Pricing and availability

Average Price: $116

Standard/Professional

$50

$176+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

Embark on a sonic journey with the Visual Sound V2 Open Road Overdrive, where clarity meets power in a sleek, bright yellow chassis. This pedal is your ticket to achieving a massive, grinding tone without sacrificing the intricacies of your playing. Perfect for musicians seeking a balanced sound, it offers a flat midrange while ensuring your lows stay defined and your highs shimmer, making every chord and solo distinctly pronounced. Whether you're carving your path through a dense mix or standing alone in the spotlight, the Open Road ensures your journey is heard loud and clear.

Key Features:

  • Bright yellow chassis for easy visibility on any pedalboard
  • Flat midrange that ensures a balanced sound, perfect for intricate musical expressions
  • Provides a clear low-end and shimmering highs, making each note stand out
  • Ideal for both chord definition and solo performance enhancement
  • Designed to maintain clarity even in dense mixes or solo settings

Product specs

Brand Visual Sound
Model Open Road V2
Year 2010s
Made In United States
Categories Distortion Pedals, Overdrive and Boost Pedals

FAQs

What kind of tone can I expect from the Visual Sound Open Road V2 overdrive pedal?

The Visual Sound Open Road V2 provides a transparent overdrive with a warm, natural tone. It is known for its clarity and responsiveness, making it ideal for blues, rock, and country genres.

Does the Open Road V2 work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?

Yes, the Open Road V2 is designed to complement both single-coil and humbucker pickups, providing a versatile overdrive that enhances the natural characteristics of your guitar's sound.

How does the Visual Sound Open Road V2 compare to other overdrive pedals?

The Open Road V2 is renowned for its transparent overdrive, offering a less compressed and more open sound compared to many other overdrive pedals, which makes it a favorite for those seeking a more natural tone.

Can the Visual Sound Open Road V2 be used as a boost pedal?

Yes, the Open Road V2 can be used as a boost pedal. It provides a clean boost with minimal coloration, making it suitable for pushing your amp into natural overdrive.

What power supply do I need for the Visual Sound Open Road V2?

The Visual Sound Open Road V2 requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is a common requirement for most guitar pedals.

Truetone

Truetone

Visual Sound Open Road #1

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road #1 by Truetone

Visual Sound Open Road #1

Truetone

Truetone

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal by intheblues

Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal

intheblues

intheblues

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road #2 by Truetone

Visual Sound Open Road #2

Truetone

Truetone

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Demo by Bomb House Recording

Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Demo

Bomb House Recording

Bomb House Recording

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road & Truetone Pedals by Guitar World

Visual Sound Open Road & Truetone Pedals

Guitar World

Guitar World

Video thumbnail for The BEST Budget Nobels ODR-1? | Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive by R.J. Ronquillo

The BEST Budget Nobels ODR-1? | Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive

R.J. Ronquillo

R.J. Ronquillo

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal Summer NAMM Demo by Sweetwater

Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal Summer NAMM Demo

Sweetwater

Sweetwater

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal by MarshallGTV

Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal

MarshallGTV

MarshallGTV

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound - Open Road Overdrive by WMusicDistribution

Visual Sound - Open Road Overdrive

WMusicDistribution

WMusicDistribution

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal by Roman Gostylo

Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Pedal

Roman Gostylo

Roman Gostylo

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Demo - Harmon Music - HIGH DEFINITION by Harmon Music

Visual Sound Open Road Overdrive Demo - Harmon Music - HIGH DEFINITION

Harmon Music

Harmon Music

Reviews

PROS

  • Enhances clean tone with dynamic response

  • More affordable yet comparable to tube overdrive pedals

  • Solid build quality, very durable

  • Versatile overdrive/distortion without altering basic EQ

  • Chewy, vocal quality in note decay at high gain settings

  • No tone suck, even when bypassed

  • Works well with both single coils and humbuckers

  • Compatible with various amp types (Vox, Fender, Orange Crush)

  • Can be used as a boost for clean playing styles

  • True bypass switching maintains signal integrity

CONS

  • Drive gets muddy and dark when cranked up

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Visual Sound Open Road V2.

