Boss CE-3 Chorus

No manual required really. Just turn the knobs until your ears smile.

Basically I've got a Les Paul running through a bunch of pedals into a Carvin MTS3212. This pedal doesn't do that high speed rotating thing that say a Marshall chorus might do (thankfully). But if you're looking for a smooth sound (STP - Core era), then this is it brother.

As other reviewers have said as well, this thing is old. I have an early early Japanese model (with the metal turning key thing) and it's still kicking. I had to clean out the pots but all else aside, still sounds great.

This is much more of a rock-based chorus. So if you're really into modulating your sound (new-school incubus, various sevendust), this probably isn't going to be your bag.

It's a BOSS-pedal with two rotary knobs and one mode selector. Step on it to operate...

I mainly use a 2000 Fender Mexico '50's Stratocaster with a Blue Fender-Lace sensor in the neck-position, a standard classic pickup in the middle, and a Fender Custom Shop '54 Strat pickup in the bridge-postition. I run it through a Dunlop Cry-baby, Boss OD-2r Turbo Overdrive, Boss CE-3 Chorus. My amp is a '70's Yamaha B-212 solid state 200 watts.
This is by far the best chorus effect I have, and will ever own. Period. I have owned a lot: Boss ME-30, Alesis Mididverb 4, Boss ME-X, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Boss CH-1 Super Chorus, TC-electronics G-major, but a always come back to this trusty old box of mine. It just sounds so sweet, nothing wild, just sweet mellow chorus. I can get a really nice Smashing Pumpkins-like sound out of it. My main musical influences are R.E.M., Red Hot Chili Peppers, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins, and the like. The only style where it lacks some is Radiohead; those big airy parts are hard to do, but maybe coupled with a phaser and delay...? But you can't get all in one, still this is the best chorus-pedal ever made.

Looking in the dictionary.... "Reliability, a - Boss". No, seriously, I haven't heard of anyone breaking a Boss-pedal, have you?

I needed a copy of the manual and blueprints, so I called Roland in Denmark (where I just happen to live), and they sent me a copy of the manual, and the ORIGINAL blueprint whitin 3 days. Nice.

I have been playing for 8 years straight, and this is my favourite effect ever, and judging from the lot I have owned, this is very good. If it were ever stolen, I would put on my camouflage outfit, tie a red band around my forehead, strap on my jungle knife and hunt down whoever stole it, and... you figure it out.
What do I love about it? Everything. The sound, the color, everything!

2 knobs and a rotary switch, seems simple to me.

Its great. No noise, and it sounds perfect, you can nice subtle shorus or overly obvious watery chorus.

Its 20 years old and going strong. Boss pedals kick ass.

This pedal was about 20 years old when i bought it, and it still kicks ass. Sounds awesome. get one.

Easy to use man, rate, depth and stereo/mono. Pretty simple man!!

You can get some cool sounds out of this little box. I use mine with a tele a cry baby, fx86b, dod tuna and a dod overdrive preamp/250 ran to either vox or crate amp.

Has not failed me yet

haven;t used it

i wanted an older dod chorus but got out bid on it, but i've grown to love tis one.

2 dials: rate + depth
1 dial-switch: Stereo/Mono
all clearly labelled... how hard can it be?

My setup is
Ibanez RG320GP->Boss DS-1->Boss MT-2->DOD FX-17->Boss CE-3->Peavey Backstage 110 + Yamaha 10watt
obviously i haven't got the best amps yet... so i use the peavey to cover the lows and mids and the yamaha to get some treble from the setup...
The setup as a whole create a bit of background hum... but the effect on its own creates virtually nil.
I normally try to keep the rate bellow the 11 o'clock mark, but by turning it all the way up max i can create a really odd flange-type effect. As For the depth, i normally try to keep it reasonable high to access the more lush tones the pedal can create.
Now for the stereo/mono switch to really be used u either need a stereo input amp or two amps (like i have)... there is no more enjoyable sound than a guitar running in stereo (well, maybe if it was running through a mesa boogie amp, i can but dream) OR if you want to be a lil experimental try running in stereo into only one amp. This creates a very phased sound, that it (literally) almost half missing (this is due to how the stereo effect works)

Its a boss pedal... ie built like a tank
If ur performing live you litterally can throw it at hecklers in the crowd and not worry about damaging the thing, trust me, i've seen it done

You'll probably never need it unless you pedal is some how involved in a Road Traffic Accident with a very heavy truck...

