If you’ve read this blog with any regularity, you’d know that I’ve lamented trading away my original BOSS CE-2 Chorus for a Multi-function DigiTech pedal. Hey! I didn’t know better at the time. The CE-2 was cheap when I got it new back in the early 80’s, and so I figured, what would be the harm in trading a cheap pedal for another cheap pedal, especially if the new cheap pedal was all-digital! Oh well, I’ve redeemed myself. I finally got a CE-2, and for a GREAT deal on EBay!
To me, THIS chorus sound is the chorus sound that defines the entire gamut of chorus pedals. Say what you want about the others. While they’re all good – and I’ve heard and played many – the CE-2 chorus is the sound I grew up with as a young guitarist. To me, nothing matches its warmth and the liquidity of its tones. This is pure analog Chorus goodness.
I did some really quick demos about fifteen minutes ago. All clips were played clean with my Squier CV Tele 50’s running into my pedal board and into my Aracom VRX22. Excuse the 60Hz hum from my Tele and the ambient background noise of my fridge. 🙂 Each clip starts with a dry version then the CE-2 is engaged.
First up is a little clean blues groove. The chorus, when engaged is set to 3pm on both Rate and Depth to get a sort of vibey effect:
Next up is a simple chord progression done finger style. The CE-2 has both Rate and Depth set to noon:
Finally, the last clip demonstrates how well the CE-2 plays with other modulation effects. It first starts out with my VOX Time Machine and Hardwire RV-7 Reverb. When I play it over with the CE-2, the CE-2 is set to my favorite setting, with Rate at noon, and depth at 2pm (some things are just etched in your memory):
Of course I realize that appreciation of tone is an entirely subjective matter. But even after all these years, I just can’t get over how much I love this chorus sound and thick and liquid it can get, but still be crystal clear and articulate. My CE-5 did a great job for real subtle chorus, but cranked up, it was unusable. But with the CE-2, there are usable tones, no matter where you set it!
I have to admit that I am absolutely emotional right now. I’ve got all these memories flooding through my head from almost 30 years ago when I first bought it: Memories of watching a young Michael Hedges work his magic on his acoustic; trying to cop Andy Summer’s tone; late nights in my parents’ house plucking away at my guitar; lots of memories, both good and bad. Wow!
This pedal will NEVER leave my board again!
Guitar Gear 
Have you ever tried the chorus in the ADA MP-1 preamp? That one is pretty sweet as well.
Haven’t yet, and I don’t doubt it sounds sweet. Frankly, there hasn’t been a chorus that I haven’t liked. Even my old cheapo DigiTech multi-function pedal had what I felt a decent chorus. I suppose I just like the chorus sound in general. But there’s something about the tone of the CE-2 that really moves me. So while there are others out there, I know what I want my personal chorus tone to be.
I remember those with great fondness too. The secret of the sound was in the use of a ‘bucket brigade’ delay line chip, a very early bit of analog wizardry that added huge amounts of distortion to each delay (listen to some early 80’s reverbs – awful!!) , that just happened to be just right for chorus. Having said all that, Boss are still making amazing pedals, including some brilliant emulations of some old stuff (see my bit on the Space Echo )
But you don’t say what happened to your beloved CE-2! Did it die, or get sold/swapped? Or has it gone into retirement after all those years of faithfull service. We need to know!
I’ve actually mentioned the stupid thing I did back in the early 90’s: I traded it with some guy for a digital multi-function pedal. I had been missing that sound since, but always got distracted by other gear. Then recently, I just felt something was missing, and my CE-5 just wasn’t cutting it. So I bid on a CE-2 on EBay and won it for less than $100!!! That made me doubly happy, as so many go for so much. I got a green label MIJ, which technically isn’t as “valuable” as the black labels, but who cares? It was in practically pristine condition (a couple of nicks), and more importantly, it sounds killer!!!
As for BOSS making excellent pedals still, I have to agree. I just purchased a real surprise in a box: The Boss RV-5. I’ll probably write a review of it in the near future.