Difference between Boss chorus and chorus ensemble?

[birv2]

I don't use chorus much but figure I will find uses for it. I currently have a Dano Cool Cat Chorus (old version), but I'm looking at a one of the Boss's. Specifically looking at at CE-3 and a CE-5. The CE-5 is called a chorus ensemble. Why?

I like the smaller footprint of the boss pedals and am trying to conserve space without sacrificing tone. Oh, and I'm also looking at the Digitech Chorus Factory.

Any suggestions?

 

[markb]

The chorus effect was invented by Roland/Boss. All the CE models are known as "Chorus Ensemble" even if they don't spell it out. The CE-5 got the name on it because they introduced the CH-1 "Classic Chorus" at the same time.

Any Boss CE-x will get you that original Boss tone. The CE-1 is the original mains powered Chorus/Vibrato box, expensive and bulky. The CE-2 is great but getting expensive (buy a Taiwanese one, there's really no difference), the CE-3 has stereo outputs and a mode switch a la JC-120, the CE-5 adds tone controls.

 

[birv2]

Thanks for the feedback, Mark.

So is there any good reason to choose the 2 vs the 3 vs the 5?

For someone who just wants something to set and forget when the time comes, what would you recommend?

 

[markb]

Thanks for the feedback, Mark.

So is there any good reason to choose the 2 vs the 3 vs the 5?

For someone who just wants something to set and forget when the time comes, what would you recommend?

I've had 3 CE-2s and a CE-3 over the years and I've got more or less the same sound out of all of them. I've never used a CE-5 but have no doubt it'll do the same job. I'd buy a Boss but choose on what's available and price to be honest if I wanted a chorus.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I like my CE-5 I got used. I like having tone knobs. I have not used the others. I do not use a chorus in the blues or blues oriented playing Birv, but I enjoy it when I am playing around with 90s era rock/pop/grunge, and sometimes just for fun. My DS-1 combined with my CE-5 makes some good Nirvanaesque noise.