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Average Price: $110

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$50

$176+

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Description

Unleash your creative potential with the Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66, a versatile overdrive effects pedal that combines vintage charm with modern versatility. This pedal expertly merges compression and overdrive into one compact unit, providing you with the sonic palette to craft the perfect tone for any musical style. Inspired by the legendary TS-808 Tubescreamer, the Route 66 pedal features the iconic JRC4558 chip, ensuring that you get that authentic, sought-after tube overdrive sound.

Designed for guitarists who crave both clarity and punch, the Route 66 offers separate channels for overdrive and compression, each with individual tone controls. This setup allows you to dial in everything from a subtle crunch to a fully saturated lead tone. The Overdrive Bass Boost switch adds an extra layer of depth, delivering a big cabinet feel that pairs exceptionally well with tube amps.

Built to withstand the rigors of the road, its thick steel housing ensures durability, while the upgraded Pure Tone buffer circuit enhances signal clarity. Whether you're aiming for a fully squashed Nashville sound or a gentle, transparent compression, the integrated pre-amp on the compressor channel gives you loads of clean gain without unwanted distortion.

Key Features:

  • Thick steel housing for durability
  • Improved Pure Tone buffer circuit for enhanced signal clarity
  • Tone control bypass switch for vintage compressor tones
  • Increased output volume for the overdrive channel
  • Upgraded Bass Boost switch for a fuller sound
  • Overdrive and Compression on separate channels with individual tone controls
  • Overdrive channel emulates the original TS808 using the JRC4558 op-amp
  • Compression channel offers versatile settings from subtle to fully squashed
  • Integrated pre-amp with Gain knob for clean gain adjustment

Product specs

Brand Visual Sound
Model Route 66 V2
Finish Tan
Year 2010s
Categories Compressor Pedals, Overdrive and Boost Pedals

FAQs

What type of overdrive tones can I expect from the Visual Sound Route 66 V2?

The Visual Sound Route 66 V2 offers a classic overdrive tone reminiscent of vintage tube amps, providing smooth, warm distortion with a natural sustain, ideal for blues and rock genres.

Does the Visual Sound Route 66 V2 work well with both single-coil and humbucker pickups?

Yes, the Route 66 V2 is designed to complement both single-coil and humbucker pickups, delivering consistent performance and tone across different guitar types.

Can the compressor and overdrive circuits in the Route 66 V2 be used independently?

Yes, the Route 66 V2 features independent footswitches for the compressor and overdrive circuits, allowing you to use each effect separately or together for versatile sound shaping.

What power supply does the Visual Sound Route 66 V2 require?

The Route 66 V2 requires a standard 9V DC power supply, commonly used for guitar pedals, and can also run on a 9V battery for convenient portability.

Is the Visual Sound Route 66 V2 suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Route 66 V2 is well-suited for live performances, offering durable construction and reliable switching, with tonal versatility that can adapt to various live settings.

Truetone

Truetone

Visual Sound Route 66 #1

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Route 66 #1 by Truetone

Visual Sound Route 66 #1

Truetone

Truetone

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Route 66 #2 by Truetone

Visual Sound Route 66 #2

Truetone

Truetone

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Route 66 Overdrive Compression stomp-box DEMO + KRANK REV Jr PRO by E-GITARA.net.pl

Visual Sound Route 66 Overdrive Compression stomp-box DEMO + KRANK REV Jr PRO

E-GITARA.net.pl

E-GITARA.net.pl

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Route 66 V2 Compression Overdrive Demo by Boyd's Guitar Warehouse

Visual Sound Route 66 V2 Compression Overdrive Demo

Boyd's Guitar Warehouse

Boyd's Guitar Warehouse

Video thumbnail for Visual Sound Route 66 V2 - Compressor/Overdrive by Dan Cummins

Visual Sound Route 66 V2 - Compressor/Overdrive

Dan Cummins

Dan Cummins

Reviews

PROS

  • Compressor/overdrive combo enhances versatility

  • Adds body and definition to pickups without losing unique tones

  • Overdrive has more low-gain range and output volume than classic Tube Screamers

  • Bass boost switch thickens sound, ideal for boosting leads

  • Compressor adds crispness and sustains tone effectively

  • Two effects in one pedal, offering good value

  • Good for cutting through in loud environments

  • Compressor includes noise reduction system

CONS

  • Can be noisy, especially when using OD and Comp together

  • Overdrive may be difficult to dial in for some users

  • Compressor gain can introduce fuzziness at high settings

  • Footswitches might be a downside for some users

Add

4.5 out of 5

Based on 7 Reviews and 20 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
dorgsan

My favourite overdrive

I like Visual Sound's overdrive more than classic Tube Screamers. It has more low-gain range, slightly more gain, more output volume, bass boost switch. And don't forget about compressor: it's a little bit noisy and not enough sustain, but gives you nice compression, boost option and tone knob. And compressor also has noise reduction system. Two effects combined is a match made in heaven, gives you smooth and even overdrive. It's almost too cheap (especially on used market) for a double pedal of this quality. The downside: footswitches.

blakeindisguise

2 Great Pedals for the price of one

This pedal served two purposes for me, not only filling the need for a compression pedal but also having a drive at the beginning of my signal in case I need to push all sounds like a pre-amp to the power amp drives coming later in chain. The compression feedback is a tad loud at times.

das_biswajit

Very useful pedal

The compressor side is always on. It adds a nice sweet sustain to my tone. The overdrive is very good; reminds me of tube screamer with added of low end.

paperback_writer

Good

Good compression... In general the pedal is a little bit noisy, but the compressor does the work really well. The overdirve is good...reminds me of the TubeScreamer...

