B
BDJohnston
Active member
Choir Master Chorus is one of four Pedal Mob pedals (S. Korea) I plan to review. Three things that stand out with this company is pricing, simplicity and quality of standards. Pricing is very reasonable, and the Choir Master Chorus retails for $64.80 USD, which gives musicians a choice apart from cheaper quality Chinese productions or more expensive lines that range up to boutique. Pedal Mob also keeps thing simple, with three or fewer knobs (Choir Master has only two). As for quality, I’m not completely knocking products that come out of China, but there’s a reason you often can get an effect pedal for $20 or less off Temu and other such sites.
The Choir Master Chorus integrates the BBD analog chip, which is the same found in the classic CE-2 chorus sound. The result is a natural modulation, which I don’t find most digital chorus sources (particularly in digital multi-effects units) can match. And by ‘natural,’ I’m referring to a result that sounds part of the guitar’s tone and not something that sounds rigid or harsh, as if it’s a different layer. Further to the quality of standards, Pedal Mob made the following statement on its site, although I’m unfamiliar with any regulations associated with it:
“Our pedals are certified not only with Korea’s KC mark, but also with international standards such as FCC (United States). Unlike many foreign brands that rely on Chinese OEM production, Pedal Mob Korea sources key components from Korea, Japan, Europe, and other regions—never from China. All assembly and fine-tuning are carried out domestically, balancing both quality and price.”
Although you can place chorus anywhere in the chain, depending on one’s preference, it did not sound ‘right’ when I placed it after a power amp, which has an additional gain stage. It sounded dark and muddy. After dirt pedals is a logical option, but with gain driving into the Choir Master Chorus, the effect was VERY noticeable and in-your-face, even with the controls down all the way. Nothing wrong with that, but I much prefer it prior to any dirt and near the front of the line. All the tone examples in the demo have this pedal in that location.
What makes the Choir Master Chorus so crisp and clean, yet natural, is inherent in its design: the peak curve was moved to the right (to the direction of high frequency), as opposed to the middle, which was adopted by the BOSS CE-2. Overall, low frequency goes down, but overall volume of frequencies from 1.2kHz goes up, thus providing a very articulate and clearer result. If placed after dirt, the Choir Master Chorus provides an even brighter tone, driven by the gain/distortion, and I found, as stated, such placement a bit intense for how I want it to sound.
Now, I already spoke about the sound, but will point out how great the Chorus Master Chorus works as a type of ‘doubler’ when the Depth is set low (or all the way down), and while adjusting the Rate accordingly. A very slow rate seems ideal for rhythm, giving it a thicker and more defined tone that fattens just right. Depending on the dirt pedal and rhythm/riff, I may increase both a touch. With lead, I still keep the Depth somewhat low (10-o’clock or all the way down) and tweak the Rate based on what I’m playing (lower Rate with slow and hanging notes, but perhaps a higher Rate with faster notes). Of course, you can achieve those classic Rock chorus sounds with ease (Rush comes to mind). All this is explored in the demo.
At its price and size (3.7x1.9x1.9 [inch]/93x47x47[mm], and only 0.33lbs/150g, I recommend chorus lovers to look into this simplified and great sounding pedal. The Choir Master Chorus requires DC9V center-negative and 20mA current draw.
https://www.pedalmob.com/pedals
The Choir Master Chorus integrates the BBD analog chip, which is the same found in the classic CE-2 chorus sound. The result is a natural modulation, which I don’t find most digital chorus sources (particularly in digital multi-effects units) can match. And by ‘natural,’ I’m referring to a result that sounds part of the guitar’s tone and not something that sounds rigid or harsh, as if it’s a different layer. Further to the quality of standards, Pedal Mob made the following statement on its site, although I’m unfamiliar with any regulations associated with it:
“Our pedals are certified not only with Korea’s KC mark, but also with international standards such as FCC (United States). Unlike many foreign brands that rely on Chinese OEM production, Pedal Mob Korea sources key components from Korea, Japan, Europe, and other regions—never from China. All assembly and fine-tuning are carried out domestically, balancing both quality and price.”
Although you can place chorus anywhere in the chain, depending on one’s preference, it did not sound ‘right’ when I placed it after a power amp, which has an additional gain stage. It sounded dark and muddy. After dirt pedals is a logical option, but with gain driving into the Choir Master Chorus, the effect was VERY noticeable and in-your-face, even with the controls down all the way. Nothing wrong with that, but I much prefer it prior to any dirt and near the front of the line. All the tone examples in the demo have this pedal in that location.
What makes the Choir Master Chorus so crisp and clean, yet natural, is inherent in its design: the peak curve was moved to the right (to the direction of high frequency), as opposed to the middle, which was adopted by the BOSS CE-2. Overall, low frequency goes down, but overall volume of frequencies from 1.2kHz goes up, thus providing a very articulate and clearer result. If placed after dirt, the Choir Master Chorus provides an even brighter tone, driven by the gain/distortion, and I found, as stated, such placement a bit intense for how I want it to sound.
Now, I already spoke about the sound, but will point out how great the Chorus Master Chorus works as a type of ‘doubler’ when the Depth is set low (or all the way down), and while adjusting the Rate accordingly. A very slow rate seems ideal for rhythm, giving it a thicker and more defined tone that fattens just right. Depending on the dirt pedal and rhythm/riff, I may increase both a touch. With lead, I still keep the Depth somewhat low (10-o’clock or all the way down) and tweak the Rate based on what I’m playing (lower Rate with slow and hanging notes, but perhaps a higher Rate with faster notes). Of course, you can achieve those classic Rock chorus sounds with ease (Rush comes to mind). All this is explored in the demo.
At its price and size (3.7x1.9x1.9 [inch]/93x47x47[mm], and only 0.33lbs/150g, I recommend chorus lovers to look into this simplified and great sounding pedal. The Choir Master Chorus requires DC9V center-negative and 20mA current draw.
https://www.pedalmob.com/pedals