The Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble is a chorus pedal, currently around $577.02. Close alternatives include the Boss -2W Chorus and the Ibanez CS Mini Compressor/Sustainer. It pairs well with the Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head and the Marshall Bluesbreaker.
Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
Unknown brand · pedal
The Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, released in 1976, was the first-ever standalone chorus pedal, adapting the lush analog chorus circuit from the Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 amplifier into a stompbox format. Its warm, rich, three-dimensional chorus swirl set the template nearly every analog chorus pedal since has been measured against, with a vibrato mode alongside the chorus voice. Stereo outputs let it spread the modulation wide when paired with two amps. Its warm, glassy, slightly tube-colored character comes in part from an onboard preamp stage, giving it a fuller, richer sound than most later, purely solid-state chorus pedals. It remains a historically important reference point for chorus tone.
- lush
- preamp
- vibrato
- stereo
- chorus
- rich
- fuzz
- dirty
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble is commonly used in
- Jazz
- Neo Soul
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Ambient
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Post Punk
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head
amplifier
34% matchThe JTM45's clean, warm British voice gives the CE-1's lush chorus a vintage amp platform to swirl through.
Marshall Bluesbreaker
Marshall
33% matchThe Bluesbreaker's natural compression gives the CE-1's lush stereo chorus a warm, dynamic amp voice to swirl through.
Peavey VTM-120
Peavey
25% matchThe CE-1's lush stereo chorus follows the VTM-120's tight, aggressive metal gain for a wide, swirling contrast.
Blackstar Unity 250
Blackstar
17% matchRun the CE-1's lush, rich stereo chorus after the Unity 250's gritty, stage-ready preamp drive and the modulation has real saturation to color.
DV Mark Raw Dawg EG
Dv Mark
15% matchThe Raw Dawg's clean, reliable pedal platform gives the CE-1's lush stereo chorus a clear studio tone to shimmer over.
Fuchs FBT-700
Fuchs
15% matchLayer the CE-1's lush, vibrato-rich chorus after the FBT-700's punchy, boutique headroom for width without losing the amp's own midrange punch.
Supro 1612RT Amulet 15W 1x10 Combo
Supro
11% matchThe Amulet's raw, vintage tube breakup gives the CE-1's lush chorus a roots-y garage tone to swirl over.
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone HRM 50 takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Pedals that stack with the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
37% matchThe Super Hard On's clean JFET boost pushes the CE-1's own preamp stage without recoloring its lush modulation.
Walrus Audio Ages
Walrus Audio
36% matchThe Ages' saturating boost pushes into the CE-1's lush chorus for a thicker, more driven modulated tone.
Electro-Harmonix XO Deluxe Memory Man
Electro-Harmonix
32% matchLayer the CE-1's lush stereo chorus after the Memory Man's own analog modulation for a thicker, richer wash rather than doubling the same wobble. — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Electro-Harmonix Russian Big Muff Pi Fuzz Distortion
Electro-Harmonix
30% matchPut Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble after Electro-Harmonix Russian Big Muff Pi Fuzz Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Electro-Harmonix Russian Big Muff Pi Fuzz Distortion's own gain stage
Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+
Dunlop
27% matchKeep Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+'s compressed voice out front: Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble goes after Dunlop MXR M104 Distortion+ in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it
Wren and Cuff Tri-Pie '70
Wren And Cuff
25% matchBoss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble's lush voice goes after Wren and Cuff Tri-Pie '70 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Wren and Cuff Tri-Pie '70's own warm character
Mr. Black Bloodmoon
Mr Black
24% matchKeep Mr. Black Bloodmoon's dark voice out front: Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble goes after Mr. Black Bloodmoon in the signal chain so its lush voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Wren and Cuff Irkalla Manifest Fuzz
Wren And Cuff
23% matchPut Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble after Wren and Cuff Irkalla Manifest Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Wren and Cuff Irkalla Manifest Fuzz's own gain stage
See all 147 pedals that pair with the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble →
Cheaper alternatives
Warm Audio WA-C1 Chorus and Vibrato
Warm Audio
71% similarity“is a stereo chorus and vibrato pedal modeled on the vintage Boss CE-1”
Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble
Boss
71% similarityShared character: setup, mono, users
Laney Spiral
Laney
70% similarity“a thick, lush tone modeled on the 1976 Boss CE-1”
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector Chorus V2
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
70% similarityShared character: glassy, vibrato, chorus
Boss CH-1 Super Chorus
Boss
67% similarityShared character: stereo, chorus, bright
TC Electronic Gravy
TC Electronic
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Boss -2W Chorus
Boss
70% similarity“a Mode selector switch that provides access to the CE-2 standard chorus, the original CE-1 chorus, and the CE-1 vibrato circuits”
Ibanez CS Mini Compressor/Sustainer
Ibanez
70% similarity“the sound shimmers and swells with a vintage CE-1/CE-2-like quality that adds life to clean guitar tones”
MXR M134 Stereo Chorus
MXR
69% similarityShared character: mono, users, stereo
MXR M234 Analog Chorus
MXR
68% similarityShared character: chorus_effect, durable_construction, stereo
T-Rex Tremonti Phaser
T Rex
68% similarityShared character: units, noise, rich
Catalinbread Valcoder '70s Collection
Catalinbread
67% similarityShared character: stage, preamp, rich
See all alternatives to the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble?+
The closest matches in character are the Boss -2W Chorus, the Ibanez CS Mini Compressor/Sustainer, the MXR M134 Stereo Chorus. Budget picks: Warm Audio WA-C1 Chorus and Vibrato, Boss CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, Laney Spiral.
What pairs well with the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall JTM45 45W Tube Guitar Amp Head, Marshall Bluesbreaker, Peavey VTM-120 — The JTM45's clean, warm British voice gives the CE-1's lush chorus a vintage amp platform to swirl through..
How much does the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble cost?+
Around $577.02 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).