Harley Benton (Joyo) AC Tone TrueTone Pedal Demo

[@HomeGuitarMods]

Just used this in a live situation and all I can say is WOW! I ran direct into the board and It sounded like my Vox Night Train in an isolation cab, very impressed. We use an aviom in ear system and all amps are miced in the randal iso cab with vingage 30's and Sure Beta 57's, and thats the tone I got from this in my ears and front of house. I wasnt blown away when I first plugged it in at home, but live, this is a no brainer, especially for the price! Thanks for the review, glad I got this!

[@EytschPi42]

The AC tone sounds great and for the price you really can't go wrong, I am not sure though if it makes sense to use it to push another pedal with it, especially if you are getting the Wampler to change the Vox sound only to then add the AC Tone to get the vox sound again.... if you have an AC30 you don't really need an AC Tone, that kinda defeats the purpose.

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

How about putting a Treble Booster (or maybe a Tube Screamer with drive at zero and tone at full) in-between your guitar and this for a Rory Gallagher or Brian May type sound?

[@StormJH1]

Henning is the man! These videos basically ARE the instruction manual for Joyo/Harley Benton gear. This is the best explanation I've seen so far of what the Voice knob actually does, and the interplay it has with "mids" and "gain". The AC Tone (like all the Sound pedals) is great. But I try to use it either into the power amp only, or for direct recording. It works as a stompbox, but it's heavily influenced (and often superseded) by the EQ qualities if you run it into another preamp.

[@CarlitoM77]

I've made a lot of mistakes in the past but buying this pedal is NOT one of them. For 33 bucks you can't go wrong. Clean boost, chunky rhythm, and searing leads...all there!

[@EytschPi42]

It just put a link to it under the video. Carefeul, at the end of the chorus there are a few odd time signature measures.... Enjoy.... if you record something over it, let me hear it ! Henning

[@EytschPi42]

Thanks, it is always great to hear that what we do finds people that appreciate it... check out the JETTER demo videos.... I am trying to make the videos better all the time....

[@TroyNaumu808]

I had this pedal for a while. While "semi-decent" and inexpensive "semi-decent" no longer does it for me. I traded it in for the amp modeler pedal it's based upon. The Tech21 Liverpool.

[@remoteuser65]

I own all of these pedals and none of them like to go past '3 O'Clock' on any of the controls. If you keep this in mind you won't get any noise / hiss and hours of fun. Hope this helps.

[@EytschPi42]

Hi, thanks for you post.... you got something confused... my name is not Harley, it is Henning, the re-branded Joyo pedals are named HARLEY BENTON here in Germany. PLease look under the video in the text, there you will find a link to the backing track... someone else already asked for it.

[@Spartanjp308]

I own this one and the California and love them both. I wish they made a Orange version of these pedals.

[@dmitriysukonkin6828]

Actually they did

[@EytschPi42]

thank you very much... more coming....

[@EytschPi42]

Thanks man, nice to hear that the demos are finding fans. Actually, Joyo is not paying me, but I got a whole bunch of stuff for free...

[@xxxxneoxxxx]

You've got the most comprehensive demo's of this kind of pedals. Congratulations and thank you very much!!

[@jimmymarchisotto8152]

Sir thank you for doing the BEST demo videos! I hope the makers of the stuff you test appreciate all you do as much as we appreciate what you do! Thank you again!

[@hgostos]

Tried the Joyo AC Tone pedal with my amp (JTM45 ish) Through the fx loop, it added gain but also noise and the tone was for sure muddier than before. I thought I was going to like it but in the end didn't enjoy the outcome that much. Conclusion? The pedal is great for no-frill gigs plugged into PA, also for emergencies or to make cheap, boring sounding amps pretty interesting. However, good amps don't need it. Most likely the AC Tone is the most useful guitar gadget I have ever had.

[@MetalHeadPyro510]

9:16 when you switch pick selector switch from neck to bridge, it lost a lot of fat mids even with the mid cranked! 😲 i guess i'll be using my neck pup.

