Crazy timing, scored a vintage CE-2 cheap in a pawn shop on the weekend and was doing this exact same comparison with my Helix just yesterday! Came to the same conclusion - the Boss has a beautiful subtle sound, can't make it sound bad, adds some really nice thickness and chime at the same time. I've always liked the chorus' on the Helix but in comparison they were always more heavy handed and swooshy, and the top end sheen sounds less convincing. Loving the CE-2!
Love the CE-2W. Other favourites are the TC Electronic SCF+ and DC-2W too. Because I like them stereo into stereo amps. Someone below mentioned the Roland JC-120, I think they're right, that's the mother chorus. Especially because it suits the clean loud clear stereo amp. For more of a left of field choice, the Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water and Zvex lo-fi junky are very cool too. That was a nice reverb with the chorus btw, gave a nice pillowy halo. Oh, and the Diamond chorus is very nice too, don't own one, but tried one.
I have an old CE-2. As you mentioned, it is very pretty. But, I retired it for the Choruses in the HX Stomp, which sound nice, and I can save my favorite settings. I don't use Chorus very often.
Mooer came out with an excellent micro version of the CE-2. Not sure if it’s available or not but I had a friend from Chile who a friend has gifted him a CE-2 that was in mint condition and I had wanted to see what it sounded like and that was when that Mooer pedal came out and I loved the sound of the CE-2 but it had a very pronounced warble to it that just couldn’t be tuned out. Imagine your rate not having an adjustment or one that couldn’t go all the way to zero and that was what it was like but the Mooer pedal not only made less noise but was absent that effect and it was identical in every way that made it a great pedal. Not sure if you can still get it but it was much cheaper than buying a vintage or reissue Boss version which at the time wasn’t even an option but definitely check it out if you’re in the market
TC Electronics Corona Chorus is my favorite. Not only do you get the EJ Tri-Chorus on a DIP switch, but you also get the advantage of the Toneprint technology to load your own "Preset" or choose from dozens of Toneprints made for artists worldwide and assign that to the DIP switch as well. Very versatile and inexpensive. Sounds great. Also offers either Mono or Stereo ins and outs. Cheers Nathan! Love your videos!!!
Great video. The CE-2 is my go-to pedal for chorus as well. But also love my Ibanez CS9. For me, the ultimate stereo chorus experience comes from my Roland JC-55. It's absolutely gorgeous.
I have a CE-2 in similar condition that I value very much...on my board. Absolutley heavenly sound. You can hear the multi-dimensional depth of the CE-2 compared to the Helix, which is why I have a tradtional analog board and will never switch to "good enough" in the modeling effect units. They come close, but not close enough.
I own a Walrus Audio Julia V2. It's my favorite chorus pedal out there. Even though I don't use chorus 90% of the time, whenever I do use it, it's super dreamy and lovely.
Love my Free the Tone Tri-Avatar Chorus (best ever for Alex Lifeson tones) and my Boss DC-2W (the expensive Chorus sound). I am a huge Chorus-fan = pristine-clean with beautiful chords are hypnotic. oNe LovE from NYC
I bought my Boss CE2 pedal in 1980 and still have it; I used consistently it thru the '80s and early '90s. It doesn't work too well these days so I'll have to find a decent tech who can service it and get it firing again.
CE2. When I use, I run at 15v from Cioks…that’s the only way I can get the bypass light to be fully bright! Also prefer the stereo chorus of the JC amps. Just got a stereo Cabzeus to take the line out of my JC40 (instead of using ACS-1), and going to see if the HX Effects will switch the amp chorus on and off for me.
OK - talking my language! I still have my CE2 - grabbed one when they came out - and it really is the sound of the 80s, especially coupled with the MXR Dynacomp! Back then I did a bit of demo work for Roland in NZ and they gave me a rack-mount Dimension D, which I still keep in the studio . . . 4 presets and a very subtle shift but beautiful used properly in a mix. I recently decided to put a 'live' pedal board together and had a look at some pedals. The 'Dimension C' is quite nice but seemed to drop volume when engaged but the MXR Analog Chorus, which I now use, delivered perfectly - subtle to the point where you can make it almost invisible BUT you really notice when you turn it off. The other chorus I like is from the Strymon Deco - when you turn the tape double-tracker side of the pedal up to the sweet point you get a very lush 'analog tape' chorus that works beautifully in stereo. Lotsa fun! 😀
Big fan of Chorus. It all started with the chorus in the JC40, but now Im currently using a Jackson Audio New Wave on my guitar pedalboard and it's incredible. I really want to add the CE-2W, DC-2W, and JHS Emperor to my collection. Not sure which one I'm going to use for my bass board build I'm working on now which will dictate the next chorus that i buy, but i like to have multiple pedals of the same effect to have more options, but more importantly have a wider understanding of the effect and circuits. It's just a fascination for me.
