JOYO Distortion and Preamp Pedals - RIP IT OR SKIP IT?!

[@TaylorDanley]

Get them here and help the channel (at no cost to you)! Chopper z preamp/distortion: amzn.to/3qkmPEI Dark Flame Distortion: amzn.to/3OJ4bjy Rigel Preamp: amzn.to/3rVfBaK Argos Overdrive: amzn.to/47jLv0M

[@Deckardkane420]

I got a question for you Danny, out-of-the joyo Rigel and Chopper Z and the dark flame which one out of those three would you say has the biggest low-end and which has the least or most saturated distortion? Love the reviews love the channel by the way

[@EasyHeat]

The old school JOYO/Dr J "Blademaster" distortion is a freakin sewer-head sLuDgE-cOrE/DooM pedal of heresy. 😈

[@reverendtos4271]

I'm an extreme metal guitarist in his 60's who played his first show in the 70's with a Sound City head and a Ross distortion box. It got us through, because it was all that was available in those days anywere near my budget. But I would have eaten a bottle full of bugs for one of todays cheap modelers. I did a few blackened-death metal shows with a Mooer Engl-clone preamp pedal and a 100 watt pedal amp and it sounded great. People today really are spoiled with how good and readily available cheap gear is today. The world may be going to hell, but it's a great time to be a guitar player.

[@TaylorDanley]

This is 100% accurate. Thanks so much for sharing your experience!

[@scentia_est]

I am a little bit younger but in the game since 2000 and your comment is 100 % on point! Even the last sentence. Nowadays you can't get bad gear.

[@DylanHutto]

Something I'd like to add is that people are also realizing that a lot of old gear wasn't bad, just wasn't used correctly. Sure, some stuff IS bad or sub-par, but even that has it's uses with people like Mick Gordon and NIN in the mix. I'm only 20 (almost 21) and I'm so lucky and grateful to be a guitar player in the day and age that I am.

[@hootowl6354]

The world isn't going to hell. Reading history, it's only gotten better.

[@reverendtos4271]

@hon8177 not sure where I implied we should be alone. I'm in a touring band and play all the time with great people. The gear just makes it easier. 😉

[@coreyrramsay8858]

I run the Dark Flame into the clean channel of my Orange Super Crush and it sounds really nice.

[@TaylorDanley]

I think that's the best way to run it. It's OK as a preamp, but better as a normal distortion pedal

[@theproblemwithkidsthesedays]

I do the same thing. Sounds better to me than my Tremonti lead channel.

[@rossbalch]

The dark flame should definitely be used like a pre-amp. It has plenty of gain on tap. Those colour switches are super versatile too adjusting the tightness and saturation.

[@Serbofreak]

I bought the Joyo Tauren and it's the most amazing pedal I've ever had. Then I went on and made a full Joyo pedal board with Joyo 5 power Supply, Aquarius, Ambience, Uzi, Tauren, Baby Wah, American sound as a cab sim. Cheap gear got sooooooo good.

[@malegria9641]

I’m watching this in the background while I practice with my joyo ultimate drive and I must say…it’s the only drive pedal I have ever needed and will ever need. I love it so much.

[@TheTubeDude]

I really like the way this presenter plays his guitar live, while checking the pedals out. I love love love the guitar! Never heard of that brand. I'm in my 70's but play every day. Thanks so much for this presentations.

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks for dropping in 💪

[@ronchabot3449]

I really like rip it or skip it I would like to see more like this, because I would imagine people ask your advice on gear all the time and this way you can, well you know what I mean hopefully lol 👍🎸🤘

[@TaylorDanley]

THANK YOU! I'm trying to make this series a normal thing... sometimes people just want the gear demoed though, and for me to leave my opinions out of it. Which is fair.

[@TheMirrorify]

I love joyo pedals, I have quite a few and they've never failed me. Impossible to beat their price to quality ratio.

