The 5 Best Joyo Pedals 2018 – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

Joyo is known for one key thing—quality at an affordable price. Joyo produces high-quality guitar pedals that emulate the classic designs.

They primarily take all the good parts of classic pedals in terms of sound and functionality, and they package that in a more straightforward design that is pocket-friendly.

So, if you are on a budget but are still determined to explore new sound possibilities, then Joyo is for you. Joyo pedals will allow you to experiment with multiple effects that you might previously not be familiar with.

Also, you will be able to replicate the sound of established effects, experiment with them and master them.

You need to consider the effect a particular unit replicates when looking to purchase a Joyo pedal. Here is a review of the top rated Joyo pedals complete with the effects they are known for.

The Best Joyo Pedals of 2018

1. Joyo Audio Sweet Baby (JF 36) — Most Popular Joyo Pedal

The sweet baby is often referred to as a dynamic overdrive because it pushes your clean channel into overdrive.

Similar to other effectors, the JF 36 has volume and drive controls. The volume amplifies the signal, and the drive increases the level of overdrive. However, the JF 36 also has a focus control that sets this particular pedal apart.

The focus allows you to adjust the sensitivity to touch and the playing dynamics. That means you can get the exact tone you desire. Note that though there are only three controls, when you combine them you get a wide array of settings. The range of settings will permit you to experiment and find the right level of crunch you are after.

Usually, this kind of pedal is preferred for blues applications. However, one should not limit themselves because depending on how you set the drive; you can use the pedal for a myriad of applications.

The effector’s true bypass control allows the guitar’s signal to pass straight through to the output of the pedal when the pedal is not on. Finally, one cannot fail to notice the vintage feel thanks to the pale orange look. If color is important to you, then the Sweet Baby will not disappoint.

2. Joyo JF-15 California Sound Effects Pedal — Best Value Joyo Pedal

With the JF-15 you get punk and rock-rap sound. The pedal was designed to replicate the high gain leads and rhythm channels that modern rockers prefer. In essence, this effector makes it possible to achieve the early Mesa Boogie tone.

It has six controls. The six controls shape EQ and overdrive responses: Low, Mid, High, Level, Voice and Drive. The multiple controls provide flexibility allowing you to sculpt a wide array of sounds.

Note that the JF-15 is not a plug and play kind of unit, you need to take ample time to dial it in if you desire a clean tone. It takes time to find the combination that produces the desired tone or sound. However, when it comes to distortion, the unit excels. Without even turning the gain knob to a high level, you will be able to pump out lots of gain.

The pedal can be placed in front of your amp to give your sound character, and it can also be used for direct recording into your PC. It can be used as a single unit, but it also works well with other pedals such as drives or delay reverbs.

The JF-15 has a fresh style with the black and white casing, it is built for durability thanks to the quality components, and it has a true bypass that eliminates signal loss. It uses a 9V battery or AC adapter, weighs about 1 pound and has over 90% positive reviews.

Thanks to its diverse functionality and affordable price; it is the best value option available on the market. Not to mention, the ability to produce a sound similar to that of Carlos Santana.

3. Joyo JF-12 Voodoo Octave Guitar Pedal — The Best Dual Purpose Pedal

The JF-12 is both an Octave and a Fuzz pedal, and it allows you to switch between the two. It is essentially a clone of the Fox Tone machine enabling you to create upper and lower octave harmonics. While it does not generate a pitch shifting effect, the unit plays up the octave frequency at both the upper and lower register—mostly the upper register.

The JF-12 has three knobs—a fuzz, tone and volume knob. It also has a normal/mid cut switch and two stomp switches. One stomp switch activates the octave, and the other stomp switch is a true bypass for the whole unit.

A significant benefit is that unlike most fuzz pedals, the JF-12 has no issues with buffers. When in mid-cut position, the pedal’s functionality is close to that of a Big Muff Op Amp. That means it can replicate The Smashing Pumpkins kind of riffs all day long. When in the normal position, then you can come close to the Jimi Hendrix sound. That is because when on normal; the octaves are more in the lower register of your guitar.

The unit is made from an Aluminum alloy complete with a stoving varnish finish which means it is durable and will not readily break down. Note that this pedal does not stack well with other gain pedals and is better off used singly.

4. Joyo JF-34 US Dream Distortion Guitar Pedal — Best High Gain Distortion Pedal

The JF-34 is designed for high gain distortion. It has three knobs for volume, tone and distortion. The unit provides for any gain you might need. However, if you dial up the gain too high, the sound gets a bit muddy. Using the unit when the gain is between six and seven gives the best results. The advantage is that even with the gain cranked up high, the effector is still silent and gives off very little noise.

