equipboard's Pedalboard

The Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor V3, an upgrade to a popular compressor by the boutique manufacturer Walrus Audio, introduces a notable addition with its tone knob. Inspired by the renowned Universal Audio 1176 compressor, we were eager to see if this pedal lives up to the high standards set by its predecessors.

Right out of the gate, the Deep Six V3 impresses with its solid build quality. This pedal feels robust and well-constructed, designed to withstand the rigors of live performance and extensive studio use. The unboxing experience, typical for Walrus Audio, conveys thoughtfulness and care. The graphic, while not our favorite from Walrus (and we realize this is subjective), stands out among compressor pedals, which typically aren’t visually interesting.

The pedal's layout features attack and sustain knobs, typical controls for a compressor. The blend knob, set at noon, allows you to feel the effect without squishing your tone, and it genuinely expands the pedal's versatility. The tone knob, a welcome addition, helps tame bass-heavy instruments by cutting bass when turned up or letting natural bass through when turned down. The top-mounted jacks save valuable real estate on our already crowded pedalboards.

We did notice a minor quirk: the pedal button doesn’t click in; it just taps. While this didn’t affect functionality, it could cause minor second-guessing in a live setting.

In terms of sound, the Deep Six V3 truly shines. It enhances our tone, adding a sparkle that cuts through the mix, whether we’re playing electric, acoustic, or bass. The sound remains pristine and crystal-clear, devoid of the noise often associated with compression pedals. We appreciate the versatility this pedal offers; it’s equally adept at handling subtle compression for rhythm sections as it is at delivering a substantial swash for lead solos.

Bottom Line: The Walrus Audio Deep Six Compressor V3 is an excellent choice for musicians who need a reliable, versatile compressor pedal. Its enhancements can elevate your tone, making it a worthy addition to most pedalboards. We found it very comparable to the Wampler Ego Compressor, ticking most of the right boxes and earning a spot in our gear lineup.