The Walrus Audio Deep Six is a true bypass studio-grade compressor pedal in stompbox form, made by Walrus Audio. The company describes it as "inspired by the performance of the Universal Audio 1176 with the simplicity of the Ross and Dynacomp"1, and MusicRadar's reviewer Trevor Curwen called it "an 1176-inspired studio-grade compressor in stompbox form"2. Guitar Pedal X classifies it as a FET type compressor, the same gain-reduction family as the 1176 it draws on3.
First released in 20124, the Deep Six line has been through several versions, most recently the Deep Six V3, which added a Tone knob, soft switch/relay bypassing and top mounted jacks1. The original circuit remains available alongside Walrus Audio's newer optical compressors, the Mira and the Highpoint3.
A FET compressor inspired by the 1176
The 1176 is a FET-based studio compressor, and the Deep Six aims to bring that performance to a pedalboard while keeping the ease of use of classic two-knob stompbox compressors like the Ross and the MXR Dyna Comp. Guitar.com's reviewer Michael Watts described the aim as combining "the performance of a Universal Audio 1176 with the ease of use of the Ross and Dyna Comp pedals," producing what he called "a beautifully musical and versatile compressor that can either lovingly caress or alternatively stamp the snot out of your guitar's ADSR envelope"6.
Where a Dyna Comp type pedal gives you two knobs, the Deep Six gives you four, plus a Tone control on the V3. MusicRadar's reviewer found this makes it "much more versatile than that type of two-knob compressor," noting that its range "runs from just keeping levels consistent to a pretty heavy clamped-down squash, not dissimilar to that achieved by an MXR Dyna Comp"2. So the Dyna Comp sound is one end of its range rather than its whole personality.
The controls
The original Deep Six has controls for Level, Sustain, Attack and Blend, with a true bypass on/off footswitch7. The V3 adds a Tone knob described as a bass cut, for shaping the low end of the signal1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Level | Sets the output level, with enough range to make up signal lost in compression and push beyond that28 |
| Sustain | Sets the strength of the compression2 |
| Attack | Sets how quickly the compression kicks in, shaping the front end of the note envelope; it also affects top-end tonal content under heavy compression2 |
| Blend | Sets how much of the compressed signal is fed into your path, alongside your dry signal98 |
| Tone (V3 only) | A bass cut, for shaping the low end and cutting through the mix14 |
The Blend control is the key to the pedal's flexibility with different instruments. MusicRadar's reviewer explains that "you don't have to have the full signal compressed but can create parallel blends, keeping a more natural guitar sound yet with extra tightness and sustain"2. Walrus Audio says the blend feature "allows you to use high output instruments while truly being able to dial out any distortion that may be present," and that the Blend and Attack controls together allow use with active pickups or humbuckers5.
Power: 9V doubled to 18V inside
The Deep Six runs on 9V DC, center negative, from a battery or adapter, and Walrus Audio recommends a supply with at least 100mA and an isolated power supply for all its pedals145. Inside, the voltage is doubled: "The internal voltage is doubled to 18 volts giving you the maximum amount of headroom for your sound"5. Vintage Guitar's 2012 review noted this headroom, the range of clean volume that does not distort, holds up even when using humbuckers7.
Walrus Audio's own product pages give two different current draw figures for the Deep Six: 8.9mA typical on one page1 and 40mA on another5. Either way, a 100mA minimum supply covers it1. The pedal also comes standard with a polarity correction circuit, so reversed polarity on a daisy chain will not damage it1.
From the original to the V3 and Craftsman Series
The original Deep Six Compressor launched in 2012 at $199, and Pedal of the Day notes it "has been a staple in the compression market since its release in 2012"710. In February 2019, Walrus Audio announced the Deep Six Compressor V3 alongside the Lillian Phaser, both at $19911[F9-dated]. The V3 updates are:
- Added Tone knob (bass cut) for shaping the low end1
- Soft switch/relay bypassing for smoother, more reliable operation1
- Moved to top mounted in/out jacks4
- Updated artwork by Adam Forster, in a seafoam blue die-cast enclosure14
The V3 measures 4.77 x 2.9 x 2.3 inches per Walrus Audio's current page, with the 2019 press release listing the die-cast enclosure at 4.77 x 2.6 x 1.39 inches54. Guitar.com's review describes it as hand-wired and made in the USA6. The current V3 list price is $219.99, with blemished units (cosmetic scratches or dents only) at $186.995. The V3 carries a limited lifetime warranty12.
