The Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII from Walrus Audio is a mid-focused overdrive and preamp built on a Klon-style circuit, one that departs from the traditional Centaur three-knob topography by adding a wealth of features not seen before in a Klon-style pedal1. Among those features is a Freq (Frequency) knob that controls the center frequency of where the Mid knob is set, giving a range of 250Hz to 2kHz1.
Walrus Audio describes the sound in two registers: at lower gain settings it brightens the signal and adds clarity to each note, and with the gain turned up it becomes a thick overdrive that gives depth to chorded playing while retaining clarity for solos1. Guitar World's reviewer, Trevor Curwen, found it a very flexible drive/boost pedal, writing that Walrus "has gone well beyond the typical Klon-style proposition with the inclusion of a switchable midrange"2.
The Black Friday 2024 Floral Series edition is a limited run and is listed as sold out on Walrus Audio's product page1. The standard Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII remains in the lineup at a list price of $249.993.
A mid-focused Klon-style overdrive and preamp
The Voyager MKII sits in the large family of overdrive pedals that trace their topology to the Klon Centaur, a three-knob circuit whose clones and descendants are usually called Klon-style or "Klone" pedals. Walrus Audio positions the MKII as a Klon-style pedal that "adds a wealth of features not seen before in a Klon-style pedal," breaking out of the Centaur's three-knob topography with its parametric mid EQ and mode switch1.
The MKII is a Klon-style pedal that breaks out of the traditional Centaur three-knob topography, adding a wealth of features not seen before in a Klon-style pedal3. Reviewers have taken the same view of what that means in practice: the MKII is a very flexible drive/boost pedal, going well beyond the typical Klon-style proposition thanks to its switchable midrange flexibility2.
The Mid knob's reach is set by the Freq (Frequency) knob, which controls the center frequency of where the Mid knob is set, giving a range of 250Hz to 2kHz1. That midrange control is the feature that sets the pedal apart from a conventional Klon-style build, where the traditional Centaur three-knob topography leaves no way to shape the middle of the tone1.
The controls: five diode modes and a switchable mid EQ
The control panel carries Volume, Tone and Gain knobs, a rotary Mode switch, Mid and Freq knobs, and two footswitches: Mid and Bypass2. The Mode switch is a five-way rotary that selects between five diode "flavors" of the clipping circuit; Walrus suggests thinking of each position as a different flavor of the pedal, fine-tuned further with the Mid/Freq EQ1.
The positions Walrus Audio documents:
| Mode switch position | Clipping configuration | Character |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Classic 1N34A Germanium Diodes with bass boost | Walrus says "trust us"1 |
| 3 | Symmetric Silicon Diodes | More open and dynamic1 |
| 5 | Asymmetric Silicon Diodes with bass boost | Least compressed, open and driven with a bass boost1 |
The 1N34A germanium diode is the same clipping element used in the original Klon Centaur, so position 2 is the closest the pedal gets to the classic circuit, with a bass boost added1.
The mid EQ is the feature that sets the MKII apart from most Klon-style pedals. It is a parametric mid-frequency EQ with a boost/cut range of plus or minus 12dB, foot-switchable so you can kick it in and out while playing1. The Mid knob sets how much boost or cut, and the Freq knob controls the center frequency of where the Mid knob is set, giving a range of 250Hz to 2kHz1. That range covers the lower mids through the upper mids, so a player can push the frequencies an amp's presence control misses, or scoop out mud without touching the amp.
Guitar World's reviewer listed the feature set as "true bypass, choice of 5 clipping modes, footswitchable mid EQ" and found the switchable midrange is what takes the pedal beyond the typical Klon-style proposition2.
Power and connections
The MKII runs on 9V DC, center negative, with a minimum current draw of 100mA1. Walrus Audio recommends an isolated power supply for all its pedals and does not recommend daisy chain supplies; the power supply is not included1. At 100mA minimum, the pedal draws more current than a typical analog overdrive, so it is worth checking that a power brick has a 100mA-or-better output available for it.
Connections are straightforward: a single 1/4" TS unbalanced input at 1M impedance and a single 1/4" TS unbalanced output at 100k impedance1. The 1M input impedance preserves high end when the pedal is first in the chain after a guitar's volume pot. Switching is true bypass1, so with the effect off the signal passes through without buffering. The enclosure measures 2.62 x 4.77 x 2.25 inches including knobs1.
Where it came from and where it is made
The Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII runs on 9V DC, center negative, with a current draw of 100mA minimum1. It measures 2.62 x 4.77 x 2.25 inches including knobs1, and its Mid control is paired with the Freq (Frequency) knob, which sets the center frequency of the Mid knob across a range of 250Hz to 2kHz1.
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Questions
Is the Walrus Voyager MKII true bypass?
Yes. Walrus Audio lists true bypass switching on the Voyager MKII, using a soft-touch relay footswitch for the bypass. The original Voyager Preamp/Overdrive also used true bypass switching, so the two generations are the same on this point.
What is the difference between the Voyager MKII and the original Voyager?
The MKII keeps the Klon-style circuit of the original 2011 Voyager but breaks out of the traditional Centaur three-knob layout. It adds a five-way rotary switch with five diode clipping modes and a foot-switchable parametric mid EQ with a boost/cut range of plus or minus 12dB, plus top-mounted jacks.
Is the Voyager MKII Floral Series still available?
No. The Black Friday 2024 Floral Series edition was a limited run and Walrus Audio's product page now lists it as sold out. The standard Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII remains in the lineup at a list price of $249.99.
What does the mid EQ footswitch on the Voyager MKII do?
It switches the parametric mid EQ in and out on the fly. The Mid knob sets boost or cut of up to plus or minus 12dB, and the Freq knob sets the center frequency of that boost or cut anywhere from 250Hz to 2kHz, so you can push or scoop your mids without bending down mid-song.
Where is the Walrus Voyager MKII made?
Walrus Audio states that the Voyager MKII is designed and assembled in the USA. The company is based in Oklahoma City and builds its pedals there.
Sources (4)
- Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII, Walrus Audio
- Walrus Audio Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII review, Guitar World, 2025-01-17
- Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII, Walrus Audio
- Voyager Preamp/Overdrive MKII by Walrus Audio, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
