Reverty Used Guitars Japan — every instrument inspected, set up, and played before listing.
1982-1984 BOSS CE-3 Chorus "Black Label" - Analog Stereo Chorus, Made in Japan
A genuine Made-in-Japan BOSS CE-3 from the earliest "Black Label" period. The CE-3 was the first BOSS compact pedal to offer stereo outputs, and it was also the first BOSS compact to wear a metallic finish - the now-familiar metallic blue enclosure.
The CE-3 was on the market from October 1982 until February 1992. Early production was Made in Japan with the black bottom label and ACA power spec; the green label was introduced in 1984 to indicate FCC compliance, and later production moved to Taiwan. This example carries the black bottom label, ACA-only power spec and the early black knobs, placing it in the first Japanese production period. This is the version collectors and Japanese city-pop / 80s tone chasers look for.
== SPECIFICATIONS ==
- Model: CE-3 Chorus
- Year: 1982-1984 (Black Label era)
- Country of Origin: Japan
- Color: Metallic Blue
- Circuit: Analog (BBD) stereo chorus
- Controls: Rate, Depth, Stereo Mode
- Jacks: Input, Output A, Output B
- Power: 9V battery, or BOSS ACA-series AC adaptor (ACA spec, as marked on the bottom plate)
- Knobs: Black (early specification)
== CONDITION ==
Overall: Good
- Enclosure: Paint chips and finish loss along the edges and corners, with scuffing on the side panels - honest playwear from decades of real use
- Pedal pad: Surface wear consistent with age
- Hardware: Tarnish on the jack nuts and screws (vintage patina)
- Function: Tested and fully functional. All controls and both outputs work as intended.
Cosmetically this is a player-grade pedal that has clearly been used on stage, but it is fully operational. Please review all photos carefully for the exact cosmetic condition. All photos are of the actual pedal for sale.
== INCLUDED ==
- Pedal only (no box, manual, AC adaptor or battery)
== WHY THIS PEDAL ==
The CE-3 sits right between the cult-favourite CE-2 and the modern digital choruses: same lush analog BBD voicing, but with the stereo routing that lets you split a dry signal and a chorused signal, or run wide two-amp spreads. Black Label Made-in-Japan examples are the earliest and least common of the three CE-3 label variants, and they are increasingly sought after as vintage BOSS prices continue to firm up. A genuinely usable piece of 1980s Japanese pedal history at a fraction of the cost of a CE-1 or CE-2.
Please feel free to message with any questions before purchasing.
SETUP & INSPECTION
Cleaned, set up, and inspected by our luthier before shipping:
- Neck relief and action adjusted
- Frets and fingerboard cleaned
- Intonation set
- Tuners and electronics checked
Your instrument arrives ready to play.
SHIPPING FROM JAPAN
- Shipped worldwide from Japan with full tracking and insurance
- Carefully packed with protective wrapping, strings detuned to relieve neck tension in transit
- Processed and shipped within 2-4 business days
Please message us with any questions before purchasing.