There is also a Craftsman Series edition, a collaboration with Simpleton Goods in Oklahoma City. Each one is wrapped in high-grade leather that has been hand-cut and hand-stitched one at a time, with custom laser-engraved art, in this case tan leather hand stitched with yellow twine1. That edition is sold out1.
A related product, the Deep Six Voyager Combo, packages the Deep Six compressor together with Walrus Audio's Voyager overdrive in a single pedal8.
What reviewers said
MusicRadar's Trevor Curwen highlighted the Attack and Blend controls as what sets the pedal apart from two-knob compressors, and found its compression range spans subtle level smoothing to a heavy squash comparable to a Dyna Comp2. Pedal of the Day's 2014 review of the original praised the internal 18V boost for "a ton of headroom to really make your guitar's sound shine and sparkle," and called the Blend knob "super-simple to find the perfect tone for your particular setup"9.
Guitar.com's Michael Watts scored the V3 9 out of 10 and concluded:
"A beautifully made and elegantly articulate studio-quality compressor in pedal form"
In Sweetwater's demo of the Deep Six Voyager Combo, Don Carr described the Deep Six side as "a really clean sounding, super versatile, with a lot of variation possibilities," and demonstrated it with a Les Paul through a dirty channel, saying it "really shows off how versatile this pedal is"8.
In the video, Carr walks through the Deep Six side's controls: level with plenty of make-up gain, tone acting as a bass cut, sustain, attack, and a blend between the dry and compressed signal, before covering the Voyager side's volume, gain and tone controls8.
Versions and editions
| Version | Key details |
|---|---|
| Original Deep Six (2012) | Level, Sustain, Attack, Blend; $199 at launch; still available as of 202673 |
| Deep Six V3 (2019) | Adds Tone (bass cut), soft switch/relay bypassing, top mounted jacks, Adam Forster art; $199 at launch, $219.99 current list145 |
| Craftsman Series | Simpleton Goods collaboration, hand-stitched leather wrap, laser-engraved art; sold out1 |
| Blemished V3 | Cosmetic flaws only; $186.995 |
Within Walrus Audio's compressor range, the Deep Six is the FET option, while the Mira and Highpoint are optical designs; Guitar Pedal X notes the original Deep Six "a FET type, which is still available" alongside the newer optical pedals3.
Videos
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Questions
How is the Deep Six different from an MXR Dyna Comp?
The Dyna Comp is a two-knob compressor with level and sustain. The Deep Six adds Attack and Blend controls, which MusicRadar's reviewer found makes it much more versatile. It can still reach a heavy clamped-down squash similar to an MXR Dyna Comp, but it can also do subtle level smoothing and parallel blends.
What does the Blend knob do on the Deep Six?
Blend sets how much of the compressed signal is fed into your path alongside your dry signal. MusicRadar's reviewer notes this lets you create parallel blends, keeping a more natural guitar sound with extra tightness and sustain instead of compressing the full signal. Walrus Audio says it also lets you dial out distortion when using high output instruments.
Does the Deep Six work with humbuckers or active pickups?
Yes. Walrus Audio says the Blend and Attack controls allow you to use the pedal with active pickups or humbuckers, and the blend feature lets you use high output instruments while dialing out any distortion that may be present. The internal 18V operation also provides headroom for higher output signals.
How much current does the Walrus Deep Six draw?
Walrus Audio's product pages give two figures: a typical current draw of 8.9mA on one page and 40mA on another, with a 100mA minimum power supply recommended. It runs on 9V DC, center negative, and Walrus recommends an isolated power supply for all its pedals.
Is the Deep Six an FET compressor?
Yes. Guitar Pedal X describes the original Deep Six as a FET type compressor, still available as of 2026. Its circuit is inspired by the performance of the Universal Audio 1176, a FET-based studio compressor, with the simplicity of the Ross and Dyna Comp.
Sources (12)
- Deep Six Compressor Stomp Box, Walrus Audio
- Walrus Audio Deep Six review, MusicRadar, 2017-05-22
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-04-23
- Walrus Audio Launches Lillian Phaser & Deep Six V3, Premier Guitar, 2019-02-01
- Deep Six Compressor Stomp Box, Walrus Audio
- Review: Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor V3, Guitar.com, 2019-09-16
- Walrus Audio Deep Six and Mayflower; Celestial Effects’ Cancer Wah the Fuzz?, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2015-10-14
- Walrus Audio Voyager / Deep Six Pedal Demo, Sweetwater, 2019-09-03
- Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor, Pedal of the Day, 2014-07-05
- Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor V3, Pedal of the Day, 2019-04-05
- Walrus Audio Unveils Two New Pedals, Guitar World, 2019-02-05
- Deep Six Compressor Stomp Box, Walrus Audio
