Walrus Audio launches Badwater bass preamp and DI pedal

May 17, 2022 · 3 sources

Walrus Audio launched the Badwater, a bass preamp and DI pedal, on May 17, 2022¹². The pedal is named after the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California¹³.

The signal path begins with an always-on optical compressor controlled by a single Sustain dial; turned fully counterclockwise the compressor is barely there, and turning it up smooths transients and enhances sustain¹. A drive stage follows with a three-way toggle for overdrive voicing, a Blend control for the amount of overdriven signal in the mix, and a Level control for the drive stage output¹². The four-band EQ offers +/- 12dB of boost or cut on Low and High and +/- 10dB on Low and High Mids, with the LMF selectable between 500Hz and 2.4kHz and the HMF sweep ranging from 3.5kHz to 7.5kHz¹³. A Volume dial sets overall output¹.

Outputs are 1/4-inch and balanced XLR, the latter with ground lift, and both can run simultaneously¹². Guitar World reports footswitches for Drive and Bypass and a powder-coated matte black aluminum enclosure with white, muted green and teal ink². The pedal runs on a 9V DC power supply and draws 300mA minimum¹.

The US list price is $299¹².