The Joyo dark flame is a Joyo distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion and the Menatone None More Black. It pairs well with the Matchless DC-30 and the Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp.

Joyo dark flame

Joyo · pedal

The Joyo Dark Flame (R-17) is a modern metal high-gain distortion pedal with 3-band EQ and a 3-way toggle switching between three distinct crunchy distortion voicings, drawing comparisons to the Revv G3. It delivers aggressive, high-gain chug tones well suited to heavy riffing, though it isn't voiced for low-to-medium-gain rock or blues tones. The 3-band EQ gives real shaping control over the low, mid, and high content of the distortion. It suits metal players wanting an affordable, aggressive high-gain distortion pedal focused specifically on modern metal chug and lead tones rather than versatile all-purpose drive.

  • dark
  • distortion
  • high gain
  • bright
  • doom
  • rock
  • saturation
  • attack

Genres the Joyo dark flame is commonly used in

  • Alternative Rock
  • Blues
  • Metal
  • Rock
  • Doom Metal
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
  • Hard Rock
    citedInferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.

Amps that pair well with the Joyo dark flame

Matchless DC-30

Matchless

29% match
$4756via Reverb

Run Matchless DC-30 after it and the dark edge settles into something more glassy

Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp

Vox

27% match
$799via Reverb

Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp's bright balances out the dark tone

Gretsch 6160 Chet Atkins Amp

Gretsch

tonal match

Gretsch 6160 Chet Atkins Amp leans bright right where the dark tone needs it

1964 Vox AC30

Vox

tonal match

Run 1964 Vox AC30 after it and the dark edge settles into something more glassy

Gallien-Krueger Fusion 212

Gallien Krueger

tonal match

Where this leans dark, Gallien-Krueger Fusion 212 answers back bright

1950s Fender Twin

amplifier

tonal match

1950s Fender Twin's bright balances out the dark tone

Ampeg BA 108

Ampeg

tonal match

Ampeg BA 108's glassy balances out the dark tone

Carr Artemus Combo 1-12 Custom Tweed

Carr

tonal match

Where this leans dark, Carr Artemus Combo 1-12 Custom Tweed answers back airy

Pedals that stack with the Joyo dark flame

J. Rockett Archer

pedal

25% match
$183.99via Reverb

Where this leans dark, J. Rockett Archer answers back bright

Paul Cochrane Timmy

Paul Cochrane

24% match

Where this leans dark, Paul Cochrane Timmy answers back bright

Maxon CP-9Pro+

Maxon

21% match

Maxon CP-9Pro+ leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with

Universal Audio Dream

Universal Audio

20% match

Keep Universal Audio Dream after Joyo dark flame in the signal chain, clear of Joyo dark flame's own gain stage

Keeley Vibe-O-Verb

Keeley

14% match
$126.65via Reverb

Keeley Vibe-O-Verb's modulated voice goes after Joyo dark flame in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Joyo dark flame's own dark character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Boss DD-3 Digital Delay

Boss

14% match
$139via Reverb

Keep Boss DD-3 Digital Delay after Joyo dark flame in the signal chain, clear of Joyo dark flame's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

Spaceman Effects Atlas IV

Spaceman

tonal match
$179via Reverb

Spaceman Effects Atlas IV takes that high gain character and pushes it toward clean boost

Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword Eastside Exclusive Mono Camo

Electronic Audio Experiments

tonal match
$272.99via Reverb

Electronic Audio Experiments Longsword Eastside Exclusive Mono Camo leans bright right where the dark tone needs it

Alternativessee all similar tone character →

TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion

TC Electronic

78% similarity
$62.90via Reverb

Shared character: countless_rock_and_metal_players, dark, high_gain_settings

Menatone None More Black

Menatone

75% similarity
$249via Reverb

Shared character: high_gain_settings, dark, thickness

Behringer HM300

Behringer

74% similarity
$46via Reverb

Shared character: high_gain_settings, noise, thickness

Amptweaker AT Fatrock

Amptweaker

72% similarity

Shared character: dark, bright, thickness

JAM Pedals Rattler V2

Jam Pedals

72% similarity

Shared character: high_gain_settings, bright, dark

Tone City Golden Plexi

Tone City

72% similarity
$75via Reverb

Shared character: countless_rock_and_metal_players, dark, bright

ProCo RAT 2

Proco

71% similarity
$88via Reverb

Shared character: high_gain_settings, dark, noise

MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg

MXR

71% similarity
$79.99via Reverb

Shared character: high_gain_settings, dark, middle

Tone City Plexi 2025

Tone City

71% similarity
$75via Reverb

Shared character: dark, bright, middle

Suhr Riot

Suhr

71% similarity

Shared character: high_gain_settings, dark, bright

MXR Super Badass Distortion

MXR

71% similarity
$99via Reverb

Shared character: high_gain_settings, bright, thickness

Revv Northern Mauler

Revv

68% similarity

Shared character: countless_rock_and_metal_players, high_gain_settings, s_build_quality

See all alternatives to the Joyo dark flame (cheaper + boutique) →

Questions people ask

What are good alternatives to the Joyo dark flame?+

The closest matches in character are the TC Electronic Dark Matter Distortion, the Menatone None More Black, the Behringer HM300.

What pairs well with the Joyo dark flame?+

Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Matchless DC-30, Vox AC30 Guitar Combo Amp, Gretsch 6160 Chet Atkins Amp — Run Matchless DC-30 after it and the dark edge settles into something more glassy.

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Related searches

Joyo dark flame — NodeTone