The Truetone V3 Tap Delay is a compact, single-channel delay pedal with tap tempo. It was designed as the single-channel sibling of the V3 Dual Tap Delay, and Truetone says it shares its circuit architecture with channel 2 of that pedal, "built for players who want the full feature set without the footprint"1. The pedal is no longer in production: it is archived on Truetone's site as part of the V3 Series archive, so it is available only on the secondhand market1.
Its feature set covers tap tempo, manual mode, a tone control, selectable time divisions, modulation on the repeats, and dual outputs for stereo setups1. Truetone describes the modulation as giving "chorus-infused repeats, and a tone control that keeps digital harshness in check"1.
A tap tempo delay with tone and modulation
The V3 Tap Delay gives a player the core delay controls in a small box, with tap tempo as the main way to set the time. The modulation section adds a chorus character to the repeats, and the tone control shapes them. Truetone notes that "the tone control is particularly effective for dialing out digital brightness from longer delay times"1, which is the practical use most players reach for: longer delay times on digital circuits can sound bright or harsh, and rolling the tone back darkens the echoes.
When the pedal was announced in 2012 under the Visual Sound name, Premier Guitar's press coverage highlighted the same control, saying "the Tap Delay features a tone control for darkening your echo"3. Guitar Interactive Magazine's news item at the time listed the same feature set Truetone still shows today: "Tap Tempo, Manual Mode, Tone Control, Time Divisions, Modulation, Dual Outputs"1.
The dual outputs allow the pedal to feed two amplifiers or a stereo rig. Truetone lists them as "dual outputs for stereo setups"1.
The controls
Truetone's product page lists the pedal's controls and features as follows1:
| Control or feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tap Tempo | Sets the delay time by tapping the switch in time with the music |
| Manual Mode | Sets the delay time by hand instead of tapping |
| Tone Control | Darkens or brightens the repeats; Truetone calls it particularly effective for dialing out digital brightness at longer delay times |
| Time Divisions | Selects rhythmic subdivisions of the tapped tempo |
| Modulation | Adds chorus-infused character to the repeats |
| Dual Outputs | Two outputs for stereo setups |
The single-channel layout is the main distinction from the Dual Tap Delay, whose control set is duplicated across both channels: "Delay Time, Repeats, Effect Level, Tone, Time Divisions, Tap Tempo per channel"4. MusicRadar's review of the Dual Tap Delay described the same control set from a player's angle as "controls for time division, delay time, repeats and effect level plus a manual/tap switch and mini tone control"5. The Tap Delay carries the equivalent of one of those channels in a smaller box.
Power and size
The pedal takes 9VDC regulated power with a center pin negative plug, the standard arrangement for most modern pedalboard power supplies, and draws 92mA1. At 92mA it draws more current than many compact analog pedals, which is worth knowing when planning a power supply's budget. Its footprint is 4.57" x 4.72" (116 x 120mm)1, close to square, and Truetone positions it against the Dual Tap Delay specifically on size.
The V3 Tap Delay is an archived product and no longer sold on Truetone's current site1. Specifications here are from the maker's archive page.
The V3 Tap Delay and the V3 Dual Tap Delay
The two pedals are closely related. Truetone describes the Tap Delay as "the single-channel sibling of the Dual Tap Delay" and says it "shares its circuit architecture with Channel 2 of the Dual Tap Delay"1. The Dual Tap Delay is a delay pedal with two independent channels and synchronized tap tempo, with a maximum delay time of 1 second per channel, and Truetone says its "separate controls for each channel let you dial in completely different repeat patterns"4. Truetone also says the Dual Tap Delay "combines analog warmth with digital precision," and that "Channel 2 adds modulation to its repeats for a chorus-infused shimmer"4, the same modulation the Tap Delay inherits.
| V3 Tap Delay | V3 Dual Tap Delay | |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | One | Two, independent, with synchronized tap tempo4 |
| Circuit | Shares its architecture with channel 2 of the Dual Tap Delay1 | Full two-channel design1 |
| Max delay time | 1 second per channel4 | |
| Modulation | Chorus-infused repeats1 | Channel 2 adds modulation for a chorus-infused shimmer4 |
| Size | 4.57" x 4.72" (116 x 120mm)1 | Larger; the Tap Delay is the compact alternative1 |
| Status | Archived1 | Archived4 |
Both pedals are archived products in the Truetone V3 Series, alongside the V3 Jekyll & Hyde and the V3 H2O6478.
Visual Sound origins
The pedal began life under the Visual Sound name. Premier Guitar's 2012 announcement presented it as "the V3 Dual Tap Delay's little brother, the V3 Visual Sound Tap Delay," noting that "at less than half the size of the Dual Tap Delay, the new V3 Tap Delay has all the great tone and features of channel 2"3. Guitar Interactive Magazine described Visual Sound as a boutique guitar effects pedal company and said "the new V3 Tap Delay is basically channel 2 of the Dual Tap Delay in a small, compact pedal," scaled down "into a compact, affordable single pedal unit"2.
Visual Sound no longer exists under that name. Pedal of the Day's 2016 review of the Dual Tap Delay referred to it as "made by the now-defunct Visual Sound"7, and the company's products, including this one, now live in the Truetone archive1. Guitar World's 2013 roundup of delay pedals under $200 grouped the single Tap Delay among its picks8.
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Questions
Is the Truetone V3 Tap Delay still made?
No. The pedal is archived and no longer sold on Truetone's current site. It sits in the Truetone Archive's V3 Series alongside the V3 Dual Tap Delay, the V3 Jekyll & Hyde and the V3 H2O, so it is only available secondhand.
What power does the Truetone V3 Tap Delay need?
It runs on 9VDC regulated power with a center pin negative plug, and draws 92mA. That current draw is high enough that a typical battery or a small daisy chain supply may not be practical for it.
Does the Truetone V3 Tap Delay have stereo outputs?
Yes. Truetone lists dual outputs for stereo setups among the pedal's features, alongside tap tempo, manual mode, tone control, time divisions and modulation.
What is the difference between the V3 Tap Delay and the V3 Dual Tap Delay?
The Tap Delay is the single-channel sibling, sharing its circuit architecture with channel 2 of the Dual Tap Delay. The Dual Tap Delay has two independent delay channels, each with its own delay time, repeats, effect level, tone, time divisions and tap tempo, and up to 1 second of delay per channel.
Is the Visual Sound V3 Tap Delay the same pedal?
Yes. Visual Sound released it in 2012 as the V3 Tap Delay, the little brother of the V3 Dual Tap Delay, and press at the time described it as channel 2 of the Dual Tap Delay in a compact single pedal. Visual Sound later became Truetone, and the pedal now appears in the Truetone Archive.
Sources (8)
- V3 Tap Delay, Truetone, 2026
- Visual Sound Releases The V3 Tap Delay, Guitar Interactive Magazine, 2012-07-02
- Visual Sound Releases V3 Tap Delay & Time Bandit, Premier Guitar, 2012-01-13
- V3 Dual Tap Delay, Truetone, 2026
- Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay review, MusicRadar, 2012-01-30
- V3 H2O | Truetone Archive, Truetone, 2026
- Visual Sound Dual Tap Delay, Pedal of the Day (pedal-of-the-day.com), 2016-01-07
- Five Top-Notch Analog Delay Pedals Under $200, Guitar World, 2013-10-15
