Horrothia FX Type One Stereo Analog Chorus Ensemble

The Horrothia FX Type One Stereo Analog Chorus Ensemble is a one-knob chorus pedal from British builder Horrothia FX, and it was the company's first pedal¹. It is loosely modeled on the Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble from the mid-1970s, sharing that pedal's distinctive LFO waveform while being fine-tuned for maximum clean headroom, minimal noise, and solid bass response¹². Pedal of the Day called it "a one-knob modulation machine" covering both chorus and vibrato territory³.

A Boss CE-1-based circuit

The Type One's design starts with the Boss CE-1, a chorus pedal with a vibrato mode that Roland built around the circuit from its JC-120 Jazz Chorus amplifiers, first released in 1975⁵. The CE-1 used all-new analog BBD (bucket brigade device) circuitry and offered stereo outputs at a time when few effects pedals did⁶⁵. Horrothia Effects describes the Type One as loosely modeled around the CE-1's DNA².

Horrothia's take is deliberately loose rather than a clone. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the Type One as "loosely model around the DNA of the true sultan of chorus, the Boss CE-1 from the mid-1970s," and both the Type One and the CE-1 use what RockBoard's PedalPedia calls "a very unique LFO waveform unlike any other chorus or vibrato pedal"². Delicious Audio notes that the Type One shares that LFO shape but was fine-tuned for maximum clean headroom, minimal noise, and flawless bass response¹.

Controls, footswitch and outputs

The Type One keeps its control surface to a single knob. Pedal of the Day found "a ton of range in this lone dial," with the unique LFO waveform setting it apart from other chorus or vibrato pedals³. The pedal was also tuned for maximum clean headroom³.

The arcade-style, military-grade footswitch can be configured to work in either latching or momentary mode³¹. Latching is the conventional behavior, switching the effect on and off with a press; momentary holds the effect only while your foot stays on the switch, useful for quick stabs of modulation.

The dual outputs, one Wet and one Dry, are where the stereo part of the name comes in³¹:

• Two amps: drive a dry and a wet amplifier for what Delicious Audio calls true "mid-air" chorusing¹
• One amp: run mono into a single amplifier¹
• Blend character: Pedal of the Day describes the Wet and Dry pair as "giving you the perfect mix of subtlety and sparkle," especially in stereo³

What reviewers said

Pedal of the Day reviewed the Type One in February 2021 and found its sound quality "ethereal and encompassing," adding what they described as a blanket of modulation to your tone, especially in stereo from the dual outputs³. Their verdict:

Delicious Audio added the Type One to its list of Best Stereo Chorus Pedals in July 2024, calling it an interesting new take in the chorus niche¹. Pedal of the Day later named the Type One Chorus and the Teeth Overdrive from Horrothia FX among their favorite pedals of the year⁴.

Where it sits in the Horrothia FX range

The Type One is a stereo analog chorus ensemble from Horrothia FX, a maker whose small range also centers on this circuit. On power, the maker notes the pedal is ideally run at 12V, although 9V works just fine too³.

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