Wylde Audio Chorus

A Deep Dive into Zakk Wylde’s New Analog Modulation Stompbox

The legendary Zakk Wylde needs no introduction in the world of heavy metal guitar. With his iconic bullseye guitar and pinch harmonic squeals, he has shredded his way into heavy metal history with Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society. Guitarists around the world strive to emulate his tone and technique. As part of his new company Wylde Audio, Zakk has now released the Wylde Audio Chorus – a new analog chorus pedal designed to bring mystical modulation and motion to your sound. In this blog post, we’ll explore what makes the Wylde Audio Chorus special and whether it lives up to the hype.

First off, what exactly is the Wylde Audio Chorus pedal? This stompbox is Zakk’s take on the classic chorus effect that became popular in the 80s. Chorus creates a shimmering doubled tone by mixing your original signal with a slightly delayed version of itself. This adds perceived depth, motion and richness to the sound. The Wylde Audio Chorus generates this effect using all-analog circuitry for organic, vintage chorus tones. It’s true bypass and can run on a 9V power supply.

The Wylde Audio Chorus pedal has an MSRP of $299 – putting it in the boutique pedal price bracket. For this premium price, you’re getting a hand-wired analog chorus made with quality components. This pedal is proudly made in the USA. While not exactly cheap, this price is justified given the bespoke boutique construction.

So what are the specs of the Wylde Audio Chorus? The pedal features three simple controls for dialing in your chorus tone. There’s a Depth knob to control the intensity of the effect, a Level knob for your output volume, and a Speed knob that adjusts the rate of modulation. This provides a balance between versatility and simplicity. Under the hood, the chorus effect is created by bucket brigade analog delay chips for old-school sound and mojo.

One thing that stands out is the Wylde Audio Chorus pedal seems optimized for rock and metal. The Depth control in particular can push the chorus into very intense, seasick modulation that works well for these genres. The pedal can do subtle shimmer too, but it’s clear Zakk had his own metal tones in mind when voicing this pedal.

In terms of controls, the Wylde Audio Chorus keeps things straightforward. The three knobs allow you to dial in the core parameters of any chorus pedal. Having a dedicated level control is helpful for balancing your wet and dry tones. One nice bonus is a small switch to select between Normal and Bright voicings – adding some extra tone shaping flexibility. It’s a simple, no-nonsense layout focused on great sounds over bells and whistles.

Under the hood, the Wylde Audio Chorus uses all-analog circuitry for that classic bucket brigade warmth and mojo. There are no digital emulations here! This not only sounds great, but it reacts dynamically to your playing for natural-sounding modulation effects. The analog BBD chips deliver a familiar lush, chewy tone that responds to your dynamics.

So how does the Wylde Audio Chorus stack up against other industry standard chorus pedals? The main reference points are the BOSS CE-2 and CE-5, the MXR Analog Chorus, and the Electro-Harmonix Small Clone. The Wylde Audio Chorus can certainly hold its own! Its analog tones are just as rich, but perhaps tuned for more intense modulation that cuts through a mix. This pedal also has a more refined, hi-fi sound compared to vintage units. The Wylde Chorus is definitely a pro-level chorus pedal.

Where can you buy the Wylde Audio Chorus? This pedal is sold through authorized Wylde Audio dealers. Major online retailers like Sweetwater and Reverb also stock this pedal. It’s a cool and unique pedal that most local shops won’t have in stock, so shopping online is your best bet. Wylde Audio only makes limited production runs in the USA, so grab one before they sell out!

In terms of power, the Wylde Chorus requires a standard 9V power supply to operate. You can use a typical Boss-style adapter or a 9V battery. There aren’t any weird current requirements. This makes it easy to power up on any pedalboard. Just be sure to use an isolated power supply to avoid noise issues.

A key use case for any modulation pedal is stacking it with gain effects like distortion or overdrive. The Wylde Chorus plays extremely well with heavy dirt tones! At milder settings, it adds texture and liquidity that makes distorted chords absolutely sing. Max the depth for rotary speaker and jet plane effects. Slow phaser-like sweeps sound massive and dramatic. This pedal pairs perfectly with Zakk’s signature distortion tones.

