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Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 4:47 pm
by StormJH1
I've seen discussion of specific dirt boxes from Joyo (namely the Ultimate Overdrive and Crunch Distortion), but not as much about their new amp modeling pedals. Anybody tried these out? I'm looking specifically at the Joyo California, which sounds something like a Mesa Boogie:

Make no mistake, this is a "dirt box", for all intents and purposes. It's just taking the further step of modeling the entire tone of a particular amp model, and giving you the level and gain controls as if they were on-board controls. Some of them sound pretty darn good from the videos I've seen/heard.
Anybody tried one out? They're shipped from China and I don't think they're carried in a place like Guitar Center, so I'm trying to collect more information on them before ordering one. Amazon and eBay prices for all their stuff ranges from about $30 to $60, which is amazing.
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 4:50 pm
by jrmy
I wonder if they're clones of the Tech21 "character" series...
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:02 pm
by StormJH1
jrmy wrote:I wonder if they're clones of the Tech21 "character" series...
I've heard from other people that they are. I've never tried a Tech21, so I couldn't say, but that would certainly explain what the "Voice" knob does, since the Tech21 has an analogous "Character" knob.
All of the Joyo products seem to have circuitry lifted from a specific device, so my guess would be "yes".
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 5:33 pm
by excane
I have the Joyo extreme metal.
It fucking sucks in such a good way.
I want to simultaneously slaughter babies. and goats. or baby goats. while conjuring satan with its searing-molten-fuck-tone.
and the same tone makes me want to run over it with my car. I dunno....
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:14 pm
by sonidero
Heads up Storm, not many people here are going to be into or using the cheap Digi pedals you keep asking about... There is another forum where they talk about those pedals...
We mostly stick to our builders cause were special and and too big for our britches...
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:29 pm
by MEC
sonidero wrote:Heads up Storm, not many people here are going to be into or using the cheap Digi pedals you keep asking about... There is another forum where they talk about those pedals...
We mostly stick to our builders cause were special and and too big for our britches...
I don't know about that, we've had some pretty long threads discussing Joyo pedals before.
I think I heard somewhere that they are meticulously crafted in a Boston basement by God fearing 'mericans.

Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:33 pm
by sonidero
Quick check of our pedal board section should tell you something... We also talk about Freakish Blues and JHS but do you see any of those???
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:46 pm
by StormJH1
sonidero wrote:Heads up Storm, not many people here are going to be into or using the cheap Digi pedals you keep asking about... There is another forum where they talk about those pedals...
We mostly stick to our builders cause were special and and too big for our britches...
I'm done asking about the DigiTech pedals, and I checked previous threads to see if anyone had mentioned this Joyo, which they hadn't. There's no point in starting a thread like "Hey is the MI Audio Crunch box any good?", since 10 people will post pack about how awesome it is.
Anyway, you're probably joking, but there are tons of posters at The Gear Page who rave about the Joyo stuff. I like to get as much information as I can 15 minutes before I aimlessly throw money at affordable, yet risky pipe dreams.

Thanks for your guidance in my journey.
I found a place that ships domestically and can let you know what i think in a week if anyone cares. Otherwise, I'll just review on Amazon. Frankly, I like things that sound good and aren't horribly overpriced, irrespective of where it comes from. If it sucks, I promise to trade it in for a quality American product. We'll call it the "Freedom Driver"!
And to think, i risked my wife assuming that "I Love Fuzz" is a porno site for THIS! Haha
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:53 pm
by StormJH1
excane wrote:I have the Joyo extreme metal.
It fucking sucks in such a good way.
I want to simultaneously slaughter babies. and goats. or baby goats. while conjuring satan with its searing-molten-fuck-tone.
and the same tone makes me want to run over it with my car. I dunno....
On a lighter note, this reply cracked me up.

Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 7:58 pm
by sonidero
StormJH1 wrote:Anyway, you're probably joking, but there are tons of posters at The Gear Page who rave about the Joyo stuff.
Sort of, but it seems you are asking for detailed info about pedals that maybe two or three people here may own so I was letting you know this may not be the best Brain Drain for those types of peds...
StormJH1 wrote:And to think, i risked my wife assuming that "I Love Fuzz" is a porno site for THIS! Haha
Have you seen many other threads???
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 8:05 pm
by MEC
StormJH1 wrote:...And to think, i risked my wife assuming that "I Love Fuzz" is a porno site for THIS! Haha
Just don't visit the "Talkbass" thread in General and you should be fine.

Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 9:50 pm
by StormJH1
Actually, was getting much better responses here than on other forums, part of why I joined. But I'll stop asking about "crap" pedals. Even though it's hard to know if they're crap if I don't ask anyone and don't have an opportunity to test them.
Joyo's kind of an anomaly, they're a Chinese company that (kinda/sorta) copies American boutique pedals, yet an American company got into trouble for taking a Joyo Ultimate Drive, slapping paint on it and trying to sell it for 4x the price. So they must have something there...
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Fri Sep 28, 2012 10:14 pm
by jrmy
StormJH1 wrote:Actually, was getting much better responses here than on other forums, part of why I joined. But I'll stop asking about "crap" pedals. Even though it's hard to know if they're crap if I don't ask anyone and don't have an opportunity to test them.
Joyo's kind of an anomaly, they're a Chinese company that (kinda/sorta) copies American boutique pedals, yet an American company got into trouble for taking a Joyo Ultimate Drive, slapping paint on it and trying to sell it for 4x the price. So they must have something there...
Well, I love cheap crappy digital stuff when it's bonkers bizarro, but that's a whole 'nother discussion.
One thing that could count in the Joyo's favor is that the Tech21 California appears to be discontinued, at least for the time being. I don't know how many retailers have them left in stock, but if you're looking for that sound, the Joyo might be your only only option in pedal form in the near future.
Also, I know plenty of ILFers with cheap-ass Behringer and Danelectro pedals on their boards. I say, if it gets you the sound you want, use it!
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:11 pm
by Hacken
I think the AMT legend series pedals seem pretty cool for doin simulated amp tones.
Check out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCH8iWifgU4 for Olas demos.
They are not Joyo cheap but not really overpriced either.
Re: Joyo California (Amp Modeling Pedals)
Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2012 7:30 pm
by 01010111
We love our cheap peds around here: DOD, Muza, danelectro, behringer, digital labs, fender starcaster, and many more. Don't let sonidero scare you off. I think he was just saying that joyo isn't really all that popular around here. From what I've heard joyo stuff is pretty decent, I've never owned one, though, so I can't really weigh in on the issue.