Bass Chorus vs Chorus vs Phaser - What's your choice for modulation?

[Rickter]

I am looking to add some modulation to my pedalboard and have become torn between Chorus (my preference) versus Phaser. Any mod pedal I get will also be sitting next to a wah pedal.

The main times I would be using this would be during arpeggiated passages in my metal band's songs (Iron Maiden-esque passages)and during particular songs in the praise band sets at the church I play for, so I am looking for something to cover some fairly diverse ground. All of my basses are fretted P or PJ style, but I do plan to eventually add a fretless to the mix as well.

Which are your thoughts on the mod pedals listed in the survey? The top contenders right now are the Boss CEB3 and the TC Dreamscape, but I am open to suggestions.

*EDIT: I will be running an dry DI signal in tandem with my effected signal, so bass frequency loss may not be a deal-breaker where a mod pedal is concerned.

 

[eriky4003]

My brother has the Dreamscape and my only concern with it is: will you lose some bottom end as it may be more of a guitar-oriented effect. The CEB-3 is made for bass.
For phasers, consider the MXR 95 which combines sounds from the 90 and the 40! If you go the chorus/flanger route, likely the MXR Bass Chorus Deluxe.
For the record, I'm voting Other.

 

[A-Ro]

I voted other. The Providence Anadime Bass Chorus is legit! It has a High Pass Filter Knob that lets you choose how much of the lower frequencies are affected by the modulation. So, even if you have the depth cranked, your bass still sounds like a bass.

 

[Rickter]

Since it has been brought up in both of the first two responses, I will be running a DI signal in tandem with my effected signal, so loss of bass frequencies may be less of a concern. Thank you both for your responses!

 

[mapleglo]

I have the MXR Phase 90, Bass Chorus Deluxe, and the TC Dreamscape.

Board Update

• mapleglo
• Apr 23, 2018
• pedal board

small pedal board update

Both boards

• mapleglo
• Feb 11, 2018
• pedal board

pedal boards

Of those three, I like the Bass Chorus Deluxe the best. It maintains the low end the best, and has a built-in flanger, which I prefer as my modulation of choice. The TC Dreamscape does significantly reduce lower frequency. I use that mostly with guitar because of that.

I recently bought a Zoom MS-60B, which shows promise. Lots of options, and does a good job of maintaining low frequency content.

Final Small Board

• mapleglo
• May 8, 2018
• pedal board

Final small board setup. (yeah right, and off you believe that, I have a bridge for sale...)

 

[Rickter]

I have the MXR Phase 90, Bass Chorus Deluxe, and the TC Dreamscape.

Board Update

• mapleglo
• Apr 23, 2018
• pedal board

small pedal board update

Both boards

• mapleglo
• Feb 11, 2018
• pedal board

pedal boards

Of those three, I like the Bass Chorus Deluxe the best. It maintains the low end the best, and has a built-in flanger, which I prefer as my modulation of choice. The TC Dreamscape does significantly reduce lower frequency. I use that mostly with guitar because of that.

I recently bought a Zoom MS-60B, which shows promise. Lots of options, and does a good job of maintaining low frequency content.

Final Small Board

• mapleglo
• May 8, 2018
• pedal board

Final small board setup. (yeah right, and off you believe that, I have a bridge for sale...)

Thanks!! Good to know about the Dreamscape. Bass Chorus Deluxe and CEB-3 are moving up the list as they have the X-over/HPF functionality, with MXRs being a set frequency and Boss's being variable.

On a side note, how is that Behringer 4 channel mixer treating you? Is it fairly transparent? Reliable?

 

[mapleglo]

Thanks!! Good to know about the Dreamscape. Bass Chorus Deluxe and CEB-3 are moving up the list as they have the X-over/HPF functionality, with MXRs being a set frequency and Boss's being variable.

On a side note, how is that Behringer 4 channel mixer treating you? Is it fairly transparent? Reliable?

It did not work as I had hoped. It's designed for line level, which apparently is a bit different than "instrument" level, so it sucks some tone. I was mixing bass and keyboards. It worked ok with the keys, but really messed with my bass tone. I ended up going with a Radial Key-Largo. Quite a bit more expensive, but much better sound quality. As it turned out, I'm not going to be using the keyboard with the band for now, so I just went back to the Radial Bigshot to switch between my fretless and fretted basses.

 

[sigterm]

Maybe play around with a used EBS unichorus which has selectable phaser*, flanger, and chorus? I quite like mine and it's handy having the three available. It seems to have fallen out of favor here but I'm quite happy with it.

