The Boss CE-1 Chorus Ensemble, released in June 1976, holds a legendary place in guitar and studio history as the first standalone chorus effect pedal ever produced. Before its introduction, chorus was available only through Roland’s JC-120 Jazz Chorus amplifier (1975), which quickly gained fame for its lush, spacious sound. Boss — a division of Roland — took the exact chorus/vibrato circuit from the JC-120, housed it in a rugged floor unit, and created the CE-1.
 
Production of the Boss CE-1 continued until 1984, when it was discontinued in favor of smaller pedals like the CE-2 and later CE-3. However, the CE-1 remains a coveted collector’s item today. Its unique combination of lush chorus, watery vibrato, and rich preamp coloration ensures its place as one of the most influential pedals in effects history.
 
Used by countless artists including Andy Summers (The Police), John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers), and Eric Clapton for its shimmering modulation.
 
The CE-1 is housed in a large, gray cast-metal chassis — closer in size to a floor preamp or DI box than a standard pedal. It was designed with studio and stage flexibility in mind, offering multiple inputs/outputs and two modulation modes:
Chorus Mode – The signature lush modulation with adjustable Intensity and Rate.
Vibrato Mode – A pitch-shifting modulation with only Rate control, similar to the vibrato channel of the JC-120.
 
Controls:
Effect Mode Switch (Chorus / Vibrato).
Rate knob (speed of modulation).
Depth (Intensity) knob (chorus depth only).
Level Switch (Lo/Hi) to match guitar or line-level signals.
Effect On/Off Footswitch.
Chorus/Vibrato Footswitch.
Outputs:
Mono out (Mixed signal).
Stereo out (Wet/Dry split for true spatial effect).
 
What made the CE-1 remarkable wasn’t just its chorus effect, but its warm preamp coloration. Even with the effect bypassed, the CE-1 imparted a subtle tonal thickness due to its input circuitry. Many players used it as a preamp/boost in addition to its modulation. The stereo outputs provided a wide, immersive soundstage that became a defining characteristic of late 1970s and early 1980s guitar tones.
 
Specs
Model : Boss Chorus Ensemble
Reference : CE-1
Serial : 139899 (December 1981)
Power : original 220v version