The Forgotten Boss Pedal - CE3

Taking an in-depth look at a what has quickly become my favourite Boss pedal. The Boss CE3 is a relative of the CE2 and the Dimension Chorus but doesn't have any of the hype.
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00:00 Intro
00:20 The CE3
00:50 What's a chorus ?
01:19 The History
03:16 The Demo
04:56 Historically Important
05:53 Are they worth it?
07:03 Power
07:46 My Rig

[@joeldeutscher7077]

Nobody tell Josh Scott or the prices will quadruple overnight.

[@KDH]

😂

[@DMSProduktions]

GOTTA HAVE THAT PEDAL! I DON'T HAVE THAT PEDAL, WILL I SURVIVE?

[@waynemetallum7623]

@@DMSProduktions I MUST HAVE THE BOX TOO

[@DMSProduktions]

@@waynemetallum7623 Mmmm BOXXXXxxxxxssss arrrgghh! (Pink?)

[@pedro_rivera99]

I don't have this pedal! Am I gonna survive?! I just have to have that pedal...

[@joshuahb536]

That distortion tone with the chorus at the end tickled my loins

[@FISHYFILMPRODUCTIONS]

same, that was eargasmic.

[@DMSProduktions]

OOOH! What about your RING?

[@ryanp7782]

Chorus, also known as: instant 80's lead tone in a box

[@CavemanWithAStringStick]

I honestly like having one set real chorus-y and one set baaaaarely on, like a doubler.

[@Wheresthepepsibismol]

I love the chorus on good mourning black friday but Chris Poland used a Rockman headphones amp to get that great beautiful clean sound to bad he chose drugs over Megadeth

[@ryanp7782]

@@Wheresthepepsibismol Dude I love Chris Poland! Wish he did more stuff after Megadeth other than Metalopolis. Good Mourning has to be one of if not the most beautuful intros of all time.

[@Wheresthepepsibismol]

@@ryanp7782 yes it does I own the Peace sells cassette I always rewind side b just to hear the intro solo of Good mourning black friday

[@cowboypfpsdeadchannel9724]

On Come as You Are in a box (assuming reverb is included)

[@TyrannusEtImperium]

I severely appreciate the W.A.S.P. riff at the end. That's how you sell a pedal to me.

[@jetcheneau5811]

KDH has single-handedly inspired me to pay more attention to '80s hair metal guitar more. It's nice to see a KZbinr in this community who isn't either a blues snob or a prog douche.

[@timons7446]

That's the first chorus+distortion sound that sounds really close to two guitars to my ears (at least through my laptop speakers :D). Especially if I imagine this in a mix with bass and drums it wouldn't be always obvious that this is actually a chorus effect.

[@KDH]

Wet/dry is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be... unnatural

[@timons7446]

@@KDH You're absolutely right. Btw I just listened to your playing with headphones on and it confirmed the laptop speaker impression :D . Do you know by chance what kind of chorus EVH used? I'm not an expert but I'm pretty sure I heard some chorus in the 90s shows with Sammy Hagar.

[@KDH]

Ive read that eddie used an MXR 234 Analog Chorus but he used a lot of different gear over the years so I’m not sure

[@timons7446]

@@KDH All right, thank you for your answers :) Great channel btw!

[@DMSProduktions]

@@KDH Like preventing death in others, or imortality?

[@morecheesemt]

I’ve been looking at these online and your review has been most helpful!! Thank you!

[@mekore]

imagine the hype if the exact circuit repackaged & rebranded now by a boutique pedal company

[@Emet.V]

Probably already done

[@DMSProduktions]

@@Emet.V Pfft! LONG time over!

[@TaylorMorgeson]

Bryan Adams, nice:) great review! ❤🤘🏽

[@Eged282]

I’m gonna run to you..yeah..happy days..

