
Updated by Bobby
Updated on August 8th, 2023
Replaced the EarthQuaker Devices chorus with the Boss CE-2w and the Walrus TC Electronic Corona with the Eventide TriceraChorus. We've also made some pretty significant updates to this page's copy and formatting. New sections have been written for the CE-2w and TriceraChorus. Please do enjoy.
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.
Chorus | Name | Rate | SHOP |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | MXR M234 Analog Chorus Pedal | 92.4 | |
![]() | Boss CE-2w Waza Craft Chorus | 90.5 | |
![]() | Walrus Audio Julia | n/a | |
![]() | Eventide Tricerachorus | 88.7 | |
![]() | Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble | 86.6 |
Compare More Pedals
We have a lot more pedals in our database that you can compare, chorus or otherwise. Click the blue button to bring up our search box.
For most of our product reviews we take our own photos, in-house. Thank goodness for portrait mode. For those interested in using these photos, that is completely fine with us as long as you give us credit and don't claim the work as your own. Simply linking to guitarchalk.com near the photo is totally fine.


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 analog)


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
Tone Comparison
Textures resulting are lush and liquid, ideal for layering lead melody. We really like the M234 with the rate lowered, giving you a soft sheen of modulation that doesn't impact the pitch of your clean sound. If you want more of a noticeable pitch shift, just turn the rate up for a deeper cut. For a really subtle clean rhythm layer, turn depth down and leave the rate control at about 50 percent.
Overall, the tone profile is really warm and would pair well with a tube amp where you're playing a lot of cleans and need some simple effects layering.

A lot to like in the M234 for not a lot of money.
EQ and Tweaking
As I've already touched on, you'll get a lot of variety out of just the depth and rate controls. I worked a lot with those before even touching the level knob. The High and Low knobs (at the top) function as a two-band EQ for the wet portion of your signal, which were harder to get much variety out of unless we had the mix entirely on the wet side.
When we did, the high/low controls were really useful.
Still, getting a chorus pedal with a five-band EQ is a real treat, especially when you're working with a completely analog pedal. It would be interesting to see Dunlop put this control scheme on the MXR Phase 90.
Value
As MXR is known to do, they've managed to produce a great-sounding, analog pedal in a small box for a really decent price (check the price guide below for updated numbers). This is where the M234 ultimately beats other pedals. Because while there are chorus pedals that sound better and that might even have more control, they tend to be way more expensive compared to the M234. If you're looking for value, the M234 is a clear winner out of every chorus pedal we've tested.
Sweetwater Pricing
Additional Vendors
Price Alert Signup (Based on Sweetwater)
Quick Review Card
IDEAL 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
2. Boss CE-2w Waza Craft Chorus (best vintage style)


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.

Clearly, the CE-1 is a high-level collector's item at this point.
For the vintage CE-2 enthusiasts, the typical used cost hovers around $300.

You'll likely have much better luck here than with the CE-1.
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.

Boss's product page for the CE-2w looks really good. Slick.
I did a full review of the CE-2w, which you can check out here:
Read the full review: Boss CE-2w Waza Craft

Combine a simple control scheme with an analog circuit. That's pretty much all you need.
What struck me most was the pedal's intrinsic musicality, even when dialing in higher rates and depths. I've always leaned towards choruses that add subtle layers and not dramatic pitch shifts - nuance, you might say.
In other words I want water rather than a pitch shift.
Maybe you'd call it shimmer.
And the CE-2w is all about water and shimmer.
Tone and Sound
Modulation layers are smooth without a ton of fluttering or pitch shifting.
You can dial it in, but it's not the CE-2w's strong suit.
If you set the rate and depth to higher levels, it's not overwhelming or pulsating. I did notice that the rate in the CE-2 setting seemed slightly faster and more intense, but still tame compared to the typical chorus pedals we see, especially the digital circuits.

I'm not sure exactly how they modeled multiple chorus pedals without using a DSP.
Here are the three modes (models) included:
- Standard (CE-2 model)
- CE-1 Chorus
- CE-1 Vibrato
I have zero complaints about the tone.

