CE-2 vs Small Clone (DIY dilemma!)

[Keven]

so after i'm finished with my phase 45 clone, the only thing truly missing from my DIY pedal board is a good delay and a chorus

as far as chorus goes, i've found the two designs at tonepad. one covers the BOSS CE-2 and the other is the original electro harmonix small clone but with a depth pot mod.

now, i've been using my Boss' GT-10 chorus for years (since the GT-10 came out actually)....and i kind of know how boss gear sounds. very hi-fi like. i was leaning towards the small clone just for novelty's sake, but what can you folks tell me about these? I'm not too picky about chorus, i mostly have it always on for my clean tone just to make it wider, but nothing is over the top. i turn it on, twist the knobs 'till i hear just a bit of difference, but definitely nothing 12 string like.

Also, while on the subject of my pedal board, i'm turned on by the MXR carbon copy. but i've read most guys use it as a chorus actually. i like to use my delay to push my clean parts further into the mix, and turning it off to bring them back to the front (yes i know, silly, but the art of a good background part is very important in my view) so when a clean part in a song involves more the drum and the bass (if any!) i turn on the delay and it blurs my tone a bit so the focus is on something else than me. is it worth the trouble of going DIY? i like doing it and probably won't regret it... but something about the carbon copy tickles my gear mojo!

[Antag]

now, i've been using my Boss' GT-10 chorus for years (since the GT-10 came out actually)....and i kind of know how boss gear sounds. very hi-fi like. i was leaning towards the small clone just for novelty's sake, but what can you folks tell me about these? I'm not too picky about chorus, i mostly have it always on for my clean tone just to make it wider, but nothing is over the top. i turn it on, twist the knobs 'till i hear just a bit of difference, but definitely nothing 12 string like.

Nothing hi-fi like about the CE-2.  It's very lush & warm.  Probably the only chorus I've ever heard that I liked more is the MXR M134.

FWIW, the CE-3 is more unobtrustive & "balances" better with the dry signal, it's probably better if you want to use chorus with gain as well as clean sounds.

[marauder]

Make sure you can get the chips before getting the board.  I'm sure one of them is hard to get hold of, and there's fakes about.

Update: not all Hong Kong ones are fakes
http://www.diystompboxes.com/smfforum/index.php?topic=80528.0

[Keven]

smallbearelec has been a very good source so far for chips and parts :D

also, from alot of clips i've found on the net, the CE-2 seems like you said antag, very full and warm, sounds nothing like the models in my GT-10.

i use chorus only on clean tones. i like my distorted tone very raw or with some phasing.

[Catalyst77]

I have a ce-2 clone (the BYOC chorus) and i couldnt be happier with it.  I agree its not great with distortion, but i can't get past 80's hair metal when i think of chorus + distortion.

Not that that's necessarily a bad thing :D

[phlip]

Also, while on the subject of my pedal board, i'm turned on by the MXR carbon copy. but i've read most guys use it as a chorus actually. i like to use my delay to push my clean parts further into the mix, and turning it off to bring them back to the front (yes i know, silly, but the art of a good background part is very important in my view) so when a clean part in a song involves more the drum and the bass (if any!) i turn on the delay and it blurs my tone a bit so the focus is on something else than me. is it worth the trouble of going DIY? i like doing it and probably won't regret it... but something about the carbon copy tickles my gear mojo!

I had Carbon Copy Pre-GAS recently it's a lovely sounding pedal, however after A-B'ing it with the EHX memory toy in the shop I decided it certainly wasn't double the price + better in fact not much better at all. Both are great but the EHX offers great bang for buck and sounds lovely.

[MrBump]

I have a small clone, and I really don't like it - sounds very artificial to me. 

[Twinfan]

I currently use a CE-2 based chorus (ToneRider Superlush @ £50) and an MXR Carbon Copy (with the modulation button off) on my board.  They're a great pair in my loop, and I use them for rhythm 12-string style parts.  The chorus is warm and wobbly, the delay clear and rounded.

They sound gorgeous together, and at my last gig a fellow guitarist was proper impressed like  :lol:

[Ian Price]

I have a small clone, and I really don't like it - sounds very artificial to me. 

I had a small clone and sold it for that very reason.

[MrBump]

I have a small clone, and I really don't like it - sounds very artificial to me. 

I had a small clone and sold it for that very reason.

... but GREAT if you want to sound like Kurt Cobain!

(...it's just, I don't...)

[Keven]

yeah. i've also spotted the BYOC chorus. the fact it's a kit will make it easier for me. marauder was right about sourcing some parts, haven'T done much research, but there's a TL022 opamp in the tonepad layout that can't be found at SBE, but it can most likely be replaced.

[timski]

I think you'd prefer the CE-2.
But why don't you go and try one of the EHx Small Clone reissues in a shop and see what you think of it (the big one, not the nano clone which is very noisy)?

[BigB]

I had Carbon Copy Pre-GAS recently it's a lovely sounding pedal, however after A-B'ing it with the EHX memory toy in the shop I decided it certainly wasn't double the price + better in fact not much better at all. Both are great but the EHX offers great bang for buck and sounds lovely.

Was about to suggest the memory toy too. I didn't had a chance to A-B test both - only tried the mxr once at the local shop -, but the memory toy is pretty great by itself and really in the same league.

[marauder]

yeah. i've also spotted the BYOC chorus. the fact it's a kit will make it easier for me. marauder was right about sourcing some parts, haven'T done much research, but there's a TL022 opamp in the tonepad layout that can't be found at SBE, but it can most likely be replaced.

I would think a TL062 would be a good substitute for the TL022.  It's also a low power dual opamp. It's in the LFO circuit so sound doesn't factor into it.  A TL072 may also work, but being higher power may cause a ticking sound.