JOYO Zombie-II BanTamp XL Series Mini Amp Head 20W Hybrid Tube 2-Channel Guitar Amplifier with Bluetooth (No Sound, Need Extra Speaker)

I ordered this amp to downsize from a 100 watt head to something more appropriate for my home. The reviews and videos I watched about this amp were spot-on and I couldn't be happier with how it performs. The main feature I needed was an effects loop so that I could plug other modellers into the effects return and send the audio out through my 1x12 cabinet. I've reached the point where I am stale on emulated guitar speakers and I want an actual speaker with a microphone in my signal chain. Since this amp handles 8 ohm and 16 ohm speakers, I was covered and many others should be as well. You can also use the headphones as a line out since it has an emulated cabinet in that signal, but I don't think it sounds the greatest, and I wouldn't use it in a mix.I was expecting to be disappointed with the lack of traditional tone stack controls, but what's cool is you can come up with some really decent high-gain tones with different combinations of the gain, tone and volume controls. I have found some really nice settings fairly quickly just trying out different knob positions.I've used it with a guitar directly plugged in, and I also have re-amped several sources through it to take advantage of this amp's great tones. I think using it to re-amp has been more fun since I can set up loop points in my mixes, then adjust the 3 knobs until the guitar tone sits nicely within the mix.Don't be fooled by the 20 watt power size....this little lunch box gets LOUD. I have mine running through my speaker at full volume in my isolation box and it does its job well. I don't play out or in a band, so I don't know how it would function in that area, but for home use it is more than ample.In case you're wondering, since it has a solid state power amp, you do not need to have it connected to a speaker at all times. You are free to use just headphones with it if you prefer.I haven't tried the bluetooth line in stuff yet as I have never done that with any amp, but I assume it would work just fine. It also comes with a foot switch to change amp channels if you want to do that.After working with this amp for a few days and enjoying how it sounds, I want to also get the Jackman (JCM 800) version as well to have most heavy sounds covered between this and the Jackman.For the price point, I am not certain you'll find a better deal that has so much to offer. I sweated this purchase for far too long and I'm glad I took advantage of an Amazon sale to get it for around $150 USD.

Pro,1. It's small, sturdy build and easy to put on a pedal board.2. It has Bluetooth, an effects loop, a headphone out and foot switch for changing channels.3. Has two independent channels for clean and distortion.4. The clean channel is super clean and the distortion channel has a ton of gain on tap.5. It takes pedals extremely well.6. Has a very tight distorted sound.7. For a hybrid amp it didn't cost a lot.8. Loud enough to keep up with a drummer.Cons,1. It only has a tone shift know, not a treble, mid or bass unfortunately. I'd use an EQ in the effects loop if you want better control of your tone.2. This is a hybrid amp head, not a full tube head so don't expect it to sound like a real tube amps.3. I'd modeled after a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier, but it doesn't quite sound like one. I'll admit it sounds great, but it's too tight to sound like a real Dual Rectifier IMO.Even with it's short comings it's an extremely worthwhile amp head that can easily keep up with a drummer, practice and do small gigs with. I don't feel the short comings are really short comings for me personally.

This Joyo Bantamp XL amp is an excellent amp. Easy to use, sounds excellent for metal, rock, and even the clean tone is great...It's loud when you want it to be, can handle small venues and band practices when use through a 2 or 4 speaker cabinet, and has a headphone jack for night time playing...Price to performance this Joyo is a BEAST!!!

I have owned a ridiculous number of amps, headphones, instruments, effects, and various audio devices over the years. The nicest sound has very often come from valve based systems and products.So I tried the Joyo Tweedy. I wanted a US/Fender-esque amp head, and this one had the right price meets features kind of ratio. The Tweedy was fine. It didn't blow me away, but it was cool, and I was on the fence about returning it. It didn't sell me on these bantamps in general. It was just another device that I tried.But on a whim, I tried the Blue Jay.Holy bananas, this thing is in different class, as far as my ears are concerned. It's sweet, clean, loads of headroom, nice and punchy-loud, and just a pleasure to listen to and play through.This one is staying. I think I might like this better than my PRS MT15. It's just so honey-dripped clean. At ~$150 it is an absolute must buy. And I had heard somewhere that this one was the least impressive of the bunch. I think whomever said that doesn't understand the luscious clean sound this amp can achieve. I don't even care about the drive channels in these bantamps, I'm using my own pedals anyways, and as a pedal platform this amp is legit af.My only complaint is that the Tweedy has a 1/4" headphone jack, and this Blue Jay has only 1/8". That's a minor quibble. So I guess technically it's 4.9/5 stars.If you're considering this Blue Jay and amp, I urge you to try it. I absolutely love the sound, this beaut is staying.

Sounds amazing played through my 2x12 cab. Do yourself a favor and get a eq pedal for the effects loop to tweak the tone.