The Big Joe B-305 Analog Chorus is a chorus pedal built on the classic analog bucket brigade (BBD) circuit, the chip-based design behind most traditional analog chorus sounds. Big Joe describes it as a deep and lush sounding true bypass, stereo chorus with variable Rate and Depth controls, and says the BBD circuit creates huge, sweeping modulation effects as well as spacious 12-string style sounds1.
Pedal of the Day's 2018 review describes the B-305 as a warm, un-digitalized tone enhancer, and the maker says it adds shimmer and warmth, and is perfect for strummed passages and distorted power chords12. If you are new to chorus as an effect type, it sits alongside phasers, flangers and vibratos in the modulation family: see Chorus Pedals for how it compares.
The controls: Rate, Depth and Level
The B-305 keeps things simple with three knobs, in keeping with the rest of the line. Pedal of the Day notes it is part of Big Joe's "300 Series" of pedals, which all feature three control knobs2.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate | Sets the modulation speed2 |
| Depth | Allows adjustment to the intensity and presence of the effect2 |
| Level | Gives you the ability to set how big the chorus sounds2 |
Big Joe's own description highlights the variable Rate and Depth controls as the core of the design1. There are no presets, no tone shaping beyond the three knobs and no internal switches mentioned: it is a set-and-adjust chorus in the traditional mold.
Stereo outputs, inputs and power
The B-305 has a single 6.3 mm mono input and two 6.3 mm mono outputs, labeled left and right, which is what makes it a stereo chorus1. Pedal of the Day notes that the stereo outputs let you really open up the sound that comes pouring out of this pedal, giving new and lavish amounts of width, and they suit a two-amp rig where the chorus is spread across both amps2.
Power comes from a 9VDC supply with a 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm barrel connector and polarity (-) inside, the standard center-negative arrangement. Big Joe notes that the supply is not included, so you will need your own 9V adapter or pedalboard power output1. A Status LED shows when the effect is engaged1.
The B-305's power supply is not included with the pedal, according to Big Joe's product page1.
What reviewers said
Pedal of the Day's review, published 6 April 2018, was favorable on both tone and how it sits in a rig:
"Working well with other pedals, the B-305 adds in the perfect amount of shimmer and shake, without being too overbearing"2
The same review calls it a deep and lush-sounding chorus effect with three easy to use controls, and describes plugging this baby blue beauty into your amp, so the enclosure is finished in baby blue2.
Videos
Portal Gitarowy
Darryl Arthur
Pedal of the Day
Questions
Is the Big Joe B-305 true bypass?
Yes. Big Joe's product page describes the B-305 as a deep and lush sounding true bypass, stereo chorus with variable Rate and Depth controls. True bypass means that when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through it without any of the chorus circuitry loading or coloring the tone, so it can sit on a board and only come into play when you switch it on.
Is the Big Joe B-305 a BBD chorus?
It is. Both the maker and the Pedal of the Day review describe the B-305 as using the classic analog bucket brigade (BBD) circuit. Bucket brigade chips are the traditional way analog chorus pedals create their delayed, modulated signal, and they are the reason the maker and reviewers describe the pedal's tone as warm rather than digital.
Can the B-305 run into two amps?
Yes. The B-305 has two 6.3 mm mono outputs, labeled left and right, and Pedal of the Day notes that the stereo outputs let you open up the sound in a way that suits a two-amp setup. Run one cable to each amp and the modulated signal is spread between them for a wider chorus effect.
What is the power polarity of the Big Joe B-305?
The B-305 runs on a 9VDC power supply with a 2.1 mm x 5.5 mm barrel connector and polarity (-) inside, which is the standard center-negative arrangement used by most pedal power supplies. Big Joe notes that the power supply is not included, so you will need to provide your own.
How many knobs does the B-305 have?
Three. The B-305 is part of Big Joe's 300 Series of pedals, which all feature three control knobs. On the B-305 those are Rate, which sets the modulation speed, Depth, which adjusts the intensity and presence of the effect, and Level, which sets how big the chorus sounds.
Sources (2)
- B-305 ANALOG CHORUS, Big Joe Stomp Box Company
- Big Joe Stomp Box Company B-305 Analog Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2018-04-06