Walrus Audio has carved a significant niche in the guitar pedal world, particularly known for their innovative and sonically rich effects, and as a content creator for guitarplayers.net, I’ve been consistently impressed by their offerings, especially the recent Mako Series. While my personal collection may still have room for more Walrus pedals, their appeal is undeniable.
One of the most intriguing aspects of Walrus Audio’s catalog is their approach to modulation pedals. They seem to operate with a dual-template strategy, offering both “Standard” and “Deluxe” versions of certain effects. This is evident in their chorus pedals, with the Julia and Julianna representing the standard and deluxe paths, respectively. Following the release of the Monument Harmonic Tremolo, a compact pedal with tap-tempo functionality, many anticipated that future Walrus modulation pedals would adopt a similar deluxe, feature-rich design, especially given the high standards set by the Mako Series.
However, Walrus Audio appears committed to this dual-path methodology, rather than focusing solely on creating a single, ultimate version of each effect, a strategy seen in brands like Flower Pedals or Chase Bliss Audio. The Polychrome Analog Flanger seems to occupy a middle ground in this spectrum. It offers more features than the Julia and Lillian, yet it doesn’t quite reach the feature set of pedals like the Julianna or Monument, which stand out as flagship modulation units. Rumors of a potential Mako Series multi-modulator pedal further complicate the strategy, raising questions about how Walrus will manage and differentiate between potentially three tiers of modulation pedals. Personally, streamlining the lineup by discontinuing the Julia upon the release of the Julianna might have simplified their inventory management and prevented the Julia from being perpetually compared to its more advanced sibling.
My personal benchmark for analog modulation pedals has long been the Chase Bliss Audio quartet: Warped Vinyl Chorus, Spectre Flanger, Gravitas Tremolo, and Wombtone Phaser. These pedals, with their extensive features, dual footswitches, and tap-tempo, remain favorites of mine, even if they are currently not in my primary rig rotation. Walrus Audio has created two excellent pedals in this deluxe category – the Julianna Chorus and Monument Tremolo. It feels like the Polychrome, and perhaps other recent modulation releases, would ideally fit into this deluxe category to fully realize their potential.
That being said, the Polychrome Analog Flanger is not without its own strengths and innovative features.
The Polychrome’s control set includes: Rate, Depth, Sweep (Manual), Feedback, Shape (Sine/Triangle/Random), Voice (Full Frequency/Notched), and a Dry-Flange-Vibrato mix knob labeled ‘d-f-v’.
These are fairly standard flanger controls, but Walrus Audio introduces some key innovations. The inclusion of a Random LFO waveshape is a unique and welcome addition, offering unpredictable and experimental modulation textures. Furthermore, the Dual-Voice EQ or Frequency Response switch, providing both Notched and Full Frequency options, adds significant versatility to the pedal’s tonal palette. Walrus Audio’s distinctive approach to Dry-Wet mix is also present, with the ‘d-f-v’ knob allowing users to blend from a completely dry signal to flanger and then vibrato, progressively increasing the “wet” effect as you turn the dial clockwise.
The pedal’s visual design is also noteworthy. While the vibrant artwork is appealing, the naming convention for Walrus modulation pedals seems somewhat eclectic. Some are named after historical heroines, the Monument Tremolo draws inspiration from Arizona’s Monument Valley, and the Polychrome features a lizard – the overall theme appears somewhat disjointed, and the color schemes similarly lack a consistent pattern across the range. The Polychrome’s bright, 80’s-esque primary colors are a departure from Walrus’s usual aesthetic. While the artwork is undoubtedly cool, placing all the Walrus modulation pedals side-by-side reveals a certain lack of visual and thematic coherence.
Walrus Audio certainly has a dedicated fanbase, and their products are consistently well-made, sonically impressive, and visually appealing. I anticipate the Polychrome will be a popular pedal for them. However, for my personal preferences, there might be more compelling flanger options available. My own flanger collection includes high-end pedals like the ThorpyFX Camoflange, the Spaceman Aurora, alongside classics like a modified Boss BF-2 and an A/DA PBF Flanger, as well as the Chase Bliss Audio Spectre BKM. I’m still intrigued by the Retro-Sonic Flanger and possibly the Subdecay Starlight, and I’m still evaluating precisely where the Polychrome fits into my own flanger landscape.
Undoubtedly, the Polychrome will find many enthusiasts. It is an attractive and sonically versatile flanger, priced competitively at $199. While I personally was hoping for a slightly more expansive feature set, the Random LFO is a genuinely interesting feature, though it remains to be seen if it’s enough to fully win me over. The Polychrome is available for purchase now from the Walrus Audio Webstore.
