I'm surprised more people haven't reported the same thing. Having received two units that have done the same thing, I assumed that all units did this.
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New MXR pedals
- Thread starter 254 stringer
- Start date
I'm surprised more people haven't reported the same thing. Having received two units that have done the same thing, I assumed that all units did this.
Thinking further on this, I wonder if I'm being a little sensitive. The hiss while it's there is not overpowering with treble set to 12o'clock. In a live band mix I don't hear it (that may be more my ears, but it's low enough that I don't pick it up).
If I was studio recording a solo piece with the pedal, suspect it would potentially be a problem. Interested to see what Dunlop have to say, and if anyone else hears the same...
If I was studio recording a solo piece with the pedal, suspect it would potentially be a problem. Interested to see what Dunlop have to say, and if anyone else hears the same...
OK ... I previously reported in this thread that my Bass Chorus Deluxe was completely issue/hiss free, but now that's I've tried it with headphones, I can 100% hear what you're talking about. Using the headphone jack on my GK MB115, everything is perfectly silent so I can really hear what should and shouldn't be there.
I will admit I need the headphones on to hear it ... a hiss, or to my ears it's more like a faint rattle (like the springs of a snare drum rattling. Very faint but audible nonetheless). It is present when a note is being played, and the noise sustains as long as the note does. I start to hear it with the treble at noon, and it becomes more noticeable with any increase beyond that (I prefer having the treble at about 75% full).
It's definitely there and I think it most definitely impacts the tone. My tones from my MXR Phase 90 and Carbon Copy for example are deep and full and clear. I like the tone of my Bass Chorus Deluxe, but it doesn't have the deep/full/clear tone I've experienced with other chorus pedals and other MXR pedals. Switching from another pedal to the Bass Chorus Deluxe, or from bypass to the Bass Chorus Deluxe, I would say some of the clarity is being sacrificed. Though you wouldn't necessarily hear the rattle/hiss, the fact it is there impacts the the end result of what you do hear.
As the honeymoon period wears off, I do regret selling my MXR Black Label Chorus before I even received the Bass Chorus Deluxe. I loved the Black Label Chorus and assumed the Bass Chorus Deluxe had to be just as good and would most likely be better. The main reason I replaced the Black Label though was I was really attracted to the flanger function of the Bass Chorus Deluxe (and I really do like the flanger in this thing).
As for the straight chorus tome, I remember INSTANTLY being wowed by the Black Label Chorus when I first got it. Plug it in and wow. Just two days ago a purchased a MXR Phased 90 ... again INSTANT wow. I also own the MXR Bass Envelope Filter, MXR Bass Compressor, MXR Carbon Copy, MXR Bass D.I. ... all wow wow wow wow. With the Bass Chorus Deluxe, it's been more like, "ok, the more I play it, the more I'm liking it, I'm learning to love it ... I have to love it because it's MXR ..."
Would I have noticed the noise at all if not for this thread? No. But again, there was "something" that was making me miss the tone of the Black Label Chorus and that little sound in the Bass Chorus Deluxe, as faint as it is, is likely interfering just enough to alter the overall tone.
Anyway ... I'm keeping it. I still like it much more than my previous EBS MultiChorus. The faint noise doesn't bother me enough to ditch it.
With that said, I think it's still a legitimate issue that is getting in the way of the best tone possible. It's good, very good ... but it can be better. If I hadn't already bought it, I wouldn't have got rid of my Black Label and maybe waited to read all the feedback from the first shipment of pedals that went to market.
In a nutshell ... not disappointed, not "wowed" by it either ... but I'm OK with it.
If it wasn't for all my previous happiness with MXR/Dunlop, I may not be as laid back about it (including Way Huge, 7 of the 9 pedals on my board are Dunlop/MXR).
I will admit I need the headphones on to hear it ... a hiss, or to my ears it's more like a faint rattle (like the springs of a snare drum rattling. Very faint but audible nonetheless). It is present when a note is being played, and the noise sustains as long as the note does. I start to hear it with the treble at noon, and it becomes more noticeable with any increase beyond that (I prefer having the treble at about 75% full).
It's definitely there and I think it most definitely impacts the tone. My tones from my MXR Phase 90 and Carbon Copy for example are deep and full and clear. I like the tone of my Bass Chorus Deluxe, but it doesn't have the deep/full/clear tone I've experienced with other chorus pedals and other MXR pedals. Switching from another pedal to the Bass Chorus Deluxe, or from bypass to the Bass Chorus Deluxe, I would say some of the clarity is being sacrificed. Though you wouldn't necessarily hear the rattle/hiss, the fact it is there impacts the the end result of what you do hear.