The tone knob offers flexibility. You can infuse character and create a wide range of distorted sounds by varying the tone knob. Finally, we have the volume knob which is, of course, amplifies the signal. The unit is loud enough, and as a result, it can be used as a high gain boost pedal.

In addition to functionality and similar to other Joyo pedals, the JF-34 is made from high-quality components. That means it is hardy and durable. It also has an efficient circuit design which makes the unit easy to use.

It is essential to note that when you power this pedal using a battery, it will only work when you connect the jack to the IN end. On the other hand, if you power the unit using an adapter, then the battery stops working. The unit uses a 9V battery or a 9V adapter, and neither are included. That means you have to purchase them separately.

The JF-34 has a true bypass that helps manage the signal.

5. Joyo D-SEED Dual Channel Digital Delay Guitar Effect Pedal with Four Modes — Most Affordable Delay Pedal

Most delay pedals are pricey, and that is why this affordable and high-quality delay pedal is such a welcome reprieve. It has all the essential requirements a seasoned musician might need. At the same time, the effector has a gentle learning curve for beginners.

The device has a dual channel delay, and you can dial in separate settings for each channel. The noise gate eliminates the noise, and even a hum cannot go through. Similar to other Joyo pedals, the D-SEED has a true bypass that helps manage the signal.

When it comes to control functions, the D-SEED has four knobs—Mix, Mode, Time and Feedback. The Mix knob regulates the level of delay effect imbued on your output. The higher you go, the more the delay effect is infused and the less clean your sound.

The Mode knob switches between the unit’s four delay modes—Copy, Reverse, Analog and Modulation. The Copy is the standard delay sound, the Reverse has warmth and is more low-pass filtering, the Analog plays the delay signal forward and backwards, and Modulation adds modulation.

The Time knob adjusts the delay time. You can adjust the time from 17 milliseconds to 1000 millisecond. Such a range is impressive.

The Feedback knob determines the mass and length of a single delay. That means the more you add, the more echo and feedback you get.

Finally, the pedal is made from high quality material. It is thus durable and can handle some knocks.

What to Consider When Purchasing Joyo Pedals

When looking to buy a Joyo pedal, there are three things you ought to take into account.

Emulation Nature of Joyo Pedals

It is essential to realize that most Joyo pedals emulate popular effects but at affordable prices. As a result, the way you shop for Joyo pedals and the way you will end up using them will be different from the way you would use the traditional pedal.

In essence, you will probably find yourself shopping for a Joyo pedal when the original device that produces the kind of effect you want is incredibly expensive.

A situation might also arise where the original device is not widely manufactured. In such cases, finding a Joyo version that produces a similar effect and is pocket-friendly is prudent.

With that in mind, it is essential to determine the kind of sound effect you wish to achieve before embarking on a purchase journey. Once you have identified the type of effect—be it a high gain or delay effect—you will be in a position to purchase the right kind of Joyo pedal.

The True Bypass Functionality

In some situations, the cost is not an issue, but a Joyo clone is still preferable. One such case is when you need a pedal with a true bypass functionality. Most Joyo pedals have a true bypass that is easily controlled by a footswitch.

That means that by a simple tap of your foot, you can switch from using a particular effect to not using it at all. It is beneficial if you do not want to use one specific effect all the time. Once you switch off the bypass, then the signal passes through the pedal unaltered.

Analyze your needs first to determine if this useful feature is important to you. If it is, then you will find no better choice than a Joyo pedal.

Simple Design and Compact Design

More often than not, you will need a pedal that easily stacks or fits alongside your other equipment. That is especially so if you are looking to incorporate multiple effects that can only be achieved by different pedals.

Joyo pedals have a simple design and are usually light and compact. This kind of design is unlike that found in the original or vintage pedals that Joyo is cloning. With the vintage pedals; the design is clunky and cumbersome. Also, they are not easy to use. As a result, incorporating a number of them might prove problematic.

If you are trying to purchase a pedal, then consider how important it is that the pedal combines well with others. After making the determination, you will be in a position to decide whether the Joyo pedal is for you or not.

Aesthetics

In addition to the simple design, Joyo has also taken aesthetics into account. From the vintage pale orange to classic black and white, Joyo pedals features a wide range of colors.

If color is important to you, then the variety found in Joyo pedals will not disappoint you. Sometimes, you might find two Joyo pedals that offer the same effect the only variation being color.

While color might not be as essential as sound, human beings are visual and buying a device that looks good is always a plus.

Our Final Take

The five Joyo pedals discussed above give a snapshot of the best Joyo pedals in the market today. Depending on the kind of effect you want, you might be forced to look at more options. However, the guide gives you a starting point.

After going through it, if you do not find what you need, then you can scroll through the product page to find more Joyo pedal options.