The Joyo R-13 XVI is a polyphonic octave pedal from Joyo, part of the brand's R-Series of effects. It adds sub and upper octave voices to your guitar signal, and you can run octave-up, octave-down or a blend of the two, with independent knobs for each voice plus a MOD control for modulation effects designed by Joyo's engineers12. Joyo describes it as "a practical and user-friendly Octave pedal"1.
What it does to your sound
As an octave pedal, the XVI generates notes above and below what you play. The maker's spec sheet lists the effect numbers as Sub and Upper1, and Guitar.com's report on the launch said the pedal "allows for octave-up, octave-down or a blend of the two"2. Because it is polyphonic, it can follow chords rather than only single notes, which is what separates it from the earlier Joyo OCHO: that pedal "was only monophonic, and could only add sub-octaves," according to Guitar.com's Cillian Breathnach2.
Joyo's own claim on tone is that "compared with similar products from the rivals, XVI offers much richer tone"1. That is the maker speaking, so treat it as their description rather than an independent verdict.
The pedal also carries lighting as a design feature. Guitar.com noted that "the XVI sports some futuristic lighting effects via both a light on the pedal's face and an acrylic rim between the two" parts of the enclosure2, and the LED Mod toggle lets you choose how that behaves.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| SUB | Sets the sub-octave (below) voice1 |
| UPPER | Sets the upper-octave voice1 |
| DRY | Blends your unaffected signal1 |
| MOD | Adjusts the pedal's modulation effects1 |
| LED Toggle | Switches the LED Mod between Sync, Always and Off1 |
Joyo's product page describes the layout as "independent Octave-up and Octave-down adjusting knobs, so you can adjust as you like," with the MOD effects on top of that1. For more on where this kind of pedal fits on a board, see Octave & Pitch Pedals.
Power and connections
The XVI runs on an external supply only: Joyo lists battery powered as No1. The working voltage is DC 9V with a center negative plug, and the rated current consumption is 90mA1. The input jack is 6.35mm1, and the signal bypass type is listed as True Bypass1, so the pedal is out of your signal path when switched off.
At 90mA the XVI draws more current than many simple analog pedals. It cannot run on a battery, so plan a supply slot that can deliver 90mA at 9V center negative.
Impedance figures from the maker: input impedance 2.2MΩ and output impedance 100Ω1. Physical specs are 109*67*48 mm and 248g1. A PDF manual for the R-13 is available on Joyo's product page, dated 2019-12-031.
Where it came from
Guitar.com reported the pedal's announcement on 2020-03-09, describing it as "the latest entry to the brand's R-Series of effects" and noting that "it iterates on the Joyo OCHO"2. The report put the list price at £892. For other octave pedals in Joyo's range, see the Joyo Voodoo Octave and the JOYO XVI OCTAVE.
Videos
JOYO AUDIO
Joyo Brasil
Guns and Guitars
Questions
Does the Joyo R-13 XVI run on a battery?
No. Joyo's product page lists battery powered as No, so the pedal runs on an external 9V DC supply with a center negative plug. Because it draws 90mA, a standard daisy chain shared with several other pedals may not be enough on its own, so a supply with adequate current is worth planning for.
Is the Joyo R-13 XVI true bypass?
Yes. Joyo lists the signal bypass type as True Bypass, so when the pedal is off your guitar's signal passes through without going through the octave circuit. Note that Joyo's page spells it Ture Bypass, which is a typo on the maker's own listing.
What does the MOD knob do on the Joyo R-13 XVI?
The MOD knob adjusts modulation effects that Joyo's engineers designed into the pedal, layered on top of the octave voices. The pedal has independent octave-up and octave-down knobs alongside it, so you can set the sub and upper octaves as you like and then dial in the MOD effect over them.
Is the Joyo R-13 XVI polyphonic?
Yes. Guitar.com described the unit as a polyphonic octave pedal, meaning it can track individual notes in chords rather than only single lines. That is the main step up from the earlier Joyo OCHO, which was monophonic and could only add sub-octaves.
How is the Joyo R-13 XVI different from the Joyo OCHO?
The XVI iterates on the Joyo OCHO. The OCHO was monophonic and could only add sub-octaves, while the XVI is polyphonic and allows for octave-up, octave-down or a blend of the two, with independent knobs for each voice plus a MOD control. Guitar.com reported the pedal listing at £89.
What do the Sync, Always and Off LED modes do?
These are the three settings of the pedal's LED Mod toggle. Sync, Always and Off change how the lighting on the pedal behaves. The XVI has futuristic lighting effects via a light on the pedal's face and an acrylic rim between the two parts of the enclosure, as Guitar.com put it when the pedal was announced.
Sources (2)
- R-13 XVI_JOYO, JOYO, 2019-12-03
- Joyo unveils the R-13 XVI octave pedal, Guitar.com, 2020-03-09
