12 of the Best Compact Chorus+Vibrato Pedals

I referenced GearManDude's excellent 3-way comparison video above here - which shows that there's really not that much between each of these versions - although the MIJ version does sound just a touch warmer overall to me - but you would be hard-pushed to tell the difference in live scenarios. This is the classic sound of the 80's - or as introduced in 1979 - and the chorus by which all others are judged. Since that time we've had stereo Dimension choruses and thickened-up Tri-Choruses - but the original Boss CE-2 is still the benchmark for the chorus effect - I will likely get one of these anyway at some stage - not sure which one - possibly a modified Taiwanese CE-2 with upgraded components, as the MIJ ones are still fetching silly money - I'm not averse to the CE-2w Waza Craft version either.

So this is my default analogue chorus - actually I have the white second MKII version while the newer black colourway for the MKIII HiFi version brings the Warped Vinyl full circle - as the MKI started off black also. Each version of the Warped Vinyl has become progressively brighter sounding - with re-engineered tone circuits each time. The newest HiFi versions started off as a sort of metallic coppery orange, but that colourway proved too tricky to manufacture and led to too many blemished pedals - meaning that the colour reverted back to black. In the latest version Chase Bliss has swapped out the top centre Volume dial for a Lag dial - which accentuates the fluttery effect. Owing to previous experience of volume drop issues though with various modulation pedals, I'm loath to update from my current MKII version - but I may well take the leap someday. This is still overall the most capable chorus/vibrato pedal in this form factor - with its 6 dials, 3 x 3-way toggles, 16 dip-switches, separate tap-tempo and 2 onboard presets via 4th 3-way toggle. If only this was full stereo it would be the perfect chorus for me at this size!

I said in the intro that this was full stereo, but it's actually the same as the Boss CE-2w - i.e. single socket in and dual sockets out - so it has dropped a touch in my estimation. It's a very capable chorus pedal nonetheless with a high feature set and shape dial, as well as Modern and Vintage voicing modes. I would still like to see a second footswitch for tap-tempo and a stereo in facility - even if it's only via TRS cable.

This is probably the current professional's favourite and used heavily in conjunction with the F-1L mini footswitch to access the 10 - E, S, X and T secondary modes for this pedal. Even though there are just 2 dials and 2 toggle switches on the top face of the pedal - there are a further 6 trimpots - 3 per side to fine-tune the output further. This is a hugely capable pedal and a truly great sounding one too. It does however need that secondary footsmwitche really to unleash its full feature set, and the output is currently mono only. I personally would prefer for those fiddly side trim-pots to be elevated to front-facing mini-dials - with a second footswtich for tap-tempo. And also why not just have a simpler third large mode dial instead of relying on secondary functions on the main Speed dial. Apart from a few minor quibbles though this is an excellent proposition, which could be made better still!

One of the more simpler pedals here, and as mentioned - I struggled over whether to include this one or the Catalinbread Callisto as both are quite similar in many ways - thought the function of each one's 4th dial does vary - the Stonefish has Width, while the Callisto has Mix. So you have a 2-way Vibrato / Chorus switch - and then Rate, Depth, Width and Tone - for a pretty decent sounding chorus at a fairly decent price - although it's just within £10 of the Boss CE-2w.

I was very encouraged to see Josh Scott miniaturise most of his mid-size modulation pedals down to the compact form-factor - with all the functionality in tact as on this V2 Emperor Chorus. It's one of only two pedals here to have tap-tempo, and it also has a 3-way waveform switch. It's still not close to the functionality of some of the upper tier ones, but give you all you really need if you are running a mono rig. The Warped Vinyl gives you more of course - but that's nearly twice the price!

The classic Uni-Vibe needs to introduction and there are lots of bigger box alternatives for that. The MXR compact is a capable performer though and not too far off classic status either - even if I do prefer the Boss sound overall. You just have 3 simple dials here - Level, Speed and Depth, with a push-button switch to access Vibe mode. Different players will have different tone preferences - and this pedal still gets featured quite widely - it's also a touch more cost-effective. But I'm not really in the business of ranking these by order of preference - just indicating which ones appeal to me personally and why.

This is the second most recent introduction here - preceding the Warped Vinyl HiFi by a short while - yet this is one of only two full stereo pedals here - alongside the TCE Dreamscape which I already have. Neunaber in fact follows up its exceptional Immerse delay - with an very similar form-factor Inspire Tri-Chorus - with no less than 8 modes - including a flavour of added delay. Of all the pedals featured here - this would probably be my top choice to add into the mix for my chain. I've already decided that I will get a Boss CE-2 of some descriptions at some stage for occasional swap-out - but this pedal is far more versatile than that and ends up higher on the priority list. It does though lack tap-tempo which I'd really quite like!

So this is the pedal that was in place for barely a month before I bumped it for the quite a bit more capable Eventide H9 Max. I still quite like this pedal - although I feel it could do with a little more output volume. It is supposedly a modern digital update on the celebrated SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger pedal - here honed for John Petrucci's needs with 2 Chorus Modes, 2 Vibrato, 2 Flanger and a single TonePrint option. There's also a 3-way Tone toggle switch - Bright / Normal / Dark - to go alongside the Speed, Depth, FX Level and Mode dials. This is a very capable stereo pedal - and you can get a pretty cool rotary sound out of it too - albeit, it lacks the second footswitch to get the most out of that functionality - i.e. ramp / break etc. I think this pedal could be enormously improved with a few more TonePrint options and a second footswitch, I would also change the 3-way toggle for a mini dial!

This relatively simple analogue chorus / vibrato is loved by quite a number of players - it has the rather unusual combination of Rate, Depth and Lag dials, alongside a further mode dial - Dry, Chorus and Vibrato, and a 2-way Sine/Triangle waveform / shape toggle. The combination of those 5 controls gives you a huge range of in-between modes which those that deploy it use to their best advantage. This is a cool take on the chorus - albeit mono only, and without tap-tempo.

Alongside Josh Scott miniaturising his pedals - I am heartened to see Jeorge Tripps do the same to his Way Huge range - with now 4 pedals I think shrunk down to the compact enclosure size. This is your core classic analogue chorus with just a 2-way mode selector and Speed and Depth dials. There's plenty of players that like this one too, and it is the equal lowest cost option featured here - alongside the TCE Dreamscape and MXR Uni-Vibe - different players will have a preference for each.