Great musicians of our times have played their guitars over and over again, reaching new levels of mastery which are mind-blowing.
What if you are a beginner or a hobbyist? You don’t need to practice for endless hours to learn how to tweak your tones, experimenting on different guitars, technologies, hardware, or amps.
The shortcut to shaping your tones are chorus pedals. Keep reading to find out what a chorus pedal is and how you use it to shape your tone, either as a beginner or a pro looking for new textures and sounds. We follow that with the list of our favorite guitar chorus pedals.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Guitar Chorus Pedals
- OUR TOP PICK: Dunlop MXR M234
- Walrus Audio Julia
- TC Electronic Corona
Table of Contents
- What is a Chorus Pedal?
- How Does a Chorus Pedal Work?
- What Does a Chorus Pedal Do?
- How to Choose a Chorus Pedal
- Comparison Chart of the Best Guitar Chorus Pedals
- Review of the Best Guitar Chorus Pedals
- Benefits of Investing in a Quality Chorus Pedal
- Aspects to Consider Before Buying
- How to Use a Chorus Pedal
- Conclusion
What is a Chorus Pedal?
The chorus pedal is a type of guitar pedal which allows you to personalize your music. Similar to any other pedal, it is a small device which can be used to alter the tones you play by switching them on and off with your feet.
How Does a Chorus Pedal Work?
A chorus pedal creates a chorus effect by dividing your signal into multiple parts and delaying these parts from the main one. The pedal also modulates the pitch and the volume of these divided parts, which are also slightly delayed, creating the impression that multiple instruments play the same part.
What Does a Chorus Pedal Do?
In simple words, a chorus pedal will "copy" parts of your signal and multiply it, slightly delayed from your initial one. This will create the chorus effect, where the listener will feel as though multiple instruments are playing the same part. Most of these pedals also come with controls for rate, depth, and tone, which allows you to control the chorus effect.
Depth Control and Rate Control
These two controls allow you to add color to your sound. If they are placed half-way, this will enable you to achieve dreamy chords.
Tone Control
Thicken or weaken your tones using this knob if your pedal has one.
How to Choose a Chorus Pedal
The most important feature when you choose your new chorus pedal is related to your needs. Most importantly, what instrument do you play? What is your budget? What features are you looking for? Here’s a short breakdown of the most important aspects to guide you when choosing the right chorus pedal.
Choose the Right Type
First, you might know or have just found out that some pedals are either analog or digital. If not, take a peek at the reviews in the next section. What does this mean? Usually, a fully analog pedal will offer you sweeter and warmer sounds, which can be an advantage or a disadvantage for you, depending on your preferences. Digital ones are typically brighter, however, we recommend both as they are definitely worth a try before sticking to one. Both are quite versatile.
Controls
Some of the pedals come only with depth and rate controls, while others include tone, low and high frequencies cutting, and others. However, most people focus on the depth and rate, as these are the most important controls of your pedal.
Type of Instrument
Some pedals work better with certain types of instruments. We picked the best pedals for all types in the next sections.
Comparison Chart of the Best Guitar Chorus Pedals
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Review of the Best Guitar Chorus Pedals
Now that you know what to look for when searching for the ideal guitar chorus pedal, let’s take a look at some of the best options on the market.
Best Overall :
Dunlop MXR M234
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This analog pedal is a great choice if you are looking for quality without breaking the bank. It comes with a convenient, compact, and easy to use design, and it dials with ease into a smooth and tasteful chorus, with organic sounds. In addition to this, it is an extremely versatile pedal due to the numerous features available.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This chorus pedal offers ultimate control over your tone, with lush and liquid textures, impossible to forget. The analog circuitry is the feature that makes this chorus one of the best, along with complete power over rate, depth, level, but also the possibility to cut low and high frequencies.
Who Will Use This Most
Whether you are just at the beginning of your music career or already a pro, you definitely need to give this one a try. Our best pick is easy to use to suit any novice’s skills and allows you to experiment with all the features until you find your own style. As for pros, it is clear that the versatility and the durability of this pedal make it a true asset for any professional pedalboard.
Bottom Line
Overall, this product is one of the best chorus pedals. The full analog circuitry offers advantages and sound quality, which digital ones cannot reach, by far. The multiple features available allow for deep experimentation, although the instant lush and liquid sounds would be enough to convince most players this product is definitely worth the money.
Runner-up:
Walrus Audio Julia
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This product is a real treasure. It does not only allow you complete freedom with its numerous features and endless versatility, but it is a perfect match in any situation. It can also be used with distortion pedals and is impressive, holding up the warmth even when paired with a high-gain amp.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It is quite easy to spot the reasons we chose this for our runner-up chorus/vibrato pedal. It’s fully analog and comes with a rich chorus/vibrato, practically imploring you to explore its abilities. From a mild chorus to a strong vibrato, this pedal reaches every step in-between, with features including, but not limited to, lag, dry-chorus-vibrato blend, and analog LFO wave shapes.
Who Will Use This Most
If you are a guitar player seeking to stand out from the crowd, this chorus pedal is perfect for you. Its abilities will allow you to blend in familiar settings, but also some unique ones which are not often seen on traditional chorus pedals. From mild and soothing sounds to wild vibrato, this pedal has everything in-between for your needs.
Bottom Line
Overall, it is hard not to love this pedal in this price range. It does not only sound great, it is excellent! If you are looking for a pedal that gives you a universe of choices and holds up its character and quality every time, then this is the one for you.
Best for the Money:
TC Electronic Corona
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
The consensus indicates that this pedal is a real gem. It is straightforward to use, perfect for a busy pedalboard, and the TonePrint offers you endless versatility and options, as you can download hundreds upon hundreds of effects. Additionally, it works great with any guitar, whether acoustic, bass, or electric.