I might be wrong, but I think that the chorus circuit in the jc120 was what the CE-1 was based on. So the CE-2W in CE-1 like mode should be similar. It's a great sounding amp, and stereo. That could be a part of what makes the JC120 chorus sound so great - the amp sounds great too. And it's a gooey thick kind of chorus but with a nice clear bright amp.
Jam pedals Ripply falls for me , both the phase and chorus sound great with my Black Cat. Any plans to try and gig with the Black Cat John ? I'd be interested in your opinion on how it did if you do.
The Supro 1307 Chorus is under 200€ and stereo. But I can get nice choruses with my TC Electronic Thunderstorm flanger. I turn down the manual and feedback settings and just tweek the rate and depth knobs. A lite flanger is also very nice on solos and rhythm parts such as Andy Summers tought us.
always had a chorus, really useful to "move" your sound especially for cleans. the ce-2 waza is too expensive though, ended up with a nice ibanez mini.
Picked up an original CE2 years ago for £30. Best thing I ever did was take it off my board because the bypass is dreadful, to use the old cliche - It was like taking a blanket off my amp. As they’ve gone up in value, this aspect is talked about less despite being widespread knowledge prior. Old MIJ Boss modulation tended to really colour the signal and led to the ‘True Bypass is better’ myth. The CE2W is such a huge improvement on the original.
Arion SCH-1 Stereo Chorus here. Schweet ! Oh and a NUX Mod Core which sounds nice too. OLd Boss SE-70 - I guess the Chorus in that would be pretty close to the CE-2
I wish I still had (but of course don't) the Shultz/ Rockman half rack stereo (analog) chorus. This is a wide beautiful sounding, but subtle, effect; and of course I traded it in my quest to get the first TC analog chorus pedal, which although quiet and clean doesn't have the spatial lushness of the Rockman unit. Of course these units have open slider type controls which let dirt and dust in, and they're more noisey than tge TC pedal, but they sound wide and lush in a way that's hard to describe. I've never seen another one and wish I did, because although they're old and a bit outdated, they sound so spatial, and I still use the sustainor for its "clean 2 sound with the compressor into a tube power amp, and still use the steteo echo, which is brilliant because it has a longer delay on one side than the other to allow for more space for the echoes to bloom.. yeah it's fussy, rickety etc, but just always sounds good no matter how it's set. Many of the smsller pedals don't seem to get the stereo thing right spatially speaking. Seriously these chorus modules sound so sweet and suble that you want to leave them on too much if the time. How do you power the Boss unit up if it won't take the usual 9volt battery and you don't have a 12volt power supply? Nice playing as usual at the start... thanks!!!👍
I bought a CE-2 in the early '80s and still have it but replaced it on my pedalboard with a JHS Emperor that has more options. I was surprised that you said the CE-2 needs 12 volts - it uses a 9 volt battery so I always thought it is a 9 volt pedal.
I have the CE2W and its awesome. I tried and returned the walrus Julia and the Wampler Teraform. I would like to try the TC SCF and compare it to the boss.
I’ve found playing in three piece , where one guitar does everything , chords lead etc a bit of chorus helps fill the sound out to the extent where if it’s off , my sound becomes v one dimensional , I use the TC corona chorus , as it has level / mix knob , you can dial in mix , also used the TC third dimension but prefer one with mix level so I can set best sound and bring it in and out as needed , but it’s never off .
Interesting, must confess I was turned off Chorus when I played in a band in the 80's with a guitarist who smothered his sound in what was probably a CE2. Still a youngish punk then so maybe time to give it another go......that sounded much more subtle than I remember or indeed have found within the Helix. Cheers!
Turn both knobs fully to the left, then play some stones riffs from the 80's, that sound is this pedal, not a delay. Then try and take the pedal off of your board 😅
Pastfx make a great version of the Boss ce-1 called the Chorus Ensemble...brilliant....the Old Arion SCH-1 is also a fine sounding pedal with a great Leslie sound....finally for me is the Free The Tone Tri Avatar....it can do the 80s dytronics tri chorus rack sounds so well..sounds incredible...yes I love chorus.
100k? I must I prefer the larger, yellow, MXR Chorus pedal for 80’s tone. It’s not quite as subtle as the Boss, and can colour the tone I a way I like.
