Looking at chorus pedals

[Todd]

I want to add a chorus pedal to my new board. I've heard these new pedals: Boss CH-1(I think its ch-1), and Nano Clone by Electro Harmonix. The only one of these I liked was the nano but it had no options. I think its the lesser of the small clone. But I'd like to hear a newer one called - The Clone Thorey. My problem is that E-H's Holy Grail (reverb) is noisy. I wonder if this is true with their chorus pedals as well. I am also looking at the following but have not heard them yet: Visual systems V2LC a smaller of the H20, and Voodoo's Analog Chorus. I want a quiet true bypass analog pedal that doesn't disturb the natural sound of the amp/guitar. If you are familiar with these or have any other suggestions I'd like to hear them.

Todd

 

[millsart]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

RetroSonic Chorus Ensemble, blows all of those away

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

Hands down Ibanez CS-9 re-issue, best old school analog chorus there is.

 

[stuey222]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

The Retro-Sonic is really great. I also like the old Boss CE-2. The Visual Sound single pedal is pretty neat as well.

 

[millsart]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

Hands down Ibanez CS-9 re-issue, best old school analog chorus there is.

Its not a bad chorus but its pretty light sounding. Sorry but while I know this is basically subjective, the CS-9 is not the best old school analog chorus.



You really expect people to belive its better than the Small Clone or AnalogMan chorus for ultra thicky and soupy analog goodness ?

Does it do the ultra lush like the CE-1 or Retro Sonic ? Can it do the vibrato for that matter ?

Does it get that leslie vibe like the Arion SCH-1 ?

How about the classic 80's chorus sound of the CE-2 ?


Sorry dude, but the CS-9 would be pretty far down on the list

 

[wahwah]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

The Retro-Sonic is a beautiful chorus, very close to the original CE-1. Here's a You Tube demo I did of the Retro-Sonic... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-n-rm0S_80 and a comparison to the CE-1... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeKon5JC13g




Cheers....................................... wahwah

 

[stuey222]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

I'll have to chime in and say that I owned a Maxon CS-9 and it was very light as well. Good for some ambiance stuff, but not if you're wanting a lush chorus. I think the Visual Sound is the best for tweakability, as you can get light or lush, but it isn't the best sound quality. If you want high depth stuff, you should go the EHX or Analogman route, and it you want that classic 80s sound, you should go the Boss/Retro-Sonic route. Depending on what you want to do with your chorus, the CE-2 or Retro-Sonic is right for you. My CE-2 can get close to the Small Clone sound with the depth maxed, and the rate is middle of the road, not super slow, not super speedy either. I prefer to have the rate and depth knobs, but if you're ok with the rate and depth being controlled together, the Retro-Sonic is the way to go. The Retro-Sonic is also a bit bigger, but you also have vibrato as well.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

Its not a bad chorus but its pretty light sounding. Sorry but while I know this is basically subjective, the CS-9 is not the best old school analog chorus.



You really expect people to belive its better than the Small Clone or AnalogMan chorus for ultra thicky and soupy analog goodness ?

Does it do the ultra lush like the CE-1 or Retro Sonic ? Can it do the vibrato for that matter ?

Does it get that leslie vibe like the Arion SCH-1 ?

How about the classic 80's chorus sound of the CE-2 ?


Sorry dude, but the CS-9 would be pretty far down on the list

Well, to compare to analogman is not fair, after all we are talking about boutique one man shop vs. production line. Yes it in my humble openion better than a small clone, played it when was choosing mine, chose CS9. Vibrato is not my thing, but I can crank it up to it, I've tried it but it was just a try like said vibrato is not my thing. It does not have the leslie vibe, but it does the echoplex vibe, I can get pretty close to "Catch the Rainbow" from Richie's Blackmore Rainbow thing. So as far as main production line, re-issue stuff, yep, in my ears it is the best.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

get a lot for a little: digitech chorus factory clones many pedals (ive tried side by side) but does it quieter and cheaper.

 

[baritone]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

Boss CEB-3 Chorus for Bass.

