Bass chorus pedals pop up everywhere — even in unexpected places! Chorus, the pairing of short delay and varying modulation intensity, is prized for giving ’80s power ballads that signature cheese, but pros use it for much more. Consider these notable ’80s bass chorus pedal examples: the uplifting drive of the Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” or the intro to Journey’s anthemic “Don’t Stop Believin.'” The ’90s issued a heavier side — think the withering ache of “Come as You Are” by Nirvana or the ethereal “King Nothing” by Metallica. Beyond rock, subtle chorus also accents the bones of slap and finger funk bass and can produce similar results to a phaser, envelope filter, or wah.
What separates a bass chorus from a “regular” chorus pedal? Typically, these circuits are nearly identical, save for EQ knobs and tone-shaping tools on bass chorus pedals that handle a broader frequency range. The crossover mode is one perfect example of a popular bass-specific chorus feature. This tool saturates the bass guitar’s high frequencies and midrange with chorus while leaving the low frequencies totally or partially dry. The resulting tighter low end is handy for aggressive tempos, heavy genres, drop tunings, and more. So, without further ado, here are the best chorus pedals for bass!
Note: At Sweetwater, we know there’s no such thing as “best” when it comes to music gear. Every player and artist has unique tastes, which is what makes selecting gear so fun! The items on this list feature some of our favorite products from top manufacturers to help you start your buying journey! Explore these recommendations and dive into Sweetwater’s massive collection of gear on our online store. For personalized picks and expert advice, please contact our knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700!
- BOSS CEB-3 Bass Chorus Pedal
- EarthQuaker Devices Aurelius Tri-voice Chorus Pedal
- MXR M83 Bass Chorus Deluxe Pedal
- Electro-Harmonix Bass Clone Bass Chorus Pedal
- Aguilar Chorusaurus V2 Bass Chorus Pedal
- Walrus Audio Julia V2 Analog Chorus/Vibrato Pedal
- Beetronics FX Seabee Harmochorus Multi-chorus and Pitch Modulation FX Pedal
BOSS CEB-3 Bass Chorus Pedal
The workhorse classic that sets the standard high
The BOSS CEB-3 Bass Chorus pedal is the kingpin of chorus. First appearing in 1992, this bass staple is a natural fit for all things ’90s grunge and hard rock while still packing flexibility and range for any genre. This one is pure BOSS: elegant and simple with a heavy-duty build that’s fit for the long haul. An effect-level knob and a low filter render standard depth and rate controls infinitely flexible. The effect level serves as a blend control that raises or lowers the affected signal, while the low filter offers adjustable crossover EQ. The CEB-3’s knob-based low filter supersedes the range of standard bass chorus crossover switches with precise fine-tuning that may appeal to 5- and 6-string bass players. Plus, the CEB-3 is the only chorus on this list to offer dedicated stereo output jacks — no specialty stereo Y-style cables required.
EarthQuaker Devices Aurelius Tri-voice Chorus Pedal
A fresh face that brings lush effects, presets, and expression control
The tri-voice EarthQuaker Devices Aurelius is one of our favorite new chorus pedals in recent memory, with its stellar studio-grade flanger, vibrato, and rotary speaker effects. These effects are close cousins, so EQD bundled them together into one stompbox and topped this pedal off with the must-have amenity many players crave: presets for instant recall of six favorite settings. Aurelius’s digital core is packed with high-fidelity soul that’s lush, pristine, and perfect for studio work. To achieve cleaner chorus tones, bassists at Sweetwater favor setting Aurelius’s width knob at or below noon. When set higher, the width feedback cascades into flanger turf that gels with driven amps and dirt pedals.
Aurelius’s rotary mode is a fun bonus for bassists — expect massive modulation with wooly whirlpool dimensions (ripe for ambient loops, instrumentals, interludes, and more)! Moreover, Aurelius’s expression jack is mappable to any parameter and fuels wild, grand, and experimental sweeps and tones that might annoy bandmates . . . but are good for the bassist’s soul.
MXR M83 Bass Chorus Deluxe Pedal
Dozens of sweet spots, bold EQ, crossover, and a flanger!
The MXR M83 Bass Chorus Deluxe pedal looks deceptively simple. Still, truly perfect tones are only seconds away due to a staggering feature set that spans extra EQ, stereo connectivity, and a flanger mode. The M83’s width, rate, and intensity controls deliver solid range, which is widened significantly further by a 2-band EQ. 2-band EQ isn’t a must-have for every bassist, but it is valuable for tone quality control and/or optimizing the M83 to different basses and pickups. Toss in the M83’s crossover switch, and this bass chorus is a workhorse chameleon fit for any genre. The M83 Bass Chorus Deluxe also configures easily for stereo output. Its secondary flanger mode is vintage-voiced and tailored for bass to enhance harmonic content and fatten ambience for a bigger, looser sound. When it comes to maximum mileage, MXR’s M83 delivers.
