Walrus Fundamental Delay Pedal
Lesser-known guitar gear that delivers huge value at a low price. We recently got our hands on the Walrus Audio Fundamental Delay pedal, and we knew we had stumbled across a winner right from the start. With help from No Fear Guides Tom Butwin and Steve Sterlacci, we plugged in and put the Walrus Fundamental Delay through its paces, testing it out solo as well as with a full band. With three distinct delay modes, selectable time divisions, and tap tempo, the Walrus Fundamental Delay delivers more than you’d expect at its affordable price point.
| Voltage | 9 Volts |
|---|---|
| Amperage | 250 Milliamps |
| Audio Output Effects | Delay |
| Controls Type | Knob |
| Power Source | DC Power Supply |
| Hardware Interface | 1/4-inch Audio |
| Signal Format | Analog |
3 Distinct Delay Modes
For maximum creative potential, the Walrus Fundamental Delay pedal offers three distinct delay modes to choose from: Digital, Analog, and Reverse. Regardless of which mode you choose, you have a maximum delay time of up to one second. With these three modes you’ll be able to generate practically any type of delay effect you can think of, from short slapback echo to cascading delay trails to rhythmic soundscapes.
Delay #1 — Digital Delay
With digital delay, each repeat is an exact sonic copy of the original signal. In this mode the delay repeats retain the clarity of your core guitar tone as they go on — think of the cascading arpeggios of The Edge from U2. Digital mode also helps your delays sound clear even when using a high-gain amplifier with lots of distortion, making it great for solos and lead lines.
Delay #2 — Analog Delay
The Walrus Fundamental Delay’s Analog mode is based on vintage Bucket Brigade Device (BBD) delay units. Due to the way the BBD circuit is designed, each repeat gradually degrades, becoming darker and less present over time. This creates a warm ambient bed that doesn’t interfere with the notes you’re currently playing. Analog delay sounds especially rich when paired with clean or slightly overdriven guitar tones.
Delay #3 — Reverse Delay
Reverse delay has been used for decades, originally requiring reversed tape recordings to achieve the effect. While many delay pedals include a reverse mode, the Walrus Fundamental Delay stands out with its highly musical implementation. Reverse delay can often make it difficult to stay locked to the beat while hearing the reversed repeats, but the Walrus maintains a strong rhythmic feel that makes the effect surprisingly easy and enjoyable to play.
Basically three delays in one. I love the analog delay the most, however, there are absolutely times where I could use the digital mode. And the reverse is just a ton of fun!” — Tom Butwin
3 Selectable Time Divisions
If you haven’t spent much time with delay pedals, you may not realize how dramatically rhythmic subdivisions can change the feel of a delay effect. While many pedals in this price range offer only standard quarter-note repeats, the Walrus Fundamental Delay provides three selectable time divisions.
Along with standard quarter notes, you can choose dotted-eighth notes for offset rhythmic patterns that work especially well with longer delay trails. You can also select eighth-note subdivisions, effectively doubling the repeat rate and making it easy to create fast, tremolo-like delay textures at quicker tempos.
I like that you are able to have different subdivisions without having to count them out. — Steve Sterlacci
Tap Tempo Mode on a Low-Price Delay Pedal?
By this point in our testing, it was already clear that the Walrus Fundamental Delay offers more than expected from an affordable delay pedal. One standout feature is Tap Tempo, allowing you to tap the footswitch in time with your music so the delay repeats stay perfectly synchronized with the beat.
Tap Tempo also unlocks the subdivision modes. When Tap Tempo isn't engaged, delay time is simply adjusted using the Time slider. While Tap Tempo isn't exclusive to the Walrus Fundamental Delay, it's rare to find this level of functionality, flexibility, and creative potential at such an accessible price point.
On the subject of Tap Tempo, I think that’s something that all delay pedals should have in this day and age. It used to be a premium thing, but having the ability to tap in your exact tempo is really important, and in my opinion should be an industry standard and not only something that’s only available on premium products. — Steve Sterlacci
Walrus Fundamental Delay — Big Value in a Low-Price Delay Pedal
We’ve tested plenty of affordable delay pedals, and it's clear that you don't have to spend a fortune to achieve excellent delay tones. The Walrus Audio Fundamental Delay stands out with its combination of Tap Tempo, selectable time divisions, three distinct delay modes, and intuitive slider-based controls.
If you're looking for an affordable delay pedal that covers all the essential delay sounds while opening the door to creative new textures, the Walrus Fundamental Delay delivers outstanding value.
This is a pedal that anybody — beginner or professional — could absolutely use for a million different things. I loved it! — Tom Butwin
