The Joyo Purple Storm (JF-320) is a fuzz pedal from Joyo. Joyo describes it as a widely adjustable fuzz whose tonal possibilities range from a warm fuzzy sound to rough and screeching, so a player can dial it in for anything from a soft, rounded edge to an aggressive, cutting lead tone1.
The pedal gets its character from two elements in the circuit: MOSFET clipping, which Joyo says gives "the unmistakable photoelectric tube amp sound," and a triode transistor used to get the distortion sound1.
Circuit and sound
The Purple Storm's fuzz comes from MOSFET clipping rather than the germanium or silicon diodes and transistors found in many classic fuzz circuits. MOSFET clipping is a softer clipping method often chosen for a smoother, more amp-like character, and Joyo ties it to a tube amp sound in its own description of the pedal. The triode transistor in the circuit is what Joyo credits for the distortion sound itself1.
"The tonal possibilities range from a warm fuzzy sound to rough and screeching."1
That range is the pedal's main selling point in Joyo's description: it is presented as a widely adjustable fuzz, so the same box can sit at either end of the fuzz spectrum depending on how it is set1.
Size and power
The JF-320 is a compact pedal, weighing 220 g1. That light weight makes it easy to fit on a crowded board. It runs on a DC 9V adapter with a current draw of 16 mA1, and its input impedance is 1M Ohm with an output impedance of 100 Ohm1.
Power comes from a DC 9V adapter, drawing 16 mA1. There is no battery option in the listed power specification, so it needs an adapter or a powered pedalboard supply.
The Purple Storm runs on a DC 9V adapter only; the maker's specifications list no battery option, so plan on a pedalboard power supply or a standalone 9V adapter.
Bypass and connections
Joyo states the pedal has true bypass to minimize tone loss, meaning the signal passes through untouched when the pedal is off. Input impedance is 1M Ohm and output impedance is 100 Ohm1, a standard pairing that lets the pedal sit comfortably before or after most other effects in a chain.
Manual and further reading
A JF-320 PDF manual is available as a download on Joyo's product page for the pedal1. Players comparing fuzz options can also look at other Joyo fuzzes such as the Joyo JF-12 Voodoo Octave, the Joyo JF-26 TINY-HUGE FUZZ, and the Joyo Gloam.
Videos
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Questions
Is the Joyo Purple Storm true bypass?
Yes. Joyo states the JF-320 Purple Storm has true bypass to minimize tone loss, so with the pedal switched off your signal passes through without active circuitry coloring it.
What clipping does the Joyo JF-320 Purple Storm use?
The Purple Storm uses MOSFET clipping, which Joyo describes as giving the unmistakable photoelectric tube amp sound. The pedal also makes use of a triode transistor to get its distortion sound.
How big is the Joyo Purple Storm?
The JF-320 measures 73 mm long, 43 mm wide and 50 mm high, and weighs 220 g. That is a compact mini-pedal footprint that fits easily on a small board.
Where can I download the Joyo JF-320 manual?
A JF-320 PDF manual download is available on Joyo's own product page for the Purple Storm at joyoaudio.com, on the same page as the pedal's specifications.
Sources (1)
- JF-320 Purple Storm_JOYO, JOYO, 2019-12-12
