The Guyatone MCm5 Micro Chorus is a compact analog chorus pedal from Guyatone, part of the second batch of the company's Mighty Micro series announced in August 20091. Its circuit is built around the Panasonic MN3207 bucket brigade IC, a chip the maker describes as now-defunct, and it carries a Level control that adjusts the output from unity gain to a subtle boost2.
What sets the MCm5 apart from most compact choruses is its wave switch. Instead of one fixed modulation shape, the player selects between three oscillator waveforms, which Guyatone says can create many new chorusing effects, including a unique square wave vibrato setting2.
An analog chorus with three wave shapes
The MCm5 is built around the Panasonic MN3207 bucket brigade IC, a delay chip that Guyatone notes is now defunct2. Bucket brigade chips store the signal in stages and pass it along a little at a time, which is how analog chorus gets its character: the delayed signal is modulated and mixed back with the dry signal, and the two slightly detuned copies create the swelling, doubled sound players associate with chorus. Premier Guitar's 2009 announcement listed the pedal as an analog chorus with the MN3207 and true bypass switching1.
The wave switch is the unusual part. Most chorus pedals use a triangle wave oscillator and leave it at that. The MCm5 lets the player choose2:
| Switch position | Waveform | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| SIN | Sine wave | Smooth, rounded modulation sweep2 |
| TRI | Triangle wave | The classic chorus shape, a linear up and down sweep2 |
| SQR | Square wave | Steps abruptly between modulation values, which Guyatone describes as a unique square wave vibrato setting2 |
The square wave setting is the one experienced players will find least familiar. Rather than sweeping the delay time smoothly, it jumps between two values, producing a stepped pitch change closer to vibrato than conventional chorus2.
The controls
The MCm5 carries four knobs alongside the wave switch2:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| RATE | Adjusts the speed of the chorus effect; turn clockwise to speed up the swell2 |
| DEPTH | Adjusts the depth of the chorus effect; turn clockwise to deepen the swell2 |
| EFFECT LEVEL | Adjusts the strength of the chorus; turn clockwise to emphasize the effect2 |
| LEVEL | Adjusts output volume when the effect is engaged; turn clockwise to increase volume2 |
The Level control is worth noting for pedalboard planning: Guyatone says it adjusts the output from unity gain to a subtle boost2, so the pedal can act as a mild volume lift when the chorus is on rather than only matching the bypassed signal.
Rate and Effect Level answer different questions. Rate sets how fast the modulation moves; Effect Level sets how much of the chorus character is present in the output. A player wanting a slow, subtle shimmer would set Rate low and Effect Level low, while a more pronounced, seasick sweep calls for higher settings on both, with Depth controlling how far the pitch swings2.
Versions and availability
The hand painted B-stock version of the MCm5, listed at £61.00 GBP, is sold out. B-stock units may show signs of use and very minor cosmetic damage, with boxes showing some wear2.
The original run carried a list price of $190.00 with a minimum advertised price of $161.50 at the 2009 launch1. The B-stock hand painted version appeared later at £61.00 GBP in a UK listing, but that stock is gone2. The MN3207 chip at the heart of the circuit is no longer manufactured2, which limits how easily pedals of this design can be produced today.
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Questions
Is the Guyatone MCm5 analog?
Yes. Guyatoke describes the MCm5 as an analog chorus, and the circuit is built around the Panasonic MN3207 bucket brigade IC, the same delay chip family used in many classic analog chorus and flanger designs. The maker positions it as analog tone in an ultra-compact enclosure.
What do the SIN, TRI and SQR settings do?
They select the oscillator waveform that modulates the chorus. SIN is a sine wave, TRI is a triangle wave, and SQR is a square wave. The square setting steps between modulation values rather than sweeping smoothly, which Guyatone describes as a unique square wave vibrato setting.
What chip does the Guyatone MCm5 use?
The Panasonic MN3207 bucket brigade IC. Guyatone notes this chip is now defunct, meaning it is no longer manufactured, which is part of why bucket brigade chorus pedals of this kind are no longer widely produced.
What is the difference between Rate and Effect Level on the MCm5?
Rate adjusts the speed of the chorus effect, turning clockwise to speed up the swell. Effect Level adjusts the strength of the chorus, turning clockwise to emphasize the effect. Depth is a separate control that sets how deep the swell goes.
Is the Guyatone MCm5 true bypass?
Yes. Premier Guitar's 2009 release announcement for the Mighty Micro series lists the MCm5 Micro Chorus as an analog chorus with true bypass switching, so the signal passes unaffected when the pedal is off.
What is the list price of the Guyatone MCm5 Micro Chorus?
The 2009 list price was $190.00, with a minimum advertised price of $161.50. A B-stock hand painted version was later listed at £61.00 GBP, but that listing shows as sold out.
Sources (2)
- Guyatone Releases Second Batch of Mighty Micros, Premier Guitar, 2009-08-30
- GUYATONE MCm5 Might Micro Chorus, Godlyke Distributing, Inc.
