Boss · CE-2 · 1979–at least 1990
Boss shrank the CE-1's chorus into a compact box in October 1979 and called it the CE-2. You get two knobs, Rate and Depth, mono in and out, and no vibrato mode. Its designers gave it a stronger midrange than the CE-1, which they put down to a different input impedance, and that's why it sits forward in a mix instead of washing out. Guitar World credits it with making chorus the sound of the 1980s. David Gilmour, Johnny Marr, Billy Duffy, Robert Fripp and Rory Gallagher all used one, and James Honeyman-Scott of the Pretenders moved to one for his live rig. Boss built it in Japan until 1988, then in Taiwan, and kept selling it into at least 1990. Collectors sort them by label color, screw color and country. Guitar World says to skip all that and look for the MN3007 BBD chip, which has lower noise and more clean headroom. Want the vintage box? Get one with the MN3007. Want it in stereo? The CE-2W does that.
Scratchy Rate and Depth pots and noisy, tired circuits are the usual problems on a chorus this old. Japan-era units were designed for the ACA adapter, so the wrong power supply can make a good one seem faulty.
Buying guide
We'd buy the US one titled tested at $217 delivered, under the band, or pay $232 for the recapped one with its box if you don't want to deal with tired parts. About 74 are for sale and most ask $240–360 delivered, nearly all Japan-made, with early silver-screw units at the top and titles claiming the MN3007 chip asking $488–698. That chip matters more than label or screw color, so ask for a gut shot on any CE-2 priced over the band, and try an ACA-era unit on a battery first. Skip the 1980 silver-screw one with no feedback shown, since a second listing carries the same 9100 serial.
$92.20est. delivered
The lowest delivered CE-2 right now at $92, but it's an auction with 16 bids and nearly two days left, and it's a later Taiwan green-label unit. We'd stop well under $160, the delivered price of the cheapest Japan one here.
Vintage Boss CE-2 Chorus Guitar Pedal Green Label Taiwan Analog BBD ACA
$217.35est. delivered
Titled tested and Made in Japan, from a US seller, at $217 delivered, about $23 under the band. Ask for a clip sweeping Rate and Depth and one with nothing playing to hear the noise floor.
Vtg BOSS CE-2 Chorus Pedal Made Japan Roland Guitar Effect Analog 1980’s TESTED
$232.30est. delivered
Titled recapped and calibrated, so the usual tired parts should be sorted, and it comes with the original box for $232 delivered. New caps mean it isn't stock inside, which matters more to a collector than a player.
1985 Boss CE-2 Chorus Green Label MIJ – Recapped/Calibrated – Original Box
$324.99est. delivered
Titled 1980, silver screw and working, an early Japan unit inside the band at $325 delivered. Ask for a gut shot to see whether it has the MN3007, the chip with lower noise and more clean headroom.
Boss CE-2 Chorus 1980 Silver Screw Working ACA 9300 Made in Japan
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 10, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Snapshot
Checked . Some may have sold.
Delivered prices include shipping as eBay quoted it to a US address on Oct 10, 2026. Many sellers charge by distance, so your total may differ. eBay shows yours before you pay.
Used$92.20est. delivered
$75.00 + $17.20 shipping
Auction · 16 bids · ends in 1d 20h
Good buy
Auction. Taiwan green label, titled ACA.
Seller: spadeflush
100% positive
Used$217.35est. delivered
$202.50 + $14.85 shipping
Buy It Now$202.50
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled tested, 1980s, Made in Japan. In the US.
Seller: unitlimited
100% positive
Serviced$232.30est. delivered
$210.00 + $22.30 shipping
Buy It Now$210.00
Good buy
Titled 1985, recapped and calibrated, with the original box. Not stock inside.
Seller: amhw
100% positive
Used$324.99est. delivered
$279.99 + $45.00 shipping
Buy It Now$279.99
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Good buy
Titled 1980, silver screw, working. Ships from Japan.
Seller: rockman8829
99.3% positive
Used$160.49est. delivered
$138.49 + $22.00 shipping
Buy It Now$138.49
Our take
Made in Japan, the cheapest fixed-price one here. No test claim. Ships from Japan.
Seller: japan_peacelily_store
99.6% positive
Used$487.99est. delivered
$438.99 + $49.00 shipping
Buy It Now$438.99
Our take
Titled 1981 silver screw with MN3007 and JRC4558D chips. About $130 over the band. Ask for a gut shot.
Seller: tokyovintagemarketjp
100% positive
Used$304.63est. delivered
$289.63 + $15.00 shipping
Buy It Now$289.63
This seller takes offers, and many sellers accept less than the asking price.
Fine if you might miss it? Send an offer first. Someone else can still buy it while you wait for a reply.
Want it for sure? Use Buy It Now.
Check the seller
No feedback shown, and another listing has a near-identical title and the same 9100 serial. Compare photos.
Seller: Seller on eBay
Check feedback on the listing
Used$698.00delivered
$698.00 · free shipping
Buy It Now$698.00
Priced high
Titled 1982 with the MN3007. About $340 over the band, from Japan.
Seller: hirofuk-59
100% positive
Prices change daily. The live eBay search shows everything listed now, including anything new since Oct 10, 2026.
See every listing on eBay ↗eBay searchPlenty of used pedals turn up without a power supply. Check the power line in the specs above, then match the voltage and plug before you buy one. This searches Amazon for the usual kit.
Search power supplies ↗Amazon search
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