Tech 21 British Character serie VS Harley Benton British True Tone

Here a quick & dirty comparison of the Tech 21 Character Series British VS the Harley Benton British (Joyo).

[@jasonlee8497]

Bought the Joyo first....loved it, so i thought i would really love the real thing.....nope! The Joyo edges it for me....because , i think the Joyo takes other pedals better.....using it just slightly dirty with a wah, comp and drive....with a delay after all that....sounds great!

[@napalmhardcore]

I own a couple of the Joyo pedals (AC Tone and the American Sound). I was actually looking for a comparison video between the AC Tone and the Liverpool but this is very useful too. The Sansamp definitely sounds nicer to me, but the value for money the Joyo offers is insane. The value offered by the Sansamp is good too. I've heard a couple of comparisons to the real amp they are trying to emulate and they sound pretty damn close.

[@gprice1978]

I own a joyo British sound and it sounds amazing through a vox mv50 clean, and I mean ridiculously amazing! So if you can’t stretch to the tech21, it’s a viable alternative. If I had the money, yeah I’d have the tech21, that thing sounds epic, but don’t underestimate the joyo (Harley Benton) for the money, it’s more than good enough!

[@dbhammond]

All differences here can be accounted for by differences in pot taper. All pots, even the same models from the same manufacturers can have slightly different tapers. Also, part values can be different but within tolerance. Matching the control knob settings between pedals will not necessarily be a valid comparison. Instead, use your ears to try to get each pedal to sound the same (or as close as possible).

[@UCS0608]

Amen. Try to get the best sound from each pedal and compare it. Use a looper to feed them wih the same guitarsignal and a A-B switch. It's as simple as that. :)

[@zerocertezze]

To those who mentioned I could dial the pot to make them sound the same, I don’t completely agree. In my opinion the Joyo is a good deal but the Tech21 sounds better. More dinamic, more “amp feeling”. What’s also evident is the completely different volume. The tech 21 is much louder so in case someone wanted to use it as a real preamp, it can help. For the records, I now purchased the Tech21 version with the button to include or remove the sim of the cabinet and this feature isn’t available on Joyo. Last but not least, Tech21 invented this solution, Joyo is just an inferior copy.

[@TallshrewFishing]

I am actually a big fan of Tech21 NYC gear. I have the great Sansamp PSA-1 and previously owned a Sansamp Classic and an original XXL distortion.

[@mikehughes2183]

I have now tried my Joyos through an "Aroma ASR-3 Shaper" cab sim pedal and got to say quite an improvement with 11 different speaker cabs! Still a fraction of the price of the Tech 21 Character series, which would also benefit from this cab sim pedal or impulse response software/pedal etc.

[@gaborporempovics2415]

Interesting. They are quite close to each other. You tried to dial the pots to the same position. Sometimes I feel that the Joyo is a little bit quieter than the Tech21. At the moment I can't determine if it is some lack of mid, or high frequencies, or just lower volume level. Tech 21 has more presence, Joyo is a little bit muddy in your test. However, I still see some potential in the Joyo, because according to the pot positions I can see some chance to come closer to the Tech21's sound. All in all, maybe the two products are not identical, but the Joyo seems to me quite useful for a budget price. Well, as usually in music industry, you pay 20% for the 90% of the sound, and plus 80% for the rest 10%! ;)

[@TallshrewFishing]

I'm sure the controls on the Joyo could be tweaked to get much nearer to the Tech 21 - for example: where the Joyo sounds more bassy just roll some bass off etc, etc - the settings are not like for like. On another point I doubt if the cheap copies are costing Tech 21 any business as their price points are for different buyer groups; on the contrary I think it is very possible that loving the Joyos may make some players save up for the Tech 21 models. The question in everyone's mind is _will Joyo ever copy the Oxfdord, Leeds and US Steel_ ..

[@mikehughes2183]

I agree! It's most certainly that all the pots are rated differently but inside the circuit and chips etc.. are identical.

[@MadanzaBand]

indeed.. tech 21 is thicker.. huge sounds, and also very clear, but the joyo sounds great too, for it's price, damn.. it's very close

[@mikehughes2183]

I bet if you compensated for the fact the pots are rated differently I can guarantee the sound would be identical!. Have you opened them up to compare the circuits and chips etc? I would imagine they are both identical inside. A lot of these components are readily available and really cheap! The chinese could easily copy these over priced American units hands down. I have three Joyo preamps: AC Tone, American Sound and British Sound and compared to all the digital crap and real valve/tube amps I have played through I know I am really happy with my Joyos. They sing and really come alive like a real valve amp but you have to play around with the voice and drive knob to make all the difference, as well as the EQ.

