The TC Electronic SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger is a stereo modulation pedal that puts three effects in one box: chorus, flanger and pitch modulation. It is also a piece of company history. Guitar World's Trevor Curwen writes that TC Electronic "started out in 1976 with just a single effects pedal, the Stereo Chorus Flanger (SCF)," making it the Danish maker's first product1. Guitar.com likewise describes it as "the first effects pedal it ever produced"2.
Three modes in one pedal
A main toggle switch selects which of the three modes the pedal is in once it is engaged3. Reviewer Mike B at Pedal of the Day called it a "classic, 3-in-1 pedal with a bunch of little options that make it really versatile and a great addition" to a player's sound overall3.
| Mode | What it does |
|---|---|
| Chorus | Standard chorus effect; Intensity acts as a dry/wet mix control3 |
| Flanger | Flanging; Intensity controls the strength of the comb filter, almost like a feedback control3 |
| Pitch Modulation | Intensity becomes a blend control, mixing chorus and vibrato together3 |
Controls
The front panel carries a small set of knobs whose behavior shifts with the mode3:
- Speed creates a fast or slow modulation sound, which Mike B notes makes experimentation easy3.
- Width controls how wide the overall sweep or modulation is, which he says opens up "a whole new field of sound"3.
- Intensity changes role by mode, as described in the table above3.
- Input Gain is a tiny knob for getting the right amount of the guitar's signal into the effect without overloading or distorting it3.
There is also an external bypass jack on the top of the pedal, for situations where the SCF sits on the back row of a pedalboard and the switch is hard to reach3.
Stereo operation
Being able to run in stereo is, in Mike B's words, "another key aspect" of the pedal, and it is especially useful with a two-amp setup for chorus and flanger effects3. That stereo design is where the name comes from, and it is carried through to the reissue, which has split stereo outputs4.
The SCF Gold reissue
In 2022, TC Electronic brought the design back as the SCF Gold Stereo Chorus Flanger, a reissue of the company's first pedal45. Premier Guitar's headline for its first look put it simply: "TC Electronic's 1st Pedal Reissued!"5. Pedal of the Day describes the SCF Gold as replicating its predecessor's analog modulation effects "to a T," and says it includes the analog preamp TC has become known for4. Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio sums up the layout: "this pedal houses three different effects: chorus, flanger and pitch modulation (vibrato), with controls for Speed, Width and Intensity"6.
The reissue adds an adjustable Input Gain that Pedal of the Day says brings "sparkle to your cleans and some grit when needed"4, and its split stereo outputs "open up a wide spectrum of sonic adventure"4.
The original SCF reviewed by Pedal of the Day in 2015 is an older pedal from past decades, not a reissue or rework. Players looking for the circuit today will generally find it in the SCF Gold reissue45.
TC Electronic has built a wide chorus range around this heritage, from the Corona Chorus and Corona Chorus+ to the June-60 and the Stereo Chorus+. For more on the effect type itself, see Chorus Pedals and Flanger Pedals412.
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Questions
What modes does the TC Electronic SCF have?
The SCF has three modulation modes: Chorus, Flanger and Pitch Modulation, selected with a main toggle switch. In Chorus mode the Intensity knob works as a mix control for the dry and wet signals, in Flanger mode it controls the strength of the comb filter like a feedback control, and in Pitch Modulation mode it blends chorus and vibrato together.
What does the Intensity knob do in each mode?
Its job changes with the mode. In Chorus mode it acts as a mix control for the dry and wet signals. In Flanger mode it controls the strength of the comb filter, working almost like a feedback control. In Pitch Modulation mode it is a blend control as well, mixing chorus and vibrato together.
Is the TC Electronic SCF stereo?
Yes. The pedal runs in stereo, which reviewer Mike B at Pedal of the Day called a key aspect of the design, and it is especially useful with a two-amp setup for chorus and flanger effects. The SCF Gold reissue carries split stereo outputs for the same purpose.
What is the Input Gain knob on the SCF for?
The Input Gain is a small knob for getting the right amount of your guitar's signal into the effect without overloading or distorting it. On the SCF Gold reissue, the adjustable Input Gain can also be used to add grit when needed.
Was the SCF TC Electronic's first product?
Yes. Guitar World's Trevor Curwen writes that TC Electronic started out in 1976 with just a single effects pedal, the Stereo Chorus Flanger. Pedal of the Day describes the SCF Gold as a reissue of that first pedal.
What is the TC Electronic SCF Gold?
The SCF Gold Stereo Chorus Flanger is TC Electronic's reissue of its first pedal. It replicates the original's analog modulation effects and includes the analog preamp TC has become known for, with controls for Speed, Width and Intensity, chorus, flanger and pitch modulation modes, and split stereo outputs.
Sources (6)
- TC Electronic SCF Gold review, Guitar World, 2022-05-11
- TC Electronic reissues its first pedal, the Stereo Chorus Flanger, Guitar.com, 2021-12-23
- TC Electronic SCF Stereo Chorus Flanger, Pedal of the Day (www.pedal-of-the-day.com), 2015-11-10
- TC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus Flanger, Pedal of the Day, 2022-05-09
- TC Electronic SCF Gold Review: Stereo Chorus Flanger, Premier Guitar, 2022-01-13
- TC Electronic SCF Gold Stereo Chorus+, Delicious Audio, 2023-09-10
