The MXR Black Label Chorus is an analog chorus pedal announced in December 2009. MXR built it around bucket brigade circuitry, the same chip-based approach used in vintage chorus designs, and described the result as "the only way to get truly rich and warm analog chorusing"1. The pedal carries the Black Label name from MXR's collaboration with Zakk Wylde, and the company called it "Zakk's secret weapon to thicken up his wall of distortion and add liquid dimension and texture"1.
Circuit and sound
The heart of the pedal is its bucket brigade circuitry, the analog delay-line design that predates digital processing and is prized for the warmth it lends modulated effects1. MXR paired that core with High and Low cut filters, which shape the tone of the chorused signal, alongside the standard Level, Rate and Depth controls. The company credits the filters with dialing in the pedal's vintage style tones1.
For players comparing analog chorus designs, MXR's current range includes the MXR Analog Chorus, the MXR M234 Analog Chorus and the compact MXR Micro Chorus, and the Wylde collaboration continues in the MXR Wylde Audio Chorus.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the overall output level |
| Rate | Sets the speed of the chorus modulation |
| Depth | Sets the intensity of the chorus modulation |
| High cut | Rolls off top end of the effect for vintage style tones1 |
| Low cut | Trims low end of the effect for vintage style tones1 |
Stereo outputs
The Black Label Chorus has two outputs, and MXR's stated use for them is a two-amp rig: "For the ultimate in spatial chorusing, hook up two amps via the two outputs for a wide and sweeping stereo spread"1. Feeding a single amp from one output works too, but the pedal's stereo character comes out only when both outputs are used.
Build
MXR specified a heavy-duty housing with durable jacks and switches, which the company described as built "for a lifetime on the road"1.
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Questions
Is the MXR Black Label Chorus analog or digital?
It is an analog pedal. MXR built it on bucket brigade circuitry, which the company described as the only way to get truly rich and warm analog chorusing. Bucket brigade chips pass the audio signal through a chain of capacitors to create the delayed, modulated voice that chorus needs, all without digital conversion.
Does the MXR Black Label Chorus work in stereo?
Yes. The pedal has two outputs, and MXR suggested hooking up two amps via those outputs for a wide and sweeping stereo spread. Running one output into a single amp works as well, but the two-amp setup is where the pedal's spatial chorusing opens up.
How much does the MXR Black Label Chorus cost?
When MXR announced the pedal in December 2009, the listed street price was $99.99 in US dollars. Prices on the used market today will vary, since the pedal has been out of the spotlight for some years.
What do the High and Low cut filters do on a chorus pedal?
On the Black Label Chorus, the High and Low cut filters shape which frequencies the chorus effect emphasizes, and MXR credits them with dialing in its vintage style tones. A high cut trims brightness from the modulated signal, while a low cut keeps the effect out of the low end, tightening the voice.
Sources (1)
- MXR Announces Black Label Chorus Pedal, Premier Guitar, 2009-12-03
