| Build Quality: |  |
| Hardware: |  |
| Electronics: | |
| Sound: | |
| Value: | |
| Average: | |
Pros:
- Very affordable
- Lower octave
- Versatile fuzz
- A lot of sound options
Cons:
- Is not very responsive compared to others
- Does not clean up your sound
When talking about the octave effect, there is one thing that everyone should consider before splurging for the pedal itself. It is not like your typical effects in the sense that it is a bit difficult to get the hand of. Most of the models out there hugely rely on your picking dynamics and playing techniques for creating octaves, which means you should have some guitar skills before choosing to shove this effect in your rig. What I am trying to say is that not only do you have to nail the unit, you do also have to pay attention to your craftsmanship as well.
Such attitude is particularly important in the case of cheaper stompboxes, as certain mistakes may be fatal for your sound. Practice makes perfect, though, and I would highly recommend buying a less expensive octave pedal if you are a beginner in the world of octaves. The brand we are going to talk about today is Joyo and the renowned pedal is JF-12 Voodoo Octave. This baby will cost you less than a pair of trousers and will still provide you with a quality performance. It will deliver more than you might expect, which will act as a wonderful surprise in the end. Are you ready to take a risk? If so, then keep on reading!
Features
Joyo JF-12 is more versatile than some of its fancier siblings. Yes, you heard me, it can definitely compete with the devices that are way more expensive in terms of diversity. What can be better than that? Just a few things probably. This capable beast has a decent build quality – the enclosure is rugged enough to withstand daily usage for years to come. Internal parts have nice quality as well, which guarantees that this pedal will not stop working that easily.
It is a tough fella, trust me. The design is something you cannot unsee. The color of the enclosure is bright green that can be noticed even from outer space, and the package is topped with a cool logo, white writings, and black and white knobs. When it comes to the sonic features, Joyo JF-12 Voodoo Octave does not joke around. It offers octave and fuzz effects that can be mixed together for more versatile results.
It lets you mess around with your tone as well so that you can tweak all the properties and emit different sounds. It has a true bypass circuit that actually leaves your sound untouched when bypassed. This way you can stay assured that this fella is worth a shot. JF-12 Voodoo Octave has the analog character which warms the whole ambiance and makes the process of exploring this baby more interesting. To power it up, you can utilize the batteries or get lazy and stick to the adapter. Either way, you will get access to juicy experience as soon as you plug in this pedal.
Controls
The control section looks similar to other octave fuzz pedals out there, yet I think it is still necessary to underline the functions of each knob. Joyo JF-12 Voodoo Octave has an intuitive layout that can be figured out without reading the instructions or manual. Everything speaks to yourself even with the first glance, letting you know what to expect. Finding the perfect settings will take you little to no time, and leave more for diving into all the different sounds. Let’s discuss everything in-depth and see what we have here.
The first one here is Fuzz. It alters the amount of distortion and adds more gain as you turn it clockwise. It starts with milder settings and intensifies the fuzz effect the more you rotate it right. Then we have Tone, which changes the ratio of bass and treble frequencies in your sound.
Next, you will see a toggle switch that enables you to select between two modes: Normal and Mid Cut. It goes without saying that the former performs like a typical octave fuzz, while the second one messes around with the tonal palette and filters mid-range. The last encoder we have here is Volume, which sets the level of affected sound and allows you to achieve that perfect spot of loudness. We do also have two footswitches: Octave Up triggers the octave-up effect that blends with fuzz, while True Bypass turns the unit on or off.
Joyo Voodoo Octave Sound
Joyo JF-12 Voodoo Octave takes your pristine signal and transforms it with octave and fuzz effects. Right off the bat, it should be noted that the octave is not as strong and defined as with higher end pedals, but it is still audible if you tweak the settings correctly. The fuzz itself is wonderful with grain, texture and character. As soon as you start messing around with its properties, you start hearing that growl coming through. The ability to change the tone gives you the chance to tailor the frequencies to your preferences. With added mid-range filter you can suit this pedal to the pickups of your instrument so that you receive refined sounds. The mixture of octave up and fuzz creates a distortion that has a rich harmonic content and deep, multi-layered character. JF-12 Voodoo Octave will not create a dramatic octave like our beloved Jimi, yet it is an amazing starting point if you want to take small steps towards a full-blown high pitched octave. This baby will force you to experiment a lot, as its possibilities are not scarce at all.
Conclusion
To summarize everything said above, Joyo JF-12 Voodoo Octave is a wonderful option if you are on a budget. It will give you the taste of fuzzy octaves, but with just a small bite. Its distortion has many different shades to explore, so you should definitely do that once you get your hands on this pedal. I think this one is worth the risk as you barely have anything to lose. Give it a shot and let’s see what your impression will be. Good luck!
Click here to view more from 10 Best Octave Pedals.
