I've always loved the tc electronic scf stereo chorus flanger, but sold mine due to the annoying 110 power cord and not requiring a chorus anymore. 150 might be feasible for a used one.
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Chorus pedal for bass...suggestions?
- Thread starter zartalexander
- Start date
Another big thumbs up for the TC Electronics Corona or Dreamscape pedals. Best chorus pedals I've owned and I've owned a lot of them!
I tried a TC Corona Chorus - the little one - and it sounded really nice. I decided that I don't really need one, but if I did, that's the one I'd get.
Been using the chorus in the EHX tone tattoo. Which I believe is based off the neo clone. Fun pedal!!!! Chorus n blower box into sansamp!!! Nasty tone!!!
I also like the the chorus like effects of the earthquake devices disaster transport SR. that run in the effects loop is beyond sweet. But that pedal is well over the OP's budget. Worth every penny though.
I also like the the chorus like effects of the earthquake devices disaster transport SR. that run in the effects loop is beyond sweet. But that pedal is well over the OP's budget. Worth every penny though.
I had the boss ceb3 and thought it was "meh"
To my ears T Rex "The Sweeper" is the best sounding bass chorus, but I've read about more problems with that pedal than other choruses, so that gives me some pause.
To my ears T Rex "The Sweeper" is the best sounding bass chorus, but I've read about more problems with that pedal than other choruses, so that gives me some pause.
I'd second the TC w/ TonePrint ... it is great to have that kind of editing power over a pedal .. !! I'm used to that since I play mainly keys ...
I would always suggest something that has some type of Blend control ... helps retain your tone and low end ...
I would always suggest something that has some type of Blend control ... helps retain your tone and low end ...
Almost all of the choruses mentioned so far are modeled in the Zoom ms-70CDR which also does simultaneous delay and reverb. The models sound really good. Why limit yourself to one flavor of chorus when you can get dozens for under a hundred?
Here's what I have - a Markbass Chorus/Flanger. I bought mine used from here for about $150. Let me get the downsides out of the way: 1, no battery, requires power supply, and two - the size. It's big, and they can be hard to find.
Now, the plusses:
1. The used cost is great. The price is really good for such a quality pedal. Everything about the pedal says quality.
2. Built like a tank - no cheap-o plastic pieces, just SOLID.
3. The chorus sounds great. You get 3 programmable presets to custom make and store 3 chorus settings, all of which can be easily modified via either the knobs on the unit or via computer software. The Markbass chorus/flanger pedal has a USB interface and free software, so you can EDIT the effect the way(s) you want on your Mac or PC, you can then SAVE the edited sound as a preset to the pedal, and then easily call it up with a stomp. You need the software to SAVE any modified effects. I don't know of ANY pedal in this price range that lets you do that.
4. There is NO tone suck - Markbass are a BASS company. There is ZERO tone suck, TRUE bypass, and NO noise from this pedal.
5. You get three presets for flanger also, and yes, the flanger is as customizable and can be configured/tweaked with either the knobs on the unit or the software via USB.
6. The effects sound awesome, and are so customizable that finding just the right chorus (a touch of Geddy Lee) or the flanger you need is easy.
I'd say check it out. It's one of my 'always on' pedals. I love keeping the chorus on but then switching to the flanger for different parts. Just one great, well built, highly configurable and inexpensive chorus AND flanger in one pedal with 3 presets for chorus and 3 for flanger with NO tone suck and within your budget.
Watch this and see some of the other youtube vids:
There ya go.
Now, the plusses:
1. The used cost is great. The price is really good for such a quality pedal. Everything about the pedal says quality.
2. Built like a tank - no cheap-o plastic pieces, just SOLID.
3. The chorus sounds great. You get 3 programmable presets to custom make and store 3 chorus settings, all of which can be easily modified via either the knobs on the unit or via computer software. The Markbass chorus/flanger pedal has a USB interface and free software, so you can EDIT the effect the way(s) you want on your Mac or PC, you can then SAVE the edited sound as a preset to the pedal, and then easily call it up with a stomp. You need the software to SAVE any modified effects. I don't know of ANY pedal in this price range that lets you do that.
4. There is NO tone suck - Markbass are a BASS company. There is ZERO tone suck, TRUE bypass, and NO noise from this pedal.
5. You get three presets for flanger also, and yes, the flanger is as customizable and can be configured/tweaked with either the knobs on the unit or the software via USB.
6. The effects sound awesome, and are so customizable that finding just the right chorus (a touch of Geddy Lee) or the flanger you need is easy.
