Chorus pedals are great to have no matter what type of music like to play. Some of the most popular bands used chorus pedals as part of their regular sound. Whether you want to sound like Nirvana, The Police, or The Pretenders, there is a perfect chorus pedal out there calling your name.
Chorus pedals are still one of the most commonly used pedals among guitarists. In this article, we picked out the top 10 best chorus pedals of all time. All of these pedals pack a punch and bring a consistent good old fashioned chorus sound into your guitar playing.
Table of Contents
Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus Pedal
The Electro-Harmonix Small Clone pedal is the grandaddy of all chorus pedals. One of the most famous guitarists (and my all-time favorite), Kurt Cobain from the band Nirvana, used this chorus pedal as part of his regular setup. If you’re familiar with the sounds of their Nevermind album, then you’ve definitely heard this pedal before.
Pros
- Makes you sound just like Nirvana
- Uses batteries or a power adapter
- Sounds amazing
- Very simple design with 1 knob
- You can get a nice 12-string tone with this baby
- Easy to use
Cons
- Higher level of power usage than most pedals
- Not as much tone control as other chorus effects pedals
MXR Analog Chorus Pedal
This chorus pedal is perfect for those who want to have a ton more control over their overall chorus tone. It has 5 different knobs, enabling hundreds of different options for control of your sound. The MXR effects pedal brand has been a staple in the effects pedal industry for many years, and it’s because their pedals are built like tanks.
Pros
- Uses batteries or power adapter
- Gives you much more control over your tone
- Extremely durable
Cons
- Signal level drops a bit when you have several pedals hooked up in your effects chain
- Not a true bypass pedal
Boss Super Chorus Pedal
If you’re looking for a chorus pedal with a high gain sound, then look no further than the Boss Super Chorus effects pedal. This pedal makes a perfect companion for the guitarist who wants an indie rock or alternative chorus sound. This is also a great pedal for recreating the ’80s chorus sound.
Pros
- Crystal clear sound
- Runs on 9V or power adapter
- Has both a mono input and a stereo input
- Built like a tank like the other Boss pedals
- Also works with keyboards
Cons
- Chorus may be a bit weaker than the other pedals on this list.
- Might be too confusing to use if you’re a beginner to the world of effects pedals.
Walrus Audio Julia Analog Chorus/Vibrato Pedal
This amazing sounding pedal has a ton of features such as true bypass, lag control, and a brightly lit LED to let you know the LFO rate. Another great feature of this pedal is the design itself. It displays one of a kind artwork on the top too, making this pedal extremely unique.
Pros
- Tons of features
- True bypass
- Allows you to control the dry and wet signals giving you maximum tone control
- You can use this pedal for bass, keyboard, cello, etc.
Cons
- Expensive for a chorus pedal
- Not recommended to use a daisy chain power supply
Boss Chorus Ensemble Pedal
Here’s yet another gem from the Boss effects pedal library. There’s a reason that Boss has outlasted the competition when it comes to guitar pedal. Every pedal made by this company is built like a tank, and this particular pedal is no different.
Pros
- Built like a beast just like other Boss pedals
- 2-band equalizer allows you to control the bass and treble
- Easy to use – perfect for beginners
- Gives you a great ’80s chorus sound
Cons
- Will drain your batteries if you leave them in the unit.
TC Electronic Corona Mini Chorus Pedal
This mini chorus pedal is perfect for those who need a chorus pedal, but don’t have room on their pedalboards for a full size chorus pedal. But don’t let the size of this baby fool you. You can actually download a ton of free effects onto this bad boy, making it extremely versatile.
Pros
- Can download a ton of effects on to the pedal itself
- Has true bypass
- Works great with acoustic-electric guitars or acoustic pickups
Cons
- Not great for those that want a little less clean in their chorus tone
- Not all the downloadable content is on par with the original sounds of that particular effect
JHS Pedals 3 Series Chorus Pedal
This pedal is great for those who are trying to capture the new wave ’80s chorus sound like that from The Police, Talking Heads, and The Pretenders. With a simple layout and durable construction, this pedal was made to last a long time. Not only that, but it has amazing depth as well.
Pros
- Great for beginners
- Made in the USA
- Simple 3 knob design – Volume, Rate, and Depth
Cons
- Kind of spendy for how plain-looking it is.
- Doesn’t have the option to run on batteries
Donner Tutti Love Analog Chorus Pedal
Donner pedals are known for their affordability, but also high quality pedals, which is hard to find nowadays. Donner, however, is a wonderful exception – they’re cheap, but not in a crappy way. This pedal, in particular, is wonderful for creating an overall jazzy chorus tone.
Pros
- It’s mini design allows it to fit perfectly on any pedalboard.
- True Bypass
- True Analog
- Simple design means it’s beginner friendly
- Affordable – won’t break the bank
Cons
- Doesn’t use batteries
- Has a bit more subtle chorus tone compared to the more expensive pedals on this list. (may not be a con for you, but it is for me.)
- Not as durable as a Boss pedal
Rowin Analog Chorus Pedal
If you’re looking for a basic and affordable chorus pedal, then this pedal is definitely it. Don’t let the price of this unit scare you though, because it is still a wonderful chorus pedal, either as a stand-alone or for use with other pedals. It’s also small enough to fit on any overcrowded pedalboard, which makes it perfect for gigging.
Pros
- True Bypass
- Affordable for all budgets
- Simple 3 knob design means it’s beginner friendly
- Nice bright LED light
Cons
- Not the best for home recording
- Isn’t built as durable as more expensive pedals
Danelectro Fab Chorus Pedal
This pedal is perfect for those of us who aren’t exactly sure they want or need a chorus pedal, but want to try one out anyway. It gives a great chorus tone and it sounds amazing for the price. The downside to this pedal is that it’s made of hard plastic, so you do have to handle it with care.
Pros
- Battery powered or ac adapter
- Good value for the money
- Great sound
- Super bright LED that lets you know when the unit is on or off
- Simple to use – great for beginners or those wanting to try a chorus pedal for the first time
Cons
- The controls are on the rear of the pedal.
- Wider and larger than most pedals
- Made of hard plastic
