The Joyo JF-37 Analog Chorus is a compact analog chorus pedal built around a classic BBD chip, the bucket-brigade device that gives vintage chorus circuits their character. Joyo describes it as a way to create fresh and extensive chorus effects, and it keeps things simple: two knobs, Rate and Depth, and a true bypass footswitch1.
Controls and connections
The JF-37 has just two controls, and Joyo's own description is that the "Rate and Depth knobs let you shape your sound"1. Rate sets the speed of the chorus modulation and Depth sets how strong it is, the standard arrangement on a chorus pedal of this type. There is no tone control, no stereo output and no secondary mode: what you dial in with the two knobs is what you get.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Rate | Speed of the chorus modulation |
| Depth | Intensity of the chorus effect |
On the electrical side, the input impedance is 1MΩ and the output impedance is 1KΩ, figures Joyo publishes on the product page1. A 1MΩ input is high enough that the pedal will not load down the pickups ahead of it, which matters if the JF-37 sits early in a signal chain.
Power and size
Power comes from either a 6F22 9V battery or a DC 9V adapter, and the running current is 12mA1. That draw is low enough for a daisy chain or a shared output on most pedalboard power supplies, and the battery option makes it usable without a supply at all. The pedal weighs 200g1, and like the rest of Joyo's stompbox range it is a compact size with solid metal construction2.
MusicRadar's review of the wider Joyo range noted that the pedals are "a compact size and of a solid metal construction that belies the fact they cost less than £40"2, describing the build of the line the JF-37 belongs to.
Where the circuit comes from
The BBD chip at the heart of the JF-37 is the same family of technology behind the classic analog choruses. The best known of those is the Boss CE-2, Boss' first compact pedal chorus, which succeeded the CE-1 and carried forward the chorus circuit from the Roland Jazz Chorus JC-120 amplifier31. The CE-2 is analog and mono, with what TONEHOME calls a "remarkable mid-boost"3.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen reviewed the JF-37 and placed it squarely in CE-2 territory. He found the pedal delivers a recognisable analog chorus sound, much like a Boss CE-2, but with a perceptible lift in stridency, a slight volume increase and a touch more treble2. His overall verdict was that it is "an inexpensive pedal to provide some '80s-style chorus flavour, especially if you like your effects to cut through when kicked in"2. In other words, the review frames the JF-37 as a CE-2-style chorus that leans brighter and a touch louder than the pedal it echoes, which some players will hear as cutting through a mix and others as less warm.
Related chorus pedals
Joyo's chorus line extends beyond the JF-37. The JOYO Classic Chorus and the Joyo Future Chorus sit alongside it in the catalog, and the Joyo Narcissus is a newer R Series chorus. For a wider view of the effect type, see the Chorus Pedals page.
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Questions
Does the Joyo JF-37 run on a battery?
Yes. Joyo's product page lists power as a 6F22 9V battery or a DC 9V adapter, so the JF-37 can run either way. Running current is 12mA, which is light enough for most pedalboard power supplies, though a battery remains an option for players who want to keep the pedal off a supply.
Is the Joyo JF-37 true bypass?
Yes. Joyo states the JF-37 uses a true bypass design, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes straight through without the chorus circuit loading it.
Does the JF-37 sound like a Boss CE-2?
MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen found the JF-37 delivers a recognisable analog chorus sound much like a Boss CE-2, but with a perceptible lift in stridency, a slight volume increase and a touch more treble. So it sits in the same family while leaning brighter and louder.
Is the Joyo JF-37 analog or digital?
The JF-37 is an analog chorus pedal. Joyo says it uses the classic BBD chip, the bucket-brigade device at the heart of vintage analog chorus circuits, and MusicRadar's review likewise describes it as powered by a BBD chip.
How much current does the JF-37 draw?
Joyo lists the running current as 12mA at 9V. That is a modest draw, so the pedal is comfortable on a shared power supply output alongside other low-draw pedals.
What size is the Joyo JF-37?
Joyo gives the dimensions as 118mm long by 68mm wide by 50mm high, with a weight of 200g. It is a compact enclosure that fits standard pedalboard spacing.
Sources (3)
- JF-37 Analog Chorus_JOYO, JOYO
- Joyo Analog Chorus review, MusicRadar, 2012-07-11
- TONEHOME, TONEHOME
