Nux UKIYO-E CHORUS

Ukiyo-E: the "floating world image" serving vintage choruses

"Ukiyo-E" means in Japanese "image of the floating world": an expression that perfectly fits the sense of breadth and movement a good chorus can bring to an electric guitar. NUX condenses here the spirit of three mythical analog choruses into an ultra-compact pedal from the Mini Core series. The goal is clear: to recapture the warmth and depth of the classics, while benefiting from modern options designed for today's pedalboards.

For which guitarist and styles?

The NUX Ukiyo-E is aimed both at musicians discovering modulation and at experienced guitarists who want multiple chorus colors without multiplying pedals. In clean mode, it thickens the sound and provides that "wide" feel ideal for pop, funk, indie, and arpeggios. With an overdrive or distortion, it adds a very musical relief for rock, singing leads, and certain more modern textures.

Thanks to its mini format and advanced features, it is especially relevant for live use (quick adjustments, foot tap tempo) and studio (stereo via TRS, fine nuances of width and intensity). It's a pedal that invites you to sculpt space without drowning your playing, naturally finding its place on a compact pedalboard.

Controls, modes, and modern functions

The Ukiyo-E offers three selectable modulation modes: ST Chorus, SCH-1, and CE-1. Each provides a distinct personality, ranging from a rather "wide and smooth" chorus to more pronounced, vintage-typical textures. The three potentiometers Width, Rate, and Intensity allow precise dosing of perceived stereo spread, modulation speed, and effect amount, from subtle thickening to a very present movement.

The footswitch includes a secondary Smart Tap Tempo function: after two presses to activate the mode, you can set the speed with your foot, convenient for syncing the modulation with the song without bending down. The pedal also offers rhythmic subdivisions to adapt the chorus pulse to your rhythmic feel.

Regarding bypass, you can choose between true bypass or buffered bypass (trails), useful if you want to maintain a more natural modulation tail or optimize the chain depending on cable length and number of pedals. The internal processing is digital (DSP) but the pedal retains an analog dry signal, which helps keep a direct touch and intact attack.

Sound characteristics

The NUX Ukiyo-E stands out with a warm, deep, and very musical chorus, capable of remaining subtle while delivering a real sense of "width." The analog dry signal maintains good definition: notes keep their presence and the pedal responds well to playing dynamics (pick attack, right-hand nuances, open chords). Depending on the chosen mode, you can aim for a discreet chorus to "thicken" a clean tone, or conversely a more pronounced modulation, ideal for dreamy textures and shimmering rhythms.

It is particularly suitable for guitarists seeking expressive but controlled modulation: an effect that colors the sound tastefully without overpowering it, and remains relevant both in mono and stereo setups.

Technical specifications

Effects	Chorus	EQ	No
Technology	Analog & Digital	Settings	rate, intensity, width
Format	Pedal	Type	sector
Inputs	Stereo jack	Use	guitar
Outputs	Stereo Jack	Color	Pink
Modelling number	3	Power supply included	No
Display	Led	Weight	175 g
Switch	On/Off, Tap tempo	Dimensions (mm)	94 x 53 x 51

Potentiometers	Intensity, Width, Rate	A/D - D/A sampling frequency	48 kHz / 24 bit
Bypass modes	true, buffered (trails)	Input / output	6.35mm mono jack
Signal mode	mono / stereo (via TRS)	Dimensions	94 x 53 x 51 mm
DSP processing	48 kHz / 32 bit	Required power supply	9V DC center negative