[@BaBaBaBenny]

I like the new angle the channel is taking, KDJHS

[@D1STURB3D96]

This is awesome! I actually used this pedal in my 2019 Vietnamese tour. Got alot of respect for it after that tour Trying to emulate it on my AxeFx

[@Jmdeclue]

Boss CE-3 was the first pedal I purchased. I loved it. It, along with all my pedals, were stolen in ‘95 and I replaced the with an ART ECC multi effects floorboard. Still have it, no one wants that thing. Whatever, still cool. But the CE-3 is awesome, I had it connected to two 1x12 peavey bandits as my practice rig.

[@kirkangeloautor3710]

I have this pedal 2nd hand as a gift and love it now after seeing your video.

[@poivognome792]

Idk why but I really made me happy that both of the ce-2 listings that had famous players listed in the title had josh klinghoffer as the first. Just cool to see the chili peppers getting repped

[@deonchase3167]

My all time favorite Boss pedal. Great video.

[@sjaakvandervrande9414]

I love this Pedal,it provides my chorussound as I like the most

[@nurk_barry]

I really like the gear reviews you’ve been putting out lately KDH, keep up the good work man! I’m also running a stereo rig using a boss me-25 multiFX unit that I got for free, and I’ve been in love with the chorus lately, especially running to two amps at once.

[@eboethrasher]

I've owned one of these in the past and the vibrato sound was a blast.

[@roosterj2599]

I needed this vid. Sold me on the Boss CE2

[@williammoth4784]

Well there we go, had this pedal for a while and never knew i could get vibrato out of it. Itll be getting a lot more use now!

[@BigDiscEnergyLLC]

Every video you put out is fantastic. Ive yet to see a bad one. Keep on going man. Your one of my favorite youtubers. You don't pull punches and always have interesting videos. Nothing seems just thrown together because you need to make XYZ videos this week.

[@kirkwilson6229]

Good lookin' out. Boss has a handful of underappreciated stomps out there. The Blues Driver is awesome, too.

[@TheAxe4Ever]

Cool video about a killer old pedal! I bought a CE-3 in 1985 (around the time they came out) and loved it! I was never a guy to play in stereo because I liked my sound more tightly focused. But I used the CE-3 with the mono output. Chorus pedals were known for taking the initial attack out of your overdriven sound.Especially ran in stereo. But if you ran the depth low on this one and kept the rate a bit slower, it retained your attack and transients but gave you a killer slightly chorused and thick tone. I sure wish I still had that great old pedal! I guess I’ll have to be on the hunt for one. Not being able to see the status light never bothered me because I usually had it on at all times.

[@Motocicleiros]

Back in 1985, the Boss CE-3 was the first pedal I purchased in my whole life so I have an emotional bond to it. But it's not the holy grail that a lot of people try to make believe. C'mon, it's just a CHORUS. Anyway I sold mine over two decades ago and never looked back. Nowadays I have an unbranded $15 chorus bought in AliExpress and it sounds as good as the CE-3. Sure, it's not stereo but being honest I never (ever) used this feature in the CE-3 when it was in my pedal board.

[@EmptyDomoKanti99]

i have this pedal for my bass, sounds unreal and amazing

[@thomasharrington5510]

@KDH Thank you so much for mentioning the power adaptor issue. I ran mine on batteries for years, recently got a DC power bank, and was really confused why the LED on it seemed to barely light up. I was debating opening it up and checking the DC-jack connections, but will now just try it at 12V.

[@75YBA]

All the best from Canada!

[@SirEnVo]

When I was looking to buy a chorus way back when I tried the CE2, Small clone and a few others. I picked the MXR analog chorus. Extremely underrated imo considering if far more versatile than than the other 2 yet still simple enough to just plug and play

[@JMSORO]

nice video man

[@kingofdragontown9680]

On the Breaking the Chains tour, George Lynch used a CE-3 to do stereo for his amps. That's the only example I can think of.

[@BradTheProducer]

I was lamenting less than 24 hours ago that I didn't have a simple vibrato in my pedal collection, and then along comes this. And I'm a chorus fiend, I've always got one somewhere in my chain, so obviously I ought to own this.

