BOSS CE-2 Chorus SHOOTOUT MIJ Japan Taiwan & Waza Craft comparison

quick side by side shoot out of the classic CE2 Chorus from Boss... Wazacraft, MIT, & MIJ ... you be the judge!
I used an R9 Les Paul Historic, cocked, rocked, and loaded with www.jgcpickups.com JGC Custom Wound PAF Clones, my '68 Princeton Reverb, and a white coily cable of doom from www.bulletcable...
mic'd up with a www.royerlabs.com Royer R121 ribbon mic and a www.telefunkene... Telefunken dynamic mic of love. YEP!

[@waltersobchek2465]

I prefer the blue one

[@natrix611]

Lol

[@mikkywhalan]

Nah you're wrong it's obvious that the best one is the light blue one

[@invin7215]

Thumbs up if you're watching a comparison of three nearly identical pedals instead of actually trying to get better at guitar.

[@francismcalister7811]

Invin You win, I give up

[@asssscats]

Weeeeeell.... That was a wake up call... Didn't feel good. But can't argue that. Hope all is well!

[@Yourbrotherfranio]

Speak for yourself

[@nclsrfn]

that hurted.

[@robvoyles]

uhhh, you are here too.......

[@wanakaband]

They do sound close but MIJ is the perfect chorus

[@hadeseye2297]

xD Sounds like waza.

[@manifestgtr]

Ill never understand why this effect went out of style. It’s such a gorgeous sound. Ive been in love with it since I was a kid (and it was all over the nevermind and core albums haha)

[@pikkuarska]

umm...no it wasn't. it was the small clone (if you meant what chorus pedal he used).

[@zplapplap]

He said effect, not pedal. Words have meaning.

[@pikkuarska]

That's why I clarified what I thought he meant. Because most of internet users aren't native english speakers the internet is so full of broken english that most of the time you really can't be sure what one really means with any statement.

[@ericbourne3116]

well if you listen to the war on drugs and mac demarco, you would have never thought chorus went out of style in the first place. just picked myself up the ce-2w. its absolutely amazing.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

To give sons of a bitch the opportunity to buy chorus pedals at low prices and Then reselling them for absurd prices years later with the vintage comeback

[@harryflocyberman]

The Taiwan ce-2 sounded the best to my ears.

[@rodrigogears]

The same here

[@cheemsrei]

Same, has a brighter sound compared to the Japan and 2w which have a more mellow feel to it.

[@kierenmoore3236]

The MIJ model just had so much warmth ... Love it. :)

[@curtiswilson3569]

I have the MIJ version, and those things have gotten to be very popular. I get offers for mine all the time.

[@mars6433]

OH DEAR LORD !!! I actually like the one in the middle, the most !!

[@elvis_chen]

Taiwan \m/

[@chase2787]

Taiwan #1

[@johnnycongamusic]

Yep MIT blazes it

[@VerreyckenGerd]

Nice comparison. The MIJ is the only one that adds the right mid-tone to create the correct "vibe".

[@lenduckworth99]

Moral of the story: get a boss ce2, any boss ce-2, and it will sound great.

[@Jesseface94]

I picked up a late 80s MIT CE-2 for my bass for $50. Will NEVER get rid of this pedal for anything.

[@ianandy1234]

Not necessarily true, I had a boss ce2 mit and hated it, had it’s all about taste

[@conan5885]

@@Jesseface94 Exactly the same here, except for guitar. This thing is priceless, especially to an 80's kid.

[@kalebaldwin5398]

They all sound like CE-2s. The MIJ is a bit thicker EQ wise, but that might be undesirable in a lot of situations. But the CE-2W automatically wins because of the CE-1 modes.

[@Morpheus2292]

And Stereo output of the CE-2W! And this is the main asset. Because the dimensional aspect (which is not checked here) of the JC-120 and replicated in CE-1 was stereo. The CE-2 was not but the waza craft offers it for Ce-2 also.