The CE-2w is really smooth and subtle. That's pretty much the way I like it.
Sweetwater Pricing
Additional Vendors
Price Alert Signup (Based on Sweetwater)
Price History (Based on Sweetwater)
Price History for EarthQuaker Devices Sea Machine V3 Chorus Pedal
Statistics
Current Price | $199.00 | September 29, 2023 |
Highest Price | $199.00 | June 16, 2022 |
Lowest Price | $169.15 | November 25, 2022 |
Last price changes
$199.00 | June 3, 2023 |
$169.15 | May 27, 2023 |
$199.00 | December 2, 2022 |
$169.15 | November 25, 2022 |
$199.00 | June 16, 2022 |
Quick Review Card
IDEAL 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
3. Walrus Audio Julia Analog Chorus (best boutique)


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.
Tone Comparison
You get a good blend of vibrato and chorus that does a nice job of respecting your clean tone, which we've noticed is a common characteristic of analog chorus pedals. They just seem to preserve your amp's natural sound a lot better, which alone could make them worth the additional cost. The Julia is a much clearer modulation with less emphasis on pitch shifting and more of a focus on shimmer and layering, similar to the CE-2w, above.
While we've graded it below the M234, an argument could be made for either of those pedals being higher than the other.
EQ and Tweaking
When you use the d - c - v knob you'll move between dry, chorus, and vibrato modes or any blending thereof. As you move between these modes, the results you get out of the rate and depth knob will change, depending on which effect you're using. If you're judging purely on the chorus, it doesn't have quite as much versatility as the M234, though it does have the waveform mode selection.

The Julia's analog circuit sounds fantastic, especially for fans of a more liquid, movement-oriented chorus.
Value
For boutique-level single button pedals, the going rate seems to be about $200-$350. This is a lot for a chorus pedal, but you're getting a lot of quality in return, especially if you're interested in the vibrato additive.
If that's not something you're looking for, I'd advise going with the M234 and saving some money.
Make sure to check the price guides we've added here for updated numbers.

The Walrus Audio Julia chorus/vibrato pedal is a higher-level option with some boutique appeal.
Sweetwater Pricing
Additional Vendors
Price Alert Signup (Based on Sweetwater)
Price History (Based on Sweetwater)
Price History for Walrus Audio Julia V2 Analog Chorus/Vibrato Pedal
Statistics
Current Price | $199.00 | September 29, 2023 |
Highest Price | $219.99 | August 22, 2023 |
Lowest Price | $159.00 | May 29, 2023 |
Last price changes
$219.99 | August 22, 2023 |
$199.00 | June 5, 2023 |
$159.00 | May 29, 2023 |
$199.00 | December 1, 2022 |
$159.20 | November 24, 2022 |
IDEAL FOR: Vibrato and ambiguous modulation tones
TONE
n/a
CONTROL
n/a
FEATURES
n/a
REPUTATION
n/a
- "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
4. Eventide TriceraChorus (best digital chorus)


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.
Some settings sounded a bit generic, like a copy/paste chorus algorithm. For instance, the classic chorus with all knobs set at 12 o'clock is decent but not particularly memorable.
But starting with a simple foundation and expanding from there is not necessarily a bad approach.
As I've mentioned, even slight knob adjustments can lead to a more pulsating sound. Many of the tones have a rhythmic and punchy quality, especially when experimenting with the delay.

We miss a tap tempo, but the pedal is still excellent, overall. The swirl is a great addon.
Considering the pedal's punchy nature, I am surprised that a tap tempo function was not included. My suggestion would be to make the Swirl bypass a panel switch and use that bypass as a tap tempo button.
Sweetwater Pricing
Additional Vendors
Price Alert Signup (Based on Sweetwater)
Quick Review Card
IDEAL 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
5. Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble (best Boss chorus)


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:
Tone Comparison
While the CE-5's effect sounds good, I didn't find it quite as warm or inviting after using the M234 and CE-2w. Even compared to something like the TC Electronic Corona, the tone of the CE-5 sounds a little more processed and digitized.
That isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's just the reason I didn't want to score it as high as the others.
It's a great-sounding chorus, though with a higher price tag than the M234, I'd like to be a little more wow'ed by the tone quality, and it was just par for me.

