Walrus Audio 385 Mk 2 Yellow Overdrive Pedal

Inspired by the rich tones of the Bell and Howell Filmosound 385 projector, the reimagined 385 MKII Overdrive offers dynamic, responsive, tube-like drive with simple but effective controls. The MKII adds an A/B switch to toggle between two sets of volume and gain knobs that can be used like a preset to change volume and/or gain for specific parts, as well as a 385+ switch that slams the front end of the circuit for added high-gain saturation.

For years, guitarists seeking pure tone have been taking the tube-powered audio sections of vintage film projectors and using them as guitar amps. We fell in love with the unique sound, and were inspired to capture it in a pedalboard-friendly box when we created the original 385 Overdrive pedal.

The 385 was developed to have the same simple but effective tone control as its grandfather. While the amp stacks bass and treble behind a single knob, our design separates them, allowing for a much wider array of tones to be achieved. The user is able to boost and cut bass and treble, allowing them to be creative with mid-frequency scoops and bumps.

When we released the 385 Overdrive in 2016, it was quickly adopted by guitar players for the amp-like dynamics you could get at lower gain settings. Soon though, players found that cranking the gain produced a distortion-esque drive that was unique to the 385. To accommodate both setups in a single pedal, we added an A/B switch along with a second set of Volume and Gain knobs that share a single set of tone controls.

The pedal is internally running at 18v, which helps us nail the same dynamic feel of the amp in a stomp box. This means it is extremely sensitive to how hard you dig in – just like the amp.

Updated for 2023, The 385 MKII has received the following features:

• An A/B switch has been added giving the pedal two separate sets of volume and gain. Use it like a preset to change the volume and/or gain for specific parts!
• The 385+ Switch adds an additional gain stage at the front of the pedal for thick, saturated overdrive with more sustain.
• Soft touch, relay true-bypass switch.
• Top mount in/out jacks

Controls

•  Bypass: Soft touch, relay true-bypass. Press the switch to engage/disengage the pedal. LED indicates whether the circuit is engaged or not.
• A/B: Soft touch switch. Press to swap between using either A (White) or B (Red) Volume and Gain controls. LED indicates which controls are being used - White for A, Red for B.
• Volume A: Controls the overall volume in the A setting. Turn clockwise for more volume, counter-clockwise for less volume.
• Gain A: Controls the overall gain in the A setting. Turn clockwise for more gain, counterclockwise for less gain.
• Volume B: Controls the overall volume in the B setting. Turn clockwise for more volume, counter-clockwise for less volume.
• Gain B: Controls the overall gain in the B setting. Turn clockwise for more gain, counterclockwise for less gain.
• Treble: Used to adjust the level of the treble frequencies. Turn clockwise to increase the level of the treble frequencies. Turn counter-clockwise to reduce the level of the treble frequencies.
• Bass: Used to adjust the level of the bass frequencies. Turn clockwise to increase the level of the bass frequencies. Turn counter-clockwise to reduce the level of the bass frequencies.
• 385+ Switch: When the switch is down, you are able to achieve classic 385 sounds. Flip the switch up to add an additional gain stage to the input of the pedal, achieving heavier gain sounds and driving the pedal harder.