Walrus Audio 385 Overdrive MKII Effect Pedal, Black

Drawing from the iconic tonal richness of the Bell and Howell Filmosound 385 projector, the Walrus Audio 385 MKII Overdrive encompasses both vintage inspiration and modern innovation. In this MKII rendition, a unique A/B switch has been incorporated, enabling players to effortlessly switch between two distinct sets of volume and gain controls. This acts like a preset function, granting you the flexibility to shift between volume or gain intensities for specific songs or sections. Further expanding its capabilities, the 385+ switch aggressively pushes the circuit’s front end, yielding aplethoraof high-gain saturation.

Historically, the search for unadulterated tone led several guitarists to repurpose the audio components of age-old film projectors into guitar amplifiers. Upon discovering this auditory treasure, the drive to encapsulate it in a compact, pedalboard-compatible form birthed the original 385 Overdrive.

While maintaining the foundational tone of its precursor, the 385 MKII accentuates its attributes. Instead of converging controls into a singular knob as in the traditional amp, the MKII design breaks them out into individual bass and treble knobs. This separation provides users an expansive tonal spectrum, ushering in possibilities to creatively mold mid-frequency contours.

Since the debut of the 385 Overdrive in 2016, it has garnered admiration from guitarists for its unparalleled, amp-esquedynamics at subdued gain levels. As enthusiasts began to explore, they discerned a unique distortion-like drive emerging at elevated gain settings. To facilitate this dual-character in one unit, the A/B switch was integrated, complemented by an additional set of Volume and Gain knobs tethered to a unified tone control system.

Operational internally at 18v, the pedal successfully emulates the amp’s dynamic responsiveness. Like its cinematic counterpart, it responds with finesse, intimately reacting to the intensity of each strum.

The Walrus Audio 385 Overdrive MKII comes in this new, sleek black, or the original’s yellow colorway.

• Based on ’50s Bell and Howell 385 Projector Unit
• A and B Channels Allow Gain/Volume “Presets”
• Individual Volume and Gain Controls Per Channel
• 385+ Switch Adds High-Gain Saturation to Front End of Circuit
• EQ Expanded from OG Projector for Better Tonal Control
• Tube-y, Amp-Like Response to Picking Dynamics
• Standard 2.1mm 9V DC Operation
• Internal Voltage Multiplier for Increased Dynamics and Headroom