This pedal is great for playing any style of music, infact you don't even have to create music, this pedal creates such an enjoyablwe sound on its own that you can simply sit back and enjoy the sound of playinmg single notes in stereo for a good 10-25 minutes

Rate, Depth, and a stereo/mono switch, could it be any simpler?

It isn't as swirling as other choruses and is a little weak. At first I really didn't like it and I still don't, for a usual chorus sound. But when I switched the stereo\mono switch to stereo and only used the effect out jack, I got an amazing sound. Alomst a phaser/ delay sound. It rocks. I am giving it a 4 as a chorus and a 10 for a crazy sound.

It's a boss, they are indistuctable.

Never dealt with them.

If you took Incubus, Chili Peppers, Rage, Nirvana, and Hum, threw them in a blender on frappe for 45 second to a minute you would get my music. This pedal is great if you like freaky sounds this pedal is for you, if you want a rich luscious chorus get a super chorus or chorus ensemble. For what I do this pedal rocks.

This vintage Analog chorus is a great pedal for everything. You can get a good vibrato/tremolo sound in one mode, and a parallel de-railing creamy sound in another mode. There are only rate, depth and mode switch. It is horribly easy to use...

I play a Yamaha Pacifica with duncans and I run that through a Boss PSM-5 >> CE-3 analog chorus >> DD-3 Delay >> BF-2 Flanger >> PH-3 Phase shifter >> Jim dunlop gcb95 Wah >> Peavey Bandit 112.
Its not noisy at all and the effect always sounds great. I think it runs good with a lot of different music styles...probably A dark metallica "one" sound or somethin.

This pedal is OLD...and works PERFECTLY. Its BOSS

Didn't have to deal with em but I hope I never have to. Their websites aren't great at all for this though.

If it were stolen or lost I would get another one just because I like to screw with this pedal for a lot of reasons. But Its not for proffessional stage use. Helps me make music.

I had to tweak lots on this hog. i really could never find a sound i really liked out of the ce-3. no manual, got it off ebay.

guild AAA blues bird>bossHM2>MarshallChorus>Ce-3 Chorus>IbanezDelay...
it isn't noisy, but i can hardly hear it. way too weak.

boss is swell

noproblems

its okay, but i didn't really like it.

It's very easy to use.Just tweak the knobs.

It's a lot different than other choruses.I find it not as SWIRLY as the others.But it does add a great ambiance to my sound,especially with vocals.The CE-3 has a cool bathroom-like sound.The second mode has a gargle sound to it,or some kind of pitch bending.This silly sound always makes me laugh,I love it! I use it behind the Boss PH-2
Super phasor,it produces an unbelieveable shimmer and swirl.This is great for rythym guitar.It doesn't sound so good with bombastic amounts of distortion,in my opinion.But with a good overdrive,the CE-3 really delivers.I have other heavy-weight choruses,but I use this one a lot.

It's pretty sturdy,but it's old now.Use a backup?Depends on the tunes
I'm gonna play.For ambiance,yes.For swirl,I'll use something else.

If it breaks I'll get another one.

The CE-3 is very useful.I gig with it and record with it,so it gets a
lot of work.It's small,handy and gets the job done.It would be very unfair to compare it to a VOODO,MXR,EH Small Clone.The CE-3 kinda cool
for the price and it's quieter than the Small Clone.I've always liked
Boss's modulation effects,good quality at reasonable prices.And as I
said, the second mode(gargle)tickels the hell outta me.I like this little box!

Easy to use, great chorus sound.

I use this with a fender jazz bass with a peavy tk0150 amp.

I can depend on my pedas. I would use it at a gig without a backup.

I play blues and it gives a good vibe background sound with a guitar. I have been playing for 3 years. I own a custom built bass with a peavy tko150 amp. I like the sound of the pedal I am just looking for other effects such as a bass balls pedal and if interested I would trade.