I don't like my new chorus pedal...

[IRG]

This is sort of a follow up to my post last night, that didn't get much response. I got a new Carl Martin Classic Chorus and a EHX Stereo Pulsar. I've decided the Pulsar is great, and will be staying on my board for sure.

 

The Classic Chorus though, is a big disappointment. The review was glowing in the recent Guitar Player mag. I couldn't find any real good clips of it anywhere, even asked fellow forumite RID (I think that's his name here) to provide me with a link, but I didn't get a response back.

 

What I don't like about it, and this has seemed to be an issue with other chorus pedals (Small Clone, Boss CE-3) is the added "white noise" almost a slight fuzz when picking with anything other than a light touch. Through a clean amp (Traynor), when this chorus is engaged, it sounds like there is a slight amount of fuzz/overdrive when it should be clean. Adding the vibrato option makes it worse. Clipping? I have it in my effects loop, as seen below (it's replaced the Small Clone). None of my other modulation pedals have this added noise. It's powered by a DC Brick. If I pick lightly, i don't get the noise, but I also don't get much of an effect. I have used my Epi LP with SD JB/Jazz pups, my Casino, and a JV Strat. The strat had the least issues, but still not great.

 

Also, the chorus doesn't seem nearly thick enough to me. It seems watered down, and the review made it sound just the opposite. Maybe I have a bad one? I like the feel and look of it, well built. Just sounds like poop to me.

 

I was originally going to go with a DLS Chorus/Vib pedal, looks like this is what I'll end up with. Frustrating though...I wanted to like this pedal.

[sbrett]

Best two chorus pedals I've owned are the DLS Chorus~Vib and the Visual Sound H20 (now that they have a stand alone chorus I may have to check it out). I've never had a chorus pedal that gave the problems with white noise and such, so maybe you did get a bad one.

[valvestate]

That's why you need this bro -->

[smrz]

Guitar mag reviews are always glowing.

[IRG]

Best two chorus pedals I've owned are the DLS Chorus~Vib and the Visual Sound H20 (now that they have a stand alone chorus I may have to check it out). I've never had a chorus pedal that gave the problems with white noise and such, so maybe you did get a bad one.

 

 

Funny, these are the two I am most considering now.

[IRG]

Guitar mag reviews are always glowing.

 

 

True. They gave it the editor's pick award last month. They also reviewed the Red Witch chorus pedal. Said it was great too, but gave the pick to the Carl Martin. At less than half the price, I went for it. Live and learn I guess.

[RoboPimp]

if you're running it in your amp's effects loop it's very possible that it's overloading the pedal. Many amp loops are not designed to work with floor pedals. Does the loop have a send/return level?

[IRG]

if you're running it in your amp's effects loop it's very possible that it's overloading the pedal. Many amp loops are not designed to work with floor pedals. Does the loop have a send/return level?

 

 

No, I don't think there is a level, just the inputs. I've been wondering the same thing. I don't have an issue with "noise" on anything else though. My Nano Stone is clean, my BBE Soul Vibe is fairly clean, tough to say though because of the nature of that effect. My delays and the new tremolo don't have issues. Just chorus.

 

Here's another odditiy. I have a MXR 10 band EQ. I don't always engage it, and it doesn't matter whether I do or not. Depending on what other efects I have on, like a boost pedal and a distortion pedal together, and then I play with a fairly heavy hand, the two LED's on the MXR (volume and gain) will blink, almost indicating I am clipping. Is an EQ supposed to do this? I've never heard of this before. But it mostly happens when I am fairly aggresive, with a fair amount of dirt being used. Easier to happen with my LP than a strat.

 

If the chorus continues to be a problem, should i put it out front, after my dirt pedals, and then into the amp? I hadn't thought of doing this before, but maybe I should.

[IRG]

Here's another one I might consider: http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=&uzc=&command=link--ebscho

Or this one, starting to get more expensive though: http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=&uzc=&command=link--rsces

[melx]

It definatly sounds like clipping, try it out in front is all I can suggest.

[ASG]

My first post here but since my Classic Chorus just arrived today, I was concerned. I checked it in the most pristine environment I have direct through FMR RNP, Lynx L22, Cubase , Steinberg Warp JC Amp Sim, Coleman monitor controller, Sennheiser HD650 headphones, K+H 110 monitors.

Guitar was a parts strat with Kinman p/u

There is a small amount of hiss but far less than most modulation effects and I could not detect any distortion even with hard playing. I tried a clean boost in front to simulate hotter pickups and even clipping the Lynx convertors I didn't notice anything from the chorus. I suspect either yours is faulty or it's in the wrong place in the loop.

