A Quiet, Unsung Hero You've Been After?

Safety in numbers 

The Mosky SOL918 is one of those pedals you pick up expecting a couple of quick tones, and then find yourself plugging into for the next three hours. It’s compact, affordable, and stacked with utility: five effects in one box, all dialed in to do a solid job without stealing the limelight. What makes it so interesting is that instead of trying to wow you with flashy gimmicks, it goes the other way—quiet confidence, classic voices, and surprising synergy between the effects. If you’ve ever wanted a reliable backup or an all-in-one travel rig, the SOL918 is absolutely worth a look.

Let’s break it down.

Distortion: Suhr Riot, But Less Riotous

The distortion circuit here is based on the Suhr Riot, a beloved, mid-heavy distortion that leans toward a hot-rodded Marshall tone. It’s thick, vocal, and perfect for leads or tight rhythm work. But where most Riot clones go full saturation at the upper end—often sacrificing clarity for sizzle—the Mosky version holds back a bit. That’s a smart move. It stays usable across the full gain range, meaning you can set it up for crunchy rhythm, searing leads, or mid-gain riffing without it turning to mush. It’s still aggressive, but more polite about it.

This tone forms the foundation of the drive section on this pedal. On its own, the distortion has enough character to be your main rhythm or lead tone. But when combined with the overdrive circuit (which we’ll get to), it becomes a real workhorse of a tone engine—flexible, articulate, and powerful without being overbearing.

Overdrive: Understated, on Purpose

Next up is the overdrive, modelled on one side of the Analogman King of Tone. If you know the KOT, you’ll know each side can be a boost, drive, or distortion depending on internal dip switches. This Mosky version leans somewhere between the boost and overdrive settings—mild gain even when cranked. At first, that might seem underwhelming, but it becomes clearer once you start stacking.

Used as a solo boost, it adds warmth and edge. Push the volume and hold back the gain, and you get a lovely dynamic lift that works great for leads. But where it really shines is stacked with the distortion. Set the OD a bit hotter and stack it with the Distortion, and you get a thicker, more harmonically rich gain structure. It tightens up the low end a bit and adds a healthy dollop of drive without over-compressing or getting fizzy. It’s a classic two-stage drive setup and one that’s very satisfying to play through.

That’s a bit of a theme with the SOL918—it’s all about synergy. No one part of the pedal is jaw-droppingly special on its own, but the way they work together is what makes it valuable.

Delay: Simple, Bright, and Surprisingly Versatile

The delay section of the SOL918 is based on the Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay—a cult classic for good reason. It walks the line between vintage analogue warmth and crisp digital clarity, giving you the best of both without overcommitting to either. This makes it perfect for a variety of delay tasks: slap-back echo, subtle thickening, or even a short solo boost delay in the vein of 80s lead tones.

It’s not the most characterful delay you’ll find—there’s no swirling modulation or tape-style degradation—but it wasn’t built to be that. What it offers instead is utility. The repeats sit well in a mix, don’t overwhelm your dry tone, and feel right at home whether you’re doing country twang, rock lead work, or ambient padding.

For my money, it’s in the same ballpark as the Joyo Analog Delay, which I’ve used and loved as a go-to budget option. It fills that same role here: usable, good-sounding, and just enough of what you need without fluff.

Reverb: Best-in-Budget Spring

Now here’s a standout: the reverb section. It’s based on the Malekko Spring, which also happens to be the basis for Mosky’s own Spring Reverb pedal. And honestly? I think they just cloned it straight into this unit. And thank heavens they did.

I’ve used the standalone version of this circuit and was turned onto it by Simon at JSA Effects and Andrzej from Yet Another Guitar Channel, both of whom swore by it. They were right. It’s one of the most convincing spring reverbs at this price point. It offers a sense of space without drowning you in effect and has just enough splash and bounce to liven up your tone. The dwell and level controls are simple but effective—dial back for subtle depth or crank it for surfy chaos.

It’s not a reverb designed to explore vast ambient soundscapes or shimmer like cathedral presets. This is a classic, slightly gritty, vintage-style spring reverb, perfect for rock and blues but honestly can turn it's hand to most genres in a convincing way. In the context of the SOL918, it’s another example of the “safe but great” design philosophy.

FX Loop and Pedalboard Strategy

One feature that deserves a spotlight—though I didn’t cover it in the demo—is the FX loop. It sits between the drive section and the ambient effects. That placement is clever. It means you can insert your own favourite modulation, another drive pedal, or even a noise gate or EQ in the sweet spot of the chain. It makes this all-in-one box far more flexible, especially for people who want to tailor their rig without giving up the convenience of the SOL918.

