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Rack Chorus

N

NineSpine

Jun 19, 2007
552
8
#1
Ive been considering getting rid of my chorus pedal (Boss Bass Chorus) and replacing it with a rack unit. This is because I pretty much just leave the thing on 100% of the time anyway, lightly chorusing my tone.

Are there any rack units anyone suggests that I could do the same with?
 
#2
Maybe hard to find, but DOD made an excellent one back in the '70s. Also Rockman (Tom Scholz) had a killer half-rack chorus. And I actually like the chorus in some of the Lexicon rack units I've used; it's a very different flavor from the old analog ones, but cool nonetheless.
 
#6
gillento said:
maybe, if you are lucky, you could find a discontinued TC 1210.
Roscoe Beck uses one in his rack.
The TC SCF Pedal might be an option, although it is a pedal. But the input level is controllable.
Click to expand...


+1 on the TC 1210...It is a beautiful sounding rack chorus...they are hard to find and expensive, but really sounds amazing...
 
#7
...and of course everybody and his brother has a chorus in their rack multi, so if you find a multi w/ a flavor of chorus that you like, there ya go.

If you're after a harder 80s/90s chorus, lots of units from the Quadraverbs on (including some of Lexicon's budget offerings and even the Digitech Studio Quad) can get you that. Those (and more) are pretty common on the used market for cheap.

I haven't heard a modestly priced rack multi that gives you something like a Small Clone or Analog.Man Chorus sound, but I haven't been looking very hard either.
 
#8
The little bitty Lexicon Alex does a nice chorus IMHO, as does the rather psycho (but also little bitty) Vortex. These are more analog sounding than many rack units, or at least "warmer", maybe because of the low bit resolution?

I'm partial to the Rocktron Intellifex, plentiful and pretty cheap used. The Intellifex would make more sense if you like to switch patches a lot, since it does so very seamlessly. It also does stereo imaging really well IME.
 
#9
To elaborate further:

Chorus is a very integral part of my sound and my writing. I use various chorus effects for different things, but I always keep a light one on at all times. Just to free up space on my pedalboard, I want to remove the chorus I dont turn off (and my tuner actually) to add a rack unit with a chorus, tuner, power conditioner, and possibly a compressor...
 
#10
NineSpine said:
To elaborate further:

Chorus is a very integral part of my sound and my writing. I use various chorus effects for different things, but I always keep a light one on at all times. Just to free up space on my pedalboard, I want to remove the chorus I dont turn off (and my tuner actually) to add a rack unit with a chorus, tuner, power conditioner, and possibly a compressor...
Click to expand...

RE: my recommendation on the Alesis Midi Verb 4 - That's how I used it; subtle chorus on all the time. If, on the other hand, you were thinking of switching between settings on the Alesis, I can't recommend it as the unit does not switch between settings seamlessly at all.
 
#11
Passinwind said:
...I'm partial to the Rocktron Intellifex, which are plentiful and pretty cheap used. The Intellifex would make more sense if you like to switch patches a lot, since it does so very seamlessly. It also does stereo imaging really well IME.
Click to expand...
How'bout that Replefex?! My Bro (a guitarist) has one, and I LOVE some the the patches he has.

..But the ones that I like, you wouldn't want to leave on all the time, I don't think - it'd make everyone seasick! That thing does some real mind-bending choruses.

Does the Inelli' do those oh-so gooey-gooey ones too, Passin?

Joe
 
#13
My primary project is a band that plays a combination of very ambient post-rock and very aggressive "wall-of-sound" style sludge metal.

I also write my own music, which consists of two basses, drums, and electronics, which is very ambient as well.

The constant light chorus brings my highs out in a very, very nice way to compliment that style of ambient music. Normally, bringing out your highs can cause too harsh a sound for that, especially if you get some buzz, which can kill the mood entirely.
 
#16
Joe P said:
..But the ones that I like, you wouldn't want to leave on all the time, I don't think - it'd make everyone seasick! That thing does some real mind-bending choruses.

Does the Inelli' do those oh-so gooey-gooey ones too, Passin?
Click to expand...

Hey Joe,

Yeah, there are eight independently programmable voices. Four is already pretty danged swirly though.

For a light sheen, which is what I'd maybe leave on all the time, I'd generally use two of the eight. I used to gig a lot with just a drummer and me. A little chorus (in stereo, with two cabs) helped a ton in keeping a full sound in that context. For me, it was mostly just about adding sheen to my fretless basses. And I played fretless all the time, so...:cool:

The last few years I've just been gigging on EUB. Chorus sounds cool on it and all, but the lounge jazz stuff I play can prolly do without it.
 
#19
Heeey - I think I get it now..

Yeah - Flock Of Seagulls!

I still just-gotta get one of those mind-bending warpo-choruses. It's a good point, though, that STEREO would be the full-effect.

~~~~~~~~
Well - I gotta run. Still don't have internet at my apartment...

Talk to y'all next week!

Joe
 

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