[@Ronnie631000]

Just purchased this pedal, Joyo JF-13 for $35.00 US. I have a Kustom 5H with the matching 1x12`cab. I is being shipped from china so I will see how long it will take. I am primarily going to try it has a O.D. AC sound and utilize the EQ. I like to turn the volume up to 2 o,clock when the neighbors are gone (I put in ear plugs) for a nice Kustom O.D. sound. Needs some EQ at that volume. If this does not suit me for that application, I will try the Joyo EQ pedal and use the AC pedal for lower volume clean and O.D. I will let you know how it sounds. thanks for the great demo. Rock`On! From Sioux City,Iowa. USA.

[@EytschPi42]

Thanks man.... a little over the top, but nonetheless appreciated! There is a video entitled Audience Requests where I show one of the true tone pedals directly into the power amp... works well.... I do listen to my subscribers...

[@Saycheeseanddie84]

Greetings from Los Angeles! Your videos, voice, and tones rock. The best on KZbin!

[@EytschPi42]

Sure, what do you Need?

[@Ronnie631000]

P.S My one and only electric is a 2012` Custom Shop R8 Les Paul that I got in Sept. of 2012`. Totally kicks-ass for anything and everything. My acoustic is the Epiphone "Inspired by 64`" Texan. This is my favorite acoustic until I get my lay-away payed off on my 2009` (New Old Stock,$2,345 US) Gibson Sheryl Crow County Western. Take care.

[@calansvc]

That tone starting at 13:30 is freakin' killer.

[@AndyThomas_mrblitz]

+calansvc agreed, during that song demo the tone was outstanding.

[@thewelder1204]

Did you find this same tone in it? I have to agree I love that tone it's got a bit of a Santana vibe to it. I just wonder if it sounds the same on other amps and guitars. He always uses the best amps and guitars to review this stuff use some junk

[@calansvc]

Nope. Never even got close. :)

[@thewelder1204]

Crap I just ordered one Friday :( I had to ask because I have the Joyo Ultimate Drive and it's a good pedal but nothing like the reviews on it. So now I'm thinking my amp might be the problem. Peavey Ranger 212 all tube but saggy in ass. Might be swapping her in soon.

[@MrLABEL56]

because rever+guitar(4500$ maybe)+backing track

[@endriu55]

Hi Henning, I have a question. Where should I place Ac tone on the board to use it as a pre amp, not boost or od ofcourse. I run all my modulation, delay, reverb and eq to the fx loop, and all dirt pedals and an octaver outside the fx loop (in front). Where would you put it in this case?

[@hgostos]

This is my idea... get one of these boxes and plug it in the parallel fx loop of my JTM45ish amp head. I can get a classic, clean early Marshall clean tone and mix in (via mix pot) as much VOX AC30 dirt as desired to get kind of the 3D effect of using two amps at once. Basically, two preamps and one shared power amp (w/ nos kt66s). Not unlike Blackmore then :)

[@aitken1965]

I love my Joyo pedals in general, and this pedal in particular. ( In Canada 🇨🇦 there’s no Harley Benton, unfortunately. )

[@MrCarsandguitars]

These are also sold on Amazon under the joyo name

[@sirjet]

Great stuff, however the vox frequency information (Vox having hollow mids) is incorrect. you can find a graph of marshall v fender v vox tonestacks using the same speaker cabinet here at a website called guitar amplifier blueprinting. great info there!

[@thevgmk1]

Nice demo and playing. I have this pedal but every time I activate it, it thuds... I works properly but that thud is scaring me. Oh yeah... it hisses like there's no tomorrow... Apart from that, I like the plethora of sounds you can get from this pedal.

[@robertironside290]

Wonder if you could try this pedal with a treble booster pedal in tandum? Shoot for some more May-ish things sound wise and see what happens? For the price though eh?