A heavily used Boss CE-5 on my dining room table.
EQ and Tweaking
The CE-5 uses the exact same control scheme as the M234, again making the higher price a disappointment. There also just isn't as much variety in the depth and rate control as what we got out of some of the other chorus pedals in this list. Still, all the basics are there and it is a five-band EQ for a single chorus effect.
It's less of a superstar on this list, but still one of my top recommendations.
Value
Even with its limitations compared to the other chorus pedals in this list, the CE-5 has a lot of value. I'd like to see it come under the $100 price point, especially since it measures so close to the M234. Yet, those who are loyal to Boss pedals, or prefer a digital processor, won't be disappointed. We like the CE-5 in all situations where a clean modulation layer is needed.

The Boss CE-5 chorus ensemble in all its glory.
Sweetwater Pricing
Additional Vendors
Price Alert Signup (Based on Sweetwater)
Price History (Based on Sweetwater)
Price History for Boss CE-5 Stereo Chorus Ensemble Pedal
Statistics
Current Price | $159.99 | September 29, 2023 |
Highest Price | $159.99 | June 29, 2022 |
Lowest Price | $119.99 | November 24, 2022 |
Last price changes
$139.99 | August 11, 2023 |
$159.99 | August 9, 2023 |
$139.99 | July 7, 2023 |
$159.99 | June 16, 2023 |
$145.91 | June 9, 2023 |
Quick Review Card
IDEAL 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
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.
Pinpointing High Value
This also helps to avoid simply providing you with the most expensive chorus pedals. Instead, you should aim for a mix of a good price and high grades in the rating categories we've established.
Overall Tone Grade
The tone grade is simply meant to denote how good the pedal sounds and how effectively it accomplishes its said goal. When assessing tone quality in a chorus pedal, we look at several nuanced aspects of the sound:
- Is the chorus effect true to what most would expect a chorus to send like?
- Does it sound good when used as a light layer and as a heavier pitch shift?
- Does it preserve the quality and nuance of your clean tone?
- Does the effect side of the mix match the volume of the clean side?
These are just a few of the ways you can grade tone quality. And while it's true that there's some subjectivity involved with this process, we try to be as objective as possible and analyze the sounds of the pedal based on concrete factors, like those I just mentioned.
Versatility Grade (modern/vintage)
We grade pedal versatility based on how applicable they are to different styles. Broadly, this can be broken down into modern and vintage tones. The clearest example of this is with distortion pedals, where you often have types of distortion that are either modern or vintage, but not both. With chorus pedals, this is a little more ambiguous because modulation can generally be applied to a wide range of styles.
An example might be the EHX Small Clone chorus that Kurt Cobain used. While we've never tested that particular pedal, it's widely considered to be a more vintage-style chorus. The Earthquaker Sea Machine would be considered a more modernized style of chorus. A pedal will get a higher grade in this area if it's usable in a wider range of styles.

Though the Julia seemed a bit more vintage and not quite as "tweakable" it can still be applicable to a wide range of musical styles and different types of guitar players.
Control/EQ
This is a more concrete rating, based on the exterior control available to you on the actual pedal. For chorus, this should mean at least rate and depth. These are considered baseline modulation controls.
The nicer chorus pedals will go above and beyond this scheme, adding things like waveform selection, hi and low EQ knobs or other controllable parameters.
Not only are we rating on the available knobs but we're also looking at how effective those knobs are in terms or providing variety. For example, how usable is the pedal when the rate knob is turned low? What about when it's turned up high?
Does each control actually make the pedal better and more usable, or is it just something you won't really use? Typically, we see analog and digital chorus pedals providing a decently wide range of control, as we see in both the M234 and the Julia.
How much should I spend on a good chorus pedal?
Chorus pedals are not tremendously expensive. Next to distortion and vibrato, they're one of the simpler sound effects to develop. Thus, you won't often see a chorus pedal eclipse $300 and many are less than $150. An acceptable "target" price range would be the following:
- Buy Low: $80
- Sell High: $320
One cost-cutting strategy is to target chorus pedals that retail around $100 - $200, then try to buy low on the used options priced around $50 - $120. That's where you'll get the most value.
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.
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