 

[Todd]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

get a lot for a little: digitech chorus factory clones many pedals (ive tried side by side) but does it quieter and cheaper.

When I was trying out the DT tubescreamer and bad monkey for overdrives the other day and compared to the Boss BD-2, I was impressed by the DT's but they took away the tube character that the Boss kept. I havn't tried the DT chorus but will. It might just work out.

 

[Todd]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

The Retro-Sonic is a beautiful chorus, very close to the original CE-1. Here's a You Tube demo I did of the Retro-Sonic... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-n-rm0S_80 and a comparison to the CE-1... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeKon5JC13g

I didn't know about this site. I listened to some demos and found that the retrosonic sounded the best. Also listened to the voodo and a couple others. It's hard to tell through sound clips. I just wish I could here them all together live.

 

[Todd]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

Depending on what you want to do with your chorus, the CE-2 or Retro-Sonic is right for you. My CE-2 can get close to the Small Clone sound with the depth maxed, and the rate is middle of the road, not super slow, not super speedy either. I prefer to have the rate and depth knobs, but if you're ok with the rate and depth being controlled together, the Retro-Sonic is the way to go.

This is what drew me to thinking about the Clone Theory. It has a mode knob as well as depth and rate (three knobs). This sounds like the best one for me from what you said about the CE-2 , or even the CE-1- that the small clone has a great sound. I can only assume that the Clone Theory would have the same sound but with more versatility. This brings about the fact that I have heard that the Clone Theory like the Small Clone is noisy. I wonder if the noise can be canceled somehow. But maybe that's like canceling the noise of your strat which also compromises the tone. Also, The Clone Theory is in my price range and the Retrosonic is way out there. As for Analogman I don't even know how to approach this - like where do I find more info online?

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

I can confirm that the Retrosonic is a superb pedal, excellent solid build and true bypass too. The Voodoo Labs Analog Chorus is somewhat wierd... it's a funky effect, but more phase than chorus. There is no volume control to blend/ balance the sound, when you switch it in it gives quite a big volume boost. I got the Retro and yes the chorus is very lush, but man.... the vibrato is a very welcome addition, I NEVER thought I'd use it or like it.

 

[stuey222]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

If the Retro-Sonic is out of your price range, so is the Analogman. The CE-2 is not noisy at all, and you can find one for about $100. The Clone Theory could be good, never tried one, but I believe the mode is chorus or vibrato?

Anyway, if you think your BD-2 sounds really good stock, try getting it modded by Keeley. It makes such a huge difference!

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

i like that sound Geoff the Wah Wah gets with that Youtube clip demo....

My favourite Chorus i own i guess is a 1989 era Boss Deminsion C pedal... just 4 button presets on top... when i saw one on Jeff Becks Guitar Shop era board with a RAT i knew i had to have one... seems everyone uses the 2nd button...

but i also use a few Boss CE5's... i have 3 now i think... bought them used for cheap... i set them basicly for teh same sound the Deminsion C's 2nd preset gives me...

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

I'm really not a chorus guy, but the one pedal I've heard over the years that I've liked was the voodoo labs analog chorus. Very warm and natural

 

[Todd]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

If the Retro-Sonic is out of your price range, so is the Analogman. The CE-2 is not noisy at all, and you can find one for about $100. The Clone Theory could be good, never tried one, but I believe the mode is chorus or vibrato?

Anyway, if you think your BD-2 sounds really good stock, try getting it modded by Keeley. It makes such a huge difference!

Yeah, maybe this is the best approach. Where might be the best place to find a CE-2? Also, where do I go to get my BD-2 Keeley modded?

 

[Todd]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

Boss CEB-3 Chorus for Bass.

I didn't try it because it was for bass. I'll be using this with a strat or the like, not bass. Do you mean that it might be good for guitar as well?

 

[MJM.VITAL]

Re: Looking at chorus pedals

My vote would be for either a CS-9 or a Cool Cat. The CS-9 is transparent but full sounding and The Cool Cat adds a little bit of color in my opinion but it is extremely useful and sounds great.

I would stay away from the Boss pedals for Chorus though, I simply dont like the way they sound