The Joyo R-03 UZI is a high-gain distortion pedal from Joyo, announced as part of the company's new R Series1. gearnews.com described it as "essentially, this is a high-gain pedal with a Bias knob"1. It sits alongside other Joyo distortions such as the Joyo R-17 Dark Flame and the Joyo JF-21 Splinter.
The controls
The UZI keeps a simple layout: Volume, Gain, Bias and a three-band EQ consisting of High, Mid and Low knobs1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Volume | Sets the pedal's output level1 |
| Gain | Sets the amount of distortion1 |
| Bias | Shapes the character of the drive1 |
| High, Mid, Low | Three-band EQ for treble, mids and bass1 |
The Bias knob is what marks the UZI out from a plain gain-and-EQ distortion, and it is the control most worth exploring once the Gain and EQ are set1.
The ambient light
The UZI carries over the ambient light feature from the R-01 Tauren Overdrive, and you can toggle it on and off using a switch on the base of the unit1. The Tauren, launched the week before, is the UZI's stablemate in the R Series: an overdrive with Volume, Gain and Tone controls, a layout Guitar.com compared to the classic Tube Screamer23.
How it compares to the Tauren
gearnews.com called the UZI the higher gain sibling of the R-01 Tauren Overdrive1. The differences come down to gain structure and shaping:
- The Tauren is an overdrive with three knobs: Volume, Gain and Tone23
- The UZI is a distortion with more gain, a Bias knob and a full three-band EQ instead of a single tone control1
- Both share the ambient light feature1
What reviewers said
The press coverage of the UZI is light, but gearnews.com's Jef judged the pedal on its official demo: "The pedal sounds pretty tight in the official demo video, with lots to offer for such a low price."1
"The pedal sounds pretty tight in the official demo video, with lots to offer for such a low price."
The launch coverage gave a UK RRP of GBP 49.951. No US dollar list price was reported at launch.
Videos
JOYO AUDIO
Kytary.cz
Pedal Platform
Questions
What does the Bias knob do on the Joyo R-03 UZI?
The Bias knob is the control that sets the UZI apart from a straightforward gain-and-EQ distortion. The pedal's layout is Volume, Gain, Bias and a three-band EQ, and gearnews.com described the UZI as essentially a high-gain pedal with a Bias knob. Bias-style controls on distortion pedals typically shape the character of the clipping, letting you move between tighter and looser drive textures without changing the amount of gain.
How is the Joyo UZI different from the R-01 Tauren Overdrive?
gearnews.com called the R-03 UZI the higher gain sibling of the R-01 Tauren Overdrive, which launched a week earlier. The Tauren is an overdrive with a three-knob layout of Volume, Gain and Tone, a layout Guitar.com compared to the classic Tube Screamer. The UZI is a distortion with more gain on tap, a Bias knob and a three-band EQ of High, Mid and Low, and it carries over the Tauren's ambient light feature.
What is the ambient light on the Joyo UZI?
The UZI has an ambient light feature inherited from the Tauren overdrive. It lights the area around the pedal, which can help on a dark stage, and you can toggle it on and off using a switch on the base of the unit, so it does not have to stay on if you find it distracting.
Does the Joyo UZI sound like a Marshall JCM800?
Joyo's positioning, as reported by gearnews.com, is that the UZI covers both British and American drive tones based around the Marshall JCM 800 and JCM900 amps, suiting classic heavy rock and metal styles. That is the maker's and press description rather than an independent verdict, but the same review noted the pedal sounds pretty tight in the official demo video.
How much does the Joyo R-03 UZI cost?
At launch in November 2018, gearnews.com listed the UZI's UK RRP as GBP 49.95. No US dollar list price was given at launch, so players in the United States should expect street pricing to vary by retailer.
Sources (3)
- Joyo extends new R Series with R-03 UZI distortion pedal, gearnews.com, 2018-11-26
- Joyo launches new R Series with R-01 Tauren overdrive pedal, gearnews.com, 2018-11-22
- Joyo unleashes the Tauren Overdrive, Guitar.com, 2018-11-23