[@MetalHeadPyro510]

Man, I tell you what I would do if i had that thing. I would make it sound fat and warm high gain by cranking both drive, voice and mid knobs and roll back the high knob considerably to let my amp do all the singing in those higher registers of the frequency spectrum. This way, when I disengage the distortion pedal while stomping on a chorus or delay, I'll get all the definition i need to not have a muddy sounding chorus or delay. That level knob would get turned up to unity gain and low knob will be boosted enough to add body while cutting bass on the amp to further balance the bass tone and give breathing room to my bassist in the band. Cutting the mids on the pedal or amp will only be done for rhythm songs but most songs I love balls to the wall thick midrange lead high gain sounds. This accompanied by a tube scream pushing the front of the Joyo would probably open a doorway to another dimension. Think traditional 80's heavy metal like black sabbath with a way huge donkey balls attached.

[@sirjet]

the info is in the "stuff" section under the button Marshall v fender! I admit the site is archaic, but the info is good! love the reviews btw, I hope joyo is paying you because I have bought pretty much everything you have covered. :)

[@88namiller]

If you put a cab IR on it then it sounds pretty good direct into a DAW.

[@soulagent79]

Ich verwende dieses Pedal meistens mit meiner 12-saitigen Rickenbacker an einem cleanen Fender Amp. Damit bekommt man die typische Beatles/Byrds-Klangfarbe, das "jingle jangle", ziemlich authentisch hin. Als Fuzz und zum Boosten ist es auch geeignet. Alles in allem ein gutes Pedal live und auch zum Recorden.

[@JimijaymesProductions]

I know you have a vox and I say this all the time on newer videos but an ac30 is strange EQ wise which is why it sounds best with Teles and not as good with humbucker yet seems bitey and low in mids. Basically it has a cut in low low end then alot of lower mids then a huge cut in the slightly more mids then plenty of high mids then a high end roll off so it has less highs low end and mids then a super lead for example but more upper bass and more upper mids, a twin in the other hand overall has no where near the mids pretty much nothing in the mids heaps of lows and plenty of highs.

[@aitken1965]

Best reviews on KZbin imo

[@hgostos]

i thionk it should work... especially as I switch the gain sent to the pedal via the fx loop to instrument level. If it works as I think it should it can be sonic nirvana for £30. Well worth a try.

[@randeledquilang4769]

This is one of the best demo of AC Tone....and the tasty licks!

[@jonathanchable8683]

Did you know you explain the product very good and Moritz plays the product very good? I liked the American Sound's demo. I think it was the most complete demo you have done. I think this and other demos are good, but you could show us more about the pedals like you did it with de american sound.

[@Cadet44642]

I'm looking to run a dual amp direct solution. I am running a CabZues currently with my one amp. Would this be ideal to run with a CabZues?

[@JimijaymesProductions]

Voxs sound good with tele for that upper mid bark and cut, its like you don't play ENGLs with a strat for thick heavy tones you need a thicker heavier guitar. Ricks and VOXs work best though.

[@JimijaymesProductions]

Should aldo mention you always do good in depth reviews even if the tones don't lean to my interest as much. Good to see proffesional reviews of cheap pedals.

[@danielpecheny]

Very nice solo at the end

[@Squazzoo68]

That's it! I'm getting one! I already have a Vox AC-15, but the drive on the top boost sucks! This would be a great pedal if only for adding great distortion in top of my amp! Very thick and versatile for $30! Oh, & I really liked your track and "pretty horrible" for you still sounds "pretty awesome" compared to me! I think you're turning me into a pedal nerd

[@rldays9179]

Shadows Mignon? Is it a steak?

[@ShittyRim]

Yeah I guess you're right, thanks man x really enjoying your demos

[@demboch1]

Hi. I was looking for a good and cheap overdrive sound. Impossible? No. I found a KZbin channel of Henning. I even wrote a message to Henning but I have not lived to see the answer. :( But that's okay. (Certainly he is very busy). 10 times I listened all the presentations and finally made up my mind. Today I received my package from Thomann. Ac Tone, American, British TrueTone and Ultimate Drive. Each produces a different kind of sound, and therefore all of them will stay by me :) 120 euros, and I'm happy. I use only an audio interface (M-Audio Fast Track Pro), so they are great. And all thanks to Henning's films. Thank you again Henning and proceed with the inform people about the possibilities and sounds of new effects. Greetings. Darek.

