The Carl Martin Bass Chorus is a dual stereo analog chorus pedal built specifically for bass guitar. It carries two independent sets of speed and depth controls, so you can dial in two different chorus sounds and switch between them, and Carl Martin says it has been fine-tuned so the full chorus effect is evident as far down as low B, where many guitar-oriented chorus pedals lose the effect in the low end1.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Bass Chorus is a chorus pedal in the bass lane: it doubles your signal and detunes the copy to add width and movement. Carl Martin describes it as "optimized for full-range bass from low B and up," and says it "has been extensively fine-tuned so that the full effect of the chorus is evident as far down as low B," a deliberate contrast with mid-range-heavy guitar chorus pedals1.
The pedal has two footswitches, each with a distinct job:
- Select button: uses or bypasses the effect, and provides true bypass1
- On button: chooses between your two chorus settings1
Each of the two settings has its own independent speed and depth controls, so one can be a subtle thickener and the other a wide, obvious sweep, and you can call up either from the On button1.
Power and enclosure
The Bass Chorus runs from a built-in regulated +/-12V power supply, which Carl Martin says the housing encloses "for maximum headroom and clarity"1. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the current draw at 130mA2.
The pedal sits in Carl Martin's newer, wider and lower metal housing with chicken-head knobs, the same enclosure philosophy the maker applies across the current range1.
Bass Chorus versus Chorus XII
Carl Martin says the Bass Chorus is "similar in function to the older Chorus XII," but housed in the new wider/lower metal enclosure with chicken-head knobs1. The other difference is tuning: this version is voiced for bass, with the full chorus effect reaching down to low B1. Players looking at Carl Martin's bass range may also come across the Carl Martin Bass Drive, a different pedal in the maker's bass line.
Players who use it
Carl Martin's artist page lists two bassists as using the Bass Chorus:
Questions
Is the Carl Martin Bass Chorus true bypass?
Yes. Carl Martin describes the Bass Chorus as true bypass, engaged through the Select button. The Select button lets you use or bypass the effect, while the On button chooses between the two chorus settings you have dialed in on the pedal's two independent sets of speed and depth controls.
Is the Carl Martin Bass Chorus analog or digital?
The Bass Chorus is an analog pedal. RockBoard's PedalPedia lists its circuit type as analog, and Carl Martin describes it as a dual stereo bass chorus with independent speed and depth controls, optimized for full-range bass from low B and up.
How much current does the Carl Martin Bass Chorus draw?
RockBoard's PedalPedia lists the current draw at 130mA. That is worth checking against your power supply, since many daisy-chain supplies cannot comfortably deliver that much current to a single output.
Does the Carl Martin Bass Chorus work in stereo?
Yes. Carl Martin describes the Bass Chorus as a dual stereo effects pedal with independent sets of speed and depth controls, so you can run two different chorus settings and choose between them with the On button.
How is the Bass Chorus different from the Carl Martin Chorus XII?
Carl Martin says the Bass Chorus is similar in function to the older Chorus XII, but it is housed in the newer, wider and lower metal enclosure with chicken-head knobs. That housing also encloses a regulated +/-12V power supply, which the maker says delivers maximum headroom and clarity. The Bass Chorus is also fine-tuned for bass, with the full chorus effect evident down to low B.
Who plays the Carl Martin Bass Chorus?
Carl Martin's artist page lists bassists Giorgio Lanteri and James Lomenzo as players who use the Bass Chorus.
Sources (3)
- Bass Chorus, Carl Martin, 2026
- Bass Chorus by Carl Martin, RockBoard (PedalPedia), 2026
- Artists - Carl Martin, Carl Martin (carlmartin.com), 2026
