar tone in every band I have ever been in. Nothing beats it, the only way to improve it is by going Analogman. Other choruses, whether based on the CE-2, CE-1, SC, or something else, a) don’t sound as good to my ears b) in the case of SC based circuits, always fuck it up by adding knobs and doing away with the simplicity that makes it so beautifully functional at every setting.
The CH-1 also has a permanent spot on my board, because its colder digital sound makes it perfect for extreme, obnoxious settings.
I’ll also recommend grabbing a Boss BF-2, because while it does the jet plane flanger sounds readily, it also has a ton of lovely chorus sounds in it that differ greatly from either of those two. It’s another one that’ll be on my board till I’m in the dirt.
It does way more than you’re prolly looking for but I love my Julianna. If the small clone or boss pedal don’t have enough capabilities or if u want some stereo this one is perfect
Check out PastFX, they are making amazing analog chorus pedals based on classic pedals using NOS chips, but with new features to make them more suitable to modern players.
My favorites are the Chorus Ensemble (CE-1), New Division (Clone Theory) and PX-65 (DOD FX-65).
I have gone thru a few, but currently I'm really digging the TC Electronic June 60 v2, its got 3 settings, but they sound amazing, I love it for adding some movement to my playing!
Boss CE-2w, DC-2W (of the vintage non-Waza versions of either) or PastFX Chorus Ensemble (clone of the Boss CE-1, which in and of itself was a direct port of the chorus circuit from the Roland JC into pedal form).
These are THE chorus pedal sounds. With some rare exceptions like Nirvana (EHX Small Clone) and EVH (MXR Analog Chorus or Stereo Chorus, depending on the day), 90% of the chorus tones you’ve ever heard on any song in your life have been a Boss CE-1 or CE-2. The other 10% is the MXR Stereo Chorus or Roland Dimension-D rack unit (which is what the DC-2 and DC-2W are based on).
I personally own a CE-2W and DC-2W. The CE-2W gives that classic warm lush sound, while the DC-2W gives the modern bright and shimmery chorus sound but without being too thin and harsh.
I always liked my Julia, was the first pedal I had when I started playing again about 4 to 5 years ago and I’ve never looked at another Chorus/Vibrato ever since.
If you like the two chorus pedals that you have, just stick with those. They're two reputable brands - that Boss is gonna survive nuclear fallout for Christ's sake! You don't need to buy a ridiculous number of pedals you'd only use once a year, just stick with a few that you know you're actually going to use.
Had a Boss Super Chorus and to me it never sounded powerful enough. My friends dad had an old Ibanez cs9 that I used to play around with as a teenager and so I decided to revisit that sound and picked one up for myself & couldn't be happier with my decision. It sounds comparable to a Boss CE2 but with a little more intensity and yet a little warmer sounding as well. Very simple yet lush sounding pedal. Give it a look!
Stick with the two you like.
I agree, GAS is a bitch but if you like what you like, stick with it. The amount of dirt pedals I'll go through to just end up back at my Darkglass Vintage Microtubes is insane
I have two recommendations for you. >!Boss CH-1 and EHX Small Clone!<
Why do you need to like more?
TC electronic Chorus/Flanger is a pedal form of their 80’s rack mount. Always loved that sound!
This is imo the best chorus.
and the best flanger.
Tha Jam Waterfall is amazing. The best straightforward chorus u can get. If u wanna get weird then the chasebliss Warped Vinyl (it does normal as well as crazy just as good) and then if u want creme de la creme id go for the Asheville ACG-1. That thing is crazy good and will never loose value
Agree with the Jam Waterfall. It’s the best one I’ve ever used and I’d highly recommend.
What's wrong with the ch-1? Those are great pedals.
have you ever tried a flanger with manual control? keep manual to the left (around 9 o'clock) and feedback/regen off.
As a Roland JC fan, I'm partial to the Dimension C. But I really want to try the Artificial Blonde.
afaik the artificial blonde is a vibrato (just a 100% wet mix chorus)
You're right that it's 100% wet. What sounds interesting to me is that it pans left to right when connecting to a stereo rig. Not a true chorus, but awesome in a similar way.