I agree it's not the most prominent effect but that's part of the appeal to me.

I don't have an amp with a effects loop so I can't try that, but I'll report back when I try it with my proper amps. It's early days but I'm quite pleased.

Regards, Andrew

[IRG]

It definatly sounds like clipping, try it out in front is all I can suggest.

 

 

OK, I'll try that tonight and see what happens. Wonder why this occurs with chorus pedals.

[IRG]

My first post here but since my Classic Chorus just arrived today, I was concerned. I checked it in the most pristine environment I have direct through FMR RNP, Lynx L22, Cubase , Steinberg Warp JC Amp Sim, Coleman monitor controller, Sennheiser HD650 headphones, K+H 110 monitors. Guitar was a parts strat with Kinman p/u There is a small amount of hiss but far less than most modulation effects and I could not detect any distortion even with hard playing. I tried a clean boost in front to simulate hotter pickups and even clipping the Lynx convertors I didn't notice anything from the chorus. I suspect either yours is faulty or it's in the wrong place in the loop. I agree it's not the most prominent effect but that's part of the appeal to me. I don't have an amp with a effects loop so I can't try that, but I'll report back when I try it with my proper amps. It's early days but I'm quite pleased. Regards, Andrew

 

 

Thanks Andrew. It seems then it's one of two things, a) a bad pedal (unlikely) b)it doesn't like my effects loop (likely). I'm going to move it tonight and see if that's it. It isn't a hiss that I'm hearing. It is a definite distortion sound that is ruining the effect. I'm glad you like yours. If I eliminate the noise, I'll have to reevaluate whether I like this pedal as is. It does have some nice features to it, the vibrato being a nice addition. I just wish the effect were more pronounced.

[Jules-RM]

Try an Ibanez CS9. Just try it. You don't need to spend more than $99 for a good chorus.

[IRG]

Try an Ibanez CS9. Just try it. You don't need to spend more than $99 for a good chorus.

 

 

I'm seriously thinking of going that route. I was just looking at the upgraded Maxon version, but at $264, I dunno. I wanted a bit more flexibility from a chorus pedal though, and having the "vib" option is kinda cool. Although now that I have a tremolo pedal, having vibrato effect isn't that big of deal. I like the idea of spending less...

[machine gunner]

Try an Ibanez CS9. Just try it. You don't need to spend more than $99 for a good chorus.

Got one in teh spam thread

[IRG]

Got one in teh spam thread

I'll think about it. Gotta try this one out of my effects loop first and see how it sounds before I make an hasty decisions...

[IRG]

Another chorus pedal I might take another look at is the EHX Polychorus. Helps that I get dealer cost too. I like my Small Clone, just want it to do more. Seems like the Polychorus does more.

[Liberty Belle]

people should just buy a small clone and be done with it.

[IRG]

people should just buy a small clone and be done with it.

 

 

That's what I got now, lol. I have had noise issues, but I'm thinking it has to do with my effects loop now, and not the pedal themselves. I'm going to try and make the switch momentarily. Stay tuned...

[IRG]

I'm sure everyone's been waiting with baited breath, and here's the results. The chorus pedal works better out of the loop, no more fuzz/distortion when engaged. SOmething about my effects loop doesn't agree with chorus pedals. Both the Classic Chorus and the Small Clone sound better now.

And the winner is the Small Clone, what I had all along. So back goes the Classic CHorus. The sound is just not for me, it isn't bad, but doesn't like the chorus I am wanting. Seemed more sterile, and not warm. The SC is better suited for me. I would like even more of a lush sound though if I can find it. I still may look at the Polychorus though - does this pedal get SC sounds plus more? Or doesn't it do these types of chorus at all.

Edit, after listening to clips of it, I'm not sure I like the Polychorus. I do like the clips I heard of the MXR M-134, but the reviews seem mixed. Not cheap either for a more mainstream pedal.

[machine gunner]

Have you tried a CE-2 yet IRG? That one completely put an end to all my chorus gas...

[petejt]

The TC Electronic SCF Stereo Chorus/Flanger is a pretty good chorus pedal. To me though it works more efficiently in the effects loop in stereo (split it to two amps). When used in front of an amp the chorus effect is rather weak unfortunately.

[sonicarchitect]

Have you tried a CE-2 yet IRG? That one completely put an end to all my chorus gas...

 

 

+1

[attic]

Have you tried powering it with an isolated output or an adaptor? A DC brick connects all your pedals series. That can cause a lot of noise with some pedals.