Today we have the great privilege of bringing you our JOYO JF-02 Ultimate Overdrive pedal review. This pedal claims to recreate the sound of a late 70’s overdriven tube-amp. In this review we will be checking out everything you need to know about the JF-02, so you’ll know if this is the right pedal for your needs.
Joyo is a company that has gained massive popularity for their great sounding clones of more expensive pedals. The JOYO JF-02 Ultimate Overdrive pedal is no exception to this. It’s an obvious clone of the Fulltone OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Drive). Our JOYO Guitar Pedal Clone List gives a more detailed look into the clones of their product line.
SPECIFICATIONS
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Input Impendence |
1 MΩ |
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Output Impendence |
1 KΩ |
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Running Current |
6 ma |
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Power |
6F22 9V Battery / DC 9V Adaptor |
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Dimensions |
120(L) x 72(W) x 55(H) mm |
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Weight |
290g |
The JOYO JF-02 Ultimate Overdrive instruction manual can be found here.
FUNCTIONS
The JF-02 is another simplistic guitar effects pedal produced by the guys over at JOYO. It has a very user-friendly design, featuring only three knobs and a toggle-switch. The knobs correspond to: gain, tone, and level.
GAIN: Adjusts the degree of distortion
TONE: Adjusts the degree of the tone
LEVEL: Adjusts the volume of the tone
MODE (HIGH/LOW): High mode has a higher frequency than low mode
The high/low toggle switch gives you the option to keep the tone low and smooth or bright and high.
FEATURES
A bright red LED located on the front of the pedal indicates whether the pedal is turned on or off. The unit comes with a 9V battery, and can either be powered using a battery or an AC adaptor. If you plan on using an AC adaptor to power the JF-02 then consider purchasing one elsewhere as it is not included with the product.
Another important feature of the JF-02 is that it has been wired for true-bypass. Meaning you can have that transparent tone we all know and love at the press of a button.
The JF-02 features standard IN and OUT jacks located on either side of the pedal for use with your 1/4” cables. Just the standard stuff you’d expect.
JOYO JF-02 ULTIMATE OVERDRIVE VS. FULLTONE OCD
As we mentioned previously the JF-02 is a clone of the Fulltone OCD, which sells for around $150. People online have done comparisons on the two pedals and have mentioned that the pedals have a distinct sound that separates them apart. Using the exact same settings on both pedals it becomes inherently clear that the Fulltone sounds a lot brighter. In saying that though, the JF-02 provides you with more mids and bass, and the tone knob can help you produce brightness without losing your bottom-end.
Here is a video comparing the JOYO JF-02 Ultimate Overdrive and the Fulltone OCD:
Overall they are both very good sounding pedals. I’ll let you be the judge of that which one you think sounds better.
SOUND
The JF-02 nails the sounds of the classic rock era. I’m talking bands such as Pink Floyd, Guns N’ Roses, and AC/DC. The diversity you can get from the pedal is nothing to scoff at, especially at such a low price tag. I’d go so far to even say that the JF-02 is one of their stand-out pedals in the whole JOYO range.
As usual, personal preference comes into play when assessing how good a guitar pedal sounds. In my opinion, the JF-02 is not designed to be used as a pedal for metal. It’s designed more for hard-hitting overdrives and smooth grunge sounds.
DURABILITY
This little beast is sturdy and is sure to last for many years to come. It features a sturdy aluminum alloy casing and is comprised of high-quality components. Whether you plan to use it at home or on the road then the JF-02 is a sure thing.
FINAL VERDICT
Even if you can’t afford a $150+ overdrive stomp box then don’t worry. The JOYO JF-02 Ultimate Overdrive has you covered. It looks awesome, and the graphic on the front looks amazing. The bottom line is that the JF-02 is a fantastic pedal. JOYO have really hit home with this stomp box.
Alex is a man of many talents. He’s been playing music since he was young, and has been the main content writer at Tone Start for the past few years. Alex loves to play around with different styles of music and enjoys listening to anything from country to classical.