The Joyo Nebulous Phase is a four-stage phaser pedal in a very compact mini enclosure, announced in July 2016 as the latest addition to the maker's IronMan series of effects1. Like the rest of that series, it is built to take up as little pedalboard space as possible while covering a standard modulation effect, and it sits alongside other Joyo minis such as the Joyo JF-06 and the Joyo Vintage Phase. For players new to the effect, a phaser splits the guitar signal and sweeps part of it through filters to create the familiar whooshing movement; more on how this one does it below. It is a phaser, so if you are comparing it with other movement effects, the closest neighbors are a flanger or a chorus.
How the circuit works
The Nebulous Phase is a four-stage phaser. gearnews.com's reviewer explained the topology: "This, remember, is a 4-stage phaser, which means the guitar signal is split, with one part sent off through four filters" modulated by an internal LFO, then blended with the unaffected part of the signal1. MusicRadar described the pedal as "Based on classic modulation designs"2, which places it in the same family as the classic phasers it draws on rather than a new circuit approach. Four stages is a modest count for a phaser, which generally means a simpler, gentler sweep than designs with more stages.
Controls and enclosure
The control set is deliberately basic. As gearnews.com put it, "For your money you get a basic set of controls: Speed, Width and Feedback"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Speed | Sets the rate of the phaser sweep2 |
| Width | Sets the depth of the sweep2 |
| Feedback | Sets the intensity of the phaser's resonance2 |
The enclosure is a very compact mini pedal with what gearnews.com called "the rather odd little flap/visor on the top" covering the controls1. MusicRadar described the same feature as "Joyo's nifty flip-top lid to protect your settings"2, so the knobs sit under a hinged cover that guards them from accidental knocks on a crowded board.
The Nebulous Phase has no battery compartment. gearnews.com's reviewer: "You'll just need to run it from an external 9v power supply as its too small for a battery"1. Plan a 9V supply output for it on your board.
On the plus side, the reviewer noted, "it is true bypass and so shouldn't colour your guitar signal when not engaged"1.
Release and price
MusicRadar reported the pedal as available in July 2016, priced at £49.99 in the UK2, and gearnews.com listed an RRP of GBP £49.991. No US dollar price is given by either report.
What reviewers said
Reception was measured. gearnews.com's reviewer found the overall sound and value unremarkable: "Sound-wise it seems to be a fairly standard-sounding phaser effect, and nothing in the demo below made my jaw drop"1. His verdict was that it is serviceable and easy to fit on a packed pedalboard, but that he would spend a little more for something with more character1. MusicRadar's coverage was more neutral, presenting the flip-top lid and the classic-modulation basis as the headline features2.
Joyo also makes the JF-328 Nebulous and the Joyo Nebulous, which share the Nebulous name in the wider range.
Videos
EytschPi42
intheblues
Bartosz Bazok Zelek
Questions
Does the Joyo Nebulous Phase take a battery?
No. The pedal is too small for a battery compartment, so it has to be run from an external 9V power supply. That is worth planning for on a pedalboard, since it cannot fall back on a battery the way larger pedals can.
Is the Joyo Nebulous Phase true bypass?
Yes. gearnews.com's reviewer noted that it is true bypass, so it should not colour your guitar signal when the effect is not engaged.
What power supply does the Joyo Nebulous Phase need?
An external 9V power supply. Because the enclosure is a very compact mini pedal, there is no room for a battery, so a 9V supply is the only way to run it.
How many stages does the Joyo Nebulous Phase have?
Four. In a four-stage phaser the guitar signal is split, with one part sent through four filters modulated by an internal LFO, then blended back with the unaffected signal.
Is the Joyo Nebulous Phase part of the IronMan series?
Yes. It was announced in July 2016 as the latest addition to Joyo's IronMan series of effects, the maker's line of tiny and affordable mini pedals.
Sources (2)
- Joyo Nebulous Phase, gearnews.com, 2016-07-13
- Joyo releases Nebulous Phase mini pedal, MusicRadar, 2016-07-12
