Review: Joyo Narcissus Chorus Pedal

Disclaimer: This pedal was kindly provided by Joyo for the purpose of this review. However, this does not influence our opinions or the content of our reviews. We strive to provide honest, unbiased, and accurate assessments to ensure that our readers receive truthful and helpful information.

Chorus is one of those effects that never really disappears. For bassists, it’s a subtle tool that can add dimension, warmth, and atmosphere without taking away from the low end. It can also be pushed into far wilder territory, where the effect itself becomes part of the musical statement. The Joyo Narcissus (R-22) is a great example of a pedal that covers both ends of that spectrum: vintage-flavored lushness on one side, and bold, modern modulation on the other.

At first glance, the Narcissus is a sturdy little stompbox. Solid aluminum casing, smooth-turning chrome knobs (they’re plastic, but they do the job), a reliable footswitch, and an LED that lets you know it’s alive and ready. Power is standard 9V, which means it’s easy to slot into most pedalboards, and the build quality feels confident enough for regular gigging. Nothing fancy, just rugged and practical — the way most of us like our pedals.

The Controls — Simple and Effective

The layout is straightforward: three knobs and a small toggle switch. That’s it. But don’t let the simplicity fool you; the range of sounds tucked into those controls is surprisingly wide.

• Rate adjusts the speed of the modulation. Turn it down low, and the effect moves at a slow, almost liquid pace that feels more like a gentle thickening than a swirling modulation. Push it higher, and the movement becomes more pronounced, drifting into fast vibrato territory.
  
• Depth controls the strength of the modulation. With Depth dialed back, the chorus is subtle, a shimmer in the background that fattens up your tone without ever drawing too much attention to itself. As you increase Depth, the waves get deeper, and the effect starts to make itself known, shifting into a more dramatic presence.
  
• Width is the wild card. It determines how broad or narrow the modulation feels. At its lowest, the chorus is focused and intimate, giving your bass a warm glow. Turn it up, and the sound opens up wide, filling the sonic space in a way that can feel almost like stepping into a big stereo field, even when you’re running mono.
  

And then there’s the Vintage/Modern switch. This is where the Narcissus really shows two distinct personalities.

• In Vintage mode, the chorus has that familiar warmth that bassists often crave. The low end stays solid, the shimmer rides on top, and the overall feel is thick and musical. This is the side of the pedal that works beautifully in a band context, adding dimension without stepping all over the rest of the mix.
  
• Flip to Modern mode, and things change dramatically. The chorus gets brighter, more forward, and more experimental. It can cut through in a mix, even dominate if you want it to, and when combined with higher settings on Depth or Width, it creates textures that feel less like a traditional chorus and more like an experimental modulation effect. It’s the “madness” side of the Narcissus, not always polite, but full of creative potential.
  

What It Feels Like to Play

One of the best things about this pedal is how it invites you to explore. With just a few small twists of the knobs, you can move from subtle polish to swirling chaos. For players who like their chorus to be more of a background flavor, the Narcissus delivers beautifully in Vintage mode, it’s the kind of sound that thickens fingerstyle grooves, makes pick lines shimmer, and adds dimension to chords or double-stops without losing punch.

If you’re after something more adventurous, Modern mode opens the door to some unexpected textures. Push the knobs harder, and the sound can become almost psychedelic, with a swirling, spatial quality that’s far beyond the “set-and-forget” chorus pedals of the past. It might not always be the choice for a standard pop or rock gig, but for ambient sections, experimental interludes, or any time you want the bass to step out of its usual supportive role, it’s a lot of fun.

The Bass Player’s Takeaway

Chorus can be tricky on bass. Too often, pedals are designed with guitar in mind, leaving the low end hollow or washed out. The Narcissus gets around that by giving you two tonal worlds: a warm, bass-friendly Vintage mode that preserves body and thickness, and a brighter, more aggressive Modern mode that trades some of that bottom for a cutting, adventurous edge.

For under $60, the value here is undeniable. It’s not a boutique, hand-wired unit, but it doesn’t need to be. What Joyo has built is a workhorse pedal with enough character to cover everything from tasteful shimmer to full-blown sonic chaos.

If you’re the kind of bassist who likes their modulation subtle and supportive, the Narcissus will deliver exactly that. If you’re more of an explorer, it has plenty of room to push boundaries. And if you’re somewhere in between? That’s where this pedal really shines, as a reliable, affordable chorus that doesn’t lock you into one flavor.

Bottom line: the Joyo Narcissus Chorus feels like two pedals in one. Vintage warmth for the traditionalist, modern madness for the sonic adventurer. And for bassists, that’s a combination worth celebrating.

For more information, visit online at joyoaudio.com/