[@alphanumeric1529]

My Joyo British sound is SO quiet though. When I click it on, the volume drops hugely. Man, I don't even know if mine is broken, or if that is how these pedals are supposed to sound... but who would design a preamp pedal that drops your signal 15db? You should have more gain available on a preamp...

[@BlazertronGames]

I wonder what makes the joyo sound different. Surely they can just copy the same circuit as the tech 21. Maybe cheaper components just sound different.

[@Orbsee]

great comparison video... sound almost 90% same, and couldn't say if 1 is better than the other.. Harley benton really put out a great pedal for a low cost, is the build quality good though?

[@zerocertezze]

+Orbsee Thanks. I didn't open the stomp box, to check how these kind of things are made; it isn't my cup of tea. Nevertheless the joyo looks "cheap" and I finally decided to keep my Tech21. I preferred the Tech21 also in terms of sound. The little difference between the 2 pedals is unbelievable if I think at the huge price gap but if I don't consider the price, the Tech21 is definitively better to my ears and under my fingers.

[@Orbsee]

great insight! And i just received my tech 21 british like an hour ago man, found one used at a great price so why not :) .. i already have amt ss11a though, cant wait to compare them both

[@indisguiseFUCK]

I have both, they sound a bit different. I feel like the Joyo does better at clean tones (it somehow has less low mid mud) whereas the Tech 21 is less noisy and smoother if you crank the gain. Also, the Tech 21 seems to have more headroom. I will happily keep both for different purposes :)

[@robfriedrich2822]

Would the Tech 21 cost about 50 €... but so the higher price isn't justified. For half the Tech 21 module, you can get all 4 guitar amp emulations.

[@t-boog2173]

I own the Joyo B.S. and to me the Sansamp sounds a bit smoother with a sweeter breakup. I find the Sansamp sounds like it's modeling a real vintage celetiion speaker whereas the Joyo speaker sim sounds like a cheaper, though still decent, speaker. I also wish the Joyo had the switch to disengage the speaker sim like the Sansamp does. Concidering the price of the Joyo though, you just can't go wrong with it!

[@mikehughes2183]

It's just the pots rated differently. They are both the identical inside. They will both be modeling different speakers, depending on the voice/character knob.Just at different positions.

[@Johnmannish]

The Joyo really has a built in speaker sim? i was going to buy it to use with the duncan powerstage into a 4x12 but know i guess not

[@t-boog2173]

@@Johnmannish Yeah, I would steer clear of the British Sound. I.still love my Joyo American Sound which nails the Fender tone but I got rid of my British Sound. It had a good core tone but it lacks presence. Real Marshalls have presence & sizzle in the high end. Because of that, the British never felt like a real amp. If you want an affordable Marshall in a box sound, I would suggest the Donner Morpher. It's a clone of the Suhr Riot and it sounds killer. I've had mine for two years and it holds it's own even against my PAL800 Gold Overdrive. Check out some videos of it. Good Luck!

[@titahibayflier3160]

From what i see going on here is the tech 21 seems to have more lower mids and sounds a bit smoother and less harsh . I think turning up the LOW control on the Harley Benton a little might have them sounding closer. I own a Joyo British but seldom used it as i prefer to push the tubes with compressor/ boost pedals.

[@macsoto6947]

I was sell my tech21 and now i love joyo ac tone and joyo british... Joyo's pedal are awesome... Amazing IMO...

[@danielgarciaramirez7517]

eey man which one is better to sound like 'New Rose' from the Damned? i mean that dirty, fuzzy, crunchy saturation makes me crazy

[@macsoto6947]

@@danielgarciaramirez7517 Joyo British...IMHO

[@danielgarciaramirez7517]

@@macsoto6947 really?? I was convinced it was the actone, i saw too many videos and sounds garage and yummy

[@macsoto6947]

@@danielgarciaramirez7517 but now i am using joyo American, and it's blowing my mind...

[@danielgarciaramirez7517]

@@macsoto6947 I was looking for that vintage sound like the old records (tape saturation, lofi) and wasted a lot of time looking for expensive pedals, then i knew this and man its crazy. I think the british (Marshall) get it in some videos but the Actone (vox) shocked me but dont know if this one crashes too much, im lost between them xd (sorry for my english)

[@linovinn7011]

It is interesting to have the Tech21 Leeds or Oxford. There are no counterparts in Joyo.

