Voxy lady
For a lot of guitarists, the dream tone comes from mythical amps: blackface Fenders, fire-breathing Marshalls, or the jangly chime of a classic Vox AC30. But dreams can be expensive — and unless you’ve got deep pockets (and a very understanding partner), chasing those iconic sounds can feel out of reach. That’s where pedals like the Joyo AC Tone step in — not just as affordable alternatives, but as legitimately useful, great-sounding tools in their own right. Whether you’re recording at home, gigging with minimal gear, or just craving some British-flavoured crunch without breaking the bank, this little brown box might just be your new best friend.
From Boutique to Budget – Joyo’s Amp Sim Lineage
The Joyo amp sim pedals are pretty openly inspired by the Tech 21 Character Series, which made waves with their clever analog emulations of classic amp circuits. But where Tech 21 catered more to the boutique crowd, Joyo aimed squarely at the budget-conscious guitarist — and they nailed it.
Each pedal in the series is voiced after a famous amp: the American Sound for Fender-style sparkle and breakup, the British Sound for Marshall-style roar, and the AC Tone for that distinct Vox character. There are others too (California Sound, Extreme Metal, etc.), but in my humble and highly subjective opinion, the big three are British, American, and, of course, the star of today’s show: the AC Tone.
My good pal (and co-host of the Fret Talk Podcast) Matt plays in two bands. In one of them, the lead singer handles some rhythm guitar duties. One evening, Matt — completely unaware of what gear was in use — complimented the singer on his incredible tone. The answer? A £30 Joyo American Sound straight into the PA. That moment said it all. These pedals can seriously hold their own, and if you set them right, they’ll fly completely under the radar — not in a “meh, you don’t notice it” way, but in a “wait, that sounds good” way. The AC Tone, in particular, hits that sweet spot between versatility, affordability, and personality.
What Makes the AC Tone Special?
While the American Sound brings Fender cleans and the British Sound offers Marshall grit, the AC Tone manages to blend elements of both — a dynamic range of tones from bright and jangly to crunchy and bold. Yes, it’s intended to be a “Vox in a box.” Does it absolutely nail the AC30 down to every harmonic nuance? No — and expecting it to would be missing the point. But what it does do is give you a very useful palette of tones, all with a strong British character, and at a price that barely dents your wallet.
All the Joyo amp sims have a “Voice” knob — and this is where the magic happens. On the AC Tone, it feels like you're gliding between two pre-set Vox characters: at one end, tight, clean, and sparkly, like a well-behaved AC15 with single-coils. At the other, bassy, driven, and brash, like a cranked AC30 pushed with humbuckers and greenbacks. As a player, it genuinely feels like you're blending between two amps. Is that what the circuit is actually doing? No idea. If someone gave me the schematic, I’d smile politely and still not understand a thing. But feel-wise, it gives me the feel that it's what's happening — and that’s what matters.
On paper, the AC Tone is a full-featured DI solution, complete with built-in cab simulation. In practice? Well… let’s just say the cab sim isn’t exactly Abbey Road-quality. That said, there are a couple of easy workarounds. One is to run it into a better IR-based cab sim, like the Sonicake Sonic IR — a great budget pairing. Another is to ignore the built-in cab sim altogether and treat the pedal like a preamp into your own rig or recording setup. Personally, I run it into an external cab sim when recording. It results in a tone that’s a bit mid-forward — less “chimey Alnico Blue” and more like a Vox through Greenbacks. Still very usable. Still very vibey.
Hidden Talent: Front-End Tone Shaper
Here's a trick that doesn't get talked about enough: using the AC Tone as a tone shaper into the front of a traditional guitar amp. I’ve got an amp with a fairly sterile clean tone — you know the type: it’s a super clean clean (if that makes sense), but it doesn’t inspire you. Plugging the AC Tone into the front of it immediately breathes life into it. It acts as an amp-ifier — a way to inject personality into any bland platform. Want to give your one-channel amp a Vox-style crunch channel? Done. Stack it with an overdrive pedal for some Brian May edge? Easy. Pair it with a reverb and delay and play ambient shoegaze ballads in your bedroom? Steady on now, we don't do that here (no judgement if that's your bag though).
You’d think a pedal this cheap would be made of cardboard and wishes, but nope — the AC Tone is solid. Metal housing, decent knobs, and a reliable footswitch. It’s not boutique, but it’s dependable. Even better, they’re so cheap and widespread that you don’t have to baby them. Toss one in your gig bag as a backup rig. If it gets a scratch? Battle scars. If it dies? £30 and you’re back in business. That’s about the price of a multi pack of strings and a round of pints (outside of London obviously).
So, Is It the Best Amp Sim Out There?
Let’s be clear: the AC Tone won’t dethrone a Kemper, an Axe-Fx, or even a Strymon Iridium. But that’s not the point. It’s stupidly affordable, genuinely usable live and in the studio, flexible and fun to dial in, built like a tank, and full of character. If you’re a bedroom player, a beginner, a gigging pro with no budget, or just a gear nerd who loves trying new stuff — the Joyo AC Tone is absolutely worth your time.
The Unsung (or kinda sung) Hero of Budget Gear
The Joyo AC Tone (or the Act One, as we lovingly call it on the podcast) is a brilliant example of what budget gear can be when it’s done right. It’s not just a cheap copy. It’s not just “good for the price.” It’s genuinely good, full stop. And it’s one of the most cost-effective safety nets you can keep in your gig bag — the kind that leaves you with enough change for a cheeky bevvy before showtime. Not me obviously, I'm ever the professional... Honest.
So whether you’re looking to expand your tonal palette, build a backup rig, or just want to experiment without breaking the bank, the AC Tone might just be the perfect sidekick. This one doesn't even have a dog on it for no reason, or a scorpion. Classic Joyo.
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