Boss CE-2 Chorus.

robgilmo

So, I fancy a Chorus pedal, new to them but loving what they can do ive been looking into Boss pedals, Analogue seems to be the way to go? and ive seen CE-2 pedals all over the Bay, they seem simple enough things with just rate and depth to play with which is good because Im not a big fan of never ending tweaking.
So, any views on these pedals? 

viz

Lovely things. Try and get a Keeley modded one if you can. It feels like a cow chewing long wet green grass. 

Edit - here’s one for 160 quid if you’ve got the cash: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOSS-CE-2-Chorus-pedal-Keeley-modded-MID-80s-vintage/274422054658?hash=item3fe4d43f02:g:FHkAAOSw-X9ew1tC

robgilmo

viz said:

Lovely things. Try and get a Keeley modded one if you can. It feels like a cow chewing long wet green grass. 

Edit - here’s one for 160 quid if you’ve got the cash: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BOSS-CE-2-Chorus-pedal-Keeley-modded-MID-80s-vintage/274422054658?hash=item3fe4d43f02:g:FHkAAOSw-X9ew1tC

Thats in Merica, what does the Keely mod do?
Im seeing the CE-2W Waza for around the same price, maybe a little more expensive, apparently analogue and close to the same circuitry, is there much of a muchness between the two?

Redlester

The CE-2 is in my opinion a very special pedal. I used to play through an old 80s one (borrowed, sadly!) and then had a Denelectro Cool Cat version 1 which sounded very close. 

My current chorus is a Boss Super Chorus, which I probably prefer because it doesn’t get too extreme, and has tone  and level controlS. It can get very chimey and is sort of a less is more pedal. I don’t go too mad with chorus and don’t use it that much, so the Super Chorus fits the bill for me as someone after something subtle to lend a guitar part a little edge or space. 

By contrast the CE-2 to my ears is a ‘creamier’ chorus- rich and thick! Also it’s warmer. 

A pal once showed me the old CE-2 ‘rate all the way down, depth all the way up’ trick. Divine! 

Don’t know about the Kelley mod. The current CE-2 Waza looks great with the extra modes. 

nonesuch

I think for a first chorus pedal I'd go for something less specialised and one that can produce a wider range of sounds. (And one that's a lot cheaper than a Boss CE-2.)

 Maybe the Boss CE-5 or CH-1? I haven't actually used one, but the CE-5 Chorus Ensemble could be a good choice - and it's got level and tone controls that the CE-2 doesn't have. I think they are both digital, but I wouldn't be too worried about that. Although I'm sure early versions of the CE-5 are actually analogue.

I use an MXR Analog Chorus which is great, and it features similar high and low cut tone controls like the CE-5. I usually roll off some of the lower frequencies to give it a brighter, less mid range sound.

webrthomson

I've got a Analogueman modded CE2 - amazing thing - I would recommend

Recently got a Thorpy Deep Oggin - also amazing - more knobs than the CE2 though

Jonathanthomas83

Recently been on a bit of a chorus trip, myself. I tried a Free The Tone Tri Avatar Chorus and in the end stuck with my Boss CE-2, it's the best out there as far as I'm concerned. Last year I bought a DC-2W and that sounded sublime, but again, for my tastes, I stuck with the CE-2. So a couple have come and gone but the CE-2 sticks around and does its job admirably, it's a beautiful sound.

I have recently bought a Lehle Parallel SW II so that I can mix the chorus into the dry signal, to taste. It's a bit sweeter if you can manage to mix it somehow.

robgilmo

I keep reading on how they dont like to be run with a power supply unless its a daisy chain? Is 9v too much for them?

pigface

In my gigging days I used a Boss Super Chorus (CH-1), always on. Simple, great sound, indestructible. And cheap.

Jonathanthomas83

robgilmo said:

I keep reading on how they dont like to be run with a power supply unless its a daisy chain? Is 9v too much for them?

I run mine 12v, I hate commenting on power requirements because I'm scared stiff of blowing things myself and would hate to give out wrong info. But a kind sir on here told me to run 12v DC and it worked fine. Gigrig do the ACA OK adapter to convert your 9v to the correct voltage too.

Funkfingers

I can not live with the background hiss of the CE-2. My brother has the same circuit built into his ancient Roland BN-100 bass amplifier and loves it.

For minimal control tweaking, investigate the DC-2 or DC-2w Dimension C. The CE-20 does a digital version of this. The original Roland Dimension D is still the best.

DrJazzTap

I had a Taiwanese CE-2, got it modded with a Keeley style mod. Did sound better not as muddy, keep a look out for an Ibanez CSL, i managed to snag one for £10 on ebay a few years ago. The Royal Mail managed to loose it, when I sold it on.

UnclePsychosis

robgilmo said:

I keep reading on how they dont like to be run with a power supply unless its a daisy chain? Is 9v too much for them?

Easiest explanation is to read this:

https://stinkfoot.se/archives/726

It is not a particularly big deal, there's easy workarounds. 

althy

any chorus by boss is a great pedal. 
The CE-5 I find very versatile and faithfull to the CE-2 tone. 

The CE-3 sucks too much tone if not in parallel but it is very similar sounding to the CE-2 as well. 

CH-1 and Dimension C are also brilliant pedals with the former being particularly good with dirty amps and the later great for a 90's jangly arpeggio tone

Edit: If you're in for more boutique-y pedals as well the Dr Scientist Cosmichorus ( any version ) is to me the most gorgeous sounding one, hands down.

Jonathanthomas83

I've genuinely not noticed any hiss on my CE-2.

John_P

Love my old ce2.    As said above just daisy chain it for 9V or run it on 12V and your good to go.   Same for any old boss pedals.     
I used to have a ibanez cs9 that i bought in 85 and an old dc2 and wish I had kept them both as they were also special.  

If you want new then the wazza version are probably fine and I'm there probably are modern chorus pedals that are good but I won't bother when those older ones are so good. 

althy

a ce2 mij just pop on facebook for 95 quid 

robgilmo

althy said:

a ce2 mij just pop on facebook for 95 quid 

Got a link?

JezWynd

Recently scored an Applause Super Chorus. Boss style case (though nearly twice as heavy). It has the CE-3 chip but sounds more like the CE-2 to my ears (though I have neither presently to A/B against). It's a fabulous chorus, esp with drive pedals  or POG, really fattens up the effect. There are a few budget brands from the 80's which are pretty much clones of the CE-2 and they are considerably less coin.

JezWynd

robgilmo said:

I keep reading on how they dont like to be run with a power supply unless its a daisy chain? Is 9v too much for them?

They are ACA pedals, which require 12 v external power or a 9 v battery internally. You can run them on a 9 v daisy chain provided there’s a newer PSA pedal also in the chain.

Winny_Pooh

CE-3 sounds 95% the same for half the price, I used to have a CE-2, CE-3 & JC-77 at the same time.