Great video, nice content! I just dont like your video titels lately, because of the words "Need" "Should be". Need for what? Living, breathing? It seems way to materialism. Titels like: "Do you need a chorus pedal to be creative at making guitar sounds?" seems way more interessing. I hope your are not drowning in your own materialism, John Nathan Cordy :(.
Do you need a chorus pedal? As someone who owns four different chorus pedals plus a JC-120…the answer is YES!!!
CE-2 was my first pedal. Still got it on my little board. Love it!
Crazy timing, scored a vintage CE-2 cheap in a pawn shop on the weekend and was doing this exact same comparison with my Helix just yesterday! Came to the same conclusion - the Boss has a beautiful subtle sound, can't make it sound bad, adds some really nice thickness and chime at the same time. I've always liked the chorus' on the Helix but in comparison they were always more heavy handed and swooshy, and the top end sheen sounds less convincing. Loving the CE-2!
Love the CE-2W. Other favourites are the TC Electronic SCF+ and DC-2W too. Because I like them stereo into stereo amps. Someone below mentioned the Roland JC-120, I think they're right, that's the mother chorus. Especially because it suits the clean loud clear stereo amp. For more of a left of field choice, the Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water and Zvex lo-fi junky are very cool too. That was a nice reverb with the chorus btw, gave a nice pillowy halo. Oh, and the Diamond chorus is very nice too, don't own one, but tried one.
I have an old CE-2. As you mentioned, it is very pretty. But, I retired it for the Choruses in the HX Stomp, which sound nice, and I can save my favorite settings. I don't use Chorus very often.
Uncanny! I was just contemplating if I was going to remove my wazacraft dimensions off my board. I’ve now decided to keep it, lol thanks.
Ahh, chorus 😊 The small thing that transforms my guitar to a delicious Nutella cake ❤
Mooer came out with an excellent micro version of the CE-2.
Not sure if it’s available or not but I had a friend from Chile who a friend has gifted him a CE-2 that was in mint condition and I had wanted to see what it sounded like and that was when that Mooer pedal came out and I loved the sound of the CE-2 but it had a very pronounced warble to it that just couldn’t be tuned out.
Imagine your rate not having an adjustment or one that couldn’t go all the way to zero and that was what it was like but the Mooer pedal not only made less noise but was absent that effect and it was identical in every way that made it a great pedal.
Not sure if you can still get it but it was much cheaper than buying a vintage or reissue Boss version which at the time wasn’t even an option but definitely check it out if you’re in the market
TC Electronics Corona Chorus is my favorite. Not only do you get the EJ Tri-Chorus on a DIP switch, but you also get the advantage of the Toneprint technology to load your own "Preset" or choose from dozens of Toneprints made for artists worldwide and assign that to the DIP switch as well. Very versatile and inexpensive. Sounds great. Also offers either Mono or Stereo ins and outs. Cheers Nathan! Love your videos!!!
Great video. The CE-2 is my go-to pedal for chorus as well. But also love my Ibanez CS9.
For me, the ultimate stereo chorus experience comes from my Roland JC-55. It's absolutely gorgeous.
Every time John completes a legato video, he treats himself to a little tug.
😂😂😂
who doesn't? 🤷🏻♂️
😂
😂🤚
Pictures or it didn't happen!
I've got a vintage CE-2 but I think the Boss dimension chorus is my favourite. The helix model of that pedal works great too I think.
I have a CE-2 in similar condition that I value very much...on my board. Absolutley heavenly sound. You can hear the multi-dimensional depth of the CE-2 compared to the Helix, which is why I have a tradtional analog board and will never switch to "good enough" in the modeling effect units. They come close, but not close enough.
I've had two CE-2 pedals over the years and passed them on. I'm now using a TC Corona chorus with the Toneprint, so I can chop and change at will.
I own a Walrus Audio Julia V2. It's my favorite chorus pedal out there. Even though I don't use chorus 90% of the time, whenever I do use it, it's super dreamy and lovely.
Thanks so much for reminding about the 12 v thing. I just found my old boss chorus pedal.... almost used the wrong adaptor.
For any EJ fan, the OG chorus is the TC SCF. My favorite is the dytronics tri-stereo chorus.
Cheers.
HM
Love my Free the Tone Tri-Avatar Chorus (best ever for Alex Lifeson tones) and my Boss DC-2W (the expensive Chorus sound). I am a huge Chorus-fan = pristine-clean with beautiful chords are hypnotic. oNe LovE from NYC
I bought my Boss CE2 pedal in 1980 and still have it; I used consistently it thru the '80s and early '90s. It doesn't work too well these days so I'll have to find a decent tech who can service it and get it firing again.
