Boss CE-2W
BOSS CE-2W CHORUS £199
A rousing ensemble performance
The sounds are as
authentic as can be thanks
to an all-analogue circuit
The Waza Craft name
signifi es the pinnacle of
Boss’s stompbox range
A simple slider switch
chooses between the
three chorus modes
ASK
any wizened effects
buff to name the best
chorus pedal of all time, and they’ll
likely cite the fi rst one ever, Boss’s
iconic 1976 CE-1 Chorus
Ensemble unit, or perhaps its later
compact-sized incarnation, the
CE-2 Chorus. It’s a savvy move,
then, that Boss has combined these
two classic effects for the latest
addition to its high-end Waza Craft
series, while adding a few new
features along the way.
A tiny slider switch holds the key
to the CE-2W’s versatility. On the
left is the standard position for
smooth CE-2 sounds, but shift it
over to the middle and you get the
CE-1’s defi nitive swirl, while the
right engages its full-on vibrato
mode for proper pitch-bending
goodness. The sounds are as
authentic as can be, too, thanks to
an all-analogue circuit, complete
with all-important bucket brigade
delay chips.
Kicking off with the CE-2 mode,
its liquid, watery shimmer thickens
rather than drastically alters your
guitar tone, but fl icking over to the
CE-1 Chorus yields a much deeper
modulation with more movement.
The vibrato mode, meanwhile,
should be your fi rst port of call for
SRV Cold Shot-style Leslie leads,
while its extreme depth makes it a
dab hand at copying Come As You
Are Small Clone tones, too.
Despite its all-analogue nature,
the CE-2W is remarkably low-
noise and doesn’t mess with your
guitar’s core tone, yet retains the
three-dimensional nature of Boss’s
legendary originals. Whether
you’re willing to fork out just shy
of £200 for a chorus pedal is
another matter, but none can
match this Waza winner.
Michael Astley-Brown
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
GEAR BOSS CE2W
SEPTEMBER 2016 87
TYPE: Chorus pedal
CONTROLS: Rate, depth, mode switch
SOCKETS: Input, 2x outputs, power
BYPASS: Buffered
POWER: 9V battery, 9V power supply
(not included)
CONTACT: Roland UK 01792 702701
www.roland.co.uk
TGR284.gear_quick2.indd 87 09/08/2016 13:27