I'd say check it out. It's one of my 'always on' pedals. I love keeping the chorus on but then switching to the flanger for different parts. Just one great, well built, highly configurable and inexpensive chorus AND flanger in one pedal with 3 presets for chorus and 3 for flanger with NO tone suck and within your budget.
Watch this and see some of the other youtube vids:
There ya go.
Last edited:
jonesn4bass
Commercial User
+1 one for the CEB-3. I don't use chorus all that often, but when I do I have never felt there was anything lacking from this pedal.
I think I paid right around $150 for my MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe, but you could get it cheaper thru the classifieds here, and I got my Boss CE-3 for about $40. Those two are my favourites, I wouldn't say neither of them are overwhelming (although they can be if you max the knobs). Both are analog, I prefer analog chorus to digital, sounds more "'80s" to me. Both are amazing.
Still impatiently waiting for my Way Huge Blue Hippo mk 2.
Still impatiently waiting for my Way Huge Blue Hippo mk 2.
Another vote for the CE-5. Find an older one if you can. To quote bossarea.com: "There are 2 versions of the CE-5 where the second version is denoted CE-5A. This is printed on the PCB so it is easy to figure out which version you have. The first version is closely related to the CE-2 and CE-3. It uses the 1024 stage Panasonic BBD MN3007 and its associated clock driver 3101. The CE-5A is completely restructured. It uses surface mounted components and the BBD has been replaced with a digital design. All CE-5s made before October 2001 will have the old analog BBD circuit. The easiest way to determine which version you have is to use the serial number. If the second letter/first number combination is earlier than P1, you have the analog type. This also mean that all digital CE-5s will have a dark gray label."
Not a big fan of the digital CE-5, but I love the analog CE-5. I've had my share of gear and I stupidly sold my CE-5 to buy a boutique chorus pedal which was great, but I ended up selling it. Not going to bash it, but see my profile if you like to know... Anyway, I bought another CE-5. Mind that it's not an 'extreme' chorus. It can get very chorussy, but nothing too extreme. If that's the sound you're looking for: (analog) CE-5 all the way! They can be found for cheap and they come up for sale very often.
Not a big fan of the digital CE-5, but I love the analog CE-5. I've had my share of gear and I stupidly sold my CE-5 to buy a boutique chorus pedal which was great, but I ended up selling it. Not going to bash it, but see my profile if you like to know... Anyway, I bought another CE-5. Mind that it's not an 'extreme' chorus. It can get very chorussy, but nothing too extreme. If that's the sound you're looking for: (analog) CE-5 all the way! They can be found for cheap and they come up for sale very often.
Best chorus and I agree about the power chord. Shame, wish they came with a 9 volt adapter.
Hear me out here...
I picked up a used MXR Zack Wylde Signature Chorus for $50 and it has stayed on my board for 4 years (that's a long time when you have GAS!)
Now, I have since wiped off the ridiculous logo and have a nice all-silver stompbox. But back to the important stuff. The tone. From what I've read, the guts are the exact same as the blue box MXR Analog Chorus. And it sounds nice and analog. It's also very versatile. You can turn everything up for a big washy chorus, or, as I do, back off on the level (blend), bass and treble, and get a very subtle flavor to your tone. Great for chording, filling out a line, or totally washing out your delay sounds. I could not recommend the Zack Wylde or Analog Chorus by MXR enough.
For an idea of what it's close to, check out some live recordings of Ben Kenney of Incubus using chorus (Boss CE-2) on "Are You In?"
I picked up a used MXR Zack Wylde Signature Chorus for $50 and it has stayed on my board for 4 years (that's a long time when you have GAS!)
Now, I have since wiped off the ridiculous logo and have a nice all-silver stompbox. But back to the important stuff. The tone. From what I've read, the guts are the exact same as the blue box MXR Analog Chorus. And it sounds nice and analog. It's also very versatile. You can turn everything up for a big washy chorus, or, as I do, back off on the level (blend), bass and treble, and get a very subtle flavor to your tone. Great for chording, filling out a line, or totally washing out your delay sounds. I could not recommend the Zack Wylde or Analog Chorus by MXR enough.
For an idea of what it's close to, check out some live recordings of Ben Kenney of Incubus using chorus (Boss CE-2) on "Are You In?"
I like the boss ce-5. That's what's currently on my board. And I like it over all the other boss chorus pedals. I've also used the digitech bass multi chorus in the past which is super cheap. You can find them from $20-$40 all the time but imo they need to be used with a bypass looper. I like my chorus sound to be somewhat obvious that im using chorus but not like out of tune and goofy sounding. Some people prefer that out of tune sound.