CE2. When I use, I run at 15v from Cioks…that’s the only way I can get the bypass light to be fully bright! Also prefer the stereo chorus of the JC amps. Just got a stereo Cabzeus to take the line out of my JC40 (instead of using ACS-1), and going to see if the HX Effects will switch the amp chorus on and off for me.
My favorite: The original TC Electronic SCF with 220V from the 80:s. Bought it then, still got it, will never sell :)
OK - talking my language! I still have my CE2 - grabbed one when they came out - and it really is the sound of the 80s, especially coupled with the MXR Dynacomp! Back then I did a bit of demo work for Roland in NZ and they gave me a rack-mount Dimension D, which I still keep in the studio . . . 4 presets and a very subtle shift but beautiful used properly in a mix. I recently decided to put a 'live' pedal board together and had a look at some pedals. The 'Dimension C' is quite nice but seemed to drop volume when engaged but the MXR Analog Chorus, which I now use, delivered perfectly - subtle to the point where you can make it almost invisible BUT you really notice when you turn it off. The other chorus I like is from the Strymon Deco - when you turn the tape double-tracker side of the pedal up to the sweet point you get a very lush 'analog tape' chorus that works beautifully in stereo. Lotsa fun! 😀
I live My CE-2 , bought in 91 and still pristine, along with DD-3 and Turbo Rat 🤟🏽
Do we need an IR-2 pedal, I wonder? Hoping to see a JNC review soon!
Yes, you need one. Lush , beautiful, watery shimmer. Who doesn't need a bit of that. There you go, that was easy.
Big fan of Chorus. It all started with the chorus in the JC40, but now Im currently using a Jackson Audio New Wave on my guitar pedalboard and it's incredible. I really want to add the CE-2W, DC-2W, and JHS Emperor to my collection. Not sure which one I'm going to use for my bass board build I'm working on now which will dictate the next chorus that i buy, but i like to have multiple pedals of the same effect to have more options, but more importantly have a wider understanding of the effect and circuits. It's just a fascination for me.
I’ve got an original one on my board, still holding up well.
I feel like ive tried every chorus pedal made and in the end the best chorus which cannot be beaten is the chorus built into the roland jc120 amp.
I might be wrong, but I think that the chorus circuit in the jc120 was what the CE-1 was based on. So the CE-2W in CE-1 like mode should be similar. It's a great sounding amp, and stereo. That could be a part of what makes the JC120 chorus sound so great - the amp sounds great too. And it's a gooey thick kind of chorus but with a nice clear bright amp.
Jam pedals Ripply falls for me , both the phase and chorus sound great with my Black Cat.
Any plans to try and gig with the Black Cat John ?
I'd be interested in your opinion on how it did if you do.
I bought the patreon, sir john, where is the backing track for this one? im new to patreon
The Supro 1307 Chorus is under 200€ and stereo.
But I can get nice choruses with my TC Electronic Thunderstorm flanger. I turn down the manual and feedback settings and just tweek the rate and depth knobs.
A lite flanger is also very nice on solos and rhythm parts such as Andy Summers tought us.
always had a chorus, really useful to "move" your sound especially for cleans. the ce-2 waza is too expensive though, ended up with a nice ibanez mini.
Dimension is always my go to chorus
Picked up an original CE2 years ago for £30. Best thing I ever did was take it off my board because the bypass is dreadful, to use the old cliche - It was like taking a blanket off my amp.
As they’ve gone up in value, this aspect is talked about less despite being widespread knowledge prior. Old MIJ Boss modulation tended to really colour the signal and led to the ‘True Bypass is better’ myth.
The CE2W is such a huge improvement on the original.
You can't beat analogue when it comes to chorus. The CE2 is one of the best.
Really enjoying the MayFly Goddess at the moment
I'm a vibrato guy. Boss Vb2 is an always on. Give it a go mate. Subtle to warble its delish
Arion SCH-1 Stereo Chorus here.
Schweet !
Oh and a NUX Mod Core which sounds nice too.
OLd Boss SE-70 - I guess the Chorus in that would be pretty close to the CE-2
Got more Boss pedals than I can shake a stick at. They built like tanks. I have one, Heavy Metal 2 from the late 70's, still going strong.
The Digitech Hardwired CR-7 chorus pedal is pretty cool.
70s Chorus is perfect for me from HXFX, and mine sounded just like CE2 on your video, different settings?
