Electro Harmonix Small Clone

An Analog Classic Brought Back to the Spotlight in the 1990s

A true benchmark of analog chorus pedals, this Electro-Harmonix pedal experienced a resurgence in the mid-1990s when Kurt Cobain incorporated it into his setup with Nirvana. While many digital chorus pedals can sound smoother or brighter, this analog circuit aims for a warmer, more lively modulation that stays true to what you expect from a vintage chorus: a sense of width and movement without losing the attack or personality of the instrument.

Who Is It For, and Which Styles?

The Small Clone is designed for guitarists (and bassists) seeking an immediate, musical chorus that's easy to fit into a pedalboard. In clean settings, it provides an enveloping width ideal for alternative rock, pop, indie, and airy arpeggios. With overdrive or distortion, it maintains a strong presence and creates denser textures, perfect for thickening a riff or adding a "liquid" character to a rhythm part. In the studio, it's as useful for widening a track as for creating subtle movement without saturating the mix; live, its simple ergonomics are a real asset for quickly adjusting the modulation amount.

Controls and Operation: Efficiency Above All

The philosophy is clear: focus on the essentials to concentrate on playing. The two controls, Rate and Depth, cover a wide range from fine, subtle chorus to rich, wide modulations. The true bypass preserves the dynamics and balance of your effects chain when the pedal is off. Regarding power, it runs equally well on a 9 V battery or a 9 V DC power supply (optional, not included), making it easy to integrate into a modern pedalboard.

Sound Characteristics

This pedal delivers what many seek in an analog chorus: a powerful and warm modulation with a natural sense of width. Light settings add a very musical depth effect, ideal for enhancing a clean tone without masking it. Increasing depth and speed results in a broader, more expressive modulation with the "vintage" character that defined many recordings. The Small Clone stands out with its dynamic response: it follows attack variations well and maintains a distinct personality, especially on open chords and riffs that need a clear but not artificial chorus.

Technical specifications

Effects	Chorus	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Black
Type	sector

Controls	Rate, Depth	Power supply	not included
Dimensions (W x D x H)	86 x 133 x 70 mm