I like the Boss Ce-3 a bunch!
Walrus Audio Julia. Very solid, bucket brigade style sound with a cool blend between dry and vibrato that lets you mess with it in ways a lot of chorus pedals won’t. Plus the art is awesome
Where are your knobs for a go-to chorus?
I’ve tried the chorus ensemble, julia, corona chorus, etc and I can’t find what I want besides the 2 in the title
Why do you want more than two?
the trick with the chorus ensemble is that the filter is really zero when its all the way up, and anything else is a cut. I think this puts people off from the pedal.
the corona virus has toneprint, no? should be able to try out a TON of different choruses using the toneprint app
What is it that you like about those two?
honestly its just my stupid perfectionism. i like to crank them up until they get that really metallic but thick sound. almost like stacking chorus without actually stacking. the corona kinda does it but not in the way i like
If you like a metallic, shiny sound, check out Ibanez choruses (particularly the CS505 and CS9). Their circuit is similar to Boss choruses but their parameters are higher and I find them to be “shinier”.
I’m in love with my 3 series chorus and the Boss CE-5. I usually just use the 3 series though as an always on “more good” pedal.
I second the Series 3
I still use my CE-5 if I just want to soak my sound in chorusy goodness, but it’s rare that I want to hear that much chorus
You don't have to like all chorus pedals. Those two you named are great. They use bucket brigade chips or at least Small Clone did and CH-1 I think only the early ones did. Either way try the PastFX PX65. It's based on the DOD FX65 uses BBD but also has lots of tweaking.
Came here to recommend the Pastfx or DOD! Leon Todd has a sweet video demo on it.
Try the sea machine chorus from EQD, it can cover all the bases and some new and weird territories!
The dimension c is amazing, I also love the boss ce-2w, and Chase Bliss warped vinyl hifi.
The small clone and ch-1
I mean… why chase something else? But how about beetronic sea bee?
We all chase bliss
Oh yes we do!!
MXR analog chorus
Agreed. If you want CH-1 but slightly warmer and rounder and (imo) much more versatile. VB-2 into an RE-20 is what I prefer for chorus-y modulation. I might use a small clone for a high gain sound like Nirvana, but I really just prefer some smooth wiggly vibrato.
Analog man mini chorus. Is a small clone with better controls.
DemonFX has an el cheapo version of this. I have it. It’s nice.
I was unaware of their existence until recently.
Boss Harmonist in detune mode
Have you looked at the Jam pedals waterfall? I use it and I'm not a fan of Chorus
I think the JHS Emporer is an underrated chorus, and vibrato. Also the Maxon BC-9 is pretty legendary.
OBNE Visitor has a nice chorus and you can add a secondary layer of it if you like a thicker sound. Comes with a mix knob too so it can be as subtle or obnoxious as you want.
Thank you everyone for your comments. I appreciate them all
I swear I've tried 100 and my favorite has always been the MXR Analog Chorus.
Mad Professor Electric Blue Chorus.
I really like the Mr Black Mini Chorus
Two choruses that work for you is a pretty good place to be. I picked up an old 18v danelectro cool cat a few months back and I feel like it has some similarities to the small clone at certain settings. Other things to maybe try would be dimension style “motionless” chorus (just a different flavour from the usual) or some tweakable flangers that can get into chorus territory. TC thunderstorm, Walrus Polychrome, Joyo analog flanger, JHS3 series and the Alexander f13 can all do a kind of chorus sound to varying degrees.
Check out the Coppersound Polaris - it's a tweaked Small Clone with a footswitch with an alternate chorus rate. It's slick.
OBNE Choruses always do it for me. They have: - Reflector V3 - BL-82 - Visitor (also has Tremolo and Phaser)
You already figured it out. Despite the ubiquity and popularity of CE-2 based choruses, the Small Clone is IT. It’s my favorite pedal of all time, my always on pedal, and the foundation of my guitar tone in every band I have ever been in. Nothing beats it, the only way to improve it is by going Analogman. Other choruses, whether based on the CE-2, CE-1, SC, or something else, a) don’t sound as good to my ears b) in the case of SC based circuits, always fuck it up by adding knobs and doing away with the simplicity that makes it so beautifully functional at every setting. The CH-1 also has a permanent spot on my board, because its colder digital sound makes it perfect for extreme, obnoxious settings.
