When it comes to chorus sounds, Roland/BOSS is pretty much the standard for the last twenty or so years. The CE-2 has especially been very sought-after used pedal 1) for its simplicity and; 2) for it’s analog design. I owned a CE-2 back in the 80’s, and have since kicked myself since I traded it for other hardware – that I don’t use at all anymore! Since then, BOSS has gone through a couple of renditions with the Chorus Ensemble line, and now offers the CE-5 Chorus Ensemble. A pedal that even though digital, sounds pretty darn good.
The CE-2 was a simple affair: Just two knobs for rate and depth, and a single output. With the CE-3, Boss introduced a “stereo-like” affair with two outputs, and three knobs, introducing a “Stereo Mode” knob to control how the outputs generated their sound. The CE-5 does away with the Stereo Mode knob and replaces it with an Effect Level knob, and a dual knob used for Hi- and Lo-cut filters.
In my opinion, the Hi/Lo Cut knob is what makes this pedal special. With it you can really shape your chorus sound from bright and smooth to dripping wet. All in all, you can’t go wrong with this pedal; and for less than $80, it’s a deal.
Starting with this review, I’m going to start giving summary ratings at the bottom of each review, similar to what you’d see in one of the trade rags.
BOSS CE-5 Chorus
- Price: $129 (<$80 street)
- Pros: Very versatile. Can produce a wide range of sounds
- Cons: Can take awhile to dial in the sound you want
- Summary: Great sounding chorus at a great price
Guitar Gear 
A solid article, however I would personally beg to differ with your opening:
“When it comes to chorus sounds, Roland/BOSS is pretty much the standard for the last twenty or so years.”
From where I stand, er, um… pick, the standard for the last twenty or so years has been the TC Electronics Chorus/Ring Mod/Flanger pedal….
I’m not knocking Boss/Roland, their gear or even you, just stating a generally held opinion that the TC device is the most sought after Chorus pedal on the market.
T
Not to steal the limelight from Boss, but if you really love chorus you should check out the Empress from Red Witch. It’s analog and it sounds stunning. It’s one of those boutique deals (I hate that word), so it’s pricey, but if you must have the best chorus sound on the block, this might be it.
I need to clarify myself here when I mentioned “standard.” Remember the Roland JC-120? That was a very popular amp back in the 80’s. Joe Satriani recorded “Surfing with the Alien” with a JC-120. I also had one. Why? First, because it was a kick-ass amp, and second because of the chorus. I’m pretty much dating myself here, but so be it… 🙂
And mind, you for most discerning “pedalphiles” they’ll probably dismiss the CE series as cheap commercial, but as far garden-variety Chorus pedals are concerned, you can’t beat the CE, and based on sheer numbers, I’m willing to bet that more folks have one CE or another over the more specialized varieties.
As for me, I’ll stick with the CE-5 mainly because the chorus sound it produces is a sound I’m used to hearing in my signal chain. Call it nostalgia, but that’s a pedal I almost always have on.
Thanks for the feedback guys! You’ve given me more stuff I can try out and review!!!
I have an older CE-5 which is actually analog. Its not a botique pedal but it works well. I can roll off the top end and get a wonderful mellow chorus or boost the top for a more metallic tone. The level knob is a great feature because full in your face chorus is not always needed.
I also have learned a little “trick”. I plug a cord into the 2nd output but connect only the main output to the amp, In get a cool detuned effect. Also I will plug both outputs into the 2 unputs on my Hot Rod Deluxe…and it gives a cool sound, try it!
I find it amusing that every other guitar player says that a pedal is better solely because it is analog, regardless if they actually own an analog pedal or not.
I’d like to blind-test these people and see if the can actually tell the difference between a digital and an analog pedal. Maybe you can blind-test yourself, you maybe pleasantly surprise at the result. Well, unless you are Eric Johnson anyways…
Joe, that’s a test I’d do with anyone BUT EJ. Apparently that dude can tell the tonal difference between 8 ohm and 16 ohm speakers! HA! He runs everything at 8 ohms from what I’ve read. It’s like Robben Ford who changes his strings after every solo cut on a recording. I read that in a magazine interview with another guitarist who played with Robben Ford on an album – forgot who it is. Hey man! If they can tell, more power to ’em. Us mere mortals get by with what we’ve got. 🙂
But yeah, I have to agree with you. It sometimes frustrates me when people on the forums say analog is better than digital just by virtue of it being “analog.” It’s not better. It’s different, and how good it is ain’t up to anyone but the player.
[…] sparked the idea of this article was a comment a reader left on my review about the Roland CE-5 Chorus: “I find it amusing that every other guitar player says that a pedal is better solely because […]
Joe I didnt say ALL analog pedals are better-thats not true (but some are). I just said I have an analog version of the CE-5.
Recently Ive also aquired several other analog pedals.
The Boss CE-3
Ibanez CS-9 Stereo Chorus
Ibanez BC-9 Bi mode Chorus
All are quite good, the CE-5 sounds a bit more sterile, but its very versatile with EQ and wide range in its controls. Im keeping it.
[…] 1, 2010 by goofydawg Awhile back, I wrote a fairly quick review of this pedal. That was back in October of 2007. I bought it because I was tired of using modelers and software […]