EBS UniChorus to replace Guyatone MC3...would you?

My name is Mudd · #1 07-26-2009, 03:11 PM

I'm just thinking ahead a bit here - I've got a Guyatone MC3 and am happy with it. However, a lot of folks claim that the EBS UniChorus is the be-all-to-end-all chorus. Now, given that the Uni will also flange and that I just sold a very nice flanger (Boss FL-2) for lack of use, would you replace the MC3 with a Uni? I'm not really excited about paying for (at least part of) a feature I have not used to date and may or may not need at all, but the Uni is a nice pedal that makes a nice noise, and if I DO ever need to flange something, there it is - just throw the switch. The cost of the Uni would also be a concern (even a used one), but since this is theoretical, let's just skip over that bit.

Discuss, please...

Jazz Ad · #2 07-26-2009, 04:34 PM

I much prefer the tone and settings of the MC-3 to the Uni. The EBS sounds too clean and polite.

RCCollins · #3 07-26-2009, 04:37 PM

who claims that the unichorus is the be all end all? It's a nice, polite and practical chorus but far from the ultimate

My name is Mudd · #4 07-26-2009, 07:45 PM

I've seen/read various reports, some of them hereabouts BTW (and naturally, I can't find any of them ATM), that say the Uni is just The Shizz. I've played thru one, once and for about 15 minutes, and was impressed, but I can say the same thing about my MC3.

Admittedly this is all speculation right now (I'm one of those that plans stuff out WAY too early, sometimes), but I'm trying to see if I can get my pedals down to the point of fitting everything on a PT Mini and still have a few options available, and without going to a digital processor. The Uni having the flanger option is in consideration of my getting the Mini all put together nicely and then finding that I NEED a flanger and have no space left for another box on the Mini.

Mark Olson · #5 07-26-2009, 08:06 PM

If you're happy with your current chorus, I wouldn't bother with the EBS. I've owned one, and while it's good and all, I didn't feel it was great, and also in my opinion it makes a sub par flanger.

RCCollins · #6 07-26-2009, 08:11 PM

yeah, don't buy the uni for the flanger mode -it's fairly lackluster

My name is Mudd · #7 07-26-2009, 08:40 PM

I'm in no hurry to lose the MC3 at all...that's a nice pedal! Not having much real-world experience w/the Uni tho, I thought I'd throw the idea out and see what was said, and now I know and I'll stay with what I've got. I've stumbled along so far without needing the flanger I had, and so I think I'll be safe. As Thoreau said, simplify...

Thank you all, I appreciate it.

FreaqyFrequency · #8 07-26-2009, 10:12 PM

Wasn't too thrilled with my encounter with a UniChorus either. For the price, I would look into the HardWire CR-7 or a used Analogman.

walpow · #9 07-26-2009, 10:40 PM

Just to confuse things ... I've got a Guyatone flanger (FL3) and it does a pretty good chorus.

oddbass · #10 07-27-2009, 09:14 AM

I did just what you are asking for!! i went from Guyatone to EBS---->>WOW!!

JanusZarate · #11 07-27-2009, 09:58 AM

While I haven't used the MC3, I was not very impressed by the UniChorus. While it sounds great as a mild chorus, it's disappointing when cranked, and the flanger is weak.

Out of all the EBS pedals I've used, that one was the most lackluster, IMO.

My name is Mudd · #12 07-27-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo, and used as an example for my comments below

Out of all the EBS pedals I've used, that one was the most lackluster, IMO.

The majority opinion of the Uni is rather interesting to me, as part of the whole thing would be due to it being an EBS - not that I'd buy one just 'cause it says 'EBS' on it (as in - buying it for the label, Prada-style) but that EBS effects have, as far as I can tell, a generally good response (in the same way that it's usually safe to buy anything that says 'Toyota' on it). True that anyone can have a bad day tho, as it were, and apparently (while still acknowledging oddball's positive comment, and thanks for that) EBS did...at least once. walpow's comment is also interesting to me in that I've thought that the generic flanger is basically a chorus effect taken to the extreme* or something, and that if it can do one well, it may also do the other well. Bear in mind also that I would do what I could to A/B the EBS against my Guyatone before pulling the trigger.

FWIW - while I've pretty much made up my mind on the original query, this is all very interesting to me, and I'm glad that I put the question up.

* bear in mind, as you read that, that I have already stated elsewhere here on TB that my overall electronics knowledge would fill a matchbook - I can solder and follow a simple curcuit plan and stuff, but beyond that...

stflbn · #13 07-27-2009, 01:07 PM

Chorus is about as personal of an opinion as distortion or overdrive is. Most are going to prefer different choices.

I've had 5 different chorus's and none have stayed around long... simply because I rarely if ever have a need for chorus.

JanusZarate · #14 07-27-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

The majority opinion of the Uni is rather interesting to me, as part of the whole thing would be due to it being an EBS - not that I'd buy one just 'cause it says 'EBS' on it (as in - buying it for the label, Prada-style) but that EBS effects have, as far as I can tell, a generally good response (in the same way that it's usually safe to buy anything that says 'Toyota' on it).

There's a lot of EBS hype on TB, and it originally made me weary of trying out their pedals. You get guys on here every now and then who seem hell-bent on creating 100% EBS pedalboards, and that seems a tad odd to me.

To be fair, I really like the Octabass and MultiComp. I think they're both fantastic pedals. The Unichorus was the third EBS pedal I had owned, and I went in with fairly positive expectations.

The flanger mode in the pedal is only a basic tweak - it changes the delay time to produce the effect, but it doesn't go much farther than that. The pitch modulation mode is pretty cool, especially if you're into bizarre chorus pedals like the EHX Clone Theory, but I preferred the results I got from my Clone Theory. All in all, the real prize in the pedal really is supposed to be the chorus, but I simply wasn't blown away. I imagine it would appeal more to fans of Boss chorus pedals than fans of EHX chorus pedals, based on its characteristics.

Quote:

Originally Posted by My name is Mudd

walpow's comment is also interesting to me in that I've thought that the generic flanger is basically a chorus effect taken to the extreme* or something, and that if it can do one well, it may also do the other well.

While a flexible flanger can pull off a decent chorus sound, I've never come across a chorus pedal which could pull off quality flanger sounds unless the flanger was created using an entirely separate circuit (or digitally), instead of being a mere tweak on the basic chorus circuit.

My name is Mudd · #15 07-27-2009, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

While a flexible flanger can pull off a decent chorus sound etc etc...

After I posted my comments about that, I started wondering if this was in fact the case, and was about to ask about that when I saw what you said...and so, cool - I learned something new. Again. One reason why I ask stuff like this.