Boss CE-2 Chorus (1979)
A light-blue box the size of a paperback that put one amplifier's shimmer on half the pedalboards in the world.
Overview
The CE-2 is the pedal that made "chorus" a household word among guitarists, and it did it with two knobs. Boss introduced it in October 1979 as the first compact chorus unit the company produced. The format it set, a light-blue stompbox with Rate and Depth and nothing else, has barely changed since. The circuit is an LFO-controlled analog design. Collectors who've opened enough of them note that the CE-2 has more BBD stages than the CE-1 before it, with a higher clock frequency that extends the range and keeps the high end rich rather than smeared.
The result is a chorus that thickens a signal without turning it to mush. Owners describe it as warm, rich and dimensional, with a smoothness later digital and solid-state attempts often struggle to match. Boss's own advertising at the time positioned the CE-2 as a compact version of the legendary CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, and Mix (May 1980, p.99) described it in similar terms. It noted that the Rate and Depth controls could be tailored to guitar, keyboard, wind, brass, and vocal PA applications, and that the low noise floor made it as usable in the studio as on stage. The input impedance is higher than the CE-1's, and the mids are boosted. Both choices aim at electric guitar, not the keyboard-friendly low-impedance design of its predecessor.
Boss made something like twenty gajillion of these, to borrow a phrase, and many original specimens are still around and still sound great. The CE-2 is not a rare pedal, but it is a beloved one, and the number that survived decades of stomping says plenty about the build.
Key Features
Rate and Depth — Two Knobs, No Excuses
The control layout is simple. Rate sets the speed of the modulation, Depth sets how far the pitch wavers. That's it. There's no mix control, no tone shaping, no presets. You find the sound with two variables and get on with playing. The pedal is prized for its ability to thicken a guitar signal without muddying it.
2-Way Mode Switch
A small two-position switch toggles between two chorus voicings. Documentation doesn't specify exactly what changes between the two positions tonally, so owners are left to trust their ears. It gives a second flavor of modulation without adding a third knob to the top plate.
JFET Bypass Switching
The CE-2 switches its effect in and out with a JFET - a junction field-effect transistor - rather than a mechanical footswitch. That was standard practice for Boss at the time. With no mechanical contacts in the signal path there's no audible click when you stomp, and fewer moving parts means fewer points of failure. The tradeoff is that the pedal never fully disconnects the effect circuit from the signal path when off, so it isn't true bypass. Collectors note this as a genuine limitation by modern standards, particularly when the CE-2 is stacked with other buffered pedals. The buffered input also made longer effects chains much more feasible, a real benefit when pedalboards were getting crowded.
ACA Power and the PSA Conversion Question
Originally the CE-2 ran on a single 9V battery or a Boss ACA-series AC adapter. The stock pedal cannot accept a regulated 9V DC supply, the modern PSA standard, without modification. The lack of a standard DC jack became a well-known pain point as pedalboard power supplies standardized around 9V DC. Many units in circulation have since been converted to accept PSA 9V DC, and listings advertising that conversion are often more desirable to players who want plug-and-play reliability. Unmodified ACA-compatible models are increasingly rare as a result, which cuts both ways for collectors: originality versus convenience.
Made-in-Japan Construction
Early units carry the "MIJ Japan" stamp, and the pedal has serious heft for its size. Owners describe it as nearly indestructible, able to withstand years of stomping and travel, and many units from the early 1980s still function perfectly today. The dimensions are 70mm wide, 55mm tall, and 125mm deep, the classic Boss compact footprint. The light-blue enclosure is the other giveaway. Finding a working CE-2 isn't rare, but finding one with original paint and no dents is.
Historical Context
The CE-2 arrived in 1979, and its development was closely tied to the success of the Roland JC-120 Jazz Chorus amplifier, whose stereo chorus had become a sonic benchmark. Boss aimed to capture that amp's character in a portable format, and the CE-2 was the result. It was the first compact chorus unit Boss produced, and it marked a shift away from the rectangular "cow pie" look of the CE-1 toward the Boss compact pedal design that persists to this day.
Marketing of the CE-2 was stopped in November 1982, but the pedal was still produced and sold at least until 1990 according to some sources, with others claiming 1988 or even 1992 as the end date. The record is murky. Once the CE-3 launched, Boss typically phased out the older model, though production may have continued for a time to fulfill existing orders. Taiwan production existed by 1988, evidenced by green-label units from that year.
Collectibility & Value
The CE-2 holds steady in the vintage pedal market, with prices shaped as much by condition and power-supply status as by year. Original Japanese-made models are estimated to fetch $200 - $250, while modified examples have sold for around $279.99 in good condition. The PSA conversion often adds value rather than subtracting it, since so many players want a pedal they can plug into a modern board. A 1988 Taiwan-made green-label unit recently listed for $259.00. Recent eBay completed sales have ranged from $162 to $248 with a median around $197 across 28 sales in the past twelve months, and the broader market box puts the high near $300, the low around $140, and the latest sale at $170.
Original, unmodified units with intact ACA power systems are increasingly rare and sought after by purists, even as converted units command a premium from working players. Black Label units from the 1979-1984 period and later green-label examples are tracked separately by collectors. David Gilmour ran a CE-2 in his PULSE-era rig, and Ana Popovic has specified the original (or the Waza Craft reissue) for subtle chorus texture. Fromel Electronics sells modification kits that extend the speed range and even out the chorusing across frequencies. A well-modified CE-2 can compete with the best boutique choruses, though the stock unit is no slouch.
Market Value
┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ BOSS CE-2 Nov 2026 │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ High $300 Latest $170 │ │ Median $197 Trend — │ │ Low $140 Volume ~9/mo │ ├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ $300 ┤ │ │ │ . . │ │ │ . │ │ $214 ┤ . . . │ │ │. . . . . . . . . │ │ │. . . . . . . . .│ │ │ . . │ │ $100 ┤ │ │ ├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ vol │▅ ▂ ▂ ▂▂ ▂ ▂ ▅ ▅ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▂ ▅▂ ▂▂▂ ▂ ▂ █ ▂│ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────│ │ 2026-05 2026-07 2026-08│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
eBay completed sales. Excludes accessories, parts, and non-working units. Hover points for details.
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Recently sold on eBay: $162–$248 (median $197, based on 28 completed sales, past 12 months)
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