Korg CHR-1 Chorus

Easy to use, standard controls and a mode switch that switches between chorus (mode 1) and phasing (mode 2)

Good chorus and Phase Shifted sounds, but it would be nice to have more intensity so I just keep the intensity on 10. Chorusing is good, it's no Arion, but is very swirly and sweet. The phaser is even swirlier and is also good.

Dopped multiple times by me and my exband's bassist, it's built to last!!

Never had to use it for the chorus or my tuner!!

Korg's pedals are great and never caught on so if you find one and it's not on its last days, buy it!!!

This is a two-knob chorus pedal (speed and intensity) with an added feature, a mode switch. This mode switch seems to shift the delay time of the analog BBD chip (bucket brigade delay): In mode 1 you have the classis chorus sound, whereas in mode 2 the pedal sounds more like a flanger. There one input, one "wet" and one "dry" output, a 9V standard power input, an on/off LED and a very solid footswitch. Pictures can be found here: http://filters.muziq.be/model/korg/1/chr1
The bypassing is some kind of "half true bypass". If you have a look onto the schematics of the Korg PHS-1 Phaser, which has the same bypass scheme, you understand what I mean: http://www.mif.pg.gda.pl/homepages/tom/files/korgphas1.gif

To me, it is not THE perfect chorus, but it comes very close. In mode 1 with intensity on max. and speed on lower settings, it is a very warm and fluid, classic chorus sound. You don't get an over the top lush sound, but just right. So if the intensity range was larger, there would be more flexibility in the box. But for most users this is enough.
Same setting and speed on max. this is a very nice Leslie-like sound which I really like. Add a little crunch overdrive after it and enjoy a very lively Leslie sound.
As I mentioned above, mode 2 sounds like a flanger. Although a little more of the intensity range would add flexiblity - for me it seems right. Speed on max. is a very cranky special FX sound, often heard on clean sounds of Korn.
All in all the pedal reminds me a bit of my 80s T.c. electronic chorus/flanger pedal. I through this one out of my signal chain, because it alters the sound when in bypass mode and due to too much active circuits in the chain it is also a bit noisy. This is not the case with the Korg Chorus. There is no noticeable sound alteration when in bypass mode, and when switched on the unit seems to be very quiet in comparison to most of the "rest".

The pedal is built very robust, it is a pity that today many of the far-east brands do not build their pedals like this. From a today's point of view the pedal is built like a boutique pedal: die cast aluminum housing, metal pots screwed to the housing, hand wired pots and bypass switch. It must be very relieable compared to most of the contemporary pedals so I give it a TEN although I've had it only for one day.

Bought it used, and since the pedal line is of the mid-80s, there won't be any support for them.

I play this one with: George Dennis WahWah -> Nobels PH-D Phaser -> Korg Chorus -> Nobels DD-800 Delay -> Marshall Regenerator -> Tube Amp.
I begin to have a weakness for these 80s pedal. Our other guitarist owns a Korg PHS-1 Phaser, which is also very nice sounding. If I can get one some day, I might go for it.
I think it is very versatile and I hope it will inspire me.

two knobs: SPEED and INTENSITY. one switch: MODE 1/2. Footswitch: bypass (don??t know and don??t care if it??s try-bypass or not). unfortunately i have no manual for this one, which would be interesting. there is a DIRECT OUT FOR STEREO, which i do not use, but i guess it??s for connecting to one amp, and hearing the effect by another amp. of course there is a DC-in-adaptor. so - usage is pretty easy.

it??s supposed to be a chorus. never mind - chorus, phaser, vibrato - they all have some common sound to me. and, having a look at the schematics, they are not that far apart. when i bought this CHR-1 i wasn??t dissapointed, but then i got used to a Zoom 505 II; i like reverb, the other effects are on-board. now i was looking for a vibrato in order to use with my yamaha pf15 stage piano to get some good rhodes sound. i googled a bit and found schematics and sound examples according the uni-vibe and the korg G4 rotary. with the MODE switch at position 2 i obtain those wobbly watery leslie sounds i have heard. ok - maybe hard and even impossible to compare - i actually do not own one of those, but with the CHR-1 i just get the feeling i wanted to. to me it??s THE rotary vibe! the zoom 505 II sounds quite cheap and synthetic when i fiddle for this sound. speed has a very good range, intensity too. with MODE switch at position 1 it just has a vibrato. something like this..

it has some scratches here and there, seemes to be an older one (1980-85?), has a heavy all-metal housing except the battery door - never had any problems with it. just fine and sweet.

e.g. yamaha has the best documentation of their products on www. never find something better, i don??t the korg-site. maybe because i send an email - it didn??t work: it came back "connection timed out" or something like that. puh.. maybe it??s hard to get all the products and even the according manuals being documentated but this, i think, would be a very good way to convince!

i am an amateur musician since ever playing no fixed style. the CHR-1 is not mine with the guitar (not yet) but with the piano to get the rhodes sound i won??t miss it anymore. very pleasent! if you have the chance - try it. sorry - i cannot compare it to other chorus pedals, but i guess it??s unique!