[@oris81]

Joyo rules, I own the ten bands EQ pedal and it's very good. These ones are very nice

[@hatempire]

I'd gig with the Chopper-Z in a heartbeat! Already going to my pedalboard planning.

[@drinix]

Great work man, keep it up. The Chopper Z and the Getaria Cube Baby as a portable setup, sounds like a crime how good it is for how little I paid!

[@surveil3548]

How do you run the cube baby? do you use the amp sims or just the IRs? also, are they the built in IRs or are they external?

[@brrblack497]

This is awesome, waiting for a decant review of these pedals, thank you.

[@TaylorDanley]

💪 Thanks dude!

[@emericbrun650]

I got the Dark Flame but also the Joyo UZI. The two pedals are awesome

[@emericbrun650]

I play them in front of thé clean channel of a Bantamp Zombie. It sounds great

[@Deckardkane420]

I got a question for you Danny, out-of-the joyo Rigel and Chopper Z and the dark flame which one out of those three would you say has the biggest low-end and is the least tightest? Love the reviews love the channel by the way

[@TaylorDanley]

I think the chopper z had the most low end. The dark flame is.... dark, but not necessarily a huge low end.

[@Deckardkane420]

ty ill give the chopper Z a try@@TaylorDanley

[@dustinmullings2672]

Geeeezzzhus bloody hell!!!: Man, that intro was ripping new arseholes left and right! Have you been getting a chance to write more recently or what? Your playing seems to have improved dramatically recently. Not that it was bad before. Just noticed a drastic level up. That sounded really fucking good dude! Keep up the great work and killer content man. Best wishes!

[@edneyhelenedossantos1875]

I love this video thank you! You should more videos comparing budget metal pedals we would all be very grateful xD

[@xyvxyethe5584]

sick riffs Taylor!

[@TaylorDanley]

THANK YOU!

[@andrebreder666]

I like the Dark Flame pedal so much that I have two of them, in case one of them goes out. It's my favorite distortion out of the ones I have (I have six other different distortion pedals).

[@ajcjcarvalho]

I really loved the chopper Z tone.. Sounds great

[@TaylorDanley]

💪

[@commonsensehill372]

I have the Chopper Z... and it is unique. It really makes a difference what guitar and amp you are using when using it. I personally think it sounds great.

[@ZombieLincoln666]

It’s not unique though.. it’s a clone

[@adamstein9333]

@@ZombieLincoln666 of what? Please lmk

[@commonsensehill372]

@@ZombieLincoln666 Clone of what?

[@francois_thibeaux-brignoles72]

The beginning of this video is how I believe one should do a comparison between effects. ❤

[@danc3746]

I notice you had to turn up the treble on the Dark Flame when using it as a pre amp, its the only way to wake that pedal up. What you said about having to use that pedal in front of a clean amp is 100% correct, its much better that way.

[@bloodschuch]

What's the name of the song at 4:29? This riff is great!

[@marks9197]

DAMN! That intro was sick!

[@fmfsupaman]

I run a Chopper Z into my Orange Rockerverb 100MK2 on both the clean and fx loop, and its a killer pedal, especially when blending the dirty channel of the amp.

[@prestonbowden1008]

Wow I’m super interested in the argos!

[@MercutioUK2006]

I'm impressed........especially given the price. It helps that you're running them through a quality rig regradless, but I've seen a lot of positive press for these bad lads.

[@TaylorDanley]

Yeah, I was pretty surprised too. You don't often associate "budget pedals" with sounding the best, but Joyo typically delivers.

[@MercutioUK2006]

@@TaylorDanley Absolutely! The build quality is insane also, which gives me great confidence in longevity :)

[@nashmanzl]

I have 3 of these on a wish list right now.

[@martinhensley2377]

Thanks bro, I'm am all in .

