Truetone V3 Jekyll & Hyde Overdrive Distortion Pedal

The Jekyll & Hyde overdrive from Visual Sound was one of the finest drive/distortion combination pedals you could buy. However, with a new name comes the need for a refreshed design, and the Truetone Jekyll & Hyde V3 now boasts some fantastic features.

Jekyll

Jekyll serves as your overdrive channel. Previously a solid overdrive with great tone, it lacked the power to make the transition to Hyde seamless. In the V3 pedal, the overdrive has been completely redesigned, drawing inspiration from the classic 'Open Road' overdrive.

It is controlled using the same Drive, Volume, and Tone knobs as the V2 model, but now includes Bass and Clean controls for added flexibility. This gives you complete control over the drive, ranging from a gentle, background crunch to a bold, high-energy rock sound.

Hyde

Hyde is the pedal's fierce distortion channel. While it doesn’t offer extreme gain levels, it delivers an impressive array of tones. From a subtle, soft distortion bordering on overdrive to a heavier, high-gain setting ideal for rock, Hyde has you covered.

If you’re familiar with the earlier Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde pedals, the tone remains consistent, but the V3 version includes significant upgrades. A new Bass control works alongside the Treble knob for precise tone shaping, and a Voice switch lets you choose between classic open distortion and a more saturated, modern tone.

Switching and Wiring

Although many manufacturers produce dual-function pedals, few offer as much versatility as this. The Jekyll & Hyde V3 allows you to use it in its default configuration (distortion into overdrive) or reverse the order. You can even treat them as two completely separate pedals in your signal chain.

What Truetone Says About the Jekyll & Hyde V3 Overdrive and Distortion

Bob Weil and Visual Sound first introduced the Jekyll & Hyde pedal in 1997. It was the first true dual-effect pedal designed for guitarists and became an instant success. The rest, as they say, is history.

Visual Sound has now rebranded as Truetone, and the new V3 Series Jekyll & Hyde has been completely re-engineered by Bob Weil and RG Keen to meet the needs of modern players. With improved flexibility, better tonal options, and enhanced build quality, this new iteration builds on the legacy of an already iconic pedal.

The distortion channel ("Hyde") delivers the same beloved distortion as its predecessors, with two key improvements. A Bass knob now interacts with the Treble control for precise tone sculpting, and a new Voice switch allows you to toggle between classic open distortion and a more saturated tone.

The overdrive channel ("Jekyll") has undergone a complete overhaul, making it more compatible with Hyde. Now based on the classic Open Road pedal, Jekyll includes additional Bass and Clean Mix controls.

If you've previously owned or used a Jekyll & Hyde pedal, you owe it to yourself to try the V3 version.

"Just got my V2 Jekyll and Hyde out of the box. By far the BEST distortion/overdrive ever. Haven't even really had that much time to tweak it and it already sounds 100 times better than any pedal I've ever spent hours and hours tweaking. I think I just became brand loyal." – Blake T. (...and the V3 version is even better!)

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