Boss Waza Craft CE-2W Chorus
117
APRIL 2017 GUITARIST
BOSS
to three different sounds. The S (Standard) switch
position offers CE-2 sounds, while the other two
positions offer the two sounds that the CE-1 delivered
(it was switchable between chorus and vibrato).
Sounds
In its Standard mode, the CE-2W yields the familiar
spacious shimmer that defines Boss chorus, hinting
at a sense of more than one instrument. Switching the
CE-2W from Standard mode to CE-1 chorus mode
with the Rate and Depth knobs in the same place, the
difference is immediately apparent with a tonal shift
into a fuller midrange and chorus that seems a little
deeper and richer. The two choruses sound different
for sure, but both are excellent in a guitar signal chain
where they naturally become an integral part of your
guitar sound. What’s more, they really open things up
spatially if the pedal is connected up to two amps or
recorded to a stereo track. The vibrato mode delivers
a range of musically useful sounds, although like many
vibratos, it can get a bit seasick-sounding with the
Depth fully up. Comparing the CE-2W to our vintage
CE-2, the resulting sounds are virtually identical.
In terms of overall EQ, there isn’t much between
the vintage CE-1 and the CE-2W, although the CE-1’s
variable Level control is able to introduce an element
of mild distortion that can be pleasing to the ear. The
CE-2W reproduces the original’s chorus very well, but
when comparing the CE-2W with a vintage CE-1, it
has to be remembered that the CE-1 had just a single
Intensity knob to control its chorus effect, adjusting
Tech Spec
ORIGIN: Japan
TYPE: Chorus pedal
FEATURES:
Buffered bypass
CONTROLS: Rate,
Depth, 3-way toggle
switch (CE-2 chorus,
CE-1 chorus,
CE-1 vibrato)
CONNECTIONS:
Standard input,
standard outputs A
(mono) and B
POWER: 9V battery
or 9V adaptor
(not supplied)
DIMENSIONS: 73 (w) x
129 (d) x 59mm (h)
Roland UK
01792 702701
www.roland.co.uk
elements of rate and depth at the same time, so you have
to be careful with the juxtaposition of the CE-2W’s Rate
and Depth knobs to get the exact sound. Leaving the
CE-2W’s Depth knob at around 2 o’clock seems to be a
good ballpark arrangement while adjusting the rate.
One thing we notice is that the Intensity control on
our CE-1 can actually dial in a faster rate than that in
the CE-2W, so not all of the vintage sounds are covered.
However, we’d trade that for the extra flexibility
conferred by having two knobs to set against each other.
The CE-2W also nicely reproduces the CE-1 vibrato
sounds, albeit at different knob positions to the original.
Verdict
For anyone looking for those early Boss chorus tones,
the CE-2W is your pedal. While there may be minor
sonic variations between it and our vintage pedals,
that’s not so surprising bearing in mind their age –
but the core sound of the effect is very accurately
reproduced. Later Boss chorus pedals may have strayed
away from the original designs, but this new pedal is
absolutely back on track, putting the vintage sounds
that started it all into a modern compact pedal with
stereo operation. A no-brainer.
9
PROS Vintage Boss chorus sounds accurately recreated;
stereo operation; compact size
CONS None really, although you can’t footswitch between
chorus and vibrato like an original CE-1
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
GIT418.peds_boss.indd 117 22/02/2017 12:22