You could even run a compressor before the input, add modulation like chorus or tremolo in the loop, and essentially build a mini pedalboard around this central unit.

But let’s be real for a second—is this a pedalboard replacement? Not quite. If you’re curating your tone and want very specific flavors of each effect, individual pedals still win. But that’s not a slight against the SOL918—it’s clearly not trying to be the centre point for your pedalboard . Instead, it’s a clever, efficient option for:

• A gig-bag emergency backup when your board goes down
• A travel-friendly setup if you’re a non-driving musician or flying to a show
• A home practice or recording tool that covers most sonic bases in one unit

Honestly, for the price they’re asking, it’s a total no-brainer to have one of these in your gig bag just in case. It’s solidly built, sounds better than most budget all-in-one units, and has enough flexibility to actually play through a full set if needed.

… At the end of the day

The Mosky SOL918 isn’t designed to blow minds with innovation—it’s designed to work. Each effect is based on something tried and tested. The distortion draws on the Suhr Riot, the overdrive nods to the Analogman KOT, the delay channels the Deep Blue, and the reverb lifts from the Malekko Spring. You could criticise it for not pushing new boundaries—but you’d be missing the point.

This pedal is practical, versatile, and perfect for players who value reliability, tone, and space-saving design. The tones are safe, yes—but that’s by design. It gives you the flexibility to fit into just about any genre or gig setup without sounding out of place. And when you consider how little it costs, it becomes even more impressive.

Would I build my main board around it? Probably not. But as a utility, a safety net, or even a fly-rig for pub gigs and jams, it’s an excellent option. A few extra features—like an order switch for OD and distortion, or a tap tempo—might have been nice, but they’d also increase the price and add complexity to a pedal designed to be your last line of defence.

And when it’s time to shine, it will. Quietly. Reliably. Without fuss.

That’s what the Mosky SOL918 does best.

The Joyo AC Tone – The Most Affordable "Vox in a Box" That’s Better Than It Has Any Right To Be

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.

If you'd like to support the channel and get one of these for yourself, consider using the affiliate link

https://thmn.to/thoprod/256818?offid=1&affid=2735

Affordaboard Filthy Rat - A worthy second effort?

Affordaboard Filthy Rat

The dirt is in the details.

A little while back, I checked out the Supersonic Drive from a new name on the scene: Affordaboard. Handmade in the UK, wallet-friendly, and packing some serious tone—it made a strong first impression. So naturally, I was curious to see if they could follow it up.

Enter pedal number two: the Filthy Rat.

Now, if you're even vaguely familiar with the world of dirt pedals, the Rat lineage needs no introduction. Sitting somewhere between distortion and fuzz—but leaning more towards distortion—a good Rat clone gives you everything from gritty blues overdrive to full-on fuzzed-out filth. And this one? It nails it.

Rat-ical Performance

The Filthy Rat keeps things simple—no bells, no whistles, just classic Rat-style controls with the kind of tone that encourages you to dig in and play. One of the biggest issues with many budget Rat clones is that they squash your dynamics. You end up with a fizzy wall of compressed sound and very little nuance. Not here.

With the gain rolled back, the Filthy Rat retains remarkable clarity and dynamic response. It responds beautifully to your picking hand—play gently, and it cleans up; dig in, and it growls. It’s a pedal that lets you shape the gain with your touch rather than just twisting knobs.

The tone control, too, deserves some love. Often with cheaper clones, the sweep can be a bit... questionable. Bottom out the dial and you're swimming in mud; crank it and it slices like a dentist's drill. But here? It’s usable across the whole range. In the demo, I used a Strat-style guitar with a bridge single coil—famously spiky—but the Filthy Rat kept things tame and musical, even on the brighter end.

Versatility Without Fuss

Of course, it does the classic Rat thing: gnarly, aggressive, hot-rodded 80s Marshall tones at the flick of a switch. But it also handles pushed cleans with surprising elegance. It's this versatility that really makes it stand out—especially at lower gain settings where it feels more amp-like than pedal-y.

And while we're at it, let’s talk value: £79, handmade in the UK. That’s affordable by any standard, but when you factor in the build quality and tone on offer, it feels like a steal.

Affordaboard: One to Watch?

With just two releases under their belt—the Supersonic Drive and now the Filthy Rat—Affordaboard are showing a strong sense of what players actually want: quality tone, solid builds, and no-nonsense pricing. If they keep this up, they could easily become a go-to name for budget-conscious players who don’t want to compromise on sound. I've made comparisons to Funny Little Boxes in the past, who have had an amazing rise to fame - very well deserved, Andy is a true gent. I'm calling it here, Affordaboard are next in line for this kind of rise too, watch this space.