Good cheap chorus pedal for 80's tone heaven?

[Mudder]

80's chorus means Arion SCH-1 to me. But those are becoming a little collectible so they aren't really cheap anymore. Check out the Danelectro cool cat chorus for a cheap option.

 

[VH4_BigRig]

Add me to the list- after getting my CE-2, I've had absolutely zero chorus gas! There may be better ones out there, but in terms of bang for the buck, hard to beat. Cheers

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.

 

[bravedude2]

luke is a monster. but 80s chorus just sounds like a weird term to me. i dont really use stomp boxes so i am by no means a expert. good luck on finding a sound you enjoy

 

[Gainzilla]

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.

Absolutely This!!! Tons of great sounds and Ive got one for sale in Mint condition cheap.PM me if Interested...

Kage

 

[Schaf]

Arion stero chorus.

Those are great but not really cheap anymore. I had one in the 80's. It disapeared somehow. Don't know what happened to it but I sure wish I had it today.

 

[rupe]

Another vote for the CE-2...it defines 80's chorus tone. I have a shit-ton of boo-teek pedals but I still use an old CE-2 after attempting to find the perfect chorus a couple years ago...it has its equals (typically for a lot more $) but nothing beats it IMO.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Thanks for the feedback guys.. couple more questions. Listening to the MXR micro chorus, that thing sounds pretty good all be it the simple setup. Any comparisons between that and the CE-2?

Also, I do like chorus in front of the amp but it isn't horrible in the loop. I've got a Gmajor2 in there doing the verb/echo plex thing, anyone compare the TC electronic choruses on that unit to these stand alones? Right now I am kind of leaning towards the ZW-38 because of price point and tweakability (in addition to sound) but still open.

 

[Monster Plexi]

Can't go wrong with either a Boss CE-2 or old MXR Micro Chorus. The CE-2 gets the edge for 80s tone in my book.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Well I found a boss super chorus for cheap locally so I'm gonna pick that up this week and see how that fairs. There is a CE-2 available as well but i like the option of stereo and I don't want to pay 120$ for the CE-2.

 

[Badronald]

CH-1 is a great pedal. Can be very subtle.
I use my CE-5 all the time. My favorite.

Those two are subtle so they work well with cleans and gain. I've never liked big lush chorus sounds because they never work for me with gain.

 

[TrueTone500]

Nothing does chorusing better than the ADA STD-1. Good luck finding one though... Rocktron Intellifex would be my next choice.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

That's the thing, I want it with some gain and not all washed out like you hear in the cleans.

 

[TrueTone500]

That's the thing, I want it with some gain and not all washed out like you hear in the cleans.

Try to find a 90's reissue ADA flanger with the Panasonic chips. They can be set to emit an incredible chorus-ish effect + a slight signal boost.

 

[petejt]

Any cheap chorus pedal really.

If you want the annoying overdone plasticy 80s chorus then grab a digital chorus pedal and turn up all the settings.


I think Zakk Wylde used a Boss PS-3 or PS-5 pitch shifter pedal for No More Tears in 1991 (still in the shadow of the 1980s)- basically on the Detuning effect ala Van Hagar EVH & his Eventide Harmonisor (think of Poundcake from the same year, or OU812 from 1988).

 

[petejt]

how do you define 80s chorus?

Mind you that was in 1985- and he was using the absolute blue Duck's Nuts of lush chorusing devices and lathering it on thicker than the blue eye shadow and pasty clown makeup that women of the day were doing!


And despite my complaints about over-processed dated sounds- I actually don't mind this bit from Steve in small doses. But maybe because of his slightly inebriated attitude in the video clip and that he's explaining the obsession of GAS and TGP-like approaches to musical equipment, which some folk think is only a modern myth brought on by the advent of cyber technology.


Cyber technology....wtf am I saying?

*cues Snap!*.....................