NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

[Dr. Vegetable]

In my ongoing quest to simplify my rig, I've been slowly moving back to discrete stomp boxes after years of using multi-fx. Over the past couple years, I've tried out a number of distortion pedals, delays, phasers, overdrives, wahs, and even the odd ring modulator to build a focused pedal board that will cover the bases and also let me occasionally go all "soundscape" on the band.

Every pedal must earn its place on my board - I don't like the tone suck that can happen when there are 20 pedals (all in bypass mode) between me and my amplifier, so I'm trying to be selective about what will actually be in the chain. So I had not felt much need for a chorus - after all, isn't that just a warbly '80s thing? I wasn't sure I'd use it enough.

But I recently had the opportunity to try out an MXR Analog Chorus. This is a keeper!

Ok, so BBD chorus can sound very cheesy if the Depth is too extreme, and this unit is no exception. Turn up the Depth too far and you will be drowning underwater - this sound may have its uses, but they will be few and far between.

However - all things in moderation - with the Depth at 9:00 and the Rate at about 2:00 (and both EQ knobs "flat") this adds a lush spaciousness. It really complements my other "core" pedals very well. Sounds great with a distortion or overdrive in front, and/or with a phaser behind it. It seems like every setting of my other pedals can be enhanced, for the better, with a subtle chorus effect added in.

I was not surprised to hear how this helped when playing Van Halen, but this really shone on some old Zeppelin tunes, as well as fattening up some newer material. And damn if a nice little chord progression didn't fall right into my lap while I was farting around with it.

So for me, the new challenge will be to try to use this new pedal less than 80% of the time.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

So you're starting like a warbly, 80s band? :smokin:

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

So you're starting like a warbly, 80s band? :smokin:

Yeah, revolutionary, I know. The secret is to turn it down from "warbly mess" to "is this thing on?" I'm playing it mono through a Blues Jr., but A/B-ing the chorus is like throwing the "Stereo Wide" switch on my old stereo system. It is not at all what I expected it to do to my tone, which is why I didn't try one sooner.

 

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Re: NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

Cool, enjoy it man!

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

Sweet! Chorus has always been one of those things that I enjoy, but have no practical use for.

That MXR analog stuff is excellent. I've got a Carbon Copy and Script 90.

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

In my ongoing quest to simplify my rig, I've been slowly moving back to discrete stomp boxes after years of using multi-fx. Over the past couple years, I've tried out a number of distortion pedals, delays, phasers, overdrives, wahs, and even the odd ring modulator to build a focused pedal board that will cover the bases and also let me occasionally go all "soundscape" on the band.

Every pedal must earn its place on my board - I don't like the tone suck that can happen when there are 20 pedals (all in bypass mode) between me and my amplifier, so I'm trying to be selective about what will actually be in the chain. So I had not felt much need for a chorus - after all, isn't that just a warbly '80s thing? I wasn't sure I'd use it enough.



But I recently had the opportunity to try out an MXR Analog Chorus. This is a keeper!

Ok, so BBD chorus can sound very cheesy if the Depth is too extreme, and this unit is no exception. Turn up the Depth too far and you will be drowning underwater - this sound may have its uses, but they will be few and far between.

However - all things in moderation - with the Depth at 9:00 and the Rate at about 2:00 (and both EQ knobs "flat") this adds a lush spaciousness. It really complements my other "core" pedals very well. Sounds great with a distortion or overdrive in front, and/or with a phaser behind it. It seems like every setting of my other pedals can be enhanced, for the better, with a subtle chorus effect added in.

I was not surprised to hear how this helped when playing Van Halen, but this really shone on some old Zeppelin tunes, as well as fattening up some newer material. And damn if a nice little chord progression didn't fall right into my lap while I was farting around with it.

So for me, the new challenge will be to try to use this new pedal less than 80% of the time.

This is a nice pedal to be sure. I can appreciate the desire to minimize the number of pedals out of concern for "tone suck". That said, I am certain you are aware that there are ways to mitigate that issue with a proper combination of true bypass and buffering. Have you looked into that at all yet?

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

Sweet! Chorus has always been one of those things that I enjoy, but have no practical use for.

Don't you guys cover Beast of Burden?

That MXR analog stuff is excellent. I've got a Carbon Copy and Script 90.

Yeah, I've been trying out a lot of MXR/Dunlop pedals lately. The Carbon Copy is awesome, and the Classic Overdrive is singularly responsible for getting me to try some dirt pedals. Although I think the best distortion/overdrive pedal I've gotten recently is the Way Huge Pork Loin. (Thanks again, Andrew!)

I am finding the most tasteful uses for the chorus when it is turned down to the point of being barely noticeable. I don't want to hear pitch stretching going on, just that wide sound field effect. Yesterday, I tried using the stereo outputs to feed a pair of guitar amps. In bypass mode, the Analog Chorus acts like a (buffered) Y cable; when it's on it does even more. Having two good amps working together makes it really easy to dial in some heavy distortion without losing all clarity.

I think this is my new go-to guitar rig.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: NPD - MXR Analog Chorus

This is a nice pedal to be sure. I can appreciate the desire to minimize the number of pedals out of concern for "tone suck". That said, I am certain you are aware that there are ways to mitigate that issue with a proper combination of true bypass and buffering. Have you looked into that at all yet?

Yes, I've been keeping that in mind. I'm in the middle of a complete pedalboard redesign, which means I still have too many pedals in the chain. I was kind of surprised to hear how bad the tone suck was through 8 - 10 pedals, honestly. It really seems to clamp down on the touch response of my amp. I have a few True Bypass pedals that are tracking well to make the final cut. Even so, I may get an A/B switch to use for bypassing parts of the fx chain when not in use.

I am moving back to pedals (from multi-fx) in an attempt to simplify my rig, which is another reason I plan to keep the final number of pedals low. I'd rather have good tone and the basic effects than have the kitchen sink at my feet but have it all sound like mud. Still experimenting...