[@DaveDK3]

Much more clarity and punch to the Tech 21.

[@luisgoregonzalez7394]

Nice

[@Mrnangpu]

Different eq settings...why?

[@zerocertezze]

Nangpu Sukte hello, I did the test years ago so I don’t remember all details. Nevertheless I think the knobs of the eq were quite similar

[@Mrnangpu]

Oh ...i mean the tech21 seems fatter to me in the video and is it because of the eq settings...

[@alphanumeric1529]

Was your Joyo very quiet? Like does it drop your signal by about 15db?

[@zerocertezze]

I made the video years ago and I don't remember . For sure the levels of the 2 pedals work very differently (the tech 21 is more louder). It's possible I didn't match accurately the volume of the 2

[@homonavitus6113]

knob level of sansamp character series are stronger and it makes 'em be more usefull, espeshally for clean tones. i think so ...!?

[@thesuccessfulbarber]

Nice riffing

[@TijuanaKez]

Tech 21 clear winner, and same with the Liverpool. The Joyo sounds good but in comparison, clearly a cheaper copy. Interestingly though, in the case of the Blonde (I'd say by pure fluke on Joyo's part) the American actually sounds better!

[@muse-mech-moda]

I am with you on the American.

[@mikehughes2183]

It's just down to the pots rated differently. They are identical otherwise!

[@yanblondin7490]

I own the american, it sounds awesome with my Gibson Les Paul tribute. I use it mainly as a DI for recording, but i love it in my marshall valvestate 100 av 2000. Gives a more "tube " sound to the amp.

[@mikehughes2183]

@@yanblondin7490 Me too! I also have the British and the ACtone. I love them all, their sound is so organic, rich and valve/tube like. I have them plugged into a Zoom 70cdr and cheap behringer headphone amp going to headphones or my powered stereo speakers. I don't need an amp when I have this setup.

[@mattgilbert7347]

Agreed! Joyo California is also pretty decent. AC Tone probably the weakest of the Joyos imo, but some guys make it work for them.

[@mattgilbert7347]

The Tech 21 V2 is a significant improvement.

[@antoniojambee]

funny discussion of a Copy of a copy, he he. Just get a Marshall

[@gasparepellecchia]

😂

[@michaeleastham3868]

So the consensus is that the tech 21 is the winner. JUST...At over 6 times the price it should be miles ahead not just slightly.I think that I will save my €189 and spend it on more joyo pedals.Only suckers buy the more expensive JUST better gear.

[@UCS0608]

I absolutely prefer the Tech 21, checked all of these pedals with the originals in my studio a couple of years ago! It's like with so many things: the extra 10 or 20 % is so much more expensive. And don't forget, those Chinese factories don't pay any research and developement. It's all in the details. But it's nice that pedals are getting cheaper nowadays and sound in some cases (almost) as good as the original or more expensive pedal in general.

[@anthonyatkinson5546]

Tech 21 all the way

[@YTOnceAgain]

You know what's the problem with your comparison (as with most "original vs. cheap rip-off" comparisons on youtube)? You set the original for a good sound and then try to match this sound with the clone. That has its place, but methodically it's not that valuable. Anyway. I think soundwise (and for the fact that you can turn off the speaker-sim) I'd prefer the Tech21... but Tech21 gear is faaaaar too expensive in Europe... actually insultingly expensive. Check out the Tech21 PowerEngine... are you f*cking kidding me? You get whole amps (even tube) for that price... So I would never ever buy anything by Tech21 at the regular European price.

[@81giorikas]

Add to that the clone (joyo) clip here is a bit louder...I know it's not easy to match them completely but the ear perceives the louder as the better one.

[@sonictooth]

On the used market T21 stuff is pretty cheap. While in the US I bought 5 Character Series pedals for under $100 each on Ebay and bough one here in the UK (the British pedal) for £75. I even won an Ebay auction on a Power Engine for £57! Bough a used TM60 for £250 on Ebay as well.

[@matejebach5487]

Seems like propaganda video. I have American Sound and heard and compared with Tech 21 version of the same in person. No differences.

[@zerocertezze]

The differences aren’t huge but there are some to my ear. The most evident is, when you have the 2 pedals in front of you, the volume. The american sound is anyhow a different stomp so I can’t comment. By the way, I have the American sound Joyo too, but I never used the Tech21. Last but not least, I don’t understand why I should make any “propaganda” for Tech21.

[@isatriya2]

@@zerocertezze I think he was just having a bad day. took your review too serious..

[@DrMtz]

Again, dollars to china.