The Walrus Audio Badwater Bass Pre-amp and D.I. is a bass preamp and DI pedal, made in the USA1. Walrus Audio says that "Like the basin it's named after, the Badwater holds the foundation for the lowest frequencies and saltiest licks in song creation"2. The name comes from Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America1. It comes in a powder-coated matte black aluminum enclosure with white, muted green, and teal ink3, and it draws 300mA minimum34.
The name comes from Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America, and Walrus Audio said that "Like the basin it's named after, the Badwater holds the foundation for the lowest frequencies and saltiest licks in song creation"2. It was made in the USA, in a powder-coated matte black aluminum enclosure with white, muted green, and teal ink, measuring 123 x 99 x 58mm13.
What it does
The signal path starts with an internal optical compressor that is always on, with its strength set by a Sustain control6. Guitar.com's reviewer described it as "First in the signal chain is a one-knob optical compressor"1. Next comes a blendable drive control with three voicing options, and a separate Level knob to boost or cut the drive signal57. The drive gets its own bypass footswitch, so the overdrive can be switched independently1. Everything then runs through the four-band EQ and out to both outputs at once.
The controls
The EQ is a boost/cut section with +/- 12dB on the Low and High controls and +/- 10dB on the Mid, LMF, and HMF controls7. The two midrange bands are tunable: Guitar.com lists a low mid with a center frequency selectable from 500Hz to 2.4kHz and a high mid from 3.5kHz to 7.5kHz1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Sustain | Sets the strength of the always-on optical compressor6 |
| Drive | Blendable overdrive with a three-way voicing switch51 |
| Level (drive) | Boosts or cuts the drive signal on its own7 |
| Blend | Mixes clean signal with the drive2 |
| Low | +/- 12dB bass boost/cut7 |
| Mid | +/- 10dB midrange boost/cut7 |
| LMF | Low mid frequency, tunable 500Hz to 2.4kHz1 |
| HMF | High mid frequency, tunable 3.5kHz to 7.5kHz1 |
| High | +/- 12dB treble boost/cut7 |
| Volume / Output level | Sets overall and output level1 |
Power and connections
The Badwater needs 9V DC, center negative, with a 300mA minimum supply6. Guitar.com noted it is powered by a nine-volt mains supply only, so there is no battery option1. Walrus Audio recommends an isolated power supply for all of its pedals6.
The Badwater does not accept power from phantom power. Phantom power sent over the XLR cable is blocked and will not damage the unit, but it will not run the pedal either6.
On the output side there are both a 1/4 inch instrument output and an XLR line-level output, and both can run simultaneously, so you can feed your amp and the front-of-house desk at the same time6. A ground lift switch on the output breaks the ground connection to the desk, which is the standard fix for ground-loop hum1.
How it compares
The Badwater is a complete bass front end rather than a single-effect pedal: its signal chain puts a one-knob optical compressor first, followed by drive, a four-band EQ and a DI output, all in one box185. That scope is what sets it apart from standalone drive or compressor pedals, which handle only one of those jobs. Players comparing options can browse more bass pedals, preamp pedals, compressor pedals and EQ pedals.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com's Richard Purvis reviewed the Badwater in June 2022 and summed it up as1:
"A pocket bass amp that covers all the key tones including some nicely natural-sounding grind1."
Guitar.com review, June 20221
At launch, Premier Guitar called it "a bass tone magnification device" and noted the optical compression that the signal hits first, feeding into the adjustable drive5.
Videos
walrusaudioeffects
walrusaudioeffects
BassTheWorld.com
Questions
Can the Walrus Audio Badwater run on a battery?
No. The Badwater runs on a 9V DC center-negative power supply drawing 300mA minimum, and it does not accept phantom power over its XLR output. Phantom power is blocked and will not damage the unit, but it cannot power it. Walrus Audio recommends an isolated power supply for all of its pedals.
Does the Badwater have an XLR output?
Yes. It has both a 1/4 inch instrument output and an XLR line-level output, and both can run at the same time, so you can feed an amp and a mixing desk simultaneously. There is also a ground lift switch on the output side.
Is the Walrus Audio Badwater true bypass?
Yes, Guitar.com's review lists the Badwater as true bypass. The drive section also gets its own bypass footswitch, so you can switch the overdrive independently of the rest of the preamp signal.
Is the Badwater discontinued?
Yes. Walrus Audio now lists the Badwater among its discontinued pedals, and even its blemished listing is sold out. It launched in May 2022 at $299. Walrus Audio has since released the Mantle Analog Bass Preamp / D.I. as a newer bass preamp option.
What does the ground lift switch do on the Badwater?
The ground lift switch disconnects the ground connection between the Badwater's XLR output and the equipment it feeds, typically a mixing desk. This is used to break ground loops, which cause hum when two pieces of gear are grounded through different paths. Guitar.com's review lists the ground lift switch among the pedal's features.
How is the Badwater different from the Walrus Eras?
The Eras is a five-state distortion pedal, while the Badwater is a full bass preamp and DI with an always-on optical compressor, a four-band EQ and an XLR output. What they share is a Blend control approach: like the Eras and the Ages Five-State, the Badwater lets you blend your clean signal with the drive.
Sources (8)
- Walrus Audio Badwater review: An essential tool for the accidental bassist, Guitar.com, 2022-06-28
- Walrus Audio unveils new all-in-one bass preamp and DI pedal, the Badwater, Guitar.com, 2022-05-18
- NAMM 2022: Walrus Audio drops the Badwater bass preamp and DI, Guitar World, 2022-05-17
- Walrus Audio unveils the Badwater, an all-in-one bass preamp and DI pedal with onboard compressor, MusicRadar, 2022-05-17
- Walrus Audio Unveils the Badwater Bass Preamp and D.I., Premier Guitar, 2022-05-19
- Badwater Bass Pre-amp and D.I., Walrus Audio
- Badwater Bass Pre-amp and D.I., Walrus Audio
- Fable Granular Soundscape Generator, Walrus Audio
