The Joyo King of Kings is a dual-channel overdrive pedal from Joyo, released in late 2021 and presented by reviewers as an affordable take on the Analogman King of Tone circuit. Each of its two drive sides has its own controls, its own clipping options and its own footswitch, and the two can be run separately or stacked in series for heavier tones12.
Where it came from
The King of Kings is a clone of the Analogman King of Tone circuit, built to give players a more readily available and much more affordable way into that design, at a list price of about $991. Where the original carries a long wait, Joyo's version puts a classic vintage overdrive circuit in a 1+1 dual channel layout, with each channel usable alone or connected in series143.
Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio was more direct, calling it a clone of the King of Tone circuit built by other pedal makers to fill the gap left by the original's limited availability1. The original is made by Analog Man Guitar Effects5.
"no matter whether it actually sounds like the King of Tone, from which it inherits the dual-channel configuration and tweakable essence."
The controls on each channel
Each side of the pedal carries its own set of controls, so the two channels can be set up as different drives entirely23.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the output level of that channel3 |
| Gain (Drive) | Sets the amount of drive on that channel26 |
| Tone | Sets the tone of that channel3 |
| Two mini-switches | Vary the diode clipping and feedback of that drive section, moving it between overdriven, crunchy and distorted tones16 |
Every channel also has an independent diode clipping circuit and a Feedback switch, which Joyo says lets you get tones with subtle nuances by adjusting them1. Where the King of Tone design carries over, the two toggle switches per channel modify the internal gain levels and diode configuration1.
Running the two channels
The pedal uses what Joyo calls a 1+1 dual channel design, and the two channels have separate footswitches41. That means you can:
- Use either channel on its own for overdrive or crunch tones3
- Connect the two in series, stacking one on top of the other, to push into more distorted territory13
Joyo describes the series combination as delivering "warm OVERDRIVE, fierce CRUNCH or vintage DISTORTION"1. Guitar World puts it the same way: either channel works independently, or the series circuit pushes things into more distorted sounds3.
Power
Joyo's product page lists the power requirement as 9V4.
9V is the only power specification the maker gives for this pedal. There is no battery or current draw figure on record, so plan your supply around the 9V requirement alone.
What reviewers said
Delicious Audio summed up the appeal of the King of Kings as a King of Tone-style circuit at a fraction of the usual cost: "At just about $99, this overdrive pedal sounds tempting"1. The pedal's 1+1 dual channel design, usable alone or connected in series, is what lets it cover the two-channel territory of the circuit it clones1.
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Questions
Is the Joyo King of Kings a copy of the Analogman King of Tone?
Reviewers treat it as a clone of the Analogman King of Tone circuit. Delicious Audio writes that it inherits the dual-channel configuration from the King of Tone, and Guitar World describes the pedal as inspired by Analog Man's revered King of Tone. The King of Tone is made by Analog Man Guitar Effects, and the King of Kings was presented as a more readily available and much more affordable alternative to it.
Can the two channels be used at the same time?
Yes. The pedal uses a 1+1 dual channel design, and the two channels have separate footswitches. Each can be used on its own for overdrive or crunch tones, or the two can be connected in series, stacked on top of each other, to push things into more distorted territory. Joyo describes the resulting series tones as warm overdrive, fierce crunch or vintage distortion.
What voltage does the King of Kings need?
Joyo's product page lists the power requirement as 9V. That is the only power specification the maker gives for the pedal, so a standard 9V DC supply is what to plan for on a pedalboard.
What does the Feedback switch do?
Each channel of the King of Kings features an independent diode clipping circuit and a Feedback switch. Alongside the Feedback switch, each side carries two mini-switches on the front panel that vary the diode clipping and the feedback of each drive section, which is how the pedal moves between overdriven, crunchy and distorted tones.
Sources (6)
- Joyo King Of Kings, Delicious Audio, 2022-05-23
- Could the Joyo R 20 King Of Kings be a poor man's Analog Man King Of Tone?, www.gearnews.com, 2021-10-27
- Joyo's R-20 King of Kings overdrive is an attempt to channel Analog Man's King of Tone in a budget box, Guitar World, 2021-11-01
- R-20 KING OF KINGS_JOYO, JOYO
- KingofToneManualV4-2020.pdf, Analog Man Guitar Effects, 2020-11
- Joyo’s new R20 King Of Kings overdrive gets you classic dual-Blues Breaker sounds, guitar.com, 2021-10-28
