Walrus Audio 385 Overdrive

Product Description

The 385 overdrive is an extremely dynamic amp-like overdrive based off of the stock amplifier circuit in a 1950’s Bell & Howell 385 film projector. The amplifier inside the projector is a dual 6V6 tube amplifier with two controls – Volume and Tone. Its unassuming and compact design would lead you to believe there isn’t much use for the amp in its stock form, but plug a guitar in and hold on! It’s an incredibly responsive amp, capable of nice round clean tones and screaming overdrive. With the 385 overdrive, our aim was to capture the dynamic magic that this amp possesses, and make its thick overdrive tones easily attainable through a pedal.

9V JACK 9v DC, Center Negative, 100ma min.

VOLUME The Volume knob sets the overall output of the pedal. Since the EQ is capable of large boosts and cuts, you will need to increase this knob if EQ cuts are made, and decrease it for EQ boosts.

GAIN The Gain knob on the 385 is similar to the volume knob on the Bell & Howell amp. The amp does not have a master volume – only a single volume knob that controls the gain in the pre-amp section of the projector, which sets how dirty and responsive the amp will be. Run the 385 Gain knob low for warm clean tones, that will still break up when hit hard, mid way for responsive grit, or high for huge walls of drive, just like the amp.

TREBLE The Treble knob allows you to boost or cut treble frequencies. When the knob is at noon, the response is flat. When you turn the knob down, you are cutting treble. When you turn the knob up, you are boosting treble.BASSThe Bass knob allows youto boost or cut bass frequencies. When the knob is at noon, the response is flat. When you turn the knob down, you are cutting bass. When you turn the knob up, you are boosting bass.

BYPASS LED Illuminated when the effect is on.

BYPASS SWITCH Turns the effect on and off.

OUTPUT JACK 1/4 inch cable to amplifier.

INPUT JACK 1/4 inch cable from instrument.

TONE CONTROLS The Tone control on the Bell & Howell amp is somewhat unique. It is a single knob that actually controls two pots inside the amp. Those two pots operate a “James” style tone stack. They are wired opposite each other so as you turn the tone knob up, you are boosting treble and cutting bass, and vise versa. We decided to break those two pots out in to dedicated controls for bass and treble. This allows for a much greater range of tone shaping than the single knob found on the amp.