[@TaylorDanley]

💪

[@dr.kevorkian9996]

Does the dark flame have a noise gate built in? That pedal sounds super swell... Especially for my style. Modern metal tones of the drop tuned 7 string variety.... Djenty typed shit

[@Krullmatic]

The preamp sounds good by itself. Edit: I was watching other channels about the choppah (lol) z, and they said the cab sim sweep is supposed to be emulating mic placement. I was checking the z out, because I'm looking for a good cheap distortion that doesn't sound all fuzzy and like a cocked wah. I've bought a few cheap ones, and that's what they sound like. There's not any note clarity at all with them either. Honestly though, like I said,, the preamp itself sounds awesome!

[@felinekaiju4517]

I love raw tone vids. For me a purchase is about the raw sound. I'm thinking the Rigel has that modified JCM 800 feel. Think early Alice in Chains with Jerry's Bogner Modified JCM 800.

[@warlock936]

In my experience with rygal.i get both marshall and mesa tones..depends on how you set feel,bright and the mod switches.i run mine with two notes power amp sims.depending on which tubes I set it to.but the rygal sounds the best in my opinion..the uzi being my next favorite ones

[@martinhensley2377]

Taylor, I like that you are in to Jackson guitars, because I like Jackson to bro. My main axe is a custom Jackson Monarkh 7string bro.

[@barryprosser1370]

Big joyo fan. Amazing value buys. 🤘🤘🤘

[@TaylorDanley]

plus... cool lights 🤷‍♂️ lol

[@barryprosser1370]

@@TaylorDanley I love lamp

[@needsLITHIUM]

I own an Argos Drive -- it's basically a Horizon Devices Precision Drive clone -- and use it with a Joyo Oxford Sound or my Meteor II Bantamp, both of which are Orange voiced.

[@pizzadestroyer303]

The sound sicccccc. What pedal is powering your cab? It's not a joyo

[@TaylorDanley]

Higher Power by This Heavy Earth Effects

[@AdventJustice]

Had the Argos, it’s a clone of the PD for sure and I have it and sounds pretty close.

[@TaylorDanley]

Yeah, it just doesn't have the fancy shiny box.. lol

[@bobibobik5903]

Ten how on Earth is Argos older if it is clone? i'll start to hate YT guitar videos because of this use of word ''clones'' that has nothing with the reality.

[@mauroxhcx]

Which one did u prefer? Chopper Z or Rigel?

[@caelenselke-minogue]

I wonder if the Chopper tightens up more with a boost behind it. I like the sound except it's a bit muddier/chainsaw-esque than I like metal distortion.

[@greevar]

I have the Joyo Uzi. It's the preamp for my IR rig. I enjoy the hell out of it.

[@adamstein9333]

Same with a screamer in front of

[@cz875]

Question for you. What was your power amp for this demo? I really liked that Chopper Z sound, would you compare it to a 5150iii type sound?

[@TaylorDanley]

This Heavy Earth Effects - Higher Power. I don't know, that's a good question. I don't think any pedal is going to sound exactly like an amp, but in a mix you'd probably never know.

[@jorgea.9988]

Quick info about them: The Dark Flame is based on the Revv G4 The Rigel is (probably) based on the KSR Ceres Preamp The Chopper-Z is based on the Horizon Devices Apex Preamp And the Argos is clearly based on the Horizon Devices Precision Drive Joyo also has the UZI, which seems to be based on the Friedman BE OD

[@Deckardkane420]

I own the revv G4 and the joy Dark Flame and they're not close at all. The Rev G4 is a lot less tight of a distortion(more saturated) and has a lot more low-end and more scooped than the dark flame, the dark Flames Distortion characteristics are a lot tighter and less saturated and a lot less low-end than the G4

[@TaylorDanley]

I assumed the Dark Flame was that Kirk Hammet (dark blood?) pedal when I first played it lol. Thanks for the info dude!

[@LucasLeCompteMusic]

Joyo should change their name to CloneO

[@jorgea.9988]

@@TaylorDanley It has the same control layout of the Revv pedals

[@jorgea.9988]

@@LucasLeCompteMusic there's a huge difference between what Joyo do and what brands like Behringer and Demon FX do.