Why it Stands Out to Us
The TC Electronic Corona is the top choice if you are looking for a pedal in the lower price range, which does not compromise on quality and features. The tiny package is a real life-saver for those of you with a busy pedalboard, yet it allows you complete freedom over your effects.
Who Will Use This Most
If you are on a budget, this chorus pedal is a great alternative. But don’t be fooled – the money savings are hard to explain once you try it. Despite the tiny size, this pedal comes with full features, including free access to hundreds of effects from classic musicians to creative music innovators.
Bottom Line
It is difficult to describe this pedal in short, but this might be it: thick, lush, and swirly! This tiny pedal will be a real asset for your pedalboard and, despite its minimalistic design and price, comes with great features and free access to many effects.
Best for Acoustic Guitars:
Boss CH-1 Stereo Super Chorus
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
This is the chorus pedal any acoustic guitar player needs to try. The unique stereo effect and the high-clarity of the highs are definitely worth every cent. The build is solid, sturdy, and extremely reliable. This pedal gets you what you pay for: BOSS quality and high-quality sounds.
Why it Stands Out to Us
Reaching out to the acoustic guitar players out there, this chorus pedal is the one. The classic tonalities can be adjusted using the EQ function and it offers you the crystal-clear highs you have been after. On top of this, the pedal has a great, durable build, which will provide you with great value for your money.
Who Will Use This Most
If you are an acoustic guitar player, this pedal will offer you all the classic chorus sounds you need. The speed and depth of this product are perfectly covered to adjust to any of your range needs, and it is so easy to use and tweak. It will only take you five minutes of use to convince you of the great investment this product is.
Bottom Line
Overall, the BOSS company never fails to deliver on quality, durability, and reliability with this great chorus pedal for acoustic guitars. If you are looking for one of the best pedals on the market to suit your needs, this is the one.
Best for Bass Guitars:
Behringer UC200
No products found.
PROS
CONS
What Recent Buyers Report
As a bass guitar player, it is impossible not to love this low-priced chorus pedal. Although many might be put off by the plastic casing, it is exceptionally sturdy and durable, and can handle any pressure without breaking down or even getting scratched.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This pedal is our top choice for bass guitar players due to the extremely rich chorus sounds and stereo effect. It comes with separate depth, level, and rate controls for increased versatility and sound-tweaking. Additionally, the price range is extremely competitive.
Who Will Use This Most
The richness of this chorus pedal makes it the perfect choice for bass guitar players. The pedal comes with a plastic case as hard as a tank, making it suitable for both novices and hobbyists who play guitar frequently. The competitive price range makes it affordable for literally everyone.
Bottom Line
This pedal offers great value for its price. However, it might not be suitable for professional tones. Despite its plastic casing, it is incredibly durable and long-lasting. For beginners and hobbyists who play bass guitar, this is a great, inexpensive choice.
Benefits of Investing in a Quality Chorus Pedal
There are so many reasons why you should look into buying a chorus pedal for your guitar, but here are the top four benefits:
Tonal Versatility
A high-quality chorus pedal will first allow you to tweak the sounds as you desire. In fact, this is what you are after if you are reading this article. A high-quality pedal will allow you endless options, such as either access to free downloadable effects or just by encompassing numerous features, knobs, and characteristics.
Durability and Reliability
A high-quality chorus pedal will also benefit you by saving money. Our top picks might indeed be different in terms of characteristics and features, but they all score high on durability and reliability.
Quality
Lastly, the quality combines all features above and results in a true asset for your performance as a guitarist. These pedals ensure versatility, durability, and crystal-clear tones, which will make your performance stand out from the crowd.
Customized Options
Lastly, by choosing one of our products on the list, you ensure that you will benefit from a product suitable for your needs. They were chosen specifically so the products would satisfy all your needs, either as an acoustic guitar player, bass player, or if you want a versatile pedal that works great with all guitar types.
Aspects to Consider Before Buying
Of course, before you go out and just buy the first chorus pedal you find, there are a few aspects that need to be on your radar first. Here are the main ones to consider:
Price/Quality Ratio
The first of the considerations which needs to stay with you is that some trade-offs come with lower prices. As a professional player, a higher value pedal will also incur additional costs. While our cheaper models do come with great features, they might not be enough to achieve professional effects.
Level of Skill
Another aspect you need to consider before buying is the level of skill you have. Some pedals with more controls and features require a higher level of skill than simpler ones. The best thing you can do is try a few models before settling on one. Most models are reasonably priced and you can work your way through until you find the best one for you.
Size
This aspect is the least important, yet you should still consider it before buying. Make sure your pedalboard still has enough space for the new pedal or go for our compact-sized model, which will save you a lot of trouble in the future.
How to Use a Chorus Pedal
Here’s a short step-by-step guide on how to use your chorus pedal:
- Decide where you want to place the chorus pedal on the pedalboard.
- Ideally, most chorus pedals are placed around the end of the signal chain, in order to delay the distortion.
- Most pedals come with two knobs. Locate them.
- The rate knob sets the milliseconds of delay.
- The depth control refers to the intensity of the effect, or how dramatic this will be.
- First, set both the knobs on low to practice with – this should offer some subtle fullness of the tonality.
- Secondly, experiment with the knobs by setting them high. This should result in shinier sounds.
Conclusion
Overall, chorus pedals are great additions to your pedalboard if you are seeking to personalize your performance. This article has given you a walkthrough on chorus pedals and reviews of the top five chorus pedals on the market.