[@javiceres]

The CE-1 modes are the best in the Waza

[@pickledblues]

Lot of negative comments from people who still clicked on the video that clearly shows 3 chorus pedals in the thumbnail. That’s why I love KZbin, I can watch whatever the hell I want.

[@hafstrat]

pickledblues me too!!!

[@wabisabi6802]

All nice sounding pedals. The audience won't notice it though, even if it was made in Timbuktu.

[@jjccllgg]

Got the Waza Craft here in Japan. Gorgeous!

[@kriscarter1389]

There seemed to be a slight volume difference with the Tawain or perhaps a bass cut. The Waza seemed to retain the bass EQ compared to the dry sound. The MIJ and Tawain definitely have a thicker modulation overall, but the difference is minuscule and almost inconsequential. Differences aside, they all sound very very close. For the money, I think the Waza would be the better choice given that it provides two extra modes. All gorgeous sounding pedals, and I like that max settings do not delve into "sea sickness" territory. The effect is musical all around.

[@lailer1975]

Love my Waza CE-2w! always kept in the CE-1 mode it does what I need, and doesn’t get in the way of my base tone.

[@Gibson1976uk]

People are forgetting that the Waza has a superior buffer which allows your guitar signal to go through it better! thats why it has the clearer sound! doesn't mean its thin

[@randallabracadabra]

It's also surface mount components that you'd find in a computer sound card lol. That's mainly why it sounds the most transparent in coloration.

[@phantasmagora6542]

There's something about the way the old ones fuck up your tone though that has a cool lo-fi character to it. For the record, I tried out the CE-2w and thought it was too mild.

[@kingmafw]

The middle Taiwan version sounds the best of all. I know a lot people have the B.J.P.A.S. (Boss Japanese Pedal Ascension Syndrome), but probably the electrolytic capacitors who are in the Japanese version need to be exchanged. BTW, I did a blind test, and the Taiwan version did win.

[@tokenofdevotion]

You know why it won? Because it's impossible for every pedal like this to have the same exact component values from unit to unit. Both Japan and Taiwan versions have the same PCB. So it all comes down to which ce-2 sounds the best. Not which version

[@robvoyles]

they switched the two, taiwan is actually made in japan.....sorry.

[@tokenofdevotion]

@@robvoyles yes and santa claus is trans. Cheers

[@theslaves]

No two CE-2, even if they are MIJ sound the same, I have had three and they all sounded different.

[@KennyLarvitz]

The MIJ is thicker , I found the MIT clearer and « more alive » , the waza is a littlle bit flat with less depth but all are good and similar.

[@flyjohnson711]

Agreed. The MIJ is “muddier” there are too many highs rolled off. Always cracks me up when people perceive pedals not in a mix “warmer” because they lack solid top end. I have an 88 MIT I power at 12v with a Strymon Zuma, and I guarantee it’s as good as any MIJ. It’s all hype the claims that Japanese ones are better. Always slight differences in pedals and how you power them matters as well. Main thing is if it has the 3007 chip.

[@geckobaldy]

If it's not already been said - There is a previous version of the MIJ which is referred to as the 'long dash'.

[@georgelayton2228]

There all great you can't miss

[@6stringks]

Thanks for the Demo. Just ordered a Wwwwazaaa...(CE 1 rules ofc ) the MiJ is very mellow! Nice, but I will run mine through an Binson Echorec T603 and a Dynacord S76 think that gives me warmth enough ;-) it better does because I am broke now. I like the definition of the CE2W think it will be good in a mix as it is very transparent and should not get in the way in a song. Cheers.

[@THEQueeferSutherland]

Lesson learned today: MIJ is slightly better but not anything people will actually ever notice live.

[@pikkuarska]

the MIJ shelved off some high end whereas the others did not. it that's better or not is another discussion

[@randallabracadabra]

It's mainly the coupling capacitor material. The MIJ uses old school polyester film and foil and carbon film resistors (warmer sounding with a touch more coloration), MIT uses metalized polyester film and carbon film resistors (slightly more transparent and a touch brighter/tinny) and the Waza uses surface mount metalized polyester film and surface mount thick film resistors (just a bit more transparent with less coloration than MIT, due to the cermet film resistors).

