Red Witch adds Dark mode and 15V support to Empress Deus Chorus

April 10, 2022 · 3 sources

Red Witch has reintroduced its Empress Chorus as the Empress Deus Chorus, an all-analog stereo chorus and vibrato pedal, the maker announced. The Deus version adds a Dark mode and compatibility with 15V power supplies¹².

The pedal is built around a new-old-stock MN3007 Bucket Brigade Delay chip¹². A right-hand toggle switch selects the Dark mode, which Red Witch says emulates the high roll-off of the classic Boss CE-1¹². A second toggle switches between chorus and vibrato³. The four knobs are Mix, Depth, Voice and Velocity; the Voice control changes the delay time of the chorus²³. The pedal runs from a standard 9V DC supply or a 15V supply, which Red Witch says allows more headroom¹².

Red Witch states the original Empress Chorus was used exclusively by Andy Summers for all chorus sounds on the Police reunion in 2007, and that the Deus gives access to the same sounds and circuit as Summers' unit¹².

Specifications from Red Witch:

Sources differ on price and availability. Guitar World reported in October 2021 that the pedal was available for $249 in a run of 70 hand-made units, each numbered and signed³. Red Witch's product page lists the Empress Deus at 199 USD as part of a sale of pedals with minor cosmetic imperfections, and marks it Sold Out¹. The page also states the pedal ships with a limited edition black knob option¹.