[@EytschPi42]

Hey Darek...thanks.... I am glad I could help.... I am curious.... where di you ask something... I am usually thorough and try to answer any questions.... sometimes posts get flagged as spam for some reason and don't show up....

[@demboch1]

EytschPi42 I send a message via "send message" on "about" page on your channel. You know what, I thought I'd buy 4 pedals, will check them and 2 of them sell, but I keep them all. :)

[@huli8557]

Which one do you prefer?

[@Shesti76]

HI. Do you know what would be (and if they do it at all) Joyo's equivalent to Marshall Guv'nor? Thanks

[@Owen_plays_music1049]

What is the best between this, the British truetone, Crunch distortion etc... ?

[@EytschPi42]

not sure that works... but for thirty bucks it is sure worth a try...

[@edinaldooliveira2]

Parabéns! Obrigado pelo vídeo que muito me ajudou!

[@andreasoberholz]

I did a very short video review of the American Sound (Fender) JoJo pedal. I picked out what worked best to my ear in direct recording with speaker IRs. Some kind of midrange Jazz Blues breakup sound. A few days later I think it is givving some true fender impressions on the clean tones. I think they are not bad if stay open minded and you just start to search a sound you really like. BTW very cool reviews subscribed this channel......

[@oscarcabreraguitar1997]

Puedes conectar el pedal directo al amplificador ?

[@joepascual967]

Have you tried direct into DAW but add an impulse response?

[@goranmarinic2923]

vox amps have exelent responsiveness, like no other that I've tried, and have great definition of the tone, and that's something that I'm looking for. does this pedal gives that same feeling? I'm currently using Fender, and I'm very satisfied with it's "fullness" and headroom ofcourse but, yeah, it's kinda lazy comparing to ac30 or ac15! what my ulimate question is does this pedal can at some point be subtituion for playing live and not only for home recording? thanks for your vids and response!

[@Bliggick]

Mine makes a high frequency whistle if you set the high and drive past noon. Totally unusable.

[@pierrecormier5394]

I bought an actone and really like it but I can't get the velcro tape to stick to the bottom of the pedal. anyone out in pedal nerd land have any suggestions?

[@PhilipHawthorne]

Take the rubber pad off the bottom

[@pierrecormier5394]

yeah I clued in to that and it worked. thanks

[@stuartchapman5171]

Also buy the gravy duty velcro, vlean yhe bottom of the rubber pad, then heat the velcro with a hot air gun/hairdryer till the glue softens. This works very well

[@sailen7298]

hello sir where should i put this in a pedal chain? using it as an actual amp?

[@EytschPi42]

Sure you can use it with an Epiphone LP Standard. In my opinion though, you should try to replace that guitar as soon as you can afford it. Those are not good guitars. Gibson's quality is really not good now and Epiphone is much worse. I have many students with those guitars and they are just not good. Try to get yourself a PRS SE, there you get the sound of a 2000 Euro Gibson for under a thousand...

[@Noisehead101]

Shitty advice.

[@andyjordanmusic3129]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with Epiphone guitars.. I have one which sounds as good, if not better, than my Gibson Les Paul...!! They are quality guitars... Janick Gers from Iron Maiden uses one so if they're good enough for him, they're good enough...!

[@Noisehead101]

@@andyjordanmusic3129 absolutely. My cousin has an Epiphone Les Paul plus top pro and I would put it up against any more expensive guitar I’ve owned or played and it’s just as good. I used to have an Epiphone Riviera that got stolen and I sold a Gibson 335 when I had both because I preferred the Riviera as a semi hollow. Epiphone make some excellent guitars, regardless of cost. Sure some poor ones might come out the factory, but that applies to every guitar brand that are making large numbers of guitar.

