TC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus+

Chorus, pitch modulation and flanger

The SCF Gold packs three modulation effects into one box, selected by a mode switch¹⁴. Each mode works from the same core controls, so a player dials in Speed, Width and Intensity and then picks the effect character with the switch.

• Chorus: Delicious Audio describes the chorus mode as thick, lush, and gooey⁵.
• Pitch Modulation: a vibrato-style effect. Pedal of the Day found it "yields a more subtle character ideal for adding girth and excitement to higher-gain tones"³. In this mode the Intensity control works as a blend between chorus and vibrato, for sounds between the two⁶.
• Flanger: the sweeping, jet-like end of the pedal's range, sharing the same controls¹.

Pedal of the Day's review of the original SCF called it "a classic, 3-in-1 pedal with a bunch of little options that make it really versatile and a great addition to your sound overall"⁶, and the Gold reissue replicates its predecessor's analog modulation effects closely³.

The controls and the built-in preamp

The control set is deliberately simple: Speed, Width, Intensity, a Mode switch, and Input Gain¹. Speed sets how fast the modulation moves, Width how far it sweeps, and Intensity how deep the effect sits in your signal.

The Input Gain control is tied to the pedal's built-in preamp, a feature TC Electronic has become known for³. The preamp has high headroom, controls the input level, and features an overload indicator so you can see when you are pushing it too hard⁵. Gearnews notes that thanks to the input gain control, you can set just the right amount of gain for any instrument⁷, and Pedal of the Day found it adds sparkle to clean tones and some grit when needed³.

A reissue of TC's first pedal

The SCF Gold is a reissue with updates of TC Electronic's first pedal ever⁵. Guitar.com reported that TC Electronic reissued the first effects pedal it ever produced, the Stereo Chorus Flanger⁸, and Guitar World notes the Gold version was made available to celebrate the pedal's 45th anniversary⁴.

The reissue is not a straight copy. Guitar World's review points to updates in the circuit, notably a new op-amp in the preamp stage⁴. A limited edition version, the SCF Gold SE, followed with further refinements: a lower noise floor than the original, more headroom, improved dynamics, a brighter LED, and a more user-friendly switch⁹.

Stereo outputs

The SCF Gold runs in stereo, which is a key part of the design and the reason for the "Stereo" in the name. Connections are a standard input and standard outputs, L (mono) and R⁴, and the pedal can be operated in mono or stereo⁹. The stereo outputs open up spatial effects¹, and Pedal of the Day notes that running it in stereo with a two-amp setup is another key aspect of the pedal, with the split stereo outputs opening a wide spectrum of sonic adventure³⁶.

For a player comparing TC Electronic chorus pedals, the SCF Gold sits alongside the company's other chorus designs, including the Corona Chorus, the June-60, and the Dreamscape, but it is the only one carrying the original SCF's three-mode analog circuit and preamp³¹⁰¹.

Videos

Click to load

Click to load

Click to load