Beetronics Seabee Harmochorus

The Beetronics Seabee Harmochorus is a multi-chorus pedal that combines a conventional analog chorus with a set of pitch-shifting modes Beetronics calls Harmochorus. It was announced in March 2023 after more than three years of development, and launched at $349¹². The core idea is a hybrid circuit: the signal passes through a genuine bucket-brigade (BBD) chip for the analog chorus texture, while the chorus delay time is digitally controlled, which is what allows the pedal to shift pitch in ways a standard BBD chorus cannot³⁴.

For a player, that means one box covers everything from a lush vintage chorus swirl to arpeggiated, pitch-bending patterns, dual-speed modulation, chord-based arpeggios and randomized sequences⁵. It is a deep pedal: 16 onboard presets, stereo I/O, MIDI, tap tempo and expression control are all built in³, and Guitar.com's reviewer noted that even with the 38-page manual to hand there is a lot to learn⁶.

Chorus and pitch-shifting Harmochorus in one pedal

The pedal is organized around two effect families, selected with a Modes switch, with three modes in each⁷⁸. The Chorus side delivers analog bucket-brigade modulation with ramping and dual-speed options; the Harmochorus side is what Beetronics calls "a never-before-heard pitch shifting modulation that can certainly inspire new genres"³⁴.

Beetronics describes the range of sounds in characteristically vivid terms:

The pedal is built for players who like to explore every corner of what a chorus can do, including harmonizing and more complex routing¹⁰. Its four input level options let you process guitar, bass, active pickups or synthesizers, so it is not limited to a standard guitar signal⁴⁷.

Chorus modes and Harmochorus modes

Each family has three modes, and the second toggle switch navigates all six⁸.

The Chorus modes let you vary between two different speeds or modulation intensities, sweep the intensity from zero to maximum, or ramp to a longer delay time⁹. On the Harmochorus side, gearnews.com reported you can choose from two different pitches and speeds, a combination of twelve chords and twelve different arpeggio patterns, or random sound patterns⁹.

Controls and hidden functions

The control surface, as listed by Guitar World, consists of Ramp/Tone, Rate/Mix and Depth/Feedback knobs, a Ramp switch, a Modes switch, an Effect switch, a Ramp/Tap footswitch and a Bypass footswitch¹. Several deeper functions live behind a hold of the bypass footswitch: the ramp LEDs change to white while holding, indicating you are in an alternate control mode¹¹.

• Ramp Speed Offset: while holding the bypass, adjusting the ramp speed changes the center point of the LFO, and it interacts with the depth control³.
• Rate 2 Subdivision: while holding the bypass, Rate 2 becomes a subdivision of Rate 1 instead of a linear control, with 12 subdivisions available; released, it works as a regular control³.

Presets are divided across four color-coded banks³, and Guitar World lists the 16 presets as 8 factory and 8 user slots¹.

Custom Shop and limited editions

Alongside the standard pedal, Beetronics sells Custom Shop units with individual serial numbers (examples include SB041, SB047, SB066, SB074, SB115 and SB142) and a series of Limited Edition finishes such as DARK, Red Fade, Orange Buzz and Siren¹²¹¹¹³. The Custom Shop SB142 page lists the same feature set as the standard pedal, 3 Chorus modes, 3 Harmochorus modes, 16 onboard presets, tap tempo, MIDI and expression, at £346.00⁴. Limited Edition finishes have carried prices of £229.00 to £269.00 on Beetronics' own store, and many editions, including the Custom Shop units, are listed as sold out¹⁴¹¹.

The pedal measures 5.5 x 4 x 2.75 inches including knobs and switches, weighs 1.25 lbs (0.5 kg), and carries Beetronics' 30-Day Hive Happiness Guarantee, with shipping not included; worn or incomplete returns may face a 15% restocking fee or store credit instead⁴.

What reviewers said

Published reviewers found a lot to like in the design and a lot to dig through in use.

• gearnews.com: "The Beetronics Seabee Harmochorus looks stunning and has a lot of attention to detail in the overall design aesthetic," going the extra mile in design, circuit board layout and overall quality, though the writer also called it "a fun creative effect pedal, albeit an expensive one"⁹.
• Guitar World's Trevor Curwen concluded: "If you want a modulation pedal with a difference, this will reward you with sounds you won't find elsewhere. You'll have to dig deep with the controls and your wallet"¹.

The consensus across the press is that the Seabee rewards patience: the sounds are unusual and hard to find elsewhere, but the control count and the price ask something of the player in return¹⁶⁹.

How it differs from the alternatives

Against a standard analog chorus, the Seabee Harmochorus adds the pitch-shifting Harmochorus modes, presets, MIDI and stereo I/O on top of the BBD chorus core³⁴. Beetronics also offers a simplified sibling, the Seabee Lite, a fully analog BBD chorus built for players who want the core chorus sound without the deep control set¹⁰. For a broader look at the category, see the chorus pedals page.

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