[@josephlongo3991]

If I wanted to add this pedal into my signal chain, where would I put it? Beginning, middle or end of my signal chain?

[@sandpounder3443]

You would probably put it at the beginning, usually more clean tones should be at the beginning because their signal is more important and is most likely used the most. If you have a tuner, obviously put that in front

[@PhilipHawthorne]

Treat it like an amp so put it at the end of your chain IMHO

[@joshjamesguitar]

Would this work with a Vox AC15? I'm wondering if i just crank the AC15 and use the pedal to get a vox on steroids. Or even push it to mesa boogie dual rectifier levels.

[@bilalg8894]

Which is best Harley Benton (Joyo) Pedal? 1) Ac Truetone 2) American Truetone 3) British Truetone 4) Vintage Overdrive 5) Ultimate Drive

[@serhattorun7406]

Nr. 1 👑👋

[@ShittyRim]

Maybe a Vintage Overdrive would be better? (I keep the '65 always on by the way)

[@JD-qn7lv]

Love the demo Could you tell me what you are playing during your solo Emajor pentatonic? I really like that chromatic lick at the beginning!

[@jonthorsigmunds]

Great review and wonderful playing, maaan you are good! I'm really considering one of these for that legendary "on-the-edge" vox sound.

[@ambiguationdotnet]

Hey Henning. I know this is an old video, but it's such a great demo of this pedal! I've got a Vox-like single-ended class A tube amp (Winfield Typhoon) and it feels weird adding a $30 in front of it, BUT the added EQ and voicings make it so much more flexible (and more Voxy!). Excellent pedal, would totally replace it in a heartbeat if it died. Tschuss!

[@EytschPi42]

It Is really a Great box!

[@joethrelfall6370]

hi there r their any pros to buyin this pedal

[@SHERIFF8311]

hello from mallorca, excelent demo, thank you. I also have this pedal and I really like it.

[@paullemieux8396]

Will these pedals work well going into an effects loop of a tube amp? Thanks.

[@razhua]

Hi great review as always, I have a question since you know all these pedals. I have an ultimate drive, and wonder if it's very different from AC tone. could I achieve similar tones with either of this pedals? I also have a US dream but that is a different pedal altogether. thanks in advance Ed

[@dalederix2335]

Is there any way to get the Hoped, Fought, Lost backing track (for compensation of course)? I would love to jam to that. Thanks for the great review.

[@joethrelfall6370]

Getting of these an using it in my already awesome brian may rig wiv red special wiv my treble booster chorus pedal and vix anp so yeah!!:)

[@ShittyRim]

Hey, I have a Vox ac30cc2x, how would this sound with it? (Because i'm getting a wampler black '65, it sounds amazing with the vox - a kind of half vox/fender sound) I'd quite like to keep the black '65 as a clean tone colouring tool and then push it with another overdrive, would this do the trick?

[@KurtFuller]

I love the demos of this guy, he is very friendly and shows the gears vey well. Regarding the gear... my dirty´s channel amp is down and the repair surely costs me more than an overdrive pedal... would you recomend this one? I like the AC Vox "sound" so much.

[@elabismoylaluna6981]

How do you conect the pedal to the pc? Thanks

[@EytschPi42]

you don't

[@maquet47]

Hi, I'm from Belgium. I've a amp Fender Blues De Lux (from USA). I've listen your demo of Harley Benton ES-35. I'd like to have a most Bluzzy, Jazz sound. Could you give me your advice with such an effect ? Thank you for your answer and excuse me for my so bad English ;=) Have a good day. JJ

[@ayushman7]

Nice Demo, Great Work! loved your originals.will be getting the Acetone, Thanks!

