Best Chorus Pedal (our Top Pick)
The MXR M234 Analog Chorus Pedal
The sound quality, usability, analog circuit, wide range of control, and a low price tag makes this an easy winner in the chorus pedal category. The M234 spares no expense and covers every aspect of the chorus effect perfectly.
One of the coolest guitar pedals I ever managed to get my hands on was an old Danelectro chorus when I was 11 years old. It was one of the smaller ones, from the series that were all named after some kind of food. This one was the "milkshake chorus." In my young, new-to-the-guitar mind, that was the most awesome guitar pedal I could have ever purchased. And while I don't remember what I paid for it, the little pedal couldn't have been worth much more than 20 bucks. These days, I've moved onto better chorus pedals.
I'm going to focus on a total of five chorus pedals for guitar players, based on our first-hand testing.
Looking for cheaper options? Checkout our cheap chorus pedal recommendations
All the pictures, some of the videos, and data are here to prove we've done the work of using and rating these pedals honestly. For each chorus pedal featured, I'm looking at primarily the following criteria, which you should also be considering if and when you're buying one for yourself:
- Tone quality
- Versatility of control
- Features (bypass type, stereo connection, etc.)
- Reputation and community consensus
- Cost and value
Our Best Chorus Pedal Picks
Below are the five best chorus pedals I've settled on. Read on for photos, audio demos, and a more detailed look into each one.
MXR M234 Analog Chorus / 92.4 
Walrus Audio Julia / 91.0
Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus / 90.5
Eventide Tricerachorus / 88.7
Eventide Tricerachorus / 86.6
The Eventide TriceraChorus is one that we've tested in our own hands and can vouch for personally.
1. MXR M234 Analog Chorus Pedal
Best value chorus pedal
BEST FOR: Vintage chorus fans
TONE
92
CONTROL
93
FEATURES
95
REPUTATION
88
- Retro tone
- Analog circuit
- Flexible
- Great price for analog
- None for the price
MXR's analog chorus pedal houses a bucket-brigade circuit, which is the truest form of "analog" you can get. That same type of circuit has been used for a number of other oscillating effects, including phasers. This analog circuit in the M234 produces a distinctly retro chorus sound, though with plenty of range per the control scheme.
Full review: MXR M234 Analog Chorus
2. Boss CE-2w Waza Craft Chorus
Best analog chorus pedal
BEST FOR: Clean tone, layering, subtle styles, tube amps, and analog fans.
TONE
96
CONTROL
88
VERSATILITY
86
PRICE/VALUE
92
- Very sweet and musical chorus tone
- Usable even at intense settings
- Covers old CE-1 and CE-2 modes
- Lots of variety from only two controls
- Not ideal for those wanting more of a de-tune sound
The original Boss CE-1 chorus pedals still show up on Reverb, but most of them are crazy expensive just because they're so rare. I've seen $1000 or higher pretty regularly. For the vintage CE-2 enthusiasts, the typical used cost hovers around $300.
I suppose the good old days (the early '90s) are just hard to beat. But Boss is actually coming close with the Waza Craft series, which has re-introduced several of these classics with analog circuits and some modern touch ups. The CE-2w is one of them. I did a full review of the CE-2w, which you can check out here:
Read the full review: Boss CE-2w Waza Craft
3. Walrus Audio Julia Analog Chorus
Best boutique chorus pedal
BEST FOR: Vibrato and ambiguous modulation tones
TONE
95
CONTROL
90
FEATURES
92
REPUTATION
87
- "Watery" chorus tone sounds great
- Blend between dry and both effects
- Selectable waveforms
- Great for subtle modulation and layering
- Hard to get on board with the price tag if you don't care about the added vibrato
The Julia is the third analog chorus pedal on our list, with a tone that compares closely with the M234. It's also a combination chorus and vibrato pedal, with a mix knob that works by blending between dry, chorus, and vibrato instead of a hard switch between modes.
Like Walrus Audio? Check out the Descent Reverb
Got my hands on the new design for the Julia (finally) and snapped a few pictures. I like this art a lot better than the old one.
The Julia's analog circuit sounds fantastic, especially for fans of a more liquid, movement-oriented chorus.
4. Eventide TriceraChorus
Best digital chorus
BEST FOR: Those looking for a pulse-heavy chorus sound and wanting a modern and classic modulation source in one box, with a lot of flexibility.
TONE
86
CONTROL
94
VERSATILITY
88
REPUTATION
87
- Delay incorporation is thoughtfully and effectively implemented
- Swirl button sounds great
- Presets on a small pedal
- Good balance between vintage and modern chorus sounds
- Tons of control options
- Could definitely use a tap tempo
- Some sounds don't really set themselves apart from a generic chorus tone
The TriceraChorus has four major components:
- Three modulation modes: Chorus, vibrato, and chorale
- Delay and filters for each chorus voice
- Detune option that adds a unique layer of depth to the pedal's sound
- Finally, the swirl mode adds a flanger-like tone to the mix
With pitch and delay incorporated into the TriceraChorus, you have a lot of room to work. It's almost like a multi-effects pedal.
The demo video doesn't really convey the versatility of this chorus (that's my fault) but it does give you a good feel for the clean layers and how it responds to basic tweaking. I really liked the delay control. Modulation with a little bit of ambience has always been one of my preferred ways to doctor up a clean tone. I particularly enjoyed the swirl button, which produces a flanger-like effect. Flanger and chorus are similar enough effects that they often show up in the same pedal, which really expands your territory.
Read the full review: Eventide TriceraChorus
I tested the TriceraChorus with my PRS CE 24 electric guitar and Mesa Rectoverb combo amp.
5. Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble
Best cheap chorus pedal
BEST FOR: Basic modulation
TONE
82
CONTROL
88
VERSATILITY
85
PRICE/VALUE
74
- Great tone
- Filter control
- Five-year warranty
- Stereo output
- Price point could be lower considering how closely it matches up with the M234
The Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble is a marginally more involved version of the Super Chorus, with a filter control that allows you to cut both highs and lows out of the effect's EQ. Of the two, I've found the CE-5 to be more subtle and nuanced, better for rhythm playing and light layering. I prefer the CE-5, though both Boss chorus pedals are similar.
Read the full review: Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble
Here's a simple demo I recorded of my own CE-5:
A heavily used Boss CE-5 on my dining room table.
Our Chorus Pedal Testing and Rating Process
Chorus pedals are a little harder to test because a lot of them sound really similar. It's one of the most subtle and un-intrusive effects, especially when you aren't dialing in any kind of intense pitch-shifting. Our process had to take this into account and make sure that we looked for more nuanced differences between each effect. How usable are they when the rate is turned up? How good does it sound over a strumming chord progression? We take each chorus pedal and rate them on tone, controls, versatility, and price/value. It's a really simple system (we used to do something more complex), but it's just to give you a general idea and a few ways to compare similar products.
Conclusion and Questions
Have a different chorus pedal that you swear by? Maybe one we didn't mention in this list? Let me know and I'll check it out. I try to stick with what I have first or secondhand experience with and what we've actually tested, which means we can't get to everything. Leave it in the comments section below. Questions about the aforementioned best chorus pedals (or anything else) will be answered there as well.
More Guitar Pedal Material
Written by GC Editorial on Pedals and Roundups
Written by GC Editorial on Pedals and Comparisons
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