The Boss CE-3 is a stereo chorus pedal released in 1982, and as GuitarPlayer's Dave Hunter puts it, stereo chorus and vibrato "did arrive in compact pedal form in 1982, however, with the updated Boss CE-3"1. It followed the CE-2, Boss' first compact pedal chorus from 1979, and Fromel Electronics describes it as "the stereo version of the classic CE-2 circuit," adding that many boutique chorus builders copy it23. Boss itself frames it the same way: the CE-2 was "Superseded by the stereo-equipped CE-3 Chorus in 1982"4.
Controls and modes
The CE-3 keeps the CE-2's Rate and Depth layout and adds a Mode control. MusicRadar's Simon Bradley, writing about the later CE-5, notes that "the CE-3 had these plus a Mode control which offered two different output options"10.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate | Controls the overall speed of the chorus effect11 |
| Depth | Adjusts the intensity or presence of the effect, from a slight, mild chorus to a shimmery, watery, liquid tone11 |
| Mode | Controls what comes out of the stereo outputs11 |
The Mode switch is what sets the CE-3 apart from a mono chorus like the CE-210114:
- Mode I makes the chorus effect come out of both outputs11.
- Mode II allows the effect to come through Output A, while the instrument's regular, dry signal comes out of Output B11.
Mode II should only be used if you are running a stereo, two-amp setup, otherwise the chorus effect will not be present5. With a single amp, use Mode I.
CE-3 versus CE-2
The two pedals are close relatives. Guitar FX Layouts describes the CE-3 as "basically a stereo version of the CE-2 but using an MN3207 instead of MN3007, the rest of the parts very similar"7. The chip swap matters to tone: Guitar Pedal X associates the 3207 plus 3102 chipset with a brighter output, in contrast to the warmer character tied to the earlier design6.
On sound, Pedal of the Day's reviewer came down in the middle:
"Tone-wise, the CE-2 might sound a hair smoother and a little more analog, but the CE-3 can definitely hold its own."
Fromel Electronics adds that "the stock CE-3 can be subtle," which is why the pedal is a common target for modification2.
Where it sits in Boss' chorus line
The CE-3 belongs to the chorus family that runs from the CE-1 through the CE-2, which Boss produced from 1979 and later discontinued, and on to the CE-5 and CH-1 Stereo Super Chorus12. Within that line, the CE-3 is basically a stereo version of the CE-2, using an MN3207 bucket-brigade chip instead of the CE-2's MN3007, with the rest of the parts very similar127. Boss has since revived the classic chorus designs in the CE-2W Waza Craft8.
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Questions
What is the difference between the Boss CE-2 and CE-3?
The CE-2, released in 1979, was Boss' first compact chorus pedal and is mono. The CE-3 arrived in 1982 as the stereo-equipped successor, adding a second output and a Mode control that decides what comes out of each output. Circuit-wise, the CE-3 is basically a stereo version of the CE-2, using an MN3207 bucket-brigade chip instead of the CE-2's MN3007, with the rest of the parts very similar. Pedal of the Day's reviewer found the CE-2 might sound a hair smoother, but that the CE-3 can definitely hold its own.
Does the Boss CE-3 need a stereo setup?
Not in Mode I, which sends the chorus effect out of both outputs, so a single amp works fine. Mode II is the one that expects a stereo rig: it puts the effect through Output A and the dry signal through Output B, and Pedal of the Day's reviewer notes it should only be used with a two-amp setup, otherwise the chorus effect will not be present.
What does Mode II do on the CE-3?
Mode II lets the chorus effect come through Output A while your instrument's regular, dry signal comes out of Output B. That split is meant for running two amps, with one hearing the wet signal and the other the dry. If you are not running a stereo, two-amp setup, the reviewer warns the chorus effect will not be present, so Mode I is the setting to use with a single amp.
Which chips does the CE-3 use?
The CE-3 is associated with the MN3207 bucket-brigade chip paired with its 3102 clock driver, the 3207 plus 3102 chipset. Guitar Pedal X notes that this chipset is typically associated with a brighter output compared to the MN3007 used in the earlier CE-2. Guitar FX Layouts describes the CE-3 as basically a stereo version of the CE-2 with the MN3207 swapped in for the MN3007 and the rest of the parts very similar.
Is the Boss CE-3 still in production?
No. The CE-3 is a discontinued pedal from 1982. Boss later revived the sounds of its classic chorus pedals in the CE-2W Waza Craft, which Delicious Audio notes includes modes from both discontinued models, and the CE-5 Stereo Chorus Ensemble carries the stereo chorus idea in Boss' current compact line.
Sources (12)
- Pioneering Chorus: How the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus Amp and Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble Pedal Set Industry Standards, GuitarPlayer (Future), 2023-02-07
- Boss CE-3 Chorus Modifications, Fromel Electronics
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
- The PX-1 Plugout FX: Timeless BOSS Pedals Reborn, BOSS (articles.boss.info), 2025-06-06
- Boss CE-3 Chorus, Pedal of the Day, 2016-03-23
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2024-08-30
- Guitar FX Layouts: Boss CE-2B, Guitar FX Layouts (tagboardeffects.blogspot.com), 2014-07-02
- BOSS CE-2w Chorus, Delicious Audio, 2023-10-16
- Build Your Own Clone Analog Chorus Pedal Review, Premier Guitar, 2010-10-20
- BOSS CE-5 Chorus Ensemble, MusicRadar, 2010-08-11
- Boss CE-3 Chorus (Stereo), Pedal of the Day, 2023-05-03
- Heard on Classic Records by the Cult, the Smiths, Frank Zappa, David Bowie, Metallica, Talking Heads, King Crimson and More, the Boss and Roland Chorus Sounds Are a Mainstay of Rock, GuitarPlayer, 2023-02-07