[@DrkMyyst]

Another excellent review as usual ! However I thought the Direct Input portion of the demo seemed rushed and didn't do the pedal justice. 'InTheBlues' did a few very good Direct In Joyo demos as did Bret Kingman with that 'other companies' pedals. I do understand the direct tone is not to your taste but for those of us out here in KZbinLand I'm sure someone with your talent and ear along with that young killer guitarist could certainly do the Joyo Pedals justice and give us a better idea of what they can/or can't really do. After all they are amp sim pedals meant to be used direct. Some Beatles era to Brian May AC tone should cover it ! Anyway thank you for these very informative excellent videos. I'll look forward to more of your demos in the future...

[@EytschPi42]

Hi, I have heard some demos that sounded OK with the direct option, but I just don't think the results are anything usable. If you compare it with AMPLITUBE on the iPad or your computer or GUITAR RIG from Native Instruments, this just can't compete in the direct recording world. it is a nice option for the rehearsal maybe, but when you are recording there are many better options. I think in front of an amp they sound great ! I heard one demo of the Tech21 Blonde and they guy was totally proud of the sound and it sounded HORRIBLE... no clue what standards he uses... I see the direct mode as a nice addition to the pedal, but it only truly unveils its magic in front of an amp.

[@lanthaniated1]

Just wondering if the Joyo logo pedal is the same pedal as the Harley Benton?

[@DerEchteBold]

+lanthaniated1 Yes, these Harley Bentons are actually Joyo pedals.

[@randeledquilang4769]

I agree! Harley Benton in Europe but Joyo in US and Asia.

[@srmd22]

Hahah, wth are you talking about (2:07) - tele through a vox is an awesome sound! Love ya anyway, your vids are awesome.

[@HeliBenj]

just got one of those thanks to your video and it does sound awesome, plus it s a steal!. thanks a lot!

[@Monsterpop]

another most excellent, humorous review;-) cheers

[@dcsdrive]

What are the shortfalls of this pedal?

[@dogsbodyish8403]

Suggest cut the bloody background muzak - I'd like to hear what you're saying, but can't stand the competing racket, so I fast-forward.

[@heyhence]

is this pedal good for a epiphone les paul standard?

[@joethrelfall6370]

hey there do u have to use a power supply to power this pedal

[@EytschPi42]

battery works too...

[@lucianogonzalez335]

Great video! great tone!! I am looking for a joyo distortion pedal, i like this and the california! but, I really like your house!! is amazing!!

[@ShapesAndFaces]

Voxes are not "hollow" in the mids, they are known for having loads of mids. Nice review though.

[@t-boog2173]

Great review Henning(as always!). BTW, I know the Tech 21 Character series have a switchable speaker simulation. Can you please tell me if the speaker sim on the AC Tone takes away somewhat from the tone when running into the front end of your amp? I ask because I want to buy it but I would be playing it through my amp(Marshall DSL40) 99% of the time. I appreciate any light you can shed. Thanks & Keep Rockin!!!

[@EytschPi42]

I primarily used it with amps and it always sounded great

[@BrentPhelps]

Dude you crack me up. Totally entertaining review videos!

[@SuperEffCee]

Excellent, very thorough review, well detailed. Thank you! I just subscribed to your channel! :-)

[@MetalMayhem1978]

I like your videos bro keep it up !

[@DjGrizzlyPaws]

Another great review. Thanks

[@gregboboski9904]

Decent review , not taking himself too seriously . thanks

[@monasteryintibet]

Any setting that can make it sound like The Beatles ?

[@jamesc1164]

This or a vintage overdrive?

[@jamesc1164]

I'm looking to only buy one pedal but get a wide range of tones

[@mrihavenoname1512]

+Harris Douglas id go for the actone

[@oldandeerie]

almost wish it had less drive, i like the cleaner tones of this amp

[@zivariel]

I like your reviews. Thanks.

[@EytschPi42]

No, it is analog...

[@musicbypetegonzales4814]

Sounds great!

[@hgostos]

fantastic demo!!! thanks a lot!

[@MovieMaker225]

Could you try something out for me?

[@aussiejohn4026]

Kool man....I like your review....honest and right on point..!!!!!!