Boss CE-2W Waza Craft Chorus

The Boss CE-2W is a faithful recreation of the CE-2 — one of the most beloved chorus pedals ever made — realised using the same all-analogue bucket brigade delay technology as the original 1979 circuit. The W in CE-2W denotes Waza Craft, Boss's premium line of pedals built in Japan using hand-selected components and circuits optimised for maximum tonal integrity.

The CE-2W offers three modes selectable via a toggle switch. Standard mode replicates the CE-2 chorus, delivering the warm, liquid modulation that defined the sound of countless 1980s recordings. CE-1 Chorus mode goes a step further, emulating the earlier CE-1 Chorus Ensemble — a rackmount unit from 1976 that was the first commercially available chorus effect — using a higher-depth, more lush character that produces a noticeably richer and more three-dimensional sound. CE-1 Vibrato mode adds pitch-only modulation without the dry signal, producing a wavering, seasick effect that the CE-1 was also known for.

Two controls — Rate and Depth — keep operation intuitive. The bucket brigade circuitry gives the modulation a warmth and organic quality that digital chorus algorithms rarely replicate convincingly. There is a slight high-frequency softening inherent to bucket brigade operation, which adds to the vintage character rather than detracting from it.

Stereo output — Output A for mono, Output B for a second stereo signal — enables the CE-2W to feed two amplifiers for a wide stereo spread. For mono use, Output A carries the full mono signal. The pedal is built to a noticeably higher standard than the standard Boss compact line, with the added weight and build quality reflecting its Waza Craft provenance.

Who Is This For?

The CE-2W suits players who want authentic analogue chorus — particularly those chasing 1980s clean guitar tones, ambient layers, or the classic Andy Summers/Mark Knopfler-era chorus sound. It also appeals to players who have outgrown digital chorus approximations and want the real bucket brigade character. The CE-1 Vibrato mode is a bonus rarely found on compact pedals.