[@michael_caz_nyc]

I think the new waza - with the cleaner buffer and ce-1 option is a great bet. I personally prefer (and own) the DC-2W. = Less Seasick warble.

[@Teclados101-NB]

the ce-2 (MIJ) have a punchy, pluck attack type sound when struming, the other two sound the same

[@ianandy1234]

Exactly right

[@avispasentuass]

I own ce2 mij 1982 black label,but since chorus is my fav effect i could easily be happy with any ce2 version

[@prolik2]

Sadly or gladly MIJ still sounds best of all! Too bad I can't replace my broken CE-2 pedal (Japan) with new and expensive Waza one - what's the point of reissue and the price tag then?

[@arnolddealiii4259]

Let It Loose. Classic Stones!

[@marcuseade4434]

Thanks for the comparison. Zero differences.

[@JHKNVY02]

I wouldn't say that, the originals to me are a little darker/muted/thicker, and seem to suck a tiny amount of tone and/or distort a little easier. The CE-2W has a much better buffer and as a result is a little more "Hi-Fi" sounding. I prefer that. I have lots of overdrive pedals and an EQ/tone knob to make the CE-2W sound a little darker if I want. The Waza also has the CE-1 and CE-2 mode, which the CE-2 does not.

[@velvetcitysound]

Yes, I like the chorus pedal the most!

[@stevo7730]

The Japan ones sound a little warmer ....... the Taiwan one sound a little brittle ........ suprisingly there is a slight difference between the Waza and the early Japanese one on the same settings so it would appear they are not exactly the same circuitry in the Waza standard setting

[@mikkellm2599]

They are al great sounding and only with subtle differences. However I do like the MIJ one slightly more than the others, and I now feel a bit luckier to own one :)

[@psicodesia]

Yo tengo el WazaCraft y es una maravilla! Es una gran herramienta para inspirarte y componer

[@scotboyturbo8456]

Having a jazz chorus and a TW CE2. Think I'm good!

[@phillipasby9202]

I guess I’m biased since I have a MIJ I bought back in 85 (it was used albeit slightly) - Ive never found another chorus I like as much so it stays on the board... I tried with good headphones to hear a difference and I do hear some slight variation but the TW and Waza are pretty doggone close to the “original” - I’m not sure the tonal differences couldn’t be ascribed to parts variations nevertheless any of them sound better than most everything else I’ve tried over the years, particularly modeling...

[@sparkyguitar0058]

I don't know. Individually you may hear a small difference. But in a band situation do you really believe that small difference would come through. I do got a Boss CH-1 that was modded by Indyguitarist. That's B Wampler before he did his own pedals. I feel chorus is basically the same no matter what pedal it is. But got this 1 used and when I looked up the history, I thought just cause of its history this 1 will never leave my board. But if I didn't have this 1, I would have been just as happy with a cheaper Mooer, Donner or whatever brand was the cheapest at that time. Even if all I used was the mod switch on my Carbon copy delay. And I do love a Boss pedal anyways. With its built in buffer. This 1 is in the middle of my mod section of my board. Also have a modded BD-2 near start of board. Even have a Wampler dB-1 on board but don't have the buffer engaged. Just don't need it. No difference in sound with it or without it. Just a boost pedal then.

[@titi64230]

Excellent part with the rolling stones of exil

[@chuwy2k]

The CE-2w sounds more like “flanger” in CE-1 mode. All of three represent most beautiful hard rock ballads of the 80’ or some Police’s style songs. Great job at Boss for keep their original sound in modern stomp boxes.

[@rubberband9570]

José Pérez he had it in Ce-1 vibrato mode instead of normal ce-1 mode which is the middle selection

[@JohnShalamskas]

Police used flanger, not chorus.

[@AlongExists]

Thanks great job

[@tubularbill]

I think the blue one sounds best

[@lenduckworth99]

Just got a CE2

[@bionicmarsh]

MIJ just rocks!

