Can we talk chorus?

andrew · #1 11-02-2011, 10:23 PM

I'm looking for advice on chorus pedal and recommendations.

What tips are there to get the best out of your chorus pedal's tone? I own a few and while they sound great at home, I find the chorus effect gets lost in the band mix.

What chorus pedal is your favorite, and why?

surfingbird1 · #2 11-02-2011, 10:32 PM

i have a eqd sea machine coming

ill let u know

stratovani · #3 11-02-2011, 10:59 PM

I've got the Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus on my board. What I like about it is that it's built to withstand a barbarian invasion, also it has a low filter so I can have the chorus on just the high strings if I want, and it has two outputs, so I can run the signal into two amps (although one signal won't have the chorus), and you can get used ones in decent condition on eBay for a very reasonable price.

andrew · #4 11-02-2011, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stratovani

I've got the Boss CEB-3 Bass Chorus

Thanks. I also own a Boss CEB-3, an EHX Clone Theory and a Tech 21 Bass Boost Chorus.

bongomania · #5 11-02-2011, 11:52 PM

It's a common problem, chorus "disappearing" in a live band mix. It's not a problem with one chorus vs another, so I wouldn't like to see this thread turn into "everybody name their favorite chorus pedal". Chorus is just a mix of your signal and a slightly delayed and modulated copy of itself, and that's a subtlety that quickly gets overwhelmed by any other instruments in the mix.

The only solutions I know of are (a) bass as a prominent voice in a sparse, open mix; or (b) chorus as part of a larger, more distinct tone shape like the classic fretless + chorus + reverb + playing in a high register.

Crystalman85 · #6 11-03-2011, 12:04 AM

My favorite chorus pedal is the danelectro chorus pedals. I like these chorus pedals because they're affordable and they provide awesome sounds. these chorus pedals are made for guitar, but they do work well on bass. especially since these chorus pedals has a mix control. I own a danelectro fab chorus pedal. this chorus pedal costs $15 and it provides a retro-futuristic chorus sound. it sounds awesome on active and passive basses. it also sounds awesome with my digitech bass driver.

bassbrad · #7 11-03-2011, 12:32 AM

Like Bongo pointed out chorus' subtlety is something that can easily be buried in the mix so you have to pick and choose- only 1 modulation at a time in a sound scape. Running in stereo can help or a wet dry amp set up can really punch it out. My favorite is Ibanez CS9 a warm analog chorus but in a dense sound scape it can sound like sludge.

loopmantra · #8 11-03-2011, 03:36 AM

i use a little angel clone,and although i agree on chorus generally beeing 'mucked' in live performance,this one works splendid....it adds a bit of metallic sounding,somewhat like jaco p. on heavy 'n jazz concert...not your typical chorus,but i love it....oh yeah,and i generally use it in quiet parts of the songs,mostly intros or choruses...very rarely on verses or bridges/guitar solos...

marijn van gils · #9 11-03-2011, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

It's a common problem, chorus "disappearing" in a live band mix. It's not a problem with one chorus vs another, so I wouldn't like to see this thread turn into "everybody name their favorite chorus pedal". Chorus is just a mix of your signal and a slightly delayed and modulated copy of itself, and that's a subtlety that quickly gets overwhelmed by any other instruments in the mix.

The only solutions I know of are (a) bass as a prominent voice in a sparse, open mix; or (b) chorus as part of a larger, more distinct tone shape like the classic fretless + chorus + reverb + playing in a high register.

This says it all!

That's why I prefer not too subtle chorus, and apply it to bass heavy songs with enough space, like some 80ies pop or to add to prominent synth bass lines.
I don't play fretless, but this is where I would see a use for more subtle chorus.

coyoteboy · #10 11-03-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrew

Thanks. I also own a Boss CEB-3, an EHX Clone Theory and a Tech 21 Bass Boost Chorus.

How do you like the Boost Chorus?

And a general question: is that typical? i.e. for a stereo output chorus to be one clean and one chorused signal?

bongomania · #11 11-03-2011, 12:54 PM

Yes. In fact that is the only thing that makes 99% of them "stereo". There are some extra-fancy digital choruses that also implement some panning, but by and large "stereo chorus" just means one output is your dry original signal.

AndyLES · #12 11-03-2011, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bongomania

The only solutions I know of are (a) bass as a prominent voice in a sparse, open mix; or (b) chorus as part of a larger, more distinct tone shape like the classic fretless + chorus + reverb + playing in a high register.

This is why Sting sounded great using Fretless (sometimes Fretted too) + Chorus with the Police...the sparser, spacier arrangements allowed each instrument to shine.

In a busy metal band? Probably not so much.

Gadgetjunky · #13 11-03-2011, 01:38 PM

I want a Chorus sound like on Nutshell - Alice in Chains

DBCrocky · #14 11-03-2011, 01:44 PM

I found that the chorus delay mixed with the orignal signal would cause some notes to cancel out while others would reinforce, so some notes you couldn't hear while others were louder. Fixing this problem is the reason better bass chorus pedals now leave the low frequencies dry and only apply chorus to the high frequencies.

(In the end though, I gave up on chorus altogether - and eventually to all effects. These days I plug a cable straight from the bass into the amp and play completely dry, using a clip-on tuner. Not saying effects are bad for everyone, just not worth it for me.)

Gadgetjunky · #15 11-03-2011, 01:53 PM

Funny story. We just added 'Don't Stop Believing' and played it the first time live this weekend. I searched on here to see what I could use to get that tone, and I found that is was mainly playing on the bridge pickup with a little Chorus. Well, the song snuck up on be and I didn't use any Chorus on it but did play down at the bridge. Later that night our singer was telling me how he really liked how I made it sound close to the original. hmmm

mjcantor · #16 11-03-2011, 02:09 PM

I have the Boss CEB-3. It's a little too digital and sterile sounding on it's own, but it's the best sounding chorus I've used on bass when used in a full band context., Bonus points since as another poster pointed out, it's built like a tank.

BassAlchemy · #17 11-03-2011, 02:18 PM

I have never used any effects but i am thinking of getting the Tech 21 Bass Boost but its not cheap. I have talked to a few people about effects and most people say that a chorus is a cheesy 80's effect and that it sucks on bass. I like the way it sounds but i am still hesistant to shell that kind of dough for a pedal.

**kenstee** · #18 11-03-2011, 04:09 PM

A great chorus for bass is the one from Analogman with their optional Deep toggle switch (switched on) used at 18v rather than at 9v or 12v which are the other options. Fantastic tone with lots of headroom.

GazzBass · #19 11-05-2011, 08:54 AM

I just picked up an EHX Neo Clone to replace my old beat up Small Clone. Both great pedals. Never had any problems with them cutting through the mix. Great for that big wobbly 80s vibe.

luvpbass · #20 11-05-2011, 09:09 AM

I tried a couple of different choruses -- both for guitar and bass -- and found that they, too, seemed to get lost in the mix. That hasn't been a problem since I found one of the older Danelectro Cool Cat's that run at 18 volts. Built like a tank, doesn't mush up the low tones. A little large for the pedal board, but I can live with it.