Mako Series ACS1 Amp + Cab Simulator

100
GUITARIST MAY 2021
W alrus Audio Mako pedals
Boutique maker bolsters its Mako series with a reverb and amp/cab sim
MANUFACTURER
WALRUS AUDIO
MODEL
MAKO SERIES R1 HIGH-FIDELITY STEREO REVERB
& ACS1 AMP + CAB SIMULATOR
CONTACT
FACE BVBA [phone]
WWW.WALRUSAUDIO.COM
PRICE
£319 & £365
PEDALBOARD
Words Trevor Curwen Photography Phil Barker
T
ypically you’d find elaborate graphic designs on Walrus
Audio pedals, but its Mako series (the first of which, the D1
Delay, we reviewed in issue 459) each feature a different
and more plain metallic shade. The twin-footswitch pedals are
similar in size to a Boss compact pedal and have an array of six
knobs and three mini-toggle switches, plus inputs that allow
various combinations of mono and stereo use. A small number
of onboard presets are easily accessible, but each pedal actually
supports a full 128 via MIDI, which also offers full control over
all parameters.
ROUND-UP
Mako Series ACS1
Amp + Cab Simulator
£365
Mako Series R1 High-Fidelity
Stereo Reverb
£319
T
he ACS1 is an amp and cab simulator in a stompbox, not
dissimilar to the Strymon Iridium. You get a choice of three
amps based on a Fender Deluxe Reverb, a 1962 Marshall
Bluesbreaker and a 1960s vintage Vox AC30. These can be paired
with six onboard cabinet impulse responses, or you can load your
own IRs via USB. There are a range of knobs for tweaking the amp
sound (Volume, Gain, Bass, Mid and Treble) plus a knob to add in
some very useful room-simulating ambience.
The ACS1 can be used in mono but also supports stereo operation,
whereby one amp can be used through both channels or you can
mix and match amps and cabinets on the left and right channels
with the L + R switch. Three presets keep your preferred sounds
ready to go, and the second footswitch brings in a user-set boost
with different volume and gain knob settings to kick things up.
The amps and cabs deliver an authentic playing experience over
a range from clean through dirtier sounds, although we feel that if
Walrus offered a little more gain for each beyond the presumably
authentically recreated limits, it would add to the versatility.
A
companion to the D1 Delay, the R1 features six reverb types
with plenty of adjustment. There are individual Decay,
Swell and Mix knobs, plus Rate, Depth and Pre Delay,
which are adjusted by a Tweak knob. The Tune knob adjusts to Lo
and High frequency, and there’s an X parameter that’s different for
each reverb type – typically overdrive for the Spring or room size
for the Hall.
All of this offers real versatility whether you’re adding space
around the guitar (the Spring, Hall and Plate programs are
definitely up to the task) or creating more otherworldy ambient
washes with the BFR (‘Big F****** Reverb’) program, Refract
with its glitchy textures, or Air, which boasts a filigree ‘shimmer’
effect via the X knob. Meanwhile, there are three banks (A, B, C)
of three presets, so your sculpted ’verbs can be recalled. The Swell
parameter engages a volume envelope applied to your wet and dry
guitar signal for ethereal fade-ins, and the second footswitch lets
you sustain the current reverb decay while you play over it with
the same reverb.
VERDICT Three highly desired classic amp flavours made easily
accessible for headphone practice, recording and live use
VERDICT Compact yet versatile reverb offering the conventional
alongside the esoteric with practical operation for onstage use
WALRUS AUDIO WALRUS AUDIO
VIDEO DEMO http://bit.ly/guitaristextra
GIT471.peds_walrus.indd 100 18/03/2021 12:40