[@thomasharrington5510]

I really like it, have had one for years. Granted, it's the only Chorus I've ever owned, but I got it because I liked the sound (and also because it was like $30 circa 2004 or so when I bought it).

[@geraldrauch1701]

awesome brother, i came her for the CE3 but saw your your radial bigshot...what a brilliant tool!!! i run my wet with a boogie mark IV with the MXR analog chorus and carbon copy...my dry is the EVH 50W stealth...sounds pretty fuckin good!!! love your content!!!

[@Infinighost]

I've been watching guitar KZbin for years now, and I never knew there was a CE-3 lol great stuff!

[@Benjammin117]

I have that pedal and I love it. Finally got two amps to run it to and it sounds awesome :)

[@jabileeric5061]

Never thought I'd be this excited to watch a video about a Chorus.

[@matthewbarnett3461]

Its pretty easy to mod these so they run on a 9V supply, just google aca/psa mod. It involves removing a resister and cap and then soldering jumpers in the gaps.

[@user-ec6xd2ig4c]

All Boss compact pedals run on 9 volts out of the box. ACA adaptor or PSA adaptor. Why mod them to 9 volts when they already run on 9 volts?

[@MuscleDad420]

@@user-ec6xd2ig4cyes, all Boss pedals run at 9v. However, some older Boss pedals required an ACA adapter which put out 12v of unregulated power. The small circuit the OP mentioned is tied to the DC input and if you use a 9v psu that circuit will knock it down to 6v and cause the effect status LED to be real dim, lack any headroom, sound muffled, and so on.

[@funnystonervideos]

Love this pedal a lot, I always use it rate and depth all the way up on the second mode Super gnarly vibrato tone

[@liammurphy636]

Just bought one about an hour ago. Completely in love.

[@denislavdenchev2572]

The way that multiscale sounds in d tuning really pleases me .So tight and concentrated.Overall I really like the natural amp tones of your rig. Btw I think the Boss CH-1 also has the dual output functionality just like this one - one output is affected and the other is dry.

[@curseofthegreat]

This video inspired me to buy one. It is currently on the way from Japan.

[@Bliggick]

One of the first pedals I ever had. I could never really get it to sound that good compared to most choruses you could find everywhere.

[@alexmurphy5289]

My favorite modulation no doubt. I highly recommend the neunaber inspire it’s an incredibly versatile rack mount trichorus that can get you fantastic 80s tones. Mix knob, tone knob, it’s perfect

[@devinsinderwitcz9134]

Adding this to a time based effect like delay and or tremelo is so smooth!!!!!

[@tacob69]

I bought this pedal new in 1983 the first year I really started playing guitar seriously at 11yo.I still have it and sometimes use it and honestly I've only had to open it once to fix a small problem and I can't think of many pedals that well built.

[@amonster8mymother]

Nice video. I'm thinking of buying one of these locally. 👍🇨🇦😎

[@nanimonada9860]

More hidden gems and forgotten good stuff, please.

[@Miami_1984]

I actually bought myself one because of this video, thanks for me for continueing my chorus pedal addiction

[@hoosierdaddy2308]

I almost always play with a chorus barely on to thicken up my sound. Cool video sir.

[@paulmartinwoods]

Loved my CE3, had it last in chain in a Boss BCB6 plastic board out in stereo to two Marshall stacks. Also had DS1, GE7, I think a DD2 plus power pedal. CE3 sounded really spacial especially with a good reverb. Sold the lot to go rack mount with a Roland GP8. Agreed, CE3 a much overlooked pedal.

[@ghostx697]

That riff played during the demo section is going to haunt my dreams. It’s some 90’s alt riff that I haven’t heard since it was on the radio, in the 90’s. I must figure out what it is.

[@triledink]

When I was younger I always though about chorus as the ''80s sound''.

[@icemanire5467]

Still use it and sounds amazing on cleans.

