Nobels Cho-Mini

A Modern Modulation with a "Vintage" Flavor

With the CHO-mini, Nobels leverages its historic expertise in chorus effects to offer a miniature pedal that is far more ambitious than it appears. The idea is simple: to gather timeless chorus textures inspired by the analog Bucket Brigade modulations of the 1970s, while providing the flexibility expected on a current pedalboard.

The result: a compact and affordable pedal capable of covering everything from wide, silky chorus to faster movements close to vibrato, not forgetting a subtle, rich, and musical flanging designed to thicken the sound without going overboard.

For Whom, Which Styles, and In What Contexts?

The Nobels CHO-mini is aimed at guitarists who want versatile modulation without sacrificing space: ideal for tight pedalboards, rehearsal rigs, or live sets where every centimeter counts. Its mini format and metal housing make it a natural ally for the stage, while the stereo and trails features make it very relevant in the studio, especially on clean takes, arpeggios, or open chord parts.

Regarding styles, it feels at home in pop/rock, indie textures, funk (clean, punchy rhythms), but also in more atmospheric realms where a wide stereo chorus immediately adds depth. If you play with a pick and a sharp attack, it maintains great clarity; with a softer touch, it adds elegant movement without muddying the musical message.

Modes, Tempo Control, Stereo: A Very Complete Mini Pedal

The CHO-mini offers three distinct modes carefully calibrated. Chorus 1 targets the "vintage" and organic character of Bucket Brigade circuits: perfect for thickening a clean tone, adding width to a light crunch, or creating a subtle halo around a main sound. Chorus 2 pushes the speed further at the end of the Rate control range, allowing for vibrato-like sensations when you seek a more pronounced modulation. Finally, the Flanging mode leans toward subtle flanging, like a comb filter: it highlights harmonics and adds texture with a richness that remains controlled.

To lock the modulation to the song's tempo, the Tap Tempo is accessible via the single footswitch: just hold it for about 2 seconds to activate the function. The pedal also includes dedicated switches to choose between mono or stereo (TRS) use, as well as a bypass option: true bypass for the most direct signal path possible, or buffered with trails to preserve the modulation tail at cutoff and stabilize the signal in longer effect chains.

Finally, readability is clearly designed for the stage: phosphorescent indicators make adjustments easier in low light, and the metal housing withstands the rigors of transport and pedalboard changes.

The Sound

The Nobels CHO-mini stands out with a musical and usable modulation across the entire control range. In Chorus 1, you get a warm, slightly "liquid" grain that widens the sound without crushing it: very effective for transforming a somewhat dry clean into a full and present tone. In Chorus 2, the increased speed allows for more energetic movements, up to vibrato-like textures, ideal for highlighting a melodic line or creating intentional instability on sustained chords.

The Flanging mode adds a more textured dimension: a typical comb filter harmonic dip/peak, perfect for giving character to a riff or adding animated brightness to a rhythm part, while remaining subtle. The stereo option further enhances the sense of width: on two amps or a stereo studio setup, the CHO-mini can quickly become a very inspiring "spatialization" tool.

Technical specifications

Effects	Chorus, Flanger	Use	electric guitar
Format	Pedal	Color	Red
Type	sector

Compact modulation pedal	chorus and flanging	Inputs	mono or stereo via 6.35mm TRS Jack (selectable)
3 modes	Chorus 1, Chorus 2, Flanging	Outputs	mono or stereo via 6.35mm TRS Jack (selectable)
Selectable bypass	true bypass or buffered with trails	Required power supply	9V DC (optional)