The JOYO TC-1 Tonechain is a multifunction effect pedal from Joyo that packs drive and delay tones into one wide, flat enclosure. It carries two separate gain stages, labeled DS for distortion and OD for overdrive, plus a delay effect, a cabinet simulation, a tuner and an FX loop, with each of the distortion, overdrive and delay sections available on its own footswitch so you can switch them independently12. Gearnews described it at announcement as a pedal "focussed on gain tones" for players on a budget3.
It was announced in December 2019 at $129.9924, and Guitar.com later dated its launch to 20205. Joyo's own product page still lists it with its full specification and a manual download1.
What it does and how it is controlled
The TC-1 is built around three sound modules: distortion, overdrive and delay4. Each has its own set of knobs and its own footswitch, so the sections work like separate pedals in one box rather than one preset-driven multi-effects unit.
| Module | Controls | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| DS (distortion) | Gain, Tone, Level, Hi/Lo toggle | Sets the distortion's amount, tonal tilt, output level and a two-voice character switch1 |
| OD (overdrive) | Drive, Tone, Level | Sets the overdrive's amount, tonal tilt and output level1 |
| Delay | Mix, F.back, Time | Sets the delay's wet/dry balance, feedback repeats and delay time1 |
| Tap Tempo | Tap for delay speed, hold for tuner | Sets delay time by foot and calls up the tuner when held1 |
The fourth footswitch is the tap tempo switch, which controls delay speed on a tap and switches on the built-in tuner when you hold it down1. Guitar World described the arrangement the same way at announcement: "footswitches for distortion, overdrive, delay and tap tempo (which also functions as a tuner), with each available as a separate effect"2.
Power and connections
The TC-1 runs on DC 9V with a center-negative plug and draws 300mA1.
At 300mA, the TC-1 draws more current than most single analog drive pedals. Check that your power supply's 9V outputs can each deliver at least that before daisy-chaining it with other pedals.
On the connection side, the guitar input is a mono 6.35mm jack with 1MΩ input impedance, and the main outputs are stereo 6.35mm jacks with 1KΩ output impedance1. There is also a balanced XLR output with 4.7KΩ output impedance1, which Guitar.com described as "a balanced XLR output"4. The pedal supports stereo output and balanced output1, and Gearnews reported that the connections "include a cabinet simulation, an FX loop send and return, plus stereo and balanced outputs"3.
The FX loop is listed on Joyo's own page for the pedal1, so you can insert other pedals into the chain. An auxiliary input for smartphones or music players4, with a 47KΩ AUX input impedance1, lets you play along to backing tracks or songs through the same outputs.
Where it came from
Joyo posted the TC-1 Tonechain manual in November 2019, and Gearnews reported the pedal as a multi-function unit built around sound modules for distortion, overdrive and delay, with knobs for controlling the mix, feedback and time of the delay, "now available for $129.99"34. Guitar World described it as combining distortion, overdrive, delay, tap tempo and tuner, cabinet simulation and an FX loop15, and Guitar.com later referred to "the Joyo when it launched in 2020"5. The tap tempo footswitch also functions as a tuner, and each of the distortion, overdrive, delay and tap tempo effects is available as a separate effect2.
The announcement came in a busy stretch for Joyo's larger multi-effect and preamp products, including the GEM BOX II era of modeling processors and the Preamp House preamp pedal announced in November 2019.
The Epiphone connection
Guitar.com, which referred to "the Joyo when it launched in 2020"5, also reported on the Joyo's pricing over the product's life, and the pedal was listed at $129.99 when Gearnews covered it as "now available"54. The TC-1's feature set, with its distortion, overdrive and delay modules and its tap tempo footswitch doubling as a tuner4, is the basis players have used when comparing it against other multi-effect units at similar prices.
Videos
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Joyo Audio Korea
Riffs, Beards & Gear
Questions
Does the Joyo TC-1 have a built-in tuner?
Yes. The tap tempo footswitch doubles as the tuner: hold it down and the tuner engages, while a normal tap sets the delay speed. Gearnews listed the built-in tuner among the pedal's features at announcement, and Guitar World described the tap tempo switch as one that also functions as a tuner.
Can you run the Joyo TC-1 into a PA with the XLR output?
Yes. The TC-1 has a balanced XLR output alongside its stereo 6.35mm outputs, with an XLR output impedance of 4.7KΩ. Guitar.com described it as a balanced XLR output, and the pedal also includes cabinet simulation, so a direct connection to a mixer or PA is part of the design.
Is the Epiphone multi-effects pedal a rebadged Joyo TC-1?
It appears so. In October 2023 Guitar.com reported that dealer listings for the Epiphone Power Players Multi-Effects Pedal showed a unit cosmetically identical to the Joyo TC-1 Tone Chain, priced about $70 higher than the Joyo's launch price. The Joyo's own price had dropped over the product's lifetime by that point.
Does the Joyo TC-1 have an effects loop?
Yes. The JOYO product page lists an FX loop among the pedal's features, and Gearnews reported an FX loop send and return at announcement. You can place your own pedals between the TC-1's drive and delay sections through the loop.
Can you play along to music through the Joyo TC-1?
Yes. The pedal has an auxiliary input for smartphones or music players, with an AUX input impedance of 47KΩ. Plug your music source into the AUX jack and play along through the same outputs you are using for your guitar.
Sources (5)
- TC-1 Tonechain_JOYO, JOYO, 2019-11-26
- Joyo packs distortion, overdrive, delay and more into the TC-1 Tone Chain, Guitar World, 2019-12-12
- Joyo Tone Chain TC-1: A stack of drive and distortion tones for those on a budget, Gearnews, 2019-12-13
- Joyo unveils the TC-1 Tone Chain Multi-Effects Pedal, Guitar.com, 2019-12-17
- Epiphone’s new multi-effects pedal sure looks like a rebadged Joyo unit from 2020, Guitar.com, 2023-10-25
