Boss Dimension pedals (DC-2 and DC-3) compared to other most known chorus pedals

JohnPativens · #1 12-29-2011, 05:08 PM

Hello everyone,

Lately I've been searching all over the internet for opinions and threads about these two pretty rare boss pedals.
I could buy one new from a small local shop who never sold them in maybe 20 years.
I'd like to hear some experience from someone who used it or still does.

How do they compare to the well known CEB-3, or CE-5, or other whatever bass-friendly chorus pedals? What about the low end? Any signal loss? Noise?

I also found an old thread where you can hear some DC-2 (the purple analog one) audio clips.

Boss Dimension-C DC-2 Overview

On those samples, I find it to be very subtle on bass, even in mode 4. Maybe too subtle.

Unfortunately I could not find any bass samples of the DC-3.

Thanks

HalfManHalfBass · #2 12-30-2011, 01:19 AM

Hi,

I've had a DC2 which although was great with guit@rs and keybo@rds I didn't find did much for bass. Just 4 presets didn't make it adjustable enough for me and in my opinion this and the DC3 are really for stereo applications and bass rarely benefits from being recorded in stereo (apart maybe from a bit of chorus on a fretless). I also found the DC2 robbed a bit of the low end from my signal. Don't forget too that these pedals may take the old Boss ACA power adaptor or need to be daisy chained with those from the PSA adaptor series.

The DC3 (I've had 2 of these) although offers more flexibility, I found it better on other instruments rather than bass as it widens the stereo image without the modulation / sweeping / pulsing effect of a chorus pedal and this doesn't do much in my opinion for bass frequencies. It also sounded too crisp for my liking and robbed some low end too. The worst thing about this pedal for me was that it had an annoying double tracking effect every so often. For example if you play percussively (slapping for example) every now and then you hear a slight slapback type digital delay effect (only a few milliseconds - but still damn annoying).

All my opinion of course, but I don't think 'widening the stereo field without modulation' for low frequency instruments is what either of these pedals does best. They just sound too crisp. Definitely a 'try with your rig before you buy'.

bigchiefbc · #3 12-30-2011, 06:58 AM

I personally love the DC-2, it is my favorite chorus ever. But it is definitely not for everyone. I kind of look at the DC-2 as a chorus without much movement, like if you were to almost "freeze" a chorus at some point in its sweep. It's not truly frozen, but the movement is extremely subtle. It just gives your tone this icy, static shimmer that I haven't found in many other pedals. It sounds great, but some people want a more prominent warble to their chorus tones.

But it truly shines in stereo, where you totally get this 3D effect where the bass seems to be coming at you from multiple directions. But since most bassists have never run a stereo rig, that part is kinda hidden from most users. But if you use it for recording, it's fantastic.

The funny thing about all of this is that I ended up selling my DC-2. The reason why is that I tried the Behringer copy of it (CC-300, I think) and honestly, it nails the Boss, dead-on. I A/B'd them through both my live rig and direct-in to my mixer, and if I closed my eyes, I honestly could not hear any difference at all. Maybe having the behringer on my board makes me lose the pedalboard beauty/mojo contests, but I can get the exact same tone for 1/6th the price.

Never tried the DC-3, but from what I've heard, it sounds a little bit more like a traditional chorus.

JohnPativens · #4 12-30-2011, 09:06 AM

Thanks guys.

You know, I'd really want to like one of these, maybe 'cause I get fascinated by rare gear. Also, I saw the value of the DC-2 on the bay.. do they really go away for 500$? It's insane!

By listening to those samples above, I feel I'm not into the DC-2 sound that much.. don't know why, but I had the same feeling the first time I heard the EHX Small Clone. I'm more of a ''thick digital modern chorus'' kind of guy.
I watched a few DC-3/guitar videos, and I had the feeling it sounds more like the Super Chorus or Chorus Ensamble. Doesn't it?

So yours needed different power supply than the standard 9v DC plug?

