Boss, MXR or Electro Harmonix - which one is best ?

patpol44 · #1 10-22-2009, 01:08 PM

I like the '80s sound with lots of effects.

Best Chorus ? Best Flanger? Best phaser ?

True Analog or digital ?

Please share your experience ...

TheWoodShed · #2 10-22-2009, 01:45 PM

For a flanger, I like the Boss BF-2

For phaser, I am not a in love with any of them, but I would do the MXR Phase 90 if I had to.

Chorus, none of them. Lots like the Boss Bass Chorus though. The Small Clone gets attention too.

RickenBoogie · #3 10-22-2009, 01:50 PM

All 3 are solid, mass produced, easily found products. As to the "best" anything, well, that's your personal preference. I can say, at this point, I have more MXR pedals than either of the other 2, but have owned tons of all 3.

RCCollins · #4 10-22-2009, 02:13 PM

80s sound with lots of chorus, flange, phase?

You want Boss.

stflbn · #5 10-22-2009, 02:16 PM

I'd love the Phase90 if it had a level (depth) knob and stayed in the small box.
Same with most mainstream chorus's that are inexpensive. Most i've tried that are inexpensive and do have a depth or level knob sound thin and weak.

MooseLumps · #6 10-22-2009, 02:16 PM

They are all best

For metal.

Bassmike62 · #7 10-22-2009, 06:54 PM

It's always a matter of preference, but analog sounds more classic rock.

Flanger: the Boss unit does a good job for bass, I use the BF-3 myself

EHX: bought the bassballs recently and really love it...Looks cool and sounds even better.

MXR: just bought the octave deluxe after a bit looking around and comparing with the Boss OC 3. Lots of guys around here use the Boss OC2, which is analog.

Although I checked websites for gear, haven't really tried anything else than MXRs, EHXs and Boss's gear

Lynwood James · #8 10-22-2009, 06:59 PM

I'm really not a fan of the Boss phasers...the EHX is okay, but I think that the MXR Phase90 is best with bass.

For chorus, the EHX is again okay, haven't tried MXR but Boss CE-2B and CEB-3 are both amazing. You might also look into the Ibanez SC10, or an Ibanez BC10...the BC10 tends to be a little harder to find but if you find one, they sound great and will still probably only run you $40.

bassbmx · #9 10-22-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooseLumps

They are all best....
For metal.

Thunderscreech · #10 10-22-2009, 08:31 PM

All > All.

ryognbass · #11 10-22-2009, 08:34 PM

i go with EHX all the way. my small stone seems to have much more depth than the phase 90 and i dont need the bells and whistles of the ph-3/5

im not big on flanger or chorus though

Valerus · #12 10-22-2009, 08:49 PM

The Boss BF-3 is pretty nice. I like it.

TheRockinRoadie · #13 10-23-2009, 05:37 AM

I have an EHX Clone Theory. Its a great Chorus pedal, some people dont like it though. Its abit noisey but tbh, you wont notice this in a full band situation. Its a great pedal and you can get lots of useable settings out of it. i find the Tremolo wierd though...

My vote goes with EHX, i find the boss pedals Cheesey.

As for phaser, Phase 90, i have an early script logo model, hopefully im going to restore it soon! (When i say i have one, i kinda mean, the enclosure, switch, and the pot

)

Din Of Win · #14 10-23-2009, 07:52 AM

Awww c'mooooon... no Digitech? I've honestly been more happy with their pedals than the other three you mentioned.

Anywho, so's not to derail things:

Chorus: I used the Boss Bass Chorus and i like it fine. I have used the Boss Multi Chorus too and it's also great. I haven't tried the MXR chorus... but i do like the two Boss pedals more than the EHX Small Clone (i think that's the right one).

Flanger: Boss all the way. I'd choose MXR after that though.

Phaser: I have, and love my MXR Phase90. I haven't tried the boss phaser, but when i was purchasing the MXR i also tried the EHX Small Stone, and while it wasn't 'bad', i just liked the Phase90 better.

ItsMichaelYeah · #15 10-23-2009, 09:19 AM

Phaser: ehx or MXR. Both have a diffrent sound from each other. But both are good at what they do.

Chorus: for me I've tried all the boss and ehx chorus pedals but for me the best one IMO is the mxr stereo chorus. It had a really think sound and just sounds so good on bass. And the 18v helps it run really smooth.

Not a fan of flanger so I can't help you there.

Jake of Bass · #16 10-23-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stflbn

I'd love the Phase90 if it had a level (depth) knob and stayed in the small box.

Check out BYOC pedals. Just google them. Exact same circuitry as a Phase 90 with a depth knob. You build it yourself.

AleemRadunzel · #17 10-23-2009, 07:09 PM

I gotta say danelectro! i lose no low end.. small clone is ok but clone theory isnt that good on bass, more a guitar effect. the boss is quite sterile. the hardwire digitech is good..

in terms of flange i gotta say my 70's electric mistress owns. boss modulation is too sterile inmho the only one of any cop is the jazz chorus circuit. the triple flange by dano is good.. but it where its layered you cant get straight flange out of it only crazy over modulation which is both a winner and a loser..

there ARE only 2 phasers REALLY or at least what the majority of them are based on the stone and the phase 90, which is really an arguement of depth over width and ill go with the stone.

Past 11 · #18 10-23-2009, 08:28 PM

Flanger: Another vote for the BF-2 Flanger. I still love that thing to this day on bass and guitar.

Phaser: My Phase 90 is great. Seems to cover all bases. Other phasers just seem to be too much envelope or too much digital meow.

Chorus: Again, just go with Boss. Boss was definitely 80's

grimniggzy · #19 01-28-2010, 09:17 AM

Out of all three companies I like Electro Harmonix the best overall but...

Chorus: If you like the 80's sounds I'd say check out the EXH-Clone Theory (it's very Joy Division-y) but is a little noisy, there's also always the the EHX Small Clone as well, it's very simple to use and I find it much less digital than the Boss Chorus.

Phaser: As much as I love EHX it doesn't get better than the MXR Phase 90. The Small Stone can get you where you want to go as well it's just a matter of opinion.

Flanger: Many people love the Boss Flanger (the pink one). But also the EHX Electric Mistress is really cool psychedelic Chorus/Flange combo to take a look at.

SoonerMatt · #20 01-28-2010, 09:26 AM

Personally when I think 80s I think Boss. As for personal preference, this is all subjective and YMMV...

Chorus - None, go with the Hardwire CR-7.

Phaser - MXR Phase 90, but I'm more partial to the Retro Sonic Phaser or Maxon PT-999, both of which are modified circuits of the Phase 90 and, IMO, better.

Flanger - I had a DOD FX72 that (again, IMO) gave the best flanger sound, but like everyone else has said the Boss BF-2 is really solid as well.