Good cheap chorus pedal for 80's tone heaven?

[Kapo_Polenton]

I'm putting some finishing touches on a really simple pedalboard comprised of stock cheapos. First off, the mighty ZW-44. Then the famous Bad Monkey. (always come back to the monkey.. i really hear only subtle tone changes) MXR Phase 90 and a decimator. Delay is going to be in the loop and pretty much a set it and forget it type of deal. I'm interested in a chorus to give me all the annoying overdone 80's tones we've all come to love and that the dropped D tuned guys hate on this forum. So what do you like? ZW chorus? an older BOSS like a CE-5? I know nothing about choruses really except they sound like Zakk on No More Tears.

 

[Chris6870]

Arion stero chorus.

 

[tripstan]

mxr micro chorus is cheap and will do 80's chorus all day. Arion a is good cheap one too.

 

[stratotone]

The digitech CF7 is a great buy and emulates many different choruses and is cheap too. I'd look at one of those. Lots of options within it and you might even use it for other tones than just 80s.

 

[jcmlespaul]

The mxr chorus pedals work great. I use mine in front of the amp but it sounds good in a loop or in conjunction with other pedals.

 

[hunter]

Jacques Meistersinger is reasonably priced. Got mine used for 80€. Sounds like The Police right away without any tweaking.

 

[nevusofota]

I've used a standard Boss Super chorus for decades and am used to it. It's difficult for me now to like others.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

thanks fellas.. anyone see any down the road advantages to having stereo option with the pedal? I'm pretty sure i'll run it out front as if i ever want anything in the loop, I have my Gmajor 2. I just like the sound of chorus out front.

 

[2tallmusic]

After a couple of weeks being undecided where to go with a kind of similar question, I just decided to give the Carl Martin Classic Chorus a try. Nearly the same price league as the micro chorus, but has more options. Found some enthusiastic reviews as well as some complaints about lacking highs - but I will find out next week.

 

[Skrapmetal]

I've never found one that I like better than my Boss CE-2. You can get the Japanese-made pedals or fairly average prices on ebay, or you can get lucky like me and get a Taiwan-made pedal that has the chipset that is only supposed to be found in the Japanese version (at least, that's what the internet experts say).

Either way, the Taiwan version with the less-desirable chipsets still sounds really good.

A lot of people say Analogman's chorus pedals come really close, but they are more expensive.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

What about the ZW chorus? It is 10$ more than the micro chorus and has way more features tweak wise. I also like the sound of the BOSS super Chorus. For the simplicity though, the MXR micro chorus does sound pretty good through the sweep. Almost as if it negates the need for other controls.

 

[napalmdeath]

I'm putting some finishing touches on a really simple pedalboard comprised of stock cheapos. First off, the mighty ZW-44. Then the famous Bad Monkey. (always come back to the monkey.. i really hear only subtle tone changes) MXR Phase 90 and a decimator. Delay is going to be in the loop and pretty much a set it and forget it type of deal. I'm interested in a chorus to give me all the annoying overdone 80's tones we've all come to love and that the dropped D tuned guys hate on this forum. So what do you like? ZW chorus? an older BOSS like a CE-5? I know nothing about choruses really except they sound like Zakk on No More Tears.

I went from the Boss CE-5 to the MXR Black Label Chorus, (ZW), myself. I run it in the loop of my JVM, along with delay & reverb, and it sounds fantastic! I use a real subtle amount, and it works very well. I've had it 2 years, and it's shined with every amp I've used it with. I highly recommend it.

 

[bravedude2]

how do you define 80s chorus?

 

[Valtyr]

Ibanez cs9

 

[Zachman]

Boss Dimension DC2
Boss CE1
Boss CE2
Arion SCH-1

 

[Zachman]

how do you define 80s chorus?

 

[richedie]

I am not an 80s guy but in 30 years of playing, my current chorus is the MXR Analog Chorus. The baby blue pedal.

 

[Sierra Voodoo]

The digitech CF7 is a great buy and emulates many different choruses and is cheap too. I'd look at one of those. Lots of options within it and you might even use it for other tones than just 80s.

Staying in the Digitech line, I personally like the Hardwire CR-7. Stereo and mono connections plus several good chorus types to choose from. I was very surprised by this pedal and it has become my main stay.....not to mention they can be had on the used market for $50-60 all day.

 

[tripstan]

Turning your chorus on and never turning it off?

how do you define 80s chorus?

Kidding aside is also what I think of when someone says 80's chorus.

 

[metalmaniac93]

I've never found one that I like better than my Boss CE-2. You can get the Japanese-made pedals or fairly average prices on ebay, or you can get lucky like me and get a Taiwan-made pedal that has the chipset that is only supposed to be found in the Japanese version (at least, that's what the internet experts say).

Either way, the Taiwan version with the less-desirable chipsets still sounds really good.

A lot of people say Analogman's chorus pedals come really close, but they are more expensive.

I agree!!! Although I do not use it much (sits in the box) there is nothing like a Boss CE-2.