Hardwire CE-7 Chorus Review

afroman · #1 02-14-2009, 12:08 AM

Well, after months of research and forum reading, I decided I was going to get a Chorus pedal, I was choosing between the Danelectro Cool Cat (old 18V or new 9v) and the Hardwire Chorus.

Well, I bought the Hardwire after listening to some soundclips here in TB and finding a good price on Ebay.

Tried it today in my home and here are my thoughts.

Construction: Feels heavy and sturdy but I hate the rubber bottom. Velcro doesn't quite stick to it. If you take your pedals on and off your pedalboard constantly, the velcro will probably stay on the board and detach from the pedal bottom, no biggie but it annoys me.

Sound: I have to say that I just realized that chorus can be used for almost anything. Any situation and style. All of the modes in this pedal could be of good use to me. From what I remember here are my thoghts on all of them:

- Studio: good all around chorus.
- Multi: more dynamic and different layers of chorus.
- Modern: my fav setting, warm and subtle.
- Boutique: a little too bright for my tastes
- Analog: also my fav, warm, subtle but Volume and Depth need to be pretty cranked to get a noticeable effect.
- Jazz: smoothest setting, not to my liking
- Vintage: the most noticeable. Very warbly and most extreme.

With that said, with the Speed and Depth knobs you can pretty much emulate any of these settings while using any of them. I prefer Modern and Analog settings and it sounds awesome for slapping, fingerstyle and for pickstyle with my overdrive too.

I'm really happy with it and I'm already thinking on where I can add it to some of my bands songs for a little diversity.

Well it's late. Time to sleep...

Chronicle · #2 02-14-2009, 08:32 AM

A favorite chorus of mine as well

. Not overpriced either.

afroman · #3 02-14-2009, 08:51 AM

It also has great headroom, no bass loss at all.

cybersnyder · #4 02-14-2009, 09:37 AM

I'm a fan of this pedal too. Just wish it was standard Boss size. Did your pedal come with the velcro that you can use to replace the rubber bottom?

Ryan Mohr · #5 02-14-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afroman

I have to say that I just realized that chorus can be used for almost anything. Any situation and style

I agree with you on this one, very easy to incorporate into most music. If you have a quality chorus pedal, it can add a nice dimension to your sound. However, some chorus pedals sound a little cheesy and it is easy to overuse chorus.

Just curious, what style of music do you play?

afroman · #6 02-14-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

I agree with you on this one, very easy to incorporate into most music. If you have a quality chorus pedal, it can add a nice dimension to your sound. However, some chorus pedals sound a little cheesy and it is easy to overuse chorus.

Just curious, what style of music do you play?

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afroman · #7 02-14-2009, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybersnyder

I'm a fan of this pedal too. Just wish it was standard Boss size. Did your pedal come with the velcro that you can use to replace the rubber bottom?

I bought mine used, didnt come with the velcro.
I put the industrial Velcro I use on all my pedals and it worked way better than the one that comes with the Hardwire pedals (i had a Delay/Looper with the stock velcro).