[@Ercmcgr]

Is it just me or does the Taiwanese version have more depth, almost sounds like a phaser

[@mzsimba]

I'm torn. You can hear it with the purple rain rendition

[@KRAZEEIZATION]

I find the CE-2 a bit muddy and I use the DC-2 exclusively which is far better. I have an 1983 CE-2. There’s no difference between MIJ and MIT. The Waza is the best one with the extra modes and I’d like that and then I’d have every Boss compact Chorus. Is the Waza true stereo?

[@roryoconnor31]

they all sound good

[@RobinYee-xc9vf]

Boss 's sound's are classic feels .

[@FreddysFrets]

I prefer the MIJ. I have a silver screw one that I bought the year they came it. It sounds identical to the MIJ one here. At least it's so close i can't tell the diff over youtube.

[@carlosjtavares]

Thanks for a great review

[@marekbilek1703]

i have the waza but there is something special in the japanese one........i dont know what is it but it sound right compare to the other ones....maybe you guys can explain but definetly its diferent than the others

[@amitsapir2]

Why not use a looper?

[@christopherrusch]

Amit Sapir cause those cost money and he already spent it on a buy three CE-2’s

[@PhishBanjo]

Cool vid! Thanks!

[@tipodearriba]

they sound exactly the same (I'm using my studio headphones, AKG 240)

[@benstewarthelm]

I miss my chorus pedal sooo much!

[@odgeUK]

So little difference. At a push, the MIJ has more bass, nothing you couldn't compensate for with some EQ. Live, literally no f***ing difference at all, to anyone.

[@juanluguitar]

Great review , thanks dude! BTW has that princeton stock speaker???

[@IrvinPadillaWeltraum]

CE-2 MIJ FTW!

[@nachofast89]

MIJ and TW are very similar, but i still preffer the japanese version. I've had both. Waza craft sounds cool too but i think is less brigther and dry.

[@xsm5525]

waza wins, MIJ sounded thin

[@professorstein5855]

Excellent.

[@fpgjamesbarbozah8639]

the japan is smoother? anywayz i love ce2!

[@CJ-rf9jm]

Of those 3 I'd use any of them not caring which. I won't pay extra for 1 over the others.

[@lovecraftmusic8717]

2018 and still this dude is not able to do a proper demo with good sound quality. How can you tell the difference by cam audio?

[@indrasetyawantegal4405]

MIJ is better, but not sure if MIJ is place in first place or the middle because BOSS is buffered pedal not true by pass

[@robvoyles]

True bypass actually sucks the signal way down if you have a lot of pedals, buffered raises the signal to keep that from happening. Buffered is better.

[@onecall975]

Taiwan for the win. They DO sound different, I’m really surprised actually…

[@MRROBBIEWATTS]

All 3 of them sound the same to me - :)

[@dracul74]

MIJ by a lot, Waza, then TW for me

[@shantbajac]

They sound a bit different than each other, they all sound good but I would go 1-MIJ, 2-TW, 3-Waza

[@hadeseye2297]

I wouldn't care. They are almost 100% identical. Only Taiwan sounds 5% different.

[@mikeagajan1608]

Waza Craft 1st place Taiwan 2nd place MIJ 3rd place

[@vitamenz]

Great thanks! I have the middle one.

[@BITESIZEJONES]

MIT seems perfect. But all similar

[@swampwampus5328]

Are you using a Native Sons strap?

[@christineblack4654]

label green or black? :)

[@ascii7085]

Why wasn't switch flipped on the -Waza? Also all 3 at the same time.😃

[@lolobuggah2670]

Because he's doing a demo of the CE-2s and comparing how similar the are.

[@apeekaboo]

I can't hear the difference... I have the blue one and it sounds fine to me! I've had it since the eighties.

[@paulwhitelaw7131]

what's that intro at 3:00? it's driving me crazy

[@Marcus_C51]

"Let It Loose"-Stones Exile on Main Street cut..,another one of their genius ballads.

[@percussionboy4357]

2:58 “Who’s that woman on your arm...?”

