Maxon CS-01 Chorus

Very easy two knob design allowing user to quickly go through combinations of settings.

Bought this on the strength of the one other review as I was wanting a Maxon but not paying Maxon prices.

Strat/Tele-cs-2-sparkle drive-Maxon cs-01-blues deluxe/supersonic

This pedal rocks, it really does. The unit is a little ugly, brash, weird design etc but makes up for this in it's sounds canvas. Absolutely destroys the boss ce-20 on all patches, and is clearly more pleasurable than a MIJ ce-2.

Several of my freinds have now had extended goes on this pedal and all agree it really is an ignored jem. I'm now loving the ugly little box. It pours harmonics into your signal. really sweet.

Opening it up it is easy to see why it sounds so damn good. There are 3 1981 JRC4558D op amps!!!!, and two Panasonic MN3207 BBD IC's.
Probably two of the greatest components for music EVER.

Wasn't working when I got it. There is a 4 way cable which appears to be a bit of weakness in the design but since I ironed out the kinks the pedal is maintaining performance. Feels very rugged otherwise.

Not tried

If your on a bit of a budget then this unfashionable pedal it's a must. You'll get truely vintage sounds that have their own righ harmonic tonality and not many people have. This is staying on my pedal board, it gives me everything I want without any niggling reservations about whether I should upgrade.

I play floydish type rock, indie, brit rock.
I will get another of these and prolly try out a few more pedals from the Maxon "01" range as they are all unfashionable and maybe there are other jems knocking about.
It has given me a few new songs and helped replicate some cover song sounds I had been lacking.

Couldn't be easier, 2 knobs, 2 outputs, 1 input.

I got this off eBay recently, direct from Japan. Its yellow and black, quite heavy for its size, substantial. This is from the same line of Japanese made Maxon's as the ST-01 Super Tubescreamer, which is the only other pedal from this line I've been able to find a review or description of. It itself is noted for having two highly desirable JRC opamp chips instead of the usual one, and sells for nearly $200 a pop! So, when I saw this chorus for $48, I bought it right away!

Turns out, it was a great move on my part! This is a beautiful sounding Chorus. I would imagine its similar to the CS-505 reissue series, two knobs one for speed and one for width. But whereas reviewers complain of a boost in volume with that pedal, the CS-01 has no such issue. It almost sounds like a drop in volume, but its just the effect engaging, the sound is just altered, not more quiet. I don't know if its true bypass or not, and I don't really give a crap. Adds no noise to my chain of effects, which now includes 3 Maxon pedals. I love their stuff. I had been using the Boss CE-20 ensemble, and it is an ass-kicking pedal, but so heavy and really, more than I need. I may hang oo to that one, but this is the one I'll be brining with me to shows and rehearsals from now on. It has its own sound, shimmering, thick, swirly, but not cheesey or overpowering. It sounds...pearly...or opalescent. I love it, I can't imagine anyone hearing this pedal and not thinking it was really high quality.

Rock solid, my other Maxon pedals are solid, but this one is even more so.

Actually, they've been great. I emailed Godlyke 'cause I couldn't find word one about this pedal anywhere. The emailed back saying it was before their time, and they put me in touch with Maxon in Japan. I emailed, and they were very cordial and helpful. They told me its an analog pedal, dating to 1987. The sent me a pdf copy of the owners manual. Very good support considering the age of the pedal and all that. What a great company Maxon is!

I got real lucky with this one! Its really cute, it looks like a big bumble bee kinda. Sounds beautiful, everything I want in a Chorus. As I mentioned I was using the Boss CE-20, which has many settings. I was using the CE-1 emulation and the Dimenaional D settinngs primarilly. And they're great, for sure. But this little guys gives me both of those tones, and with no digital harshness (which was only slight, but any is too much sometimes...) with just simple knob tweaking. For my uses, its perfect. I play dirgey / swirly guitar rock like Mercury Rev, MBV, the Cure, Flaming Lips, etc. I'm very excited to have found this pedal, get one if you can, this is the only one of these I've ever seen anywhere.