Joyo to the World: The Joyo Jam Buddy II Has Come

There’s a special kind of excitement when new guitar gear arrives.

Especially one that you don’t expect.

Back in March, I secretly bought myself a Sonicake Pocket Master and man I fell in love hard with that gadget. I spent hours and hours practicing with it, recording with it, just playing around with it.

The Sonicake Pocket Master really made me fall in love with playing guitar again after so long. All because it made things easier to plug in and play.

And then I got a Lekato JA-05G which cut down the number of wires needed for me to just start playing. It was a guitar speaker that you just plug into your guitar and voila! Plus it had a Clean, Overdrive, and Lead Channel plus Reverb if you long press the effects button.

That’s all I really need in a gadget if I’m going to be honest.

And then I discovered the Joyo Jam Buddy II through an ad that just passed by on my Facebook page.

I got curious and started researching the product. I even watched the video released by Pedal Picassos on repeat because they were the only ones at that time who released a video about it.

And because I loved the product so much, I wrote about it based on the video and the manual that I downloaded online just so I’d know what to expect when I finally bought one. I was just planning to buy one in March 2026 as a birthday gift.

I then sent an email to Joyo to tell them I loved the Jam Buddy II and just out of curiosity wanted to know where I could one in the Philippines. Back in September, they still didn’t have a local seller so they just told me it’d be available soon.

That’s ok, I could wait.

I was planning on buying it in March anyway.

Oh and I sent them a link to this website with the articles for Joyo and Lekato JA-05G just to make it clear that I really loved their products.

Here are the articles:

Joyo Jam Buddy II – I’m Gonna Enjoyo This a Lot

LEKATO JA-05G Mini Electric Guitar Amp Review

I didn’t really think much about it afterwards until November came around and a ton of guitar YouTubers started featuring the gadget on their channels. And oh man that rekindled the spark of hunger I had for the Joyo Jam Buddy II again.

I emailed them again and asked if it was available in the Philippines and they asked for my address and what color I’d like. I said pink and I asked how much it’d cost me or what link to click on so I could purchase it come March.

I didn’t receive a reply afterwards.

Until first week of December, a local courier, JRS Express came and dropped off a box for me. I didn’t know what it was at first until I opened the box up and voila!

My very own Joyo Jam Buddy II!

Christmas came early!

And now… maybe my Zoom G5n and Sonicake Pocket Master can both retire.

What Is the Joyo Jam Buddy II?

For those of you who don’t know what the Joyo Jam Buddy II is, it’s best described as a portable guitar multi-effects unit and jam station. It combines:

• Guitar effects processor
• Practice amp with built-in speakers
• Drum machine
• Looper
• Bluetooth speaker
• USB recording interface

All of this comes in a compact, battery-powered box designed for practice, songwriting, and mobile recording.

First Impressions: Why I Chose Pink

I got mine in pink, because I’m tired of black gear. Everything looks the same in low light—pedals, processors, amps. I wanted something I could instantly spot on my desk, in my bag, or on the floor.

The Jam Buddy II stands out visually, and more importantly, it feels solid enough to actually use daily.

This is not a “collector’s box.”

This is a proper musician’s tool.

And for a compact unit, the Jam Buddy II sounds surprisingly good. Right out of the box, the:

• Clean tones are pristine and usable
• Overdrive doesn’t sound harsh or fizzy
• Lead tone has enough body for recording

No, this won’t replace high-end modelers—but for its size and price, it delivers. It’s more than good enough for demos, practice, and home recording.

Can It Replace My Zoom G5n?

In some situations—yes.

The reason I even considered this as a replacement is because of convenience. With the Joyo Jam Buddy II, you don’t need:

• A separate practice amp
• A Bluetooth speaker
• A drum machine
• A basic audio interface

You just plug in and play.

For modern guitarists who record ideas quickly or practice anywhere, that matters more than having 1,000 amp models. Or humongous gear that’s a pain to set up for that simple riff you just have to get out of your head quickly.

Using the Jam Buddy II as a Portable Recording Studio

This is where the Jam Buddy 2 really shines.

If you’re recording one tone at a time, it’s a fantastic tool.

Why It Works for Recording

• USB audio interface functionality
• Consistent tone once dialed in
• Built-in drums
• No additional amp or mic-ing an amp needed

All I did was use the Data cable that came with it, plugged it into my cellphone and fired up BandLab and started recording.

I just recorded my very basic drum parts.

And then, after that I easily recorded my clean guitar parts.

