Boss CE-2 Chorus (Japan)

One of the great units from Boss back in the 80's. The CE-2 was the first compact pedal chorus from Boss. The CE-1 was released 1976 and contained the exact same circuit as the Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 Amp. So to have the same specs as the Roland Jazz Chorus you are in good company. The Roland JC has been considered the best clean and chorus tone that has ever been produced. So this chorus is something to be revered. This was the pedal to have when playing a good clean tone or even needing a little thickening of the distortion guitar which was popular throughout the 80's. Metal guys would use this pedal to help beef up their overdrive tone and sweet the spectrum of frequencies up a little bit.

This pedal was produced in Japan up until 1988. They then took production over to Taiwan. Some say the tone changed but I think unless you A/B them and even still wouldn't hear any difference. The label on the back change from black to green while still in Japan. Then later changed to to Taiwan but kept the same green on the label.

UTILIZATION

Specifications

* Controls: Rate, Depth
* Connectors: Input, Output, AC Adaptor
* Current Draw: 9 mA (DC 9V)
* Weight: 400 g. (14 oz)
* Input Impedance: 470kOhm
* Signal/Noise Ratio: 90dB or more
* Recommended Load Impedance: 10kOhm or greater
* Recommended AC Adaptor: ACA Series


SOUND QUALITY

I think this pedal shines in almost any situation it finds itself in. It sound superior with a clean guitar. You will get a nice watery shimmy tone that is almost magical to listen to. If you use it with an overdriven amp like a Marshall you get lighten up the control knobs a bit to add just a slight sweetening of the distortion. This will get you a big bigger tone much like adding an analog echo to the distortion tone. It is a nice tone filler.

This is a legacy pedal from Boss. This was the second introduction to the chorus world and the first compact chorus pedal ever produced from the Boss company. So this pedal can be put on a pedestal. This pedal was one of the best sounding chorus pedal in history. If you can score one then you will understand the tone to which many other manufacturers attempted to emulate.


OVERALL OPINION

These pedals were stopped being manufactured in 1988. They continued in Taiwan until 1990. So you would have to find one on the used market somewhere. They are great sounding pedal and some considered them the best chorus pedal that has ever been produced. If you score one somewhere you won't be disappointing.

Boss compact pedal 1983, the first release made in Japan with black labels. To simplify this is a refined version of the famous CE-1, which is neither more nor less than the chorus of the Roland Jazz Chorus.
Absolutely armored, she only suffered some scratches given his advanced age, by against any default, no breath, no noise, nothing. In short, even before the first note played, it's pretty impressive.
I take a point because it is recommended to power 12V, which makes feeding pedalboard (slightly more info: https://fr.audiofanzine.com/chorus-guitare/boss/CE-2/ pedago/astuces/boss-aca-psa-9v-12v-5744).

UTILIZATION

We are talking about two buttons and a switch, it is not that there are more violent
So yes editing very easy, if you have already set a chorus we found his sound in seconds. This is clearly not a pedal for fans of tweaking you the rules and you forget. At least you concentrate on your game
Again, great surprise, nothing breath, nothing crachotte, it's great.

SOUND QUALITY

To put it simply, I'm thrilled. This is exactly the sound I had in mind for all that is passing in the clear pieces of metal 80-90 years. I use it before an amp Diezel Hagen, the two get along well. It works quite in the loop as well.
It has a large and liquid sound, very pronounced. Maybe some will turn to the CE-2B, the bass version, which has a mix knob.
I clearly found my grail regarding the chorus.

OVERALL OPINION

In the end, a great pedal I had a unbeatable price. I love the analog modulations, and the CE-2 is one of its best representatives.
Now fingers crossed hoping it takes another 30 or 40 years! By then I hope to bring him two girlfriends, the CE-1 and DC-2.