Truetone Jekyll & Hyde JH1

Purchased new at Gand music for $129.
I was looking for a overdrive/distortion pedal that would not color my tone too much. After reading several reviews I found this to be what I was looking for. So I called Visual Sound with a couple of questions and the owner Bob Weil answered the phone. He answered all my questions and then refered me to the local dealer. There I compared the pedal to a couple of other pedals including the Visual Sound Route 66 overdrive. Another very nice pedal that is a tubescreamer and a compressor/sustainer combo. None could beat the versitility of this pedal.

The tonal variations of this unit are indescribable. It has two foot switches one for the Jekyll which sounds like a tube screamer (SRV) it has the same chip as the TS-808 nice clean distortion/overdrive. The other switch controls the Hyde side and this has a more modern distortion sound that will vary from mid 80's to today's scooped mid's.
With both switches engaged it is super overdrive yet does not get muddy. Just a bit noisy, but you are cranking!


I have yet to get a bad sound out of it.

Heavy steel chassis. Feels well built.

I am very pleased with this pedal. I feel that if you are in the market for a overdrive pedal that can turn a single channel tube amp into a 3 channel this is for you. It also has a huge range of quality sounds. Excellent value because it is really two pedals in one!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

The Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde JH1 is a dual channel overdrive and distortion pedal. It has two channels that have separate controls, that makes for the ability to have two different distortion settings that you can switch back and forth from with a click of the button. It has a 1/4 inch input and output and is powered by the nine volt power supply that it comes with. It is not rackable as it a foot pedal.

UTILIZATION

The configuration of the pedal is pretty easy to follow. It has knobs for drive, tone, volume and EQ for the different channels and it has two foot switches to go between the channels and also has a switch for either sharp or blunt, which is compression. I don't have a manual for this pedal, so I don't know how well it is put together or if it is helpful or not when learning this pedal.

SOUND QUALITY

The sound quality of the Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde JH1 overdrive pedal is top notch overall. It has the ability to provide a wide array of distortions and overdrives, almost all of which sound full and professional. I use this with electric guitar - a Gibson SG or a Fender Stratocaster into '76 Fender Twin Reveb and can get some great results. It is perfect for rhythm guitar tones, and also provides some good lead tones as well.

OVERALL OPINION

I've been using the Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde JH1 pedal for about a year and have found it to be an above average distortion/overdrive pedal with a lot of versatility. While it is great in the studio or on the stage, it especially excels on the stage because of its ability to toggle between two different overdrive sounds. It isn't too expensive and is made well and will last a while if you don't do anything crazy with it. Its versatility and overall sound quality makes it worth price and worth a try.

Two overdrive pedals in one runies obviously sturdy.
Input / Output Jack for Mono.
9V battery or external power supply (see the apptit avoid the craft ...)
A footswitch for overdrive
A mini switch "sharp / blunt" (his + acute or more "dark" and compress)
Cot Jekyll: Drive, Tone and Volume. A green LED to indicate activation.
Ct Hyde: Drive, Tone, EQ (boost / cut of mediums) and Volume. A red LED indicates that you bte is on, just when you'd be deaf ....

UTILIZATION

Should not be a drummer for dipping handling. However, the manual is useful because rvle with suggestions rglages.

SOUND QUALITY

I use my Mexican Start (with microphones Select by EMG) and my Cort M600 in a Valvestate vs100R, which left me a distos anything about my hunger.
Do I experienced distos and overdrive (Marshall Drivemaster, Boss sd1, Zoomdriver, Boss Metal Zone, Pearl ...) which all have rvles too cold I got. I was looking for an overdrive that rounds qque little angles ct high frequencies.
Dr. Jekyll is perfect and Fidler rpond your playing dynamics (variation of drive based on your attack). According to Visual Sound they use the same amp oprationnel the TS808 (which you now refourguer fortunes). Go not disassemble the bte To check: a sound and sounds great! The tone is never efficient trs gter gnral sound (not muddy or garish). The volume of reserves is enough to bring the level of subtle + drive with your clean sound.
Mr Hyde is a big, big bully. The trs drive is powerful, his tone as his respects your collgue ct "Jekyll", EQ boosts or cuts the mediums for the + traditional + or metal.
The 2 combined open horizons INTERESTED, eg the CONTRL feedback on all your notes. Obviously, rglages like "+ while stronger than everything else" gnrent of breath, but this seems expensive Lemmy (Mtorhead for the uneducated), "which means breath when you play strong enough?
N'tant perfect person, I give "9"

OVERALL OPINION

For a week I use it I have not done the rounds of all the possibilities.
The most indniable is certainly the possibility to switch between two DIFFERENT drives or to accumulate.
I tried Sparkle Drive, Rat (full range) but they have not convinced me, especially given the price (150 € or more)
I ordered mine via https://www.musik-produktiv.de that are faster, and cheaper than srieux prices dtail Belgium (€ 150 + port instead of 190 €).
This choice I would do if I am mowing. Not without good Manir instilled in me responsible if it comes to hand ...

-Distortion + overdrive in the same case.
A-between, a mono output jack.
Case-mtalique very strong.

<p class="bbcode-cite"> Quote: <span>2 channels * Contain Almost Any overdrive or distortion sound You Could Ever Want.

* "Jekyll" channel sounds like the original TS808 and Even uses the JRC4558 op-amp.

* "Hyde" channel goes from blues to metal and everything in between.

* EQ knob on Hyde exchange from a flat EQ to a wild scooped mids sound, while the Sharp / Blunt switch allow you to get a very bright or more compressed sound.

* Combine the channels for hot blues, raging rock, or molten metal leads!</span>

Page of Jeckyll & Hyde Visual Sound site (http://www.visualsound.net/JHpage.html)

UTILIZATION

It happens to have the distortion / overdrive that is to be very easy. Lightweight ranging from blues overdrive to its powerful and aggressive, this is truly versatile trs.

SOUND QUALITY

Jeckyll section is similar to the sound that can give a TS-808 can produce a warm and typical saturation amps lamps. We can rgler the Drive, Tone and Volume. Section Hyde offers similar rglages EQ plus a potentiometer which acts directly on frquences mdiums for trs metal loadings, and a switch Sharp / Blunt who can opt for a saturation tr s compresses or a grain brighter and more open as a receiver pushed back. The crunch of lightweight hystrique fuzz, through the full range of hard and heavy grain, you can have it all with Hyde. Combier In both modes will require its rglages piour with tips to avoid feedback and background noise. We can thus set for a lightweight Jeckyll pitcher, with a very sharp saturation Jeckyll and engage both the solo and will boost Jeckyll Hyde for Nirvanesque Dluga sound.

OVERALL OPINION

One of the best overdrive pedals in my opinion, not trs expensive (200 for two in one effect).
The only gripe I can do is the lightweight breath that the two effects together gnre engaged ... but it's still just adequate.