The Wylde Audio Chorus uses a true bypass switching circuit. This means when the pedal is off, your signal is passing directly from input to output with no electronic coloring. The result is your unaffected core tone comes through clean and unaltered. A buffer could help preserve high end when linking multiple pedals, but true bypass is ideal for those who want zero interference when off.

With its analog BBD design, the Wylde Chorus sounds incredible with clean amplifiers too. It adds transparent richness and movement without excessive noise. Jazz players will love the subtle pulse and width it brings to chords. The Normal/Bright switch lets you further tune the pedal to your amp’s natural tone. Whether you prefer Fender sparkle or Vox chime, this pedal enhances your amp’s voice beautifully.

Thanks to its flexible depth control, the Wylde Audio Chorus can span from subtle enhancement to insane warble. Light, shimmering textures will thicken up any guitar or synth sound. This is lovely for adding life to clean chords. At max settings, the pedal oscillates wildly – perfect for divebombing Zakk Wylde squeals! There’s the full range of modulation intensity on tap.

While designed with rock and metal in mind, the Wylde Audio Chorus is versatile for any genre needing chorus texture. Pop, funk, blues, jazz, country and more can benefit from its rich analog tones. It may not have the ultra-subtle shimmer of more hi-fi rack units, but its character is pleasing across the board. This pedal covers all the modulation ground you’d expect from a pro chorus unit.

What famous guitarists use chorus pedals on stage and in the studio? Boss CE-1 and CE-2 chorus pedals were mainstays for Andy Summers of The Police and many classic players. Kurt Cobain ran a Small Clone on “Come As You Are”. John Frusciante of RHCP loved the CE-1. Country session ace Brent Mason leans on chorus heavily. Even metal bands like Metallica have occasionally added chorus for texture. In short, it’s a hugely popular effect for all styles of music.

The Wylde Audio Chorus is certainly versatile enough for any genre, from country twang to jazz fusion smoothness. Of course, it will feel most at home in a metal or hard rock rig like Zakk would use it. The intense modulation capabilities and analog warmth are perfect for cutting through a mix with leads and big chords. Still, chorus is a sound-widening effect that benefits all guitar styles when used tastefully.

For studio use, the stereo outputs on the Wylde Audio Chorus give you flexibility in recording and mixing. The dry signal stays centered, while the chorus effect creates left/right motion – excellent for getting a big soundstage. You can also dial back the depth for more subtle widening chorus. For live playing, mono operation still gives you lush analog modulation in a straightforward plug-and-play pedal.

With its metal chassis and high-grade components, the Wylde Audio Chorus boasts excellent build quality. It feels like a tank that will handle years of stage use and travel. The footswitches, knobs, and jacks have a premium feel. Attention to detail is apparent throughout this pedal. It’s on par with the best boutique pedals in terms of construction and durability. Made with pride in the USA!

How does the Wylde Audio Chorus compare to Zakk’s signature MXR pedals? His popular MXR ZW-45 Overdrive and MXR ZW-38 Flanger offer different flavors of gain and modulation. The ZW-45 is more of a roaring fuzz-tinged distortion, while this Chorus pedal provides a melodic shimmering texture. Between the two modulation pedals, this has wider intensity range. Overall, the Wylde Audio pedals complement MXR’s offerings nicely.

There are some great demo videos highlighting the sounds of the Wylde Audio Chorus online. These really give you an idea of the depth and richness on offer. There’s also a cool rig rundown showing Zakk himself playing through his Wylde Audio pedals. Audio demos let you hear the pedal’s versatility across different musical styles too. It’s clear from these demos that this pedal delivers excellent analog chorus tones.

Is the Wylde Audio Chorus a good pedal for beginners? While fairly straightforward to use, this pedal does command a premium price. For beginners on a budget, the MXR Analog Chorus gives you 80% of the tone for half the price. However, the Wylde Chorus is worth investing in for intermediate players looking to upgrade their modulation sound. It’s easy to dial in, built to last, and oozing with amazing analog mojo.

In summary, the new Wylde Audio Chorus represents Zakk Wylde’s pursuit of the ultimate analog chorus tone to complement his signature shred. This pedal nails huge, lush, chewy chorus sounds perfect for rock and metal while offering versatility for any guitarist. If you’re looking to upgrade your modulation effects, the Wylde Audio Chorus is one mystical ride worth taking! Dial in shimmering analog bliss with Zakk’s personal chorus formula.