Build Quality: | |
Hardware: | |
Electronics: | |
Sound: | |
Value: | |
Average: |
Pros:
- Does not have any noise
- Budget-friendly
- Delivers quality effect
Cons:
- A bit big for the features it offers
- Can have a slight tone loss
There are times in your life when you want something you know will work, something that does not require extra hassle and does not include risk. During those times you are willing to pay anything just to know that your purchase will not fail you. But there are moments when you are willing to experiment, step out of comfort zone and try out the pedals that you would not have considered before. That is when you go on the market and search every corner and price range.
You might not exactly need that particular device but your gut tells you to take a risk. And though that is the process of trial and error, that is when you discover real gems that become your best friends soon enough. It can happen in any price range, my friend, and that is the best part of that interesting and thrilling journey. The pedal that we are going to discuss today might or might not be such an experience for you, but it definitely was for me. I knew I wanted a flanger but did not want something I had played with countless times. Joyo JF-07 Classic Flanger knows how to deliver inspiring and exciting performances. If you are interested, then stay with me as I give you all the details you will need. Let’s get started!
Features
Joyo has always been a brand that does not joke around when it comes to creating a multi-faceted feature set. Their pedals can be straightforward yet they always have that desirable amount of versatility to them. Classic Flanger is not an exception either. It comes in a white package that features a painting of a jet. Such design expresses the character of the effect perfectly and makes you want to grab and play right away. The chassis is a bit bulky for everything we have here, which is not a deal-breaker, yet it would be better if it had a smaller footprint. The quality is nice, but the knobs can be a bit hard to rotate due to the cheaper pots.
When it comes to the internal components, we have digital circuitry that emulates the character of BBD chips and it does so at level that will surprise you positively. This baby offers true bypass switching that actually works – which is something that is really hard to achieve at such a small price point. Yet Joyo somehow managed to deliver a pedal that will not color your tone in a weird way. Classic Flanger has single inputs and outputs that are easy to just plug in and play. It can be powered by a single 9V battery or an adapter.
Keep in mind that the DC jack is mounted right next to the input which can be a bit annoying. It gets in the way of the cables and forces you to rotate them awkwardly to fit everything in place. But you can definitely work your way around that. Oh and did I mention that this thing is extremely affordable? If I did, I am not sorry for repeating myself because it is cheap, my friend. And let me tell you that it is probably one of the best pedals you can get at that price point.
Controls
The control panel of Joyo Classic Flanger features all the typical switches that you see on every other flanger out there. It should be noted that the amount of control you get here is almost the same as with higher end models, which is a huge virtue of this baby. You have the ability to modify all the needed parameters and truly tame the monster that our beloved flanger happens to be. If you have utilized this effect before, you can skip the next paragraph. If not, let me tell you what is what here.
First, we have Regen. It changes the amount of feedback of the effect and lets you dial in preferable number of repetitions. Delay Time changes the length of the delay and lets you go from phase shifting to chorus and flanger. Width alters the depth and strength of the effect and makes it more pronounced as you rotate the knob clockwise. Speed changes the rate of flange and turns it into a swirling, crazy machine. One last thing we have here is a footswitch that makes it possible to activate/turn off the pedal with a single tap. Did you think you would get this much versatility and control? I don’t think so.
Joyo Flanger Sound
Joyo Classic Flanger does exactly what the name indicates in terms of sounds. It creates a classic flange – nothing more or less than that. It offers a wide variety of tones to choose from as all the controls have a vast range of options to choose from. With lower settings, you get something that resembles sweet and warm chorus. As you intensify the parameters, sweeps and swirls become more rotary and fast. That is when flange starts to swim to the surface and in my opinion that is when the real magic happens.
Classic Flanger does not have any audible noise as it is. It does not suck your tone either, at least it did not in my setup. The overall feel of this pedal is rather organic and beautiful, which is why I love it so much. When you start playing with this baby, you will not believe that you spent so little for such a decent unit.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, the main thing is how different pedals change your sound and performance. Nobody cares how much you pay and what brand you choose to trust. All the audience hears is the sound and how you achieve it is completely up to you. Joyo Classic Flanger will help you in the process of finding yourself in the world of flange. It will take you to many interesting places and be by your side for quite a while. Despite some minor flaws this baby deserves to be played with. Good luck!
Click here to view more from 10 Best Flanger Pedals.