[@antthomas7916]

This guy is the Guy Fieri of gear reviews.

[@paulwhitelaw7131]

it's ok it's on exile on main st :)

[@sixbladeknife44]

I’ve owned ‘em all, the Waza isn’t in the same league as the originals...the best sounding ones are the earliest silver screw versions, they have a warmth and dimensional sound that the others don’t. But hard to tell the differences unless you have them all in front of you.

[@buckbumble]

sixbladeknife44 how can a screw make any difference?

[@Pheonix2022]

@@buckbumble I have a sneaking suspicion he wasn't implying the actual screw affected the tone, but rather the components in the model years donning a silver screw. There's this special sense I have, called "common", that reeeally helps me out a lot in these situations.

[@YaYa-ke1zr]

Purple Rain sealed the deal: MIJ then Waza. TW would be a contender if it weren’t so ice picky/hard... if I could roll ‘that’ off, I think it would have won (to my ears).

[@hadeseye2297]

They sound same to me. But that few cents difference can be a deal breaker to some people.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

MIJ ALL THE WAY,,

[@thiagofirewire6695]

MIJ win again and again.... MIJ RULES

[@mattmullis4140]

Ce-2w has stereo outputs and that’s why I’m interested. Although I haven’t found anyone demoing in stereo.

[@hafstrat]

I am a small clone guy. 😂

[@mikeagajan1608]

MIJ is brighter the other ones are warmer.

[@1011skarn]

If he had the MIJ sticker on the middle, then that's the one these commentators would pick. GTFO

[@davidbuzzin426]

👍JAP👍

[@shadrinilya6697]

Those a bad boys actually

[@dietmargroe-wietfeld6543]

👍Beautyfull

[@RickP2012]

None of them sound bad, but maybe the MIJ sounds better.

[@SilverFoo79]

No one listening from an audience POV gives two shits about which chorus you may or may not have. Rule of thumb. If it sounds good. It IS good. Play what sounds and feels best to you. Period.

[@cwir88]

There was a time when I had two CE-2s. 1980 and 1981. They sounded completely different. So comparing MiJ to MiT is pointless. I say get the cheapest one!

[@ska757]

I would like to hear a comparison of the Boss CE2 vs a CE2 clone. I am just wondering if anyone that tried cloning has come close. How many listeners would be able to correctly identify each pedal by sound alone at various settings. Probably very few. It is only in the music world that everything old is considered better. Whether it is acoustic or electric guitars, pickups or effects pedals. I guess technology does not progress in the music world. Who today would want to trade in their car for a model T Ford or use a computer built in the 80's. Furthermore go back using the cell phone they had ten years ago. Even in everyday travel, would you prefer to fly in aircraft built in 50's or 60's compared to what there is today. A lot of people's perceptions are based on the hype they hear. People that never heard a CE-2 that is made in Japan think it is superior because that is what they hear everyone say. Why is it that thirty years later no one can make something better. I am not discrediting the quality of the old pedals. They are still around and functioning which shows they were well built. Would a CE-2 pedal built with all identical components, one assembled in Japan sound better than one assembled in the USA or any other country. Comparing tone is like comparing beauty. Everyone has their personal preference.

[@BitcoinTakeover]

It's mostly about chips and circuits. Not only that analog gears suffer physical modifications along the years (and some people enjoy that slight sonic degradation), but there are chips that they no longer make these days so manufacturers use something similar but not identical in sound. Look at the EHX Electric Mistress, Dan on That Pedal Show can't find a proper replacement to capture the same tone - and replicas are either too dark or too whooshy. Analog gears are fascinating.

[@erz4767]

Mac demarco starterpack

[@CrazedFandango]

MIJ

[@lightvox6152]

Closed my eyes a d can totally here the difference. MIJ wins by far

[@stiffrichard2816]

The Waza makes me wanna vomit up my sushi.

[@danny7708]

1:34 - 1:42

[@桂馬桂-t1m]

Japan Boss EC―2 silver Screw > EC-2 = EC-2w+1 > Taiwan Boss EC-2