@HalfManHalfBass, what do you mean with ''too crisp''?

bigchiefbc · #5 12-30-2011, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnPativens

Thanks guys.

You know, I'd really want to like one of these, maybe 'cause I get fascinated by rare gear. Also, I saw the value of the DC-2 on the bay.. do they really go away for 500$? It's insane!

No, I've never seen one go for that much. Were you looking at completed listings, or just what some jamoke listed his pedal for? I bought and sold mine for under $200. But it was a bit beat up. For a minty one, 200-250 is probably about right.

JohnPativens · #6 12-30-2011, 09:46 AM

There are a few ''Buy it now'' asking for 400$ and 500$, right now.

**grygrx** · #7 12-30-2011, 10:12 AM

I'm also a big DC-2 fan, and think it sounds great. It's got a headroom problem in my opinion and those little buttons on mine seemed extremely fragile. I picked up a clone from Fromel electronics (the seraph) a few years ago, tried them side-by-side for a bit, and then sold the DC-2 and haven't looked back

hobbes1 · #8 12-30-2011, 10:25 AM

i have a dc-3 digital dimension i bought new back in the day. it's cool and the only chorus pedal i ever needed. mostly i had used it on guitar but have tried it on the bass. i tended to like it as a subtle effect, not using it in an "in your face" manner. i also picked up a behringer clone of the dc-2 for like $20 off amazon a couple years ago. i like that one too...it eats batteries very fast and the adapter costs about as much as the pedal and i never bought one for it, so the clone is gathering dust

i think either of these, with the depth on the dc-3 being <50% and blend in the effect and EQ level to taste, could be pretty useful for chorus on the bass. just my $0.02

**grygrx** · #9 12-30-2011, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbes1

. i also picked up a behringer clone of the dc-2 for like $20 off amazon a couple years ago. i like that one too...it eats batteries very fast and the adapter costs about as much as the pedal and i never bought one for it, so the clone is gathering dust

It's worth noting that the DC-2 also snacks on batteries like a fat kid on a chocolate bar, it's not even worth trying without a power tap.

JohnPativens · #10 12-30-2011, 11:01 AM

Do you think them to be easy to resell?

I also thought of buying, see if I can get the sound I like, resell if not.

How are they powered? 9V DC plug?

**grygrx** · #11 12-30-2011, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnPativens

Do you think them to be easy to resell?

I also thought of buying, see if I can get the sound I like, resell if not.

How are they powered? 9V DC plug?

DC-2 : Selling is ok if the price is right, but these $400 prices are outrageous. They still seem to be found around $180-$200 if you are patient.

It does take a regular 9V DC plug.

Damascus · #12 12-30-2011, 03:57 PM

I got mine from BigChief for $160. I knew the Behringer clone was out there, but i've known about the DC-2 for fifteen years now and i jumped at the chance to finally own one. I think the price was more than fair.

It looks like there are a bunch of paint chips, but that's really raw mojo that got splattered and fused itself to the casing.

I dug up this block diagram to help anyone who is trying to get their heads around what this pedal actually does.
http://www.birthofasynth.com/Scott_S...imc_block1.jpg

The LFO is trapezoidal shaped, from what i've heard. It is sent to two delay lines, one with the unaltered LFO and one where it is inverted.

And the result is a chorus without the warble.

JohnPativens · #13 12-31-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grygrx

DC-2 : Selling is ok if the price is right, but these $400 prices are outrageous. They still seem to be found around $180-$200 if you are patient.

It does take a regular 9V DC plug.

Maybe insane collectionists would pay that money for a boxed mint condition DC-2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damascus

I dug up this block diagram to help anyone who is trying to get their heads around what this pedal actually does.
http://www.birthofasynth.com/Scott_S...imc_block1.jpg

The LFO is trapezoidal shaped, from what i've heard. It is sent to two delay lines, one with the unaltered LFO and one where it is inverted.

And the result is a chorus without the warble.

Interesting, thanks!