what's the best chorus pedal you've ever heard?

[modeerf]

CE-1 is my pick. sounds organic and natural although doesn't get the crazy sounds you may be looking for.
EHX Small Clone is a great pedal and it's cheap. Can be somewhat thin sounding at times.
EQ'D Sea Machine sounds great and has a ton of versatility. A different style chorus than the ce-1, might be based on the dimension c chorus.

There are a few different kinds of chorus, I'd figure out which style chorus you're looking for then find either a vintage unit or the best boutique equivalent.

[bigchiefbc]

The Boss DC-2 is my favorite chorus, but it's not for everyone. It is a very icy and cold sounding, and basically is a static chorus with no movement to it (the Polytope can do this to). If you want something that is very watery and warbly, the Sea Machine kicks a lot of ass, and never count out the Cosmichorus.

[greyscales]

The Sea Machine is the only chorus pedal I've ever heard that I actually don't mind. It doesn't sound cheesy.

[bigchiefbc]

The only good thing about chorus is there's usually an off button.
I hear chorus ...

At least once in every chorus thread ...

You're starting to sound like one of the guys on TB who go into the effects forum just to say how much they don't like effects.

[Ghost Hip]

Dr. Scientist cosmichorus, and the chorus in the Deluxe Memory Men/Boys.

I like my chorus to be more disorienting and bending than watery and sleek. And those two do it for me. I don't like it when a chorus sounds too much like a flanger, I like to be closer to vibrato.

The Seppuku Mind Warp might be worth looking at too.

[Jero]

Only true chorus I've ever owned was a vintage maxon/ibanez cs9. Absolutely loved it and have been trying to get another ever since. A very simple mod will make it a great sounding pseudo vibrato as well.

[jrmy]

Dr. Scientist cosmichorus, and the chorus in the Deluxe Memory Men/Boys.

I like my chorus to be more disorienting and bending than watery and sleek. And those two do it for me. I don't like it when a chorus sounds too much like a flanger, I like to be closer to vibrato.

The Seppuku Mind Warp might be worth looking at too.

Have you tried the Sea Machine, PP? It can get pretty dang pitch-bendy & seasick sounding.

[madmax1012]

I usually just use the modulation on my Subdecay Echbox. it's surprisingly realllllllly lush and sweet sounding.

[D.o.S.]

Dr. Scientist cosmichorus, and the chorus in the Deluxe Memory Men/Boys.

I like my chorus to be more disorienting and bending than watery and sleek. And those two do it for me. I don't like it when a chorus sounds too much like a flanger, I like to be closer to vibrato.

The Seppuku Mind Warp might be worth looking at too.

On the disorienting and bending wavelength, my old Peavey Mark head had a built in bass chorus that sounded nothing like a chorus, or a flanger. It was some kind of LFO (obvs.) with Rate, Depth, and a Frequency knob. Lots and lots of weird ass sounds to be had with that beast.

[D.o.S.]

But "real" chorus is one of the worst pedal sounds ever.

[rfurtkamp]

My ancient JC-50's Chorus makes me happy.

The Space Echo one built into the 301 is either very subtle or very 80s. I used a 301 for years. The 501, well, it was a sterile sounding piece of crap across the board, I left my last one in a car that got towed and didn't care.

Of course that was back when they weren't a thousand bucks.

[zRobertez]

flanger

If you go flanger, it's much easier to get into chorus territory, I feel, if you've got a manual or delay time knob. But that's for a more deeper messier chorus. If you want a drier doubling effect, it doesn't work as well.

As far as chorus, i would go Cosmichorus, Boss CE-2 (a lot cheaper), or the Tech 21 Boost Chorus (price range in the middle of the other two). When I have the money, I'm provably choosing out of those three.

[bugzaney]

haven't had a chance to try it, but all the demos of the sea machine make it look wonderful. EQD does some of the best modulation out there.

[Visible Cow]

I'm interested in checking out the polytope or possible the mid-fi pitch pirate......I had a sea machine but it didn't really do it for me. I can't say exactly why....I actually found it too subtle and couldn't get anything useful (to me) out of the variable lfo shape. Maybe I should have spent more time with it....only owned it for a couple of months.

[rfurtkamp]

Maybe I should have spent more time with it....only owned it for a couple of months.

If you haven't found the ballpark of what a pedal will do for you, especially when it's a knobs and dials single type unit, in a couple of months, it's probably not in the box in conjunction with your current gear.