J

Versatile compressor and overdrive combo delivers thick tone

This thing rocks... the compressor side is always on! Gives a nice thickness to my tone. The OD side is my go-to drive, it's a tubescreamer without the low end drop. Love it.

littlesadguy

By far my favorite pedal

Best sound ever! Sound of kings of leon and I love it.

F

Route 66

Simply the best compressor I've ever used, and its 808 is beautiful, I've compared it with the JHS 808 and it performed beautifully.

This review has been translated automatically into English. See original

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Matthew Followill uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Matthew Followill

Guitarist

Kings of Leon

...
Verified via YouTube

The Route 66 Overdrive can be spotted at 3:38 in this video, on Matthew Followill's pedalboard

See how Josh Farro uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Josh Farro

Guitarist

Paramore

...
Verified via Photo

In the bottom rightmost of the pedalboard, you can clearly see the unique shape of the Visual Sound Route 66, V2, with the Visual Sound logo on the back

See how Ian D'Sa uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Ian D'Sa

Guitarist, Music Producer

Billy Talent

...
Verified via reverb.com

Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent is selling his Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66 Overdrive/Compressor Pedal, as listed on Reverb.com. This sale is part of a larger garage sale organized by Ian and Aaron, featuring various studio gear, including amps and microphones.

See how Josh Carter uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Josh Carter

Guitarist, Music Producer

Phantogram

...
Verified via YouTube

In a live performance documented in Premier Guitar's YouTube video titled "Phantogram Rig Rundown with Josh Carter & Sarah Barthel Guitar & Bass Gear Tour," Josh Carter is observed using a Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66 pedal as part of his pedalboard at the 5:16 mark.

See how Mark Lee uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Mark Lee

Guitarist

Third Day

...
Verified via Mark Lee Archives

Sorry it’s a tad blurry! The new pedals are the 3 at the bottom right. The Louder, Scream, and Scruzz are the “always on” versions of the More Louder, Screamer, and Screamer Fuzz.

At the bottom is the Pedal Board Tamer which adds true bypass and noiseless switching.

The big white pedal is the old Route 66 in the metal chassis. Sounds better than the newer Visual Sound stuff, IMO.

And the big black thing is a Line 6 M9. I use it for most mod and delay effects, with the Tap a Whirl and DD5 filling in the gaps.

Lastly, this is the first time in 11 years I’ve done a show without a Fulldrive 2 overdrive. That’s how highly I think of the new Cusack distortions!

See how Matt Thiessen uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Matt Thiessen

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Relient K

...
Verified via Photo
See how Bo Rinehart uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

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 Route 66.

See how Gürhan Öğütücü uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Gürhan Öğütücü

Guitarist

Adamlar

...
Verified via Photo

Gürhan Öğütücü is confirmed to use the Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66, as seen in a pedalboard image from a concert on May 29, 2024, posted on Adamlar's official account.

See how Brian Groot (Some Day) uses Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66

Brian Groot (Some Day)

Guitarist, Composer

...
Verified via Photo

As seen on his pedalboard

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 V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Community setups

Show yours
seth_ellsworth

seth_ellsworth

Gear IQ 202

R

roman_sturisom

Gear IQ 70

D

douglas_fernandes_moreira_morais

Gear IQ 107

3 alternative and related items for Visual Sound V2 Series V2RT66 Route 66, curated by the Equipboard community.

Visual Sound V3 Route 66

 

newer

The successor version: https://truetone.com/route-66/

Originally encased in a housing that resembled the historical highway marker of its origins, our completely redesigned and pedalboard friendly V3 version of the Route 66 pedal can be inspiring on either guitar or bass (or whatever musical “thingy” you prefer to plug it into). When connected to this updated version, you will immediately be moved by the most transparent, smooth compressor and wide-ranging overdrive we’ve ever combined in a single housing. With the unprecedented ability to layer the effects of either the Overdrive or Compressor onto the original signal (via “Clean Mix” controls), you are able to have ultimate tonal control and achieve huge, clean, sustained notes that haven’t lost their attack. The fully analog Compressor side of this pedal can range from smooth and connected, to tight and punchy, to the heavy parallel compression sounds that are used by the pros. And this V3 incarnation of our Route 66 pedal now also proudly features a new and reimagined version of the classic Reverend Drivetrain Overdrive originally developed by Bob Weil & Joe Naylor. This multi-functional Overdrive has a dynamic response to the player and offers “Voice” switching as well. This allows the player the freedom to vary the Overdrive tone from bright and open, to a more saturated gritty sound, to a fully saturated overdrive that might even make road-kill get up and run for cover…!

Visual Sound Route 808

$73.44

Vintage or Discontinued cheaper alternative

A standalone unit for the overdrive side of the Route 66: https://truetone.com/v2-route-808/

Everyone loves the overdrive channel in Truetone’s original Jekyll & Hyde and Route 66 pedals. This distinctive overdrive is also available as a single pedal in the V2 Series of pedals from Truetone.

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