[@mohitrahaman]

I own a ChopperZ its really unique and does metal very well. Its also supposed to be a Horizon Devices inspired pedal.

[@lordovthorn2747]

I gig with the Chopper Z and that thing absolutely riiiiips

[@graemedixon6314]

I sometimes use a Joyo Preamp house in front of an orange super crush then through an orange 2x12 v30 cab, sounds good.

[@adamstein9333]

Is the preamp house good? Or great? I’m thinking of just getting that but, if the Rigel or Chpper z does it better for less I’m in

[@graemedixon6314]

@@adamstein9333 it sounds good and does give a range of preamp options. I haven't tried the other pedals you mentioned though.

[@Tysandifer]

You should check out the reverb pedals from them, they are PERFECT

[@HCUSAGUITARS]

The argos sounds great to me, how does it stack up to other OD pedals?

[@ZombieLincoln666]

I like how legible their knobs are. Wish they were black though

[@AaronMorgan666]

If the rigel is supposed to be a ksr preamp pedal, i wonder if it has that secret control inside the pedal? I forget what it does? I think it's a tight switch but...idk?

[@cj_phillips]

Can you plug headphones right into the Chopper Z if you’re using the cab sim option? Thanks for these reviews!

[@highgainmaster7856]

Joyo argos or demon fx precision, which clone is better?

[@brozio77]

for black metal sounds do you prefer the rigel or chopper z? i need a cheap preamp to run into effect loops

[@TaylorDanley]

Hard pick. I like the chopper because it has more options, but the Rigel might be more of the tone you are looking for.

[@brozio77]

Thanks so much 😊

[@jesseparrish9198]

Demo that demonfx precision drive pedal and see if it fairs to that Argo.

[@TaylorDanley]

I have mixed feelings about demoing the demonfx pedal. But thanks for reminding me about it! I need to get that video in the line up.

[@jesseparrish9198]

@@TaylorDanley real quick though which pedal would you recommend as an alternative to the og Precision Drive?

[@olivierjsp]

@@TaylorDanley Yeah" Friedman session : BE-ODX BE-ODX II BE-ODX Plus

[@UpBySix]

could you use the chopper z for Di'ing a bass?

[@CryptToneMusic]

Are there any budget pedal power supplies you'd recommend? I just want to be able to run like two stacked drive pedals, a tuner, maybe a gate and a delay if im feeling fancy 😂

[@aaatmusic]

Caline and several other companies do isolated power supplies with 8 standard 9v 100ma, one 9v 300ma and an 18v. Artist guitars Australia online sell them.

[@CryptToneMusic]

@@aaatmusic thank you I'll check them out! I appreciate it 😊

[@warlock936]

Bought these guys on prime day.everything was like 180$ with a 20% coupon on top of the deals.the rygal is my favorite out of all of them.super versitle.i run this into a cab m with a power amp sim cab sim off..studio reverb b..into a seymour duncan powerstage 170.into a hesu 212m sounds evil.

[@metalheadblues]

Hey man which one you'd recommend for 7 string , drop G kinda stuff ?

[@Brad143]

Hi taylor,which one do you recommend between chopper and Rigel.i need to buy one,Thanks

[@TaylorDanley]

They're both good, I like the chopper z more personally.

[@Brad143]

@@TaylorDanley ok thanks buddy 🤟

[@Dan-O-mite]

Anyone that owns the Rigel, did you find it overly bright? I ran mine through my Orange clean channel and it was horribly bright even with treble all the way off. Am I missing something?

[@caelenselke-minogue]

Just a guess, but it probably needs to be run through an effects loop return to act as a preamp. In my experience, pedals run through a clean channel sound much brighter than through the effects loop. The Rigel *is* called a preamp.

[@richardbartley3089]

What tuning are you going to. Why not standard? Most new pedal players don't down to triple z.

