REVIEWS

By Charles Saufley

Like many musically reactionary youths of the ’ 80s and ’ 90s , I cast a wary eye at chorus pedals . Ibanez ’ s original CS-9 stereo analog chorus was one of the first chorus pedals to make me rethink the musical merits of the effect . The new $ 99 Ibanez Analog Chorus Mini possesses many of the same sonic attributes that changed my mind . And while it lacks the stereo functionality of its bigger , older cousin , its small footprint , robust build quality , and low price make it equally appealing to chorus fencesitters who occasionally dabble and more discerning , regular analog chorus users who like to save space .

The magic of the Chorus Mini lies in its deep dimensionality . And at the proper rate and depth settings it comes deliciously close to the sound of a well-recorded Leslie . Needless to say , there are no digital artifacts to highlight metallic out-of-phase sounds . Instead , the Chorus Mini offers a study in how contoured and multi-hued an analog chorus can sound in the right setting . I loved the faster rates and deeper depths that highlighted the pedal ’ s penchant for near-rotary tones . But the pedal ’ s subtle animation of a guitar signal is every bit as much of a strength .

TEST GEAR Fender Telecaster Deluxe , Fender Stratocaster , ’ 68 Fender Bassman , Fender Champ

By Charles Saufley

I use my volume pedal a lot : to steer clear of vocalists , approximate pedal steel and cello , generate dubby psychedelic space trails , and duck nasty clams . Because I rely on volume pedals so heavily , I like the reassurance of feeling a substantial one underfoot . But even with this tactile bias , I find Dunlop ’ s Volume ( X ) Mini familiar feeling and very effective .

The Volume ( X ) Mini is probably less than half the size of the volume pedal I typically use . But it ’ s actually got more features — most notably a switch that enables conversion to an expression pedal that you drive via the AUX output . ( Effect parameter minimums and heel / toe polarity can also be set using an internal trim pot and switch , respectively .) The all-rubber footprint , meanwhile , is a minor stroke of genius if you use your volume pedals apart from a pedalboard or eschew one entirely .

True , I did miss some of the mass and substance of a bigger pedal footprint . And the combination of an all-black enclosure and diminutive size meant I nearly missed my target entirely in a dark practice space . But in terms of feel and dynamics , I love the Volume ( X ) Mini ’ s smooth , wide volume taper .

TEST GEAR Fender Telecaster Deluxe , Fender Champ

Tones Ease of Use Build / Design Value

CONS Small enclosure necessitates small knobs for depth and level .

Ease of Use Build / Design Value

PROS Compact . Expression pedal functionality . Rubber base plate . Very smooth volume taper .

CONS All-black enclosure and small footprint make it hard to see on dark stages .

CLICK HERE TO HEAR this pedal . 138 PREMIER GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2016 premierguitar . com