As the honeymoon period wears off, I do regret selling my MXR Black Label Chorus before I even received the Bass Chorus Deluxe. I loved the Black Label Chorus and assumed the Bass Chorus Deluxe had to be just as good and would most likely be better. The main reason I replaced the Black Label though was I was really attracted to the flanger function of the Bass Chorus Deluxe (and I really do like the flanger in this thing).
As for the straight chorus tome, I remember INSTANTLY being wowed by the Black Label Chorus when I first got it. Plug it in and wow. Just two days ago a purchased a MXR Phased 90 ... again INSTANT wow. I also own the MXR Bass Envelope Filter, MXR Bass Compressor, MXR Carbon Copy, MXR Bass D.I. ... all wow wow wow wow. With the Bass Chorus Deluxe, it's been more like, "ok, the more I play it, the more I'm liking it, I'm learning to love it ... I have to love it because it's MXR ..."
Would I have noticed the noise at all if not for this thread? No. But again, there was "something" that was making me miss the tone of the Black Label Chorus and that little sound in the Bass Chorus Deluxe, as faint as it is, is likely interfering just enough to alter the overall tone.
Anyway ... I'm keeping it. I still like it much more than my previous EBS MultiChorus. The faint noise doesn't bother me enough to ditch it.
With that said, I think it's still a legitimate issue that is getting in the way of the best tone possible. It's good, very good ... but it can be better. If I hadn't already bought it, I wouldn't have got rid of my Black Label and maybe waited to read all the feedback from the first shipment of pedals that went to market.
In a nutshell ... not disappointed, not "wowed" by it either ... but I'm OK with it.
If it wasn't for all my previous happiness with MXR/Dunlop, I may not be as laid back about it (including Way Huge, 7 of the 9 pedals on my board are Dunlop/MXR).
For me, I can notice it easily on my amp with no controls boosted and the amp set to living room volume. I had the MXR Analog Chorus prior and I know it was much more quiet. That said, Dunlop has had my Bass Chorus Deluxe since 1/24 and I haven't been able to obtain any response from them. No one will reply to my e-mails...
I was planning to get bass chorus deluxe, but after reading this issue, probably i'll go with analog chorus or Black Label Chorus.
Thank's guys for being honest, like always at TB.
Thank's guys for being honest, like always at TB.
It could just be an early defect along the likes of what was seen with the initial release of the Carbon Copy. I have yet to receive word back from Dunlop tech support about my BCD that has now been there for TWO WEEKS. So either they're working hard at something or I'm out $170.
I'll keep looking at this post, so when you get the answer from them, please let us know.
Thank's
For players wanting to stay inside the MXR family, the Stereo Chorus (large yellow one) is great on bass. It has the same controls as the BCD (except the flanger and crossover options) and has a depth switch.
I too am another Bass Chorus Deluxe "potential buyer" that is now backing away from this product. There seems to be something suspiciously wrong/noisy with this first run.
I guess I'll give it another 6 months to see if MXR can work it out.
Has anyone had any direct feedback from the company regarding these problems?
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
This is where you start seeing how differently companies are in terms of engaging people in social media. I'm sure someone over there reads this stuff. But do they ever engage their customers here the way some other companies do? Gallien-Krueger and Source Audio are two that really do a nice job with this.
They have to acknowledge it's even a problem first. I know both units of mine that had the noise problem displayed a little bit of heat damage to them. Just look at U14 in this picture from my first unit.
Just yesterday I received an e-mail stating that they should be getting to my pedal SOON. It arrived there on 1/24, but didn't arrive in the repair center until 1/30.
i gave my mxr bass chorus deluxe pedal a thorough test drive , by itself and in my signal chain and i dont hear any hissing noises ... i do hear a slight swooshing sound when the flange is on but no different than my mxr micro flange
Just to clarify, it's dead quiet when the pedal is engaged until you play a note through it. There's noise reduction circuitry built into the pedal and so you won't hear the noise until you start playing with the pedal engaged.
Some people have had to use headphones. Myself (being a trained audio engineer) and others who are not have been able to pick it out without the use of headphones. We're also talking about all knobs at noon. If you have the treble below noon, you might not here it.
My pedalboard is completely comprised of MXR pedals, hence why I'd be so upset if one of them wasn't up to par. 
I continue to be puzzled by the performance issue postings because my own pedal has been nothing short of brilliant and issue free. An impressive pedal for sure.
