Walrus Audio 385 Overdrive MKII Effect Pedal, Yellow

Taking cues from the Bell and Howell Filmosound 385 projector, the Walrus Audio 385 Overdrive MKII pedal dives right into the mix of old-school vibes and modern tweaks. In this updated version, there’s an A/B switch that lets you flip between two sets of volume and gain knobs – it’s like having two pedals in one. And for those moments when you want to push your sound further, there’s the 385+ switch to ramp up the gain.

Guitarists have been onto something cool for a while. They’ve been hooking up to the tube sections of old film projectors and using them as amps. Sounds weird, but it works. It’s got this unique sound, and that’s what drove the creation of Walrus’ first 385 Overdrive pedal.

The Walrus Audio 385 Overdrive MKII kept things straightforward, much like the projector it’s based on. The original amp had one knob handling both bass and treble, but this stack has been split up into separate controls. This way, you get more control over your sound, especially when you want to play around with the mid frequencies.

When Walrus dropped the 385 in 2016, players liked how it responded, especially at lower gains. But as they turned up the gain, they found a wonderfully gritty, distortion-like drive that was all its own. So, of course, why not make it easier to switch between those sounds? Enter the A/B switch and the added volume and gain knobs.

Running at 18v internally, this pedal manages to bring outthat chewy amp-like feel. It’s responsive, so depending on how you play whether you’re lightly strumming or really digging in you’ll get a sound that matches your vibe. Just like the classic amp would.

The Walrus Audio 385 Overdrive MKII comes in old school yellow or thenew, sleek black 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