Modding a Boss CE3 for Vibrato

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 4:18 pm

There is a video on Youtube (i'll have to post it later, i'm at work) where a guy compares a Boss VB-2 with a Boss CE-3 in stereo with the dry signal bypassed. They do sound similar, however to my ears the CE-3 vibrato LFO wave doesn't sound as smooth - like it has a kind of triangle wave instead of a smooth sine wave, it kind of sounds like the vibrato is moving from on to off instead of having a smooth transition.

I was wondering if the CE-3 could be modified to sound like a VB-2 by tweaking the circuit to make the vibrato sound smoother. I'm aware of the 'sticking a dummy plug into the dry out' mod, but again that sounds like I mentioned above. I've seen other mods too which just seem to add switches to take out the dry signal, but again they don't sound smooth like the VB-2.

I really like vibrato, chorus to me sounds to spacey and reminds me of the 80's too much, but don't really want to shell out mega bucks for a VB-2. Just wondering if a few tweaks to a relatively cheap and easy to get hold of pedal would deliver the same or similar results.

I guess I could just buy the Behringer though, but I was just wondering if it could be done.

(Apologies if my electronic terminology is a bit wrong, I know nothing of electronics and kind of made the terms up).

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 4:53 pm

I'd just go for the Behringer personally, the CE3 is rather noisy and metallic sounding. The chorus and vibrato sound are either too subtle or sound a bit lifeless - they also cut a fair bit of the bass.

Unless you already have the CE3, then it's probably worth modifying it. I know you can definitely modify the CE3 to be closer to the CE2, so it may be possible to change it to sound better as a vibrato pedal.

sholkham · Post by **sholkham** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:43 pm

Thought I'd mention the Behringer is on sale on Amazon at the moment for Â£15 (free postage too). Not trying to dissuade you from modding the boss, but I don't know enough about electronics to help with that

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:11 pm

Thanks. I might treat myself.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 8:44 pm

Thanks. I might treat myself.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:01 pm

Thanks. I might treat myself.

Post by **Mike** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 9:47 am

MIGHT YOU?

Post by **Doog** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 10:30 am

What happened to that TC Electronics vibrato you got?

I think we need to plan some sort of intervention.

johnnyseven · Post by **johnnyseven** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 12:26 pm

Whoops, multiple phone posting.

Still got the TC Shaker, I like the sound it makes but I snapped up a Behringer to see what the difference is - for Â£15 I figured it was worth a go. The Shaker sounds really good when mixed with a clean signal, i'm using a Boss Line Selector for this, on its own it sounds a bit thin.

The mod question was just me wondering if it would be possible, with all the GAS some people have for the VB-2 it could be an alternative.

71Smallbox · Post by **71Smallbox** » Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:46 pm

johnnyseven wrote:Whoops, multiple phone posting.

Still got the TC Shaker, I like the sound it makes but I snapped up a Behringer to see what the difference is - for Â£15 I figured it was worth a go. The Shaker sounds really good when mixed with a clean signal, i'm using a Boss Line Selector for this, on its own it sounds a bit thin.

The mod question was just me wondering if it would be possible, with all the GAS some people have for the VB-2 it could be an alternative.

I've had the CE-3 and I must say, it is a metallic tinny cold sounding chorus. I don't think it would make a good candidate for a VB-2 mod.