[@DavideBruno-e9u]

@@richardbartley3089 the Argos Is a clone of the Precision Drive, which was made literally for Djent by Misha Mansoor. The Attack knob is literally there for tightening up any amp and get that percussive djent tone.

[@mr.timebombman2230]

These things sound damn good for the money. Or any price point even.

[@27retrodaze]

Proud owner (that Taylor sold me on last year) of the R-15 Pre-Amp House...

[@TaylorDanley]

Oh man, I forgot all about that one! Yes, very cool unit!

[@liliksumarni1763]

im not player guitar, but joyo dark flame + chopper z, make me want learn guitar 😢

[@scentia_est]

You should really do a lot more mic'ing. The tone is pretty awesome. Would use it instantly for a production. Everything of the tone you need is already there.

[@TaylorDanley]

You mean in the demos? I always do it that way if I can. Sometimes I'm shooting at like midnight though and don't want to piss off my neighbors haha

[@scentia_est]

@@TaylorDanley ok, i undrstand, let's protect those neighbours :)

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Just blown away by the quality of cheap pedals nowadays!

[@R3dbudd]

Joyo Precision Drive copy vs Helix Horizon Drive shootout. Go!

[@odie5268]

Those are toggle switches, DIP switches are a set of small switches in-line in a housing meant to be soldered to a PCB. You might find those inside a pedal or amp. Oh and before a only sound like a pedantic asshat.. love that chopper-z.. though I'm pretty convinced you can make anything decently high gain sound nasty..

[@howardgillingham4763]

I just bought them all

[@jddelarosa]

Reminds me of "Will it Chug" or Ola's show in general.

[@nathansieg4467]

ive owned the dark flame...it's bonkers

[@TaylorDanley]

💪

[@doctoribanez]

Ill probably pick up that chopper and that drive. You probably just sold out Amazon and made that company a ton of money

[@aaaargl]

would've loved if you'd put the argos infront of the Chopper for reference bruv

[@TaylorDanley]

Amazon my man, if it sucks you just return it.

[@aaaargl]

@@TaylorDanley not available in my country right now. i got my setup right now, not looking to expand it, was more of a constructive criticism, but i understand you wanted this to be short and to the point, not endless mix and match haha all good

[@johnmahan172]

Give the Ibanez Pentatone Preamp a spin!

[@nashmanzl]

More cloning! The Rigel (RYE-jel) preamp may be a clone of one of the channels of a KSR Ceres. Dark Flame? Revv G3/G4. Chopper Z Horizon Devices Apex Preamp.

[@Deckardkane420]

I own the revv G4 and the joy Dark Flame and they're not close at all. The Rev G4 is a lot less tight of a distortion(more saturated) and has a lot more low-end and more scooped than the dark flame, the dark Flames Distortion characteristics are a lot tighter and less saturated and a lot less low-end than the G4 . I never had the G3 so im assuming its a G3-ish clone

[@TaylorDanley]

Thanks for the info dude 💪

[@rossbalch]

​@@Deckardkane420I have both G3 and G4, I'd say it's voiced somewhere in the middle. Depending on the position of the switch.

[@bobibobik5903]

@@rossbalch For Christ or i you lie for Devils sake they are NOT CLONES ! Not even close. Joyo has their own engineers, qulity of their pedals is often equal and better then you'll get from those fancy highly overpriced brands who BTW copy paste what Marshall did long ago. But i never see this smart a Toototebrs saying 1 word about it.

[@88Nyman]

Forgot send UZI distortion😮

[@needsLITHIUM]

Argos is enamel paint on metal

[@Durkhead]

Get to the choppa!

[@sbrailo6747]

What power amp pedal is that?

[@TaylorDanley]

Higher power by This Heavy Earth Effects.

