Pricing and availability
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Reviews
Price
Average Price: $37
Budget/Beginner
$80
$181+
Price Tier
Budget
Standard
High-end
Price History
Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Joyo JF-21 Splinter". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 19, 2026.
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Description
Unleash the power of vintage tones with the Joyo JF-21 Splinter, a dynamic distortion effects pedal that bridges the gap between fuzz and distortion. This pedal is designed for guitarists seeking the classic sound of a bygone era, yet it offers enough versatility to fit into any modern setup. Whether you're looking to replicate the gritty sounds of the '70s or add a unique edge to your current tone, the JF-21 Splinter provides the tools you need.
With intuitive controls for distortion, filter, and volume, this pedal ensures you have complete command over your sound. The interesting combination of fuzz and distortion adds depth and character to your music, making it a must-have for any guitarist wanting to explore new sonic landscapes. This pedal features a sturdy footswitch for effect bypass and an LED indicator to easily show when the effect is engaged.
For ease of use, the JF-21 offers standard 6.3 mm jack inputs and outputs, and supports power via a 9V battery or a DC mains adapter, ensuring you're always ready to perform. Compact and reliable, this pedal is ideal for gigs, studio sessions, or home practice.
Key Features:
- Classic sound with a unique fuzz and distortion blend
- Controls: Distortion, filter, volume
- LED indicator for effect on
- Footswitch for effect bypass
- Input and output: 6.3 mm jack
- Power options: 9V battery or 9V DC mains adapter (not included)
- Power consumption: 20 mA
Product specs
| Available since | February 2022 |
| Overdrive | No |
| Distortion | Yes |
| Fuzz | Yes |
| Metal | No |
FAQs
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What kind of distortion can I expect from the Joyo JF-21 Splinter?
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The Joyo JF-21 Splinter offers a versatile distortion sound with a blend of fuzz characteristics, making it suitable for a range of rock and alternative music styles.
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Does the Joyo JF-21 Splinter work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?
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Yes, the Joyo JF-21 Splinter is designed to perform well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups, providing consistent distortion tones across different guitar types.
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Can the Joyo JF-21 Splinter be powered with a standard 9V power supply?
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Yes, the Joyo JF-21 Splinter requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is common for most guitar pedals.
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Is the Joyo JF-21 Splinter suitable for live performances?
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The Joyo JF-21 Splinter is compact and robust, making it suitable for live performances where reliable and consistent distortion is needed.
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How does the fuzz element in the Joyo JF-21 Splinter affect its sound?
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The fuzz element in the Joyo JF-21 Splinter adds a gritty, textured layer to the distortion, offering a unique sound that stands out in a mix.
Videos
TheGuitarGeek
Joyo Splinter JF-21 Distortion Review | A Fat Rat for 40 Bucks! #PocketMoneyPedals
Reviews
PROS
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Excellent for bass, with no bottom loss on fat switch
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Offers both Mosfet and stock distortion modes for versatile sound
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Can emulate Darkglass and Rat-like sounds at a low cost
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Unaffected by playing style (finger or pick)
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Good build quality and solid sound options for beginners
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Works well for Rat-style distortion lovers
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Offers a wide range of tones from light gain to heavy sludge
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Priced competitively as an effective Rat pedal clone
CONS
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Not a 1:1 Rat circuit clone, nuances may be missed by professionals
Owner Insights
We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Joyo JF-21 Splinter.
Features and functionality
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The "Fat" setting offers thicker lows and darker highs, requiring filter knob adjustments to manage the compression and tone.
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The filter knob on the Joyo Splinter works inversely compared to traditional tone controls; turning left boosts highs, while turning right emphasizes bass.
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Some users face challenges integrating the Splinter into their rig due to its lack of wet/dry mix, resulting in a completely wet signal when engaged.
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The mosfet/stock toggle switch can bypass clipping, similar to a Reutz mod in a Rat, though some users report minimal audible difference.
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The "fat" switch noticeably adds beef to the sound, enhancing the pedal's versatility for different rock styles.
Source
Build quality
Comparisons
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The Splinter is noted to have a looser bottom end and darker tone compared to the RAT built into the Katana Artist, which is smoother and clearer.
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The Mosky Black Mouse is noted to be bassier and less tight, likely due to circuit inaccuracies compared to the Joyo Splinter.
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Users highlight the Joyo Splinter as a budget-friendly alternative to the expensive Fat Rat, offering similar functionality and satisfaction in sound.
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Use cases and applications
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The Splinter is ideal for 70s/90s rock, stoner rock, and doom metal, but less suited for modern metal or 80s hotrodded Marshall tones.
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The pedal effectively transitions from light crunch to heavy fuzz and full distortion, especially when paired with a TS9 overdrive.
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The vintage mode replicates the sound of an actual ProCo Rat pedal, providing authenticity for those seeking classic tones.
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User experience
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Some users report significant noise issues, including humming and interference when increasing the volume.
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Users appreciate the Splinter for extending practice sessions by adding enjoyable tonal options, indicating its value in maintaining engagement.
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Increasing distortion past level 4 can result in a mushy, overloaded sound, reminiscent of input overloading issues.
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Critic Reviews
4.0 out of 5
Based on 5 Reviews and 8 Ratings
105
Great Budget Rat Clone
Found this pedal to be pretty useful despite being only $35 new. The Fat and Mosfet clipping modes are great for bass and can help with the bright and aggressive tone the RAT usually has. Only complaint I have is the thing can feedback extremely easily at higher gain settings and the DC jack being on the side is a bit baffling as a design decision.
163
Master Splinter
I'm big fan for teenage mutant ninja turtles. Thats why I bought this. This is almost FAT RAT
90
Very impressive and affordable pedal
I have one since last year, it's amazing, is very easy to use and to get good sounds, I never had any problem with this pedal
Preferred Settings + Usage:
I use it on all the time, basically my overdrive
144
Solid distortion pedal
It's a good distortion pedal for those who like the Rat-style distortion.
Preferred Settings + Usage:
Distortion at noon, filter from 11 to 1 o'clock and volume at noon. I put a Ts-style overdrive in front of this pedal, in a boost setting, so it'll sound tighter and less fuzzy.
Artist usage
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Used With
Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Joyo JF-21 Splinter, it is most commonly used with the following gear.
Community setups
Show yoursSimilar
Add recommendation1 alternative for Joyo JF-21 Splinter, curated by the Equipboard community.
$177.08 - $279.00
It has the same knobs and controls (distortion, filter, volume, fat-switch and clipping-mode switch). The distortion itself is pretty similar to the Rat distortion, going from a overdrive sound with the distortion knob at lower setting to a fuzz-like distortion with the distortion at max. Generally, with the distortion knob after 12 o'clock, it gets pretty muddy like the Proco Rat. The thing that makes it very similar to the Fat Rat are both switches, one for normal and fat mode, the other for MOSFET and regular clipping. These are the same switches featured in the Proco Fat Rat pedal.
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