Chorus has clawed its way back. After peaking with 80s cleans and early-90s grunge, the effect spent a decade out of fashion before today’s resurgence.
Analog circuits are a big part of the appeal. Bucket-brigade chips give the effect a warmer, thicker voice than most digital recreations manage.
We rated these seven pedals on warmth, control range, and value. The BOSS DC-2W Waza Craft leads, but every pick here has a clear use case.
If you want the broader field beyond analog, our best chorus pedal roundup covers it. The chart below compares all seven at a glance.
Quick Comparison Chart
| # | Product | Our Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
BOSS DC-2W Waza Craft Dimension C | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 2 |  |
Walrus Audio Julia V2 Chorus | ★★★★★ | Check Price |
| 3 |  |
Catalinbread Callisto Chorus/Vibrato | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 4 |  |
MXR EVH 5150 Chorus | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 5 |  |
MXR M134 Stereo Chorus | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 6 |  |
Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
| 7 |  |
MXR M234 Analog Chorus | ★★★★☆ | Check Price |
From One-Knob Classics to Five-Knob Sculptors
Control range splits this list more than tone does. The EHX Small Clone runs on a single rate dial and a depth switch, while the Walrus Julia V2 hands you blend, lag, and waveform controls that reshape the whole effect.
Stereo players get two purpose-built picks in the MXR EVH 5150 and the M134 Stereo Chorus, and the BOSS DC-2W sounds its biggest through two amps as well. The Catalinbread Callisto is the sleeper for vibrato, since its mix knob runs all the way to fully wet pitch wobble.
1. BOSS DC-2W Waza Craft Dimension C
BOSS DC-2W Waza Craft Dimension C
Waza Craft reissue of the legendary Dimension C, blending chorus with 3D expansion across four push-button modes.
Pros
- Gorgeous, lush 80s chorus
- Modes run subtle to robust
- Quieter than the original DC-2
- Adds the SDD-320 Dimension D voice
Cons
- Premium reissue price
- No conventional swirling chorus
The DC-2W is among the most requested reissues in BOSS history, and it shows why within seconds. Four push-buttons move the effect from barely-there widening to rich, three-dimensional 80s shimmer, especially in stereo.
The Waza Craft update also folds in the SDD-320 Dimension D rack voice and tames the original’s low output and noise. It’s an exclusive sound, magnificently done, and nothing else on this list makes a signal feel bigger.
2. Walrus Audio Julia V2 Chorus
Walrus Audio Julia V2 Chorus
Fully analog chorus-vibrato with a Lag knob, blend control, and waveform toggle for everything from swirl to seasick.
Pros
- Dry-chorus-vibrato blend knob
- Lag sets the LFO center delay
- LFO LED flashes the rate
- True bypass, all-analog path
Cons
- Circuit runs slightly noisy
- Wide voice range takes exploring
The Julia V2 is the tweaker’s analog chorus. Its d-c-v knob blends from dry through chorus into full vibrato, while the Lag control moves the delay-time center the LFO swings around, changing how hard the effect leans.
A waveform toggle reshapes the sweep, and an LED flashes the rate so you can see it. All of it lives in a lavender box that looks as good as it sounds.
3. Catalinbread Callisto Chorus/Vibrato
Catalinbread Callisto Chorus/Vibrato
MN3007 bucket-brigade chorus-vibrato with an audiophile signal path, from subtle shimmer to rotary-style warble.
Pros
- Classic early-chorus BBD voice
- Mix runs dry to full vibrato
- Burr-Brown op-amp signal path
- Compact, intuitive layout
Cons
- Subtle voicings take dialing in
- Few features beyond the core sound
An MN3007 bucket-brigade chip sits at the Callisto’s core, the same family that powered the first great chorus pedals. The width and mix knobs sweep it from subtle shimmer through off-kilter warble to rotary-speaker spin.
Catalinbread runs the signal through an audiophile Burr-Brown op-amp, so the dry tone stays pristine. True bypass and a compact box make it an easy fit on any board.
4. MXR EVH 5150 Chorus
MXR EVH 5150 Chorus
Eddie Van Halen's stereo chorus in striped livery, voiced for high-gain rigs with EQ, volume, and intensity controls.
Pros
- Huge, old-school stereo chorus
- Voiced for high-gain rigs
- Input and output pad switches
- Buffered or true bypass inside
Cons
- Battery lid fights Velcro mounting
- Striped looks aren't for everyone
MXR built the 5150 around Eddie’s wide, chorused lead sound, and it’s enhanced for high-gain rigs out of the box. Tone, volume, and intensity controls replace the usual rate-depth pair, so dialing it in feels more like setting an amp.
Pad switches on both sides match it to any signal level, and an internal switch picks buffered or true bypass. In stereo it’s enormous.
5. MXR M134 Stereo Chorus
MXR M134 Stereo Chorus
Warm, lush rack-quality stereo chorus with width, rate, and intensity controls for classic 80s shimmer.
Pros
- Warm, studio-lush voice
- More control than one-knob boxes
- Nails 80s Rush-style shimmer
- Pairs well with flanger or tremolo
Cons
- Big footprint on a board
- Happier in studios than dive bars
The M134 sounds like a top-shelf analog chorus should: warm, wide, and lush, especially into a clean Fender-style amp with single coils. Push it into a dirty amp and you land squarely in 80s rock territory.
Width, rate, and intensity set around noon gets you the classic Rush wash. It’s a studio favorite that offers far more shaping range than the one-knob crowd.
6. Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus
Electro-Harmonix Small Clone Chorus
Iconic analog chorus famous for Kurt Cobain's warble, with one rate knob, a depth switch, and a friendly price.
Pros
- The 'Come as You Are' sound
- Dead-simple rate and depth
- Rich, fully analog tones
- Priced for any board
Cons
- Light on modern features
- Subtle settings hide in the sweep
Kurt Cobain put the Small Clone on the map, and EHX has kept the same basic circuitry while quietly tweaking the electronics for better accuracy. One rate dial and a depth switch are the whole interface.
It produces rich, fully analog warble that nails ‘Come as You Are’ instantly, with subtler shimmer hiding at lower settings. At this price it’s the easiest entry into real analog chorus.
7. MXR M234 Analog Chorus
MXR M234 Analog Chorus
Five-knob bucket-brigade chorus that adds tone-shaping and level control to classic BBD warmth at a fair price.
Pros
- Authentic bucket-brigade tones
- High and low EQ trims
- More range than mini choruses
- Pedalboard-friendly size
Cons
- Battery sits behind four screws
- Overkill for set-and-forget players
The M234 slots between MXR’s minimalist Micro Chorus and the big M134, pairing genuine bucket-brigade warmth with five knobs of control. Rate and depth get you the classics; level and two EQ trims sweeten them.
If you want analog chorus you can actually shape without rack-sized real estate, this is the sweet spot in MXR’s line. Our MXR Analog Chorus vs Micro Chorus comparison digs into the trade-off.
Final Thoughts
The BOSS DC-2W Waza Craft is the analog chorus we’d reach for first. Nothing else here makes a guitar sound bigger, and the reissue keeps the magic while fixing the noise.
The Walrus Julia V2 is the pick for players who want to sculpt their warble, and the EHX Small Clone remains the budget classic with the most famous chorus sound ever recorded.
High-gain players should jump straight to the MXR EVH 5150, while clean-tone purists will be happiest with the M134 Stereo.
One more worth a listen is the TC Electronic Corona, which we cover in our TC Electronic Corona review. And if you’re shopping on a budget, the best chorus pedals under $100 list has you covered.
