The Walrus Audio Slö and Fathom Gold Standard is a dual reverb pedal that combines the Slö and Fathom pedals into one "gold-standard" enclosure. Each half keeps its own controls, modes and footswitches, so both pedals can create the swelling, ambient pads they are known for on their own, and both can run in a single unit1.
The controls, Slö side and Fathom side
The two pedals the unit combines exist in their entirety inside the enclosure, each with its own panel and switching1.
| Side | Position | Controls | Modes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slö | Left | Modulation depth and waveform, tone filter, overall mix, reverb decay | Dark, Rise, Dream |
| Fathom | Right | Decay, dampening, overall mix | Hall, Plate, Lo-Fi, Sonar, plus three modulation modes |
On the Slö side, the three modes are described as sub-octave, swelling and shimmery ambient reverbs respectively: Dark is the sub-octave reverb, Rise is the swelling one, and Dream is the shimmery ambient option. The Fathom side covers more conventional territory with Hall and Plate, alongside Lo-Fi and Sonar, and adds three modulation modes1.
Each half has individual bypass indicators and footswitches, as well as a sustain footswitch for each, so the two sides can be engaged and held independently1.
A limited run
The Gold Standard was limited to 196 units and sold exclusively through Reverb.com at $3491. That makes it a one-off collaboration between Walrus Audio and the Reverb marketplace rather than a standard catalog pedal, unlike the individual Slö and Fathom pedals it draws on.
With only 196 units made, the Gold Standard is a scarce release. Players looking for the same circuits in current production would look to the standalone Slö and Fathom pedals.
What reviewers said
Guitar.com, announcing the pedal, made the case for the combination by pointing to the pedigree of the two circuits1:
"We gave both pedals 9/10 in our respective reviews of the pair, so combining both into one pedal gives you a near-endless amount of quality reverb and soundscaping options."
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Questions
Can you run the Slö and Fathom sides at the same time?
Yes. Each half of the Gold Standard has its own bypass indicators and footswitches, plus a sustain footswitch for each side, so the two reverbs can be switched independently. Guitar.com noted that both pedals exist in their entirety within the unit, meaning each can create the swelling, ambient pads it is known for on its own, and both can be used together in one enclosure.
How many Walrus Audio Slö and Fathom Gold Standard pedals were made?
The unit was limited to 196 units. It was offered exclusively through Reverb.com, so it is a scarce release compared with Walrus Audio's standard production pedals.
What modes does the Slö side have?
The Slö side, on the left of the pedal, operates in Dark, Rise and Dream modes, described as sub-octave, swelling and shimmery ambient reverbs respectively. Its control set covers modulation depth and waveform, a tone filter, overall mix and reverb decay.
What modes does the Fathom side have?
The Fathom side, on the right, offers Hall, Plate, Lo-Fi and Sonar modes, plus three modulation modes. Its controls cover decay, dampening and overall mix.
How much did the Gold Standard cost?
It was priced at $349 and was available exclusively through Reverb.com when it was announced in July 2020.
Sources (1)
- Walrus Audio releases limited edition dual Slo and Fathom Gold Standard pedal, Guitar.com, 2020-07-01