Electro-Harmonix Bass Clone Bass Chorus Pedal
Big on features, small on cost
The Electro-Harmonix Bass Clone is a stellar bass chorus pedal. But at this price, it’s also a great way to give bass chorus a spin without cramping your finances. The EHX Bass Clone starts by taking its Small Clone, a lush analog chorus pedal famously used by Nirvana, Dinosaur Jr., and many more, and enhancing it with bass-friendly bells and whistles made for the low-end legion. The Bass Clone’s 2-band EQ fuels exceptional genre flexibility — much like the MXR M83 Bass Chorus Deluxe pedal — and its X-over switch guards tightness and clarity when needed. Toss in a heavy-duty metal housing fit for the long haul, and the EHX Bass Clone is one feature-packed pick not to overlook. It offers mono output only, which may dissuade stereo fans, but rest assured that even in mono, this pedal’s tone and features are outstanding.
Aguilar Chorusaurus V2 Bass Chorus Pedal
Recently revamped looks with a powerful blend knob!
The Aguilar Chorusaurus V2 bass chorus pedal gives bassists an incredible all-analog chorus that’s built by bassists for bassists. The tone here is warm, versatile, and rich, thanks to a genuine bucket brigade circuit (a gold standard for analog chorus that has stood the test of time). The Chorusaurus V2’s no-nonsense control scheme (width, speed, intensity, and ratio) masks a utilitarian underbelly that has also been used by such famous bassists as Paulo Jr. (Sepultura), Felix Pastorius, and Dallon Weekes (Panic! at the Disco, IDKHow).
Many bassists swear by this pedal’s ratio/blend knob. You’re in for a treat if you’ve never tried a bucket brigade chorus with a blend tool. Push the blend ratio for a saturated chorus with commanding presence. Alternatively, keep the blend low to let Chorusaurus fatten up your clean signal, much like a thickening agent that’s tone is experienced or heard without noticeably altering bass flavor. Like all Aguilar bass pedals, the Chorusaurus V2 was recently overhauled with a lighter, stronger, and smaller housing than the V1 and now offers stereo output with an optional Y cable (sold separately).
Walrus Audio Julia V2 Analog Chorus/Vibrato Pedal
Enhance analog girth with Julia’s legendary LFO shaping
As a vibrato and supercharged modern analog chorus pedal, the Walrus Audio Julia V2 is plenty dainty and sweet but also harbors maritime vengeance that saws off tone’s sea legs and leaves it longing for shore. Julia V2’s boundary-pushing tone tools have earned significant accolades on Internet forums and with Sweetwater bass players! The heart of Julia V2’s impressive range is its “d-c-v” (dry-chorus-vibrato) continuous blend control, which delivers mild chorusing with more of your clean signal blended in at lower levels. Noon and beyond gives the wet signal more dominance, while going fully wet (clockwise) yields exceptional vibrato sounds ranging from woozy to nauseous to seasick.
What’s more, the Julia V2 reinvigorates chorus with new ways to control a key component: the LFO. Countless chorus pedals use LFOs to modulate the effect depth, but the waveshapes are typically fixed. Enter the Julia V2’s waveform toggle and lag knob! These features invigorate chorus with rounder (or pointier) modulation options and an adjustable LFO sweep for exaggerated warble. Push lag to the limit for detuned tones perfect for lo-fi, pitch-altered pop, and more. It’s no wonder the Julia V2 is a best-selling hit!
Beetronics FX Seabee Harmochorus Multi-chorus and Pitch Modulation FX Pedal
BBD chorus tones pushed to cyborg extremes
Beetronics FX’s lead bee, Filipe Nobrega, recently demonstrated the Seabee Harmochorus multi-chorus and pitch modulation FX pedal at Sweetwater, and jaws were dropping. The Seabee’s many layers yield so many diverse sounds that calling it a “chorus” almost feels insulting. Thankfully, each of Seabee’s core chorus and mind-boggling pitch-shift modes is sweet like honey. An analog signal path complete with bucket brigade circuitry facilitates endless chorus options.
Bassists will want to store those basic tones in Seabee presets before diving into the bona fide rabbit hole of Seabee’s harmonic modes. Harmonic modes radically alter chorus tones and pitch by introducing square wave LFOs, customizable ramping, and much more. Harmonic square waves give these modes a bleep-bloop factor full of warm, synth-y artifacts that chop and pulsate with the nuance of an entire rig dominated by modulation pedals. With a whopping 38-page manual, the pedal is not for the faint of heart; however, bassists on the hunt for a potent sonic X-factor will find that the Beetronics Seabee repays patience tenfold with interest. Words will never do it justice, folks — check out our YouTube video below for a demonstration!
Find the Best Chorus Pedals for Bass at Sweetwater
All the pedals on this list have sweet spots — we checked! The bass guitar’s vast sonic range means dialing in tones sometimes takes patience. For the best results, test the settings on every string. Powerful chorus may sound nice and clear on high bass strings but introduce mud and yuck down low. For more clarity, try adjusting tone knobs, amp EQ, pickup choice, and the crossover mode if your chorus of choice offers it. Advanced players sometimes consider stereo output a must-have, but stereo is rarely necessary or useful for beginners or even intermediate players. However, you can read more and listen to sound samples that demonstrate mono/stereo differences in the article listed below. Happy shopping, and, as always, knowledgeable Sweetwater Sales Engineers are available at (800) 222-4700 for bass tone talk, personalized tips, chorus support, and more.