*cough pitch mod cough*

 

[dave_bass5]

Ive always had chorus pedals, but hardly every use them. I got a TCE Helix recently and cant get enough of it. I find it can get close to a Chorus tone, but used as a phaser it adds more dynamics to my tone when used in the right places.
Everyone uses Chorus pedals, but the Phaser is where it gets interesting IMO.

 

[Rickter]

It did not work as I had hoped. It's designed for line level, which apparently is a bit different than "instrument" level, so it sucks some tone. I was mixing bass and keyboards. It worked ok with the keys, but really messed with my bass tone. I ended up going with a Radial Key-Largo. Quite a bit more expensive, but much better sound quality. As it turned out, I'm not going to be using the keyboard with the band for now, so I just went back to the Radial Bigshot to switch between my fretless and fretted basses.

Thanks for that. I'm integrating a mixer into my pedalboard to mix my effected and a dry DI signal. The Behringer was an early consideration, but, you know Behringer. Will likely go with a Rolls unit now instead.

 

[Rickter]

Ive always had chorus pedals, but hardly every use them. I got a TCE Helix recently and cant get enough of it. I find it can get close to a Chorus tone, but used as a phaser it adds more dynamics to my tone when used in the right places.
Everyone uses Chorus pedals, but the Phaser is where it gets interesting IMO.

Thanks for that. Had only recently seen phasers used with bass and had never thought of trying it. Phasers just make me think 70s guitars, so they'd never been an option until I actually heard one. Now I'm having a hard time deciding between a chorus and a phaser.

 

[DDXdesign]

Maybe play around with a used EBS unichorus which has selectable phaser, flanger, and chorus? I quite like mine and it's handy having the three available. It seems to have fallen out of favor here but I'm quite happy with it.

Wait, the unichorus doesn't have a phaser in it though...? Flanger, Pitch Modulation (vibrato; just the same thing with the dry signal muted) and Chorus.

 

[sigterm]

Wait, the unichorus doesn't have a phaser in it though...? Flanger, Pitch Modulation (vibrato; just the same thing with the dry signal muted) and Chorus.

thinking about it, I think you're right I'll have to look when I get home. I want to say I remember it being the bassier side of a phase 90 dlx but I may be way off. I haven't switched it off chorus in a hot minute.

 

[Rickter]

I wasn't really looking for a single pedal with Chorus and Phaser in it. Just debating between the two different types of modulation and which seems to work better for bass in people's opinions. If I can't decide I may end up with a Chorus AND a Phaser, just for the sake of options.

The UniChorus has a mode switch for Chorus, Flange and Pitch Modulation modes.

 

[Rumble Thunder]

I have a Strymon Mobius modulation pedal which has both phaser and chorus. I utilize the chorus pedal way more than the phase. I play in church as well and I like to throw a chorus on in a bridge or add a touch somewhere in a song. Frankly, I'm still looking for situations in which to employ a phaser. Somehow, the tune has to be just right or the effect (phaser) sounds out of place to me.
The Strymon pedal is killer though. No noise and high quality sounding effects. Autoswells, envelope filters, tremolos, etc. check it out.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Marshall regenerator massivly underrated, pretty cheap, and has 2 chorus 2 phaser, one flanger. 1 vibe setting.

Could not recommend enough.

As for phase over chorus, use both for differnt things, noodles and spaghetti

 

[onosson]

I don't use phaser much these days, but I used to own both a Phase 90 and Phase 100 - I found the latter was my preferred choice most of the time.

 

[mapleglo]

The only song I used a phaser on was Nugent's Stranglehold.

 

[Rickter]

I have a Strymon Mobius modulation pedal which has both phaser and chorus. I utilize the chorus pedal way more than the phase. I play in church as well and I like to throw a chorus on in a bridge or add a touch somewhere in a song. Frankly, I'm still looking for situations in which to employ a phaser. Somehow, the tune has to be just right or the effect (phaser) sounds out of place to me.
The Strymon pedal is killer though. No noise and high quality sounding effects. Autoswells, envelope filters, tremolos, etc. check it out.

After looking at the Mobius it's probably out of the running. It's bigger than I want and I don't know that I can justify dropping $500 on a pedal that is only going to see occasional use. I had a hard enough time justifying dropping the coin to get my Alpha Omega Ultra and it's been a life changer.

 

[Rickter]

I may have a line on a Boss CEB-3 that a friend would be willing to trade me for my old Truetone Jekkyl and Hyde V2 guitar OD pedal..... We'll see....