I'm looking into getting a chorus pedal, something solid but affordable so I turned towards Boss, heard good things about the CE-5 but was wondering how it matched up vs the bass specific CEB-3. Any opinions from owners of either pedal?
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Boss CE-5 vs CEB-3 ??
- Thread starter MrBassItUp
- Start date
I really like my CE-5. You can get everything from a subtle chorus to a crazy vibrato and on lower rate settings it sounds kinda like a phaser to me.
I have never tried the bass version, so I can not say if it is better or not.
I have never tried the bass version, so I can not say if it is better or not.
The CE-5 is an awesome pedal. Like geribassist said, it is very versatile. The high/low filter stacked knob is what makes it uber-friendly for bass. I use a multi now (Boss, BTW) but I still have my CE-5 somewhere.
The CE-5 has long been pretty popular on bass. I think the tone controls make it MORE useful on bass than the CEB-3.
want an example of CE-5 on bass? listen to pretty much everything recorded by the Cure with Simon Gallup playing
want an example of CE-5 on bass? listen to pretty much everything recorded by the Cure with Simon Gallup playing
Hi there,
I tried both the CEB 3 and the CE5 and was impressed with them both.
I then however tried out a "lesser" (can't actually remember the name and I use it every day!!) brand make and despite the aesthetic quality not being as good, I honestly could tell no difference in sound quality whilst playing my Music Man stingray through an Ampeg 610 stack or through a PA at large gigs.
If price isn't an issue I'd go for Boss as to be honest, they look "boss"...but if you can try out a lesser brand.
Hope that helps.
Thanks.
I tried both the CEB 3 and the CE5 and was impressed with them both.
I then however tried out a "lesser" (can't actually remember the name and I use it every day!!) brand make and despite the aesthetic quality not being as good, I honestly could tell no difference in sound quality whilst playing my Music Man stingray through an Ampeg 610 stack or through a PA at large gigs.
If price isn't an issue I'd go for Boss as to be honest, they look "boss"...but if you can try out a lesser brand.
Hope that helps.
Thanks.
Man... where have i been 
I've been using my CEB-3 for quite a while now and i LOVE it... thanks to you all i'm gonna have to go look at a CE-5 now...
I've been using my CEB-3 for quite a while now and i LOVE it... thanks to you all i'm gonna have to go look at a CE-5 now...
Man... where have i been
I've been using my CEB-3 for quite a while now and i LOVE it... thanks to you all i'm gonna have to go look at a CE-5 now...
fortunately they are CHEAP
CE-5 is a multichorus. decide for yourself which you dig more
Ohhh it IS the multi chorus isn't it... I have heard good things, i just don't see them too often. I suck at remembering pedal codes
I thought the CE-5 was just some "guitar chorus".I do use two choruses currently, I have my CEB-3... but i have been very impressed with my $15 Danelectro Cool Cat Chorus i picked up a few weeks back... It's nice to throw out there as a REALLY cheap alternative.
So I love my CEB-3, never played with a CE-5, but I put a ODB-3 in front of it, and it sounds sick.
I'm gonna go ahead and be the contrarian jerk about this, and say that I have played both the CEB-3 AND the CE-5, and I preferred the CEB-3.
I personally found the CE-5 to be too extreme on all but the absolute minimum settings. Maybe its just my tastes in chorus, but I don't want the insane pitch-bending seasick sound that I found the CE-5 gave you whenever the depth setting was above the minimum.
Also, the low filter on the CEB-3 seemed to work better than the low-filter on the CE-5. With the CEB-3, when the low-filter is set to maximum cut, the low strings have no audible chorusing going on at all. IME, the CE-5 never fully cuts the chorus on the lower strings.
I personally found the CE-5 to be too extreme on all but the absolute minimum settings. Maybe its just my tastes in chorus, but I don't want the insane pitch-bending seasick sound that I found the CE-5 gave you whenever the depth setting was above the minimum.
Also, the low filter on the CEB-3 seemed to work better than the low-filter on the CE-5. With the CEB-3, when the low-filter is set to maximum cut, the low strings have no audible chorusing going on at all. IME, the CE-5 never fully cuts the chorus on the lower strings.
I tested both of them and ended up with the CEB-3. I felt it had more warmth, while the CE-5 was kinda "twangy". Apples and oranges, really...
Totally opposite for me. The CEB-3 was much too subtle. It was almost like I hadn't stepped on a pedal at all. I haven't tried the CE-5 extensively, but I do recommend the BBE Mind Bender. 100% USDA approved analogue juicyness. It's got vibrato as well. It's the chorus on my board.
I will agree that the CE-5 doesnt full cut the chorus on the lower strings, but it is subtle enogh to me when I play with my stereo that I dont hear it on my E string.
I own the CE-5 and havent tested the CEB-3 but from what Ive heard the CEB-3 is generally liked by most users. Ive also heard people that like the Danelectro chorus as well and its cheaper Someone on TB has a whole Danelectro pedal board IIRC.
they're different, that's for sure. Myself, I like to EMPHASIZE the deep side, which the "bass chorus", ironically, doesn't allow you to do. But of course the CE-5 is the "chorus ensemble" - a much more "intense" effect all around.
What about the CE-3?
I just bought a mint condition CEB-3 used here on TB for $40. Its very nice and I only use chorus for a few songs so I didnt want to pay alot for a pedal. It IS on the subtle side though. I had to really jack up the settings to get a noticeable effect. For me it works great. I have an old Ibanez multi effects that has a chorus/flanger built in and that sounds great too, but the input jacks are glitchy so thats why I bought the CEB-3. If you want a more subtle chorus, then go for the CEB-3.