[@jim_thom]

Great video. I had beat up CE-3 and it melted so i got a CE-2 thinking it would be superior, but it just didnt sound as good as the CE-3 to me. Gonna have to pick up another one now 😏

[@pedrocgallardo]

Had one but sold it for a mxr analog chorus, i love it

[@navpanesar3002]

I’ve owned mine for 7/8 years and brought it in mint condition with its box and manuals. It’s not left my board since I brought it.

[@rodneyleboeuf164]

The Boss ACA adapter actually puts out 15v on a voltage meter.. I have a few of them & they all test the same. If you try to run this pedal on a standard 9v input, it sounds really ‘fizzy’ & the led is very dim. I haven’t tried it on 12v , but pretty sure it would work fine as you said.

[@toneleudy]

I like it better than my ce2 it's more subtle

[@justsomedude5727]

Don't know how similar it is, but I have the CEB-3 bass chorus and I really dig it.

[@Grindgodgrind]

Nice WASP riff at the end!

[@jacksonricebreadman240]

Ok I now know what my next pedal is gonna be

[@kristianeckholdt5230]

I Have a CE2, and I love it.

[@phildem414]

Jake e lee had one in his live rig of the Ultimate sin tour. The two modes of chorus is a cool option! A bit metalic in mono. Perhaps it was voiced more for stereo use. Certainly easy to mod to ce-2 tone.

[@nick16754]

I got my CE-3 in a shoebox full of pedals for $30. I sold all the others and kept the CE-3. It is a quintessential chorus sound. I'm excited to try it out in that "bonus" vibrato mode and at 12v! Are you sure 12v won't damage it? Also, mine has white knobs and the back label was removed, so there's a chance it's a later one made in Taiwan (although the power input jack says "Japan" on it).

[@gustavofring9013]

My uncle has used a boss ce 3 for almost 40 years. Glad to see he isn’t the only one

[@rustys6301]

Why? Do you doubt his competence or what?

[@ChipRobertsOfficial]

Another weird thing about this is, say you have everything daisy chained in terms of power, you power off that strip, turn it back on and the CE3 will default to being on, even if it has been turned off before the power.

[@tongates8079]

OK Brah. You will be amazed by the effect of a solid haircut. Just sayin' No grief. Real great efficiency of time thing. Props man. Lub Ya.

[@dennismoes7281]

Love my ce3

[@flameshiki5990]

This was my first pedal, it hold as special place

[@allyourbasearebelongtous2191]

Wonder if true temperment frets would work on those extended radius guitars?

[@stillben]

well good player

[@OriginalTLab3000]

I preferred the Ibanez SC-10 over the CE-3 back then. And I think, I stand by my decision. However, what I got on my pedalboard right now is a Boss DC-3 that I got as a present ages ago.

[@abeloliva465]

anybody else got chills when the chorus was on when he played the arpeggio?

[@bpabustan]

Not in the country where I am in! The CE3 is the STANDARD Chorus pedal. Though it is now difficult to find.

[@GMHG777]

My first ever stomp box effect loved in made a huge mistake selling it 25 years ago

[@danielmoldovan7]

What an animal! This pedal does it's job like a beast ;)

[@LAZARCAR98]

Hey KDH,are your videos in any way inspired by Colin from CS guitars? You two are my favorite guitar related channels,and for pretty similar reasons

[@colico14]

My pedal!

[@Alex_Varriale]

In terms of signal splitting for wet dry wet, would the TC electronic mimiq do a good job of doing that?

[@KDH]

I’ve never done a Wet, dry, wet set up, only every just wet/dry. But yes. The mimiq has stereo pitch shifting so it would be somewhat similar to what evh was doing in the early 90s

[@Alex_Varriale]

@@KDH thanks for correcting for on the wet/dry, because I wasn't quite sure. you usually demonstrate it by splitting the signal with the radial aby. In terms of CE-3, it does feel like a forgotten middle child between CE-2 and the CE-5. This gives me some ideas for the boss CE-2w and DC-2w.

[@Alex_Varriale]

Also was thinking of having that Akira takasaki guitar tone from the dissolution to the soldier of fortune aka loudness albums from 84 to the early 90s.