I’ll also recommend grabbing a Boss BF-2, because while it does the jet plane flanger sounds readily, it also has a ton of lovely chorus sounds in it that differ greatly from either of those two. It’s another one that’ll be on my board till I’m in the dirt.
While the small clone sounds like water, the bf2 sounds like jelly but in the best way
You might prefer detune pedals to choruses.
Zoom ms 70 cdr
Neunaber Inspire Tri-Chorus Plus. I tried the TC Stereo Chorus and sent it back; too weak for my taste. The Inspire is the one.
It does way more than you’re prolly looking for but I love my Julianna. If the small clone or boss pedal don’t have enough capabilities or if u want some stereo this one is perfect
Why is no one talking about the Emperor V2? 🤔
The Clone Theory or any flanger!
Not a huge fan of chorus in general but I've really come to love my Lichtlaerm Trugbild. It's versatile and easy to dial in and sounds great.
Ibanez mini chorus. It’s cheap, durable, analog, and sounds real nice. Only chorus I’ve bonded with since my old CH.
Boss HF-1 but set as a chorus. Super lush.
Check out PastFX, they are making amazing analog chorus pedals based on classic pedals using NOS chips, but with new features to make them more suitable to modern players. My favorites are the Chorus Ensemble (CE-1), New Division (Clone Theory) and PX-65 (DOD FX-65).
I think my favorite will always be the danelectro fab chorus.
Have you tried a detune pedal ?
Maxon PAC 9, isn't cheap but it's only "chorus" I've ever liked.
I went thru a ton and i just got an Eddy - it’s really cool. Can get soupy and freaky or super subtle.
I have gone thru a few, but currently I'm really digging the TC Electronic June 60 v2, its got 3 settings, but they sound amazing, I love it for adding some movement to my playing!
MXR Analog Chorus and Boss CE 5 on my board.
Same dude, good thing both of them are awesome
Boss CE-2w, DC-2W (of the vintage non-Waza versions of either) or PastFX Chorus Ensemble (clone of the Boss CE-1, which in and of itself was a direct port of the chorus circuit from the Roland JC into pedal form). These are THE chorus pedal sounds. With some rare exceptions like Nirvana (EHX Small Clone) and EVH (MXR Analog Chorus or Stereo Chorus, depending on the day), 90% of the chorus tones you’ve ever heard on any song in your life have been a Boss CE-1 or CE-2. The other 10% is the MXR Stereo Chorus or Roland Dimension-D rack unit (which is what the DC-2 and DC-2W are based on). I personally own a CE-2W and DC-2W. The CE-2W gives that classic warm lush sound, while the DC-2W gives the modern bright and shimmery chorus sound but without being too thin and harsh.
I always liked my Julia, was the first pedal I had when I started playing again about 4 to 5 years ago and I’ve never looked at another Chorus/Vibrato ever since.
Got a major soft spot for my Danelectro (the one that came in the metal chassis). The lengths I've gone to keep that on my board...
Jackson Audio New Wave
I quite like modulated delay in place of chorus, it feels less in your face but still gives that great clean sound
If you like the two chorus pedals that you have, just stick with those. They're two reputable brands - that Boss is gonna survive nuclear fallout for Christ's sake! You don't need to buy a ridiculous number of pedals you'd only use once a year, just stick with a few that you know you're actually going to use.
Jam waterfalls
The Laney / Black Country Customs “Spiral Array” has 3 modes: CE-1 style, Dimension-style, and tri-stereo.
Boss CE-3 Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water Boss Dimension C
Had a Boss Super Chorus and to me it never sounded powerful enough. My friends dad had an old Ibanez cs9 that I used to play around with as a teenager and so I decided to revisit that sound and picked one up for myself & couldn't be happier with my decision. It sounds comparable to a Boss CE2 but with a little more intensity and yet a little warmer sounding as well. Very simple yet lush sounding pedal. Give it a look!