Comparisons

  • The Visual Sound Open Road is noted for being more transparent than a Tube Screamer, providing a warm, smooth overdrive without significantly altering the original tone.

    Source
  • The Open Road shares its circuit lineage with the Jekyll portion of the Jekyll and Hyde pedal, making it a choice for fans of that specific sound.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • It's mentioned that used Visual Sound Open Road pedals can be found for approximately $70, offering budget-conscious buyers a quality overdrive option.

    Source
  • Visual Sound's customer service is highlighted for its excellence, evidenced by replacing parts like footswitches even after 20 years of purchase.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The foot switches on v2 Visual Sound pedals are praised for their reliability and ease of use.

    Source
  • The Open Road is based on the Nobels ODR-1 circuit, offering a unique tonal palette for those seeking a specific overdrive sound.

    Source
  • These pedals can be powered at 18V, enhancing clean headroom, which is particularly beneficial for drive pedals.

    Source
  • Owners have noted that the Jekyll and Hyde can achieve tones reminiscent of early Radiohead albums, with specific EQ adjustments for optimal sound.

    Source

User experience

  • Visual Sound pedals, including the Open Road, come with a lifetime warranty, offering long-term assurance for users.

    Source
  • Visual Sound has rebranded as True Tone, which may be relevant for those tracking product lineage or seeking customer support.

    Source

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 3 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Albert Hammond Jr uses Visual Sound Open Road V2

Albert Hammond Jr

Singer, Guitarist

The Strokes

...
Verified via Gyazo

Albert Hammond Jr uses the Visual Sound V2 Open Road Overdrive pedal during live performances, as shown in the image provided by Gyazo.

See how Sam Halliday uses Visual Sound Open Road V2

Sam Halliday

Guitarist

Two Door Cinema Club

...
Verified via Twitter

Seen in Sam Halliday's pedal board, the Two Door Cinema Club lead guitarist relies on the Open Road pedal for overdrive.

See how Paul Jackson Jr. uses Visual Sound Open Road V2

Paul Jackson Jr.

Guitarist

Michael Jackson (band)

...
Verified via Fulltone

On Fulltone's official website, Paul's artist page contains 3 pictures, one of which shows the Open Road.

See how Bear Rinehart uses Visual Sound Open Road V2

Bear Rinehart

Singer, Guitarist

Needtobreathe

...
Verified via YouTube

The first thing that hooked me was the Open Road pedal.

See how Bo Rinehart uses Visual Sound Open Road V2

Bo Rinehart

Guitarist

Needtobreathe

...
Verified via Flickr

In this photo, which shows Rinehart's pedalboard from 2011 (more photos from the concert can be found here), one of the pedals that can be seen is the Visual Sound Open Road.

See how Hanan Rubinstein uses Visual Sound Open Road V2

Hanan Rubinstein

Guitarist, Composer

...
Verified via Photo

Visible in this November 6, 2019 Instagram post.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Visual Sound Open Road V2, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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4 alternative and related items for Visual Sound Open Road V2, curated by the Equipboard community.

Visual Sound VS-XO

$169.99 - $189.99

similar sound mod

On the left side, the VS-XO is the Open Road (ODR-1) circuit with an added bass knob.

Truetone VS-XO Premium Dual Overdrive

$179.00 - $197.95

newer similar sound mod

On the left side, the VS-XO is the Open Road (ODR-1) circuit with an added bass knob.

Truetone V3 Jekyll & Hyde

$155.24 - $208.00

similar sound mod

Unlike other versions of the Jekyll & Hyde, V3 utilizes the Open Road (ODR-1) circuit on the Jekyll side, with the addition of a bass knob.

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