After that, I switched to the overdriven tone.

And because I wanted to raise a little hell, I switched to lead and hit record again.

Simple, efficient, and frustration-free.

The Real Issue: Patch Switching Gap

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I did observe a noticeable gap when switching tones, especially between:

• Clean to Overdrive
• Overdrive to Lead

This delay makes fast transitions feel awkward.

What This Means

• The Joyo Jam Buddy II may not be ideal for live gigs with quick tone changes. I haven’t tried it onstage yet since it’s the holidays and the guys are also busy with their other band, Lethal Threshold. But as soon as they’re free, I’m gonna take this bad boy out for a spin onstage.
• Breaks momentum if you rely on dynamic switching. It was kind of a bummer when I noticed it. At first I thought maybe my timing was off because  hadn’t really been switching with my foot for a long time since my last gig and since I got the Lekato JA-05G. But after trying and trying to tap the pedal faster or pressing and holding it down before releasing and there was still the gap, I realized it might be a flaw in the product. Aw…. Maybe they’ll come up with a software fix in the future?
• This means, my pink Joyo Jam Buddy II might just be for recording and practicing at home purposes only which is a shame because it really sounds amazing.

If you’re switching tones in real time onstage, this could be a dealbreaker. But if you’re recording, looping, or jamming with one tone at a time, it’s not a big issue.

Practice Features That Actually Help

Joyo didn’t just throw features in for the sake of specs.

Drum Machine

• Multiple styles
• Adjustable tempo
• Perfect for timing and groove practice

Bluetooth Audio

• Play backing tracks
• Practice with YouTube lessons
• Jam along with reference songs

Headphone Support

• Silent practice
• No compromise on tone

These features make the Joyo Jam Buddy II far more useful than a standard multi-effects unit.

Quick Feature Comparison Table

Feature	Joyo Jam Buddy II
Portability	Excellent
Built-in Speakers	Yes
Recording via USB	Yes
Drum Machine	Yes
Looper	Yes
Live Patch Switching	Limited
Best Use Case	Practice & Recording

Who is the Joyo Jam Buddy II for?

• Guitarists who record at home
• Songwriters who want an all-in-one setup
• Players who value portability
• Musicians tired of bulky rigs

Who is it Not for?

• Gigging players who need instant tone switching
• Guitarists who rely on complex live patches
• Players treating multi-effects like stompboxes

The Joyo Jam Buddy II isn’t perfect—and it doesn’t pretend to be.

But what it does exceptionally well is encourage you to play more, record more, and experiment freely.

For me, it comes dangerously close to replacing my Zoom G5n—not because it’s technically superior, but because it fits how I actually make music now.

And sometimes, that’s all you really need from your musical gear.

PS. I might still go ahead and buy one come March just so I have a spare or so I that I can preserve the pristine quality of this one because it’s the first one I’ve gotten free.

Oh yeah, I’m still trying to figure it out and I’m planning on making a video out of this and post it in the Musikawabad Youtube channel by New year. That’s where I’ll post gear reviews (hopefully) and this will be the first 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/@musikawabad

and I’m planning on releasing more music through Youtube through my band AcidRadius’ channel. It’ll just be me and my future Donner Hush X guitar doing covers or new music. I don’t know yet 🙂

https://www.youtube.com/@acidradius

Frequently Asked Questions About the Joyo Jam Buddy II

Q: Is the Joyo Jam Buddy 2 good for live performances?
A: The Joyo Jam Buddy 2 can work for simple live setups, but it has a noticeable delay when switching patches. It’s better suited for recording, practice, and single-tone performances rather than fast onstage tone changes. That might just be on this unit I have or can be fixed in a future update.

Q: Can the Joyo Jam Buddy 2 be used as a recording interface?
A: Yes. The Jam Buddy 2 works as a USB audio interface, making it ideal for home recording without needing an amp or microphone.

Q: Does the Joyo Jam Buddy 2 have built-in speakers?
A: Yes. It includes built-in speakers, which makes it great for practice, jamming, and portable use without external amplification.

Q: Is the Joyo Jam Buddy 2 better than the Zoom G5n?
A: It depends on usage. The Jam Buddy 2 is more portable and better for practice and recording, while the Zoom G5n is more suitable for live performances with faster patch switching.

Q: Who is the Joyo Jam Buddy 2 best for?
A: It’s ideal for home guitarists, songwriters, and players who want a compact, all-in-one practice and recording solution.