What is The Joker?
Whether you’re after overdrive, distortion, or fuzz, pedals in this category are often referred to as ‘dirt’ pedals. Flattley’s latest creation, The Joker, fits this description perfectly, as indicated on its front panel! This pedal features two toggle-switch modes: Dirt and an even more intense Filth mode.
According to Flattley, the inspiration behind this pedal stemmed from a essential question: what if you could introduce controlled distortion to a clean booster? The result is a pedal that utilizes a FET-based 12AX7 valve simulation, designed to replicate the sound of an overdriven single-valve amplifier.
Moreover, the addition of the Filth mode elevates the gain and distortion levels, providing even more sonic possibilities.
Specifications
- Price: £259
- Type: Overdrive pedal
- Origin: UK
- Controls: Volume, Gain, Tone, Dirt/Filth switch, Bypass footswitch
- Features: True bypass
- Power: 9V DC adaptor (not included) 50mA
- Contact: Flattley Guitar Pedals
Build Quality, Usability, and Sound
In Dirt mode, with the Gain knob set to its lowest, the volume knob reaches unity gain around the 11 o’clock position. Anything beyond that provides a boost that’s not entirely clean but carries a hint of grit, influenced by the settings on the tone knob.
From our perspective, the tone knob is most neutral at its minimum setting, but as you increase it, it begins to roll off the low-end frequencies. Once you reach the midpoint, the emphasis shifts towards the higher frequencies, entering classic treble-boost territory as you approach the maximum setting. This is ideal for driving the front end of your amplifier or pushing another dirt pedal.
as you increase the Gain knob, you’ll discover a range of tones that flirt with the ‘just beyond clean’ sound, transitioning through low-level break-up into a more crunchy texture reminiscent of a small valve amp being pushed to its limits. The dynamic response is fully exploitable, allowing you to pull back to a cleaner tone with a lighter touch.
Switching to Filth mode, the starting point is slightly above the upper range of Dirt mode, indicating some overlap between the two. Though, Filth mode transitions smoothly from that crunchy sound into a more compressed, gain-heavy version without becoming overly saturated.
Final thoughts
Rating: ★★★★½
guitar world’s verdict: The Joker offers a practical range of gain, from clean tones to gritty sounds, paired with a Tone knob that effectively shapes your sound, making it a versatile boost/drive addition to your pedalboard.
Video Reviews
R.J. Ronquillo
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Flattley
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