[@erikvincent5846]

You can fix the 12V adapter issue and use a 9V adapter, if you are feeling froggy. It's actually a pretty simple mod. If you look at Boss's schematic and layout for the CE-3, here: schems.com/bmampscom/boss/Boss%20CE-3.pdf , look for the input jack and battery and you'll find D1 and R1. When you use the ACA adapter, you get 12V - D1's Vf or 12V - 0.7V = 11.3V, and then the voltage drop across R1, takes it down even further by a couple of volts. This double-voltage drop is why a 9V adapter won't work, because it drops the power too far to run properly. To fix this, you can remove both the diode and the resistor and then just shunt them with wire (or snipped off resistor/diode leads). That removes the voltage drop all together and now you can use a 9V power supply. OR you can just remove the resistor and live with the small 0.7V voltage drop, which offers some extra reverse polarity protection and just shunt the resistor with wire. The big thing to remember is the Boss CE-3 uses the MN3207 instead of the MN3007 like what is found in the CE-2. The MN3007 can handle a 15V power supply, whereas the MN3207 maxes out at around 10V. That's why that resistor R1 was there, to make sure no one lets out the magic smoke out of the MN3207.

[@WarunkiMedia]

Are you playing "Run To You" by Bryan Adams in the first demo?? Hail Canada! ;) PS. Great vid! I have this pedal, it's wonderful.

[@kameel68]

My first chorus pedal was this CE-3. Bought it in 1990. Later it got stolen. Recently I got one on the used market.

[@Jopeymessmusic]

It's got a nice older chorus tone to it as well though. Modern pedals and emulators are great for approximations but they're always a little off. I might grab one of these. Couldn't tell if you were playing Bryan Adams or the stunning with the first examples.😅😂

[@guitarofdestiny]

That was crazy 😅

[@1977raider]

Chorus sounds sooo good it can make the cheapest guitar and amp sound good

[@Pannemat]

4;32, echoing some "Lithium" there. Nice.

[@evanpaulsmithfalconfogolin6147]

Savage metal tones.

[@Pengulin]

Oh dude i have one of those in my room but its busted af. Im pretty new to guitar and its pedals and the only ones i have is the Boss Hm2 and this Boss CE3 They both belong to my dad but he doesnt play guitar anymore and i started a lil more than a year ago

[@PedroMachadoBorges]

Nice hair dude \w/

[@sawbonesquad4876]

well fuck you got me window shopping for one and a tube screamer, slowly planning to rebuild my rig :)

[@benjaminclarke7984]

The best feckin chorus pedal

[@user-ec6xd2ig4c]

The Boss Chorus really sounds great. Especially through that guitar you're using. What brand and model is that guitar?

[@KDH]

Thanks, it’s an Ormsby SX

[@user-ec6xd2ig4c]

@@KDH Awesome! I'll check it out... Thanks.

[@Thirdgen83]

I had a CE-3 in the late '80s. I prefer the CE-2. I want to get a Eventide Micropitch.

[@StarWarsRumors]

Never wanted a chorus pedal until today.

[@ChrisTian-rm7zm]

I had a CE-3 pedal in the 80ies. Unfortunately I sold it when I gave up playing in a band.

[@DMSProduktions]

This video makes me want to run to you! ;oP

[@iliasliakos6692]

if you are using cable ties on your pedal board, the "new" 3 knob lay out of the boss pedals isn't convenient

[@lostgroovemusic8494]

What you think to ch1 boss

[@Iexecutioner]

I feel that the boss super chorus renders this pedal obsolete since it also has a stereo output, which may be why this pedal isn’t talked about as much

[@matthewmp111]

KDH, I’m gonna run to you...when the feeling’s right I’m gonna run all night...yeah

[@lospadrinosofficial]

They need to reissue the CE3, I'll be first in line with money in hand.

[@stevevai2606]

BTW I am not real vai, I don't know if you like jake e lee but if you do he used this chorus in the 80s with ozzy and badlands