The Joyo Tone Chain TC-1 is a multi-function effect pedal from Joyo that packs distortion, overdrive and delay into a single box, aimed at players who want a stack of gain tones and a delay without filling a pedalboard12. Announced in December 2019 and launched in 2020, it was priced at $129.99 RRP at announcement23, and Guitar.com later noted that the price dropped across the product's lifetime3.
Joyo describes the Tone Chain as a multifunction effect pedal1, and the press coverage at launch treated it as a gain-focused multi-effect: Gearnews called it "focussed on gain tones," with two different drive sounds labeled DS and OD plus a delay effect2. Beyond the three effects, the pedal includes a cabinet simulation, an FX loop send and return, stereo and balanced outputs, and a built-in tuner24.
A distortion, overdrive and delay pedal in one box
The TC-1 gives you three effects, each with its own footswitch, so distortion, overdrive and delay can be used independently or stacked5. Gearnews described the layout plainly:
"The pedal has two different drive tones, labelled DS and OD. In addition, there's also a delay effect."2
The distortion side carries gain, level and tone knobs plus a Hi/Lo switch4, which Joyo's product page lists as the DS controls: Gain, Tone, Level and a Hi/Lo toggle1. The delay side has mix, feedback and time controls2.
What sets the TC-1 apart from a simple three-pedal-in-one arrangement is the connectivity around the effects. The cabinet simulation and balanced stereo XLR DI output mean it can go straight to a mixer or interface without an amp14, and the FX loop lets you place other pedals in the chain24. For players comparing it with other Joyo gain pedals like the Joyo R-17 Dark Flame or the Joyo Baatsin R-11, the TC-1 trades single-effect simplicity for a complete small rig in one unit. It sits in Joyo's broader line of distortion pedals and overdrive pedals, and its delay section covers ground otherwise handled by separate delay pedals.
The controls and footswitches
The pedal has four footswitches1. Three of them switch the distortion, overdrive and delay effects on and off, each available as a separate effect, and the fourth, on the far left, is a tap tempo switch that also calls up the built-in tuner25.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DS knobs | Gain, Tone, Level14 |
| Hi/Lo toggle | Switches the distortion character, high or low14 |
| Delay knobs | Mix, feedback and time2 |
| Tap Tempo footswitch | Controls delay speed, hold for tuner15 |
| DS, OD, Delay footswitches | Switch each effect independently5 |
Guitar World highlighted the tap tempo switch at announcement, noting it "also functions as a tuner"5, and Gearnews described the same far-left switch tapping the tempo and switching on the tuner2.
Outputs, aux input and FX loop
The rear panel is where the TC-1 earns its keep as an all-in-one box. Joyo's product page lists the connections directly1:
- Instrument input: 6.35mm mono jack1
- Aux in: 3.5mm, for smartphones or music players14
- Outputs: stereo output and a balanced stereo XLR DI output14
- FX loop: send and return for inserting other pedals2
The aux input lets you plug in a phone and play along with tracks4, while the stereo XLR output, combined with the cab sim, makes the pedal usable as a direct-to-desk or recording solution12. Guitar.com's launch report described the pedal as having "an auxiliary input for smartphones or music players" alongside "a balanced XLR output" and "an FX loop"4.
What reviewers said
Gearnews reviewed the announcement positively on value grounds:
"Overall, that's a pretty impressive feature set given the price. If you're a guitar beginner or a need a cheap effects b..."2
The reviewer recommended it for beginners or as a cheap backup effects board2. The pedal also had a longer tail than most budget releases: in 2023 Guitar.com reported that an Epiphone multi-effects pedal was the same unit as the three-year-old Joyo, and noted that the TC-1's price had dropped across its lifetime since the 2020 launch3.
Videos
JOYO AUDIO
Joyo Audio Korea
JOYO Direct
Questions
Does the Joyo Tone Chain TC-1 have tap tempo?
Yes. The footswitch on the far left is a tap tempo switch that sets the delay speed, and holding it switches on the built-in tuner. Gearnews and Guitar World both reported the tap tempo function at the pedal's announcement in December 2019, and Joyo's product page lists it as a control for delay speed with a hold-for-tuner function.
Does the TC-1 have cab simulation?
Yes. Joyo's product page lists cab sim as an included feature, and Gearnews reported a cabinet simulation among the pedal's features at announcement. This lets the TC-1 feed a mixer or audio interface directly, through its balanced XLR outputs, without a guitar cabinet in the signal path.
Can the Joyo TC-1 run in stereo?
Yes. Joyo says the Tone Chain supports stereo output, and Guitar.com and Gearnews both reported stereo outputs at the pedal's debut. The pedal also has a balanced stereo XLR DI output for running straight into a mixer or interface.
Does the Joyo TC-1 have an XLR output?
Yes. Joyo's product page lists a DI output in stereo XLR, and Guitar.com described a balanced XLR output when the pedal was unveiled. Combined with the cab simulation, this makes the TC-1 usable as a direct recording or live DI solution.
Can you plug a phone into the Joyo TC-1?
Yes. The pedal has a 3.5mm auxiliary input for smartphones or music players, so you can play along with backing tracks. Guitar.com reported the aux input at the pedal's debut, and Joyo's product page lists it as a 3.5mm Aux in.
Sources (5)
- TC-1 Tonechain_JOYO, JOYO
- Joyo Tone Chain TC-1: A stack of drive and distortion tones for those on a budget, Gearnews, 2019-12-13
- Epiphone’s new multi-effects pedal sure looks like a rebadged Joyo unit from 2020, Guitar.com, 2023-10-25
- Joyo unveils the TC-1 Tone Chain Multi-Effects Pedal, Guitar.com, 2019-12-17
- Joyo packs distortion, overdrive, delay and more into the TC-1 Tone Chain, Guitar World, 2019-12-12