[@naruhodo.tones.by.kuronekosan]

Skipped the Dark Flame. Ripped the rest of the three... 😃

[@datass666]

As much as people want or like to shit on Joyo for making clones ( legit argument), the value proposition alone makes it hard to deny them, especially for hobby hacks like me...For less than what I paid for an EHX Soul Food od pedal, I got Joyo's Vintage Tube OD( fantastic ts clone), Argos OD (worth it for the noise gate alone !) and their six-band EQ pedal (extremely underrated)

[@davidstokes4630]

UZI???

[@carlosgomez-yy3ok]

Prueba el joyo uzi

[@MatthewBlackMetal]

All of these for 250 and some change... sign me up

[@bobibobik5903]

I like your videos except use of word ''clone'', mate that is not a clone. Joyo has their own engineers. In world of pedals all of us basing our work on those who were before us. So each pedal is a bit of copy paste with added new values. When Joyo made new PCB, change values people say ''OMG its' clone'' , but when some fancy brands do the same then uneducated people say '' OMD They designed it''.😇 -1st Joyo's their vintage pedals are based on a well known stuff, and they are well made. For a pedal made by some ''Bouti-Geek'' brand that has a ''large'' components trough hole you'll have to drop min 200-2500US$, and JOYO sell their for like 25-30$ ( vintage serial). This newer R serial are not clones at all. BTW on their vintage pedals Joyo was fer and told that some are based on an old pedals. That is good and i like them for their honesty, because a lot of other brands lie about their ''designs''. BoutiGeek brands should pay to brands like Boss, DoD, Ibanez, MXR, EHX etc a lot of money for copy paste their work, but in electronic as long as you trace your PCB difrent you're avoiding that even if you used the same schematic. Long ago there were an attempts to resolve that issue, but then people realized it's imposable to control it, and it would slow down the process of electronic every day gadgets , radio TV, pedals, PC etc production. To make a pedal when you produce 100's of them you won't spent more then 10$ for parts, box etc for 1 pedal. People are brainwashed and believe that price tags means that in a 300$ pedal parts cost more , but that is not the case. When you make 1000's of pedals you look at prices like 3-5$ per pedal max. All parts come from Asia, doesn't matter is it Joyo pedal or some fancy brand. Joyo and similar brands are happy with profit they make, but some greedy b...... like to make a lot more that is why some pedal cost 300$+ VS 50$. All of them pay the same amount for parts, PCB's are usually made in Asia. And even if you make PCB in the west machines do that and it's cheep process mate. With micro-parts and surface mounted process manufacturing of pedals nowadays is extremely cheep. If someone wish to give a few 100's of US$ for a brand name and marketing blah blah then cool it's their choice, but this 500-60$ pedals are not inferior at all. To be honest some are better made then some expensive ones. Wish you all the best , Mike from the Europe an old ''hater'' and real electronic engineer

[@73prd]

Skip it

[@audioengineer86]

Nah man, I think I have a great tone right now I dunno if I wanna change anything "Hey look, new cheap distortion pedals!" Ffffffffffff

[@Glensully]

He go chugg chugg a lot All sounds the same

[@jesusaguilera3803]

I made a tiktok demo on the dark flame and I was kinda surprised by it! Threw it in the FX loop of my HX stomp and used an EVH cab IR. Pretty good distortion/preamp! Might get that Argos drive tho 🤭 so if anyone is interested in the dark flame I got you 🫡

[@FEVERDREAM1983]

I own the dark flame and it sucks imo. I can't get a good tone out of it no matter how I dial it in in front of the amp or in the fx loop. I've even tried putting it into a poweramp pedal with an SD 1 and still it blows. The Rigel sounds good. Comparable to the Ceres, which I use a ton. The best preamp I have and the one that has been my main one lately is the mooer powers tatian. That thing has serious balls and is perfect for a modern metal tone but is capable of getting that And Justice For All/Black Album kind of tones too.

[@Lordbaccus]

I really like this Ch... My Mxr Heavy metal pedal just DIED after 13yrs = looking for a replacement lil more Modern