Mine is after pre amp on the loop.
JHS series 3 and it comes with a great vibe.
Providence adc-4 is a chorus for non chorus lovers. It can be subtle and go to phaser vibrato stuff
I wish I still had (but of course don't) the Shultz/ Rockman half rack stereo (analog) chorus. This is a wide beautiful sounding, but subtle, effect; and of course I traded it in my quest to get the first TC analog chorus pedal, which although quiet and clean doesn't have the spatial lushness of the Rockman unit. Of course these units have open slider type controls which let dirt and dust in, and they're more noisey than tge TC pedal, but they sound wide and lush in a way that's hard to describe. I've never seen another one and wish I did, because although they're old and a bit outdated, they sound so spatial, and I still use the sustainor for its "clean 2 sound with the compressor into a tube power amp, and still use the steteo echo, which is brilliant because it has a longer delay on one side than the other to allow for more space for the echoes to bloom.. yeah it's fussy, rickety etc, but just always sounds good no matter how it's set. Many of the smsller pedals don't seem to get the stereo thing right spatially speaking. Seriously these chorus modules sound so sweet and suble that you want to leave them on too much if the time. How do you power the Boss unit up if it won't take the usual 9volt battery and you don't have a 12volt power supply? Nice playing as usual at the start... thanks!!!👍
I bought a CE-2 in the early '80s and still have it but replaced it on my pedalboard with a JHS Emperor that has more options. I was surprised that you said the CE-2 needs 12 volts - it uses a 9 volt battery so I always thought it is a 9 volt pedal.
Ditto!
Same here!
ACA Boss pedals need 12V from a power supply, even though they run on 9V batteries.
I have the CE2W and its awesome. I tried and returned the walrus Julia and the Wampler Teraform. I would like to try the TC SCF and compare it to the boss.
I’ve found playing in three piece , where one guitar does everything , chords lead etc a bit of chorus helps fill the sound out to the extent where if it’s off , my sound becomes v one dimensional , I use the TC corona chorus , as it has level / mix knob , you can dial in mix , also used the TC third dimension but prefer one with mix level so I can set best sound and bring it in and out as needed , but it’s never off .
Interesting, must confess I was turned off Chorus when I played in a band in the 80's with a guitarist who smothered his sound in what was probably a CE2. Still a youngish punk then so maybe time to give it another go......that sounded much more subtle than I remember or indeed have found within the Helix.
Cheers!
The Ampeg Liquifier on the Helix is good for bass.
Turn both knobs fully to the left, then play some stones riffs from the 80's, that sound is this pedal, not a delay. Then try and take the pedal off of your board 😅
Pastfx make a great version of the Boss ce-1 called the Chorus Ensemble...brilliant....the Old Arion SCH-1 is also a fine sounding pedal with a great Leslie sound....finally for me is the Free The Tone Tri Avatar....it can do the 80s dytronics tri chorus rack sounds so well..sounds incredible...yes I love chorus.
Small Clone Chorus. Extremely versatile
If you want to hear the absolute beauty of the chorus, listen to Joe Walsh’s fills on “Help Me Through the Night”. ❤❤❤
Could be a phaser… I don’t know what he used, only that it was glorious.
Boss were long overdue in reintroducing the CE2 with the waza version.
Old Loco chorus from early 80s from new but now retired for TC SCF+ on my board.
Best chorus is the original Boss CE-1. I still have mine
I've got a CE-5. Stereo output and it runs on 9v.
Many chorus pedals are based on the CE2 and rightfully so.
I've never come across a Chorus I hated whether its in a Pandora's Box or a Helix, Chorus seems like a low bar to reach satisfaction
100k?
I must I prefer the larger, yellow, MXR Chorus pedal for 80’s tone. It’s not quite as subtle as the Boss, and can colour the tone I a way I like.
Ce2w is awesome
Where can i get john cordy backing tracks?
it rhymes with potatreon
Does it include all his videos? How do I find this specific one and what will it be named?
Clearly you have never tried the past fx ce1
I never liked the CE2, it sounds too warbly for me especially at high speed and very stale too. MXR chorus pedals were always my go to.
Source audio Gemini, EHX Small Clone
Chorus is a lovely sound, however one has to have an acquired taste....
No.
Great video, nice content! I just dont like your video titels lately, because of the words "Need" "Should be". Need for what? Living, breathing? It seems way to materialism. Titels like: "Do you need a chorus pedal to be creative at making guitar sounds?" seems way more interessing. I hope your are not drowning in your own materialism, John Nathan Cordy :(.