The Joyo R-12 Band Controller is a 10-band graphic EQ pedal for guitar and bass, announced in March 2019 as the newest entry in Joyo's R series of pedals. Joyo describes it as suitable for both bass and guitar, including 4-string and 5-string bass and 6-string and 7-string guitar, which makes it one of the few compact EQ pedals aimed squarely at extended-range players12.
The controls: sliders, volume and LED modes
The face of the pedal carries 10 separate LED-illuminated sliders, one per EQ band. Gearnews.com's Jef wrote that "The 10 separate LED-illuminated sliders should make this easy to set up"3. Joyo says the frequency band ranges from 31.25Hz to 16kHz, and the low end of that range is what lets the pedal serve bass and seven-string guitar1.
Alongside the EQ bands there is an independent volume control. Joyo's page places it on the pedal's right side, with a related LED on the knob that flickers accordingly1. Guitar World's announcement also noted "an independent volume control, as well as related LED lights assigned to each knob"2.
Delicious Audio's Griffin Jennings, writing in a buying guide, described the layout this way4:
"A volume fader at the end of the chain and a gain one at the beginning, both pushing or cutting up to 12dbs, just like each EQ channel"
The pedal also has an LED mode setting with three positions: Sync, Always and Off, which govern how the pedal's lights behave1.
Power and connections
The R-12 runs from a DC 9V center-negative supply and draws 30mA. It is not battery powered: Joyo states plainly that there is no battery compartment1. The input jack is a standard 6.35mm jack, and the input impedance is 1MΩ with a 100Ω output impedance1.
No battery compartment means the R-12 will not run from a 9V battery. Plan a power supply output for it; at 30mA it is within reach of most pedalboard supplies, but it should not share a daisy-chain output with high-draw digital pedals.
Where it came from and how it compares
Joyo introduced the R-12 Band Controller in March 2019 at an RRP of USD 893. Gearnews.com's Jef placed it against the obvious alternative, the MXR ten-band EQ: "This one is almost a clone, but not quite, as the MXR has a Gain control and dual outs." He expected the Joyo to be a fair bit cheaper than the MXR3. Delicious Audio's buying guide, covering EQ pedals more broadly, described the R-12 as one "that works well on both guitar and bass"4.
Joyo also lists other EQ pedals in its range, including the JOYO BAND EQUALIZER, JOYO EQ-505, JOYO EQ-504 and JOYO EQ-MP3, if you want to see how the R-12 sits among the maker's own EQ offerings. For more on the effect type itself, see Equalization Pedals.
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Questions
Does the Joyo R-12 Band Controller run on a battery?
No. Joyo's product page states the pedal is not battery powered and has no battery compartment. It runs from a DC 9V center-negative supply and draws 30mA, so a standard pedalboard power supply output handles it, but it will not run from a 9V battery.
Is the Joyo R-12 true bypass?
Yes. Joyo lists the R-12's signal bypass type as true bypass, so when the pedal is off, your guitar's signal passes through without the EQ circuit loading it. Note that Joyo's own page spells it "Ture Bypass".
What frequencies does the Joyo R-12 cover?
Joyo says the frequency band ranges from 31.25Hz to 16kHz across the ten sliders. That low 31.25Hz band and the extended top end are why the pedal suits bass guitars and seven-string guitars as well as standard six-string setups.
Can the Joyo R-12 be used with bass and with 7-string guitar?
Yes. Joyo designed it for both: the company says it suits 4-string and 5-string bass and 6-string and 7-string guitar. Guitar World's announcement likewise described it as designed for six- and seven-string guitar and four- and five-string bass, and Delicious Audio's buying guide found it works well on both guitar and bass.
How does the Joyo R-12 compare with the MXR ten-band EQ?
Gearnews.com's Jef called the R-12 almost a clone of the MXR EQ, but not quite: the MXR has a Gain control and dual outputs, which the Joyo lacks. He expected the Joyo to be a fair bit cheaper, with an announced RRP of USD 89.
What do the Sync, Always and Off settings do on the R-12?
Sync, Always and Off are the three settings of the R-12's LED mode, taken from Joyo's product page. They control how the LEDs on the pedal behave: syncing with the pedal's status, staying on always, or off.
Sources (4)
- R-12 BAND CONTROLLER_JOYO, JOYO, 2019-12-03
- Joyo Audio Introduces New Band Controller Pedal, Guitar World, 2019-03-01
- Joyo introduces R-12 Band Controller, a 10-band graphic EQ pedal, gearnews.com, 2019-03-02
- 2023 UPDATE! Best EQ Pedals For Guitar: Graphic & Parametric, Delicious Audio, 2023-12-13
