Walrus Audio Iron Horse

^# 42

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$130.52 to $219.99 Price Tier: Standard

4.5 (14)

3 Critic Reviews

3 Reviews

This product is Vintage or Discontinued

Newer option

Walrus Audio Iron Horse V2

$150.95 - $189.00

5.0 (11)

Find out who is using Walrus Audio Iron Horse

12 wishlisted

39 saved

Page last updated Jul 07, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 2 stores. Prices updated July 7, 2026.

Store

Reviews

Price

$219.99

View Deal

5.0 (25)

$130.52 3 available New

$70.00 24 available Used

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Average Price: $155

Standard/Professional

$80

$181+

Price Tier

In the Distortion Effects Pedals category, Walrus Audio Iron Horse is priced in the upper end of the Standard/Professional range. This is quality gear at a fair price point, suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and pros alike.

Budget

Standard

High-end

Price History

Based on price data from 1 merchant for "Walrus Audio Iron Horse". Prices shown reflect NEW condition. Tracking began Apr 2, 2026.

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Description

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Unleash the power of your guitar with the Walrus Audio Iron Horse. Designed for musicians who crave versatility and control, this distortion pedal offers a broad spectrum of unique tonal possibilities. The Iron Horse stands out in the crowd with its three-way diode selector, enabling smooth transitions from chunky riffs to blistering leads. Part of the Walrus Audio high-gain clan, this pedal is equipped to integrate harmoniously into any metal rig. Experience the freedom to shape your sound with precision, without compromising on the raw power of distortion.

Key Features:

Three-knob design for maximum control and ease of use
Three-way diode selector for versatile sound shaping
High-gain capability for powerful distortion effects
Ideal for metal and heavy rock genres
Part of Walrus Audio's premium pedal range
Designed for smooth transitions between tones
No-frills design for straightforward operation

Product specs

Brand	Walrus Audio
Model	Iron Horse, Iron Horse Limited Edition - 1016, Iron Horse Limited Edition - B/W, Iron Horse Limited Edition - Black Friday, Iron Horse Limited Edition - Guitar Guru Network, Iron Horse Limited Edition - Halloween, Iron Horse Limited Edition - Inked Series, Iron Horse Limited Edition - Paranova Series, Iron Horse Limited Edition - Rogue, Iron Horse Limited Edition - Thunder Horse
Finish	Black / Gold Castle, Black / Green Moon Graphic, Black / White, Burnt Red, Charcoal Frost, Inked, Orange / Black, Orange / Black Headless Horseman, Orange / Blue, Pearl Sparkle, Smooth Copper, White / Light Blue, Yellow
Year	2012 - 2017
Made In	United States
Categories	Distortion Pedals
Pedal Format	Standard

FAQs

What type of distortion can I expect from the Walrus Audio Iron Horse pedal?: The Walrus Audio Iron Horse pedal delivers a thick, punchy distortion with a classic LM308 op-amp, offering a wide range of tones from subtle overdrive to full-on fuzz-like saturation.
Is the Walrus Audio Iron Horse pedal suitable for metal and hard rock genres?: Yes, the Iron Horse is well-suited for metal and hard rock, providing aggressive distortion tones that can cut through the mix, thanks to its powerful gain range and versatile tone controls.
How does the updated tone control on the Walrus Audio Iron Horse affect its sound?: The updated tone control on the Iron Horse allows for more treble to be dialed in, providing greater flexibility in shaping your sound and achieving a brighter distortion tone if desired.
Can the Walrus Audio Iron Horse pedal achieve lower gain tones effectively?: Yes, the updated distortion control on the Iron Horse smooths out the range of distortion, making it easier to dial in lower gain tones for more subtle overdrive effects.
Does the Walrus Audio Iron Horse pedal have true bypass switching?: Yes, the Walrus Audio Iron Horse pedal features true bypass switching, ensuring that your guitar's signal remains uncolored when the pedal is not engaged.

Videos

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ProGuitarShopDemos

Walrus Audio Iron Horse

ProGuitarShopDemos

Walrus Audio - Iron Horse V2 + Shootout Against V1

Rabea Massaad

Walrus Audio - Iron Horse Artist Demo

walrusaudioeffects

Walrus Audio Iron Horse Distortion Walkthrough

walrusaudioeffects

Walrus Audio Iron Horse Distortion | Reverb Demo Video

Reverb

Walrus Audio Iron Horse (demo)

Living Room GD

Walrus Audio - Iron Horse Technical Demo

walrusaudioeffects

Reviews

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PROS

Highly sensitive controls for varied sound molding
Offers thick blues to crazy feedback versatility
Unique design with an Edgar Allan Poe aesthetic
Vintage-esque distortion reminiscent of Proco Rat 2
Three clipping modes for sound variation
Compatible with an OD for enhanced tone shaping
Uncompressed sound with tight distortion
Special character through a Strat guitar
Strong, dirty, unstoppable distortion character

CONS

Output may be excessively high for some users
Non-versatile, offering a single tone
Sound becomes muddy with knobs past 9 o'clock
Not easily adaptable to all music styles

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Walrus Audio Iron Horse.

Setup and maintenance

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Utilizing the Iron Horse with a solid state amp and active pickups often results in a muddy tone; users recommend exploring different amp settings for better compatibility.
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Comparisons

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The Iron Horse is described as a modified Rat, suggesting that ProCo's metal version might better suit metal players in the same tonal range.
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The Iron Horse, especially with silicon clipping engaged, can mimic a Big Muff sound before transitioning to other fuzz pedals like the Hizumitas.
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The Lichtlaerm Ritual is highlighted as a more tweakable Rat circuit with a 3-band EQ and multiple pre-distortion boosts, offering more flexibility than the Iron Horse.
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Use cases and applications

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The pedal excels in achieving a dark, scraggly distortion, especially when paired with naturally bright tube amps, providing a distinctive tonal contrast.
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When paired with a Vox AC15, the Iron Horse V3 maintains a fuzzy yet distinctively "ratty" tone, suitable for achieving classic distortion effects.
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The Iron Horse is favored for achieving moody, vintage Sabbath-style riffs, excelling in old-school metal with blues influences.
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Features and functionality

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Owners note that the Iron Horse can become mushy with the gain set above 8 o'clock, suggesting restraint for a clearer tone.
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The Iron Horse V2 has improved knob sweep over V1, enhancing its usability for tone adjustments.
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The V2 Iron Horse offers multiple clipping options, allowing users to adjust compression and loudness without significantly altering mid-range presence compared to a standard RAT pedal.
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The Iron Horse V3 offers a blend between standard and LED (Turbo Rat) clipping, making it brighter and cleaner as you move toward LED.
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User experience

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Some express difficulty in dialing mid-gain tones, as the pedal jumps from low to high gain too quickly, challenging those seeking moderate distortion.
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Owners recommend pairing the Iron Horse with a Plumes pedal for enhanced tonal versatility.
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Some users find Walrus Audio pedals sound better in person, suggesting tweaks at home can improve tone beyond initial video impressions.
Source

Critic Reviews

Walrus Audio Iron Horse V3 review: Rat-like tones with more transparency

guitar.com

The Walrus Audio Iron Horse V3 offers a refined take on Rat-inspired distortion with a smoother midrange and enhanced transparency. Its new knob for blending silicon and LED clipping adds versatility, though the LED side can overpower the mix. While the need to frequently adjust volume may frustrate some, those seeking a distinct, Rat-like tone with a modern twist will find this pedal a superb choice.

positive

Full Review

Walrus Audio Iron Horse V3 review | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

With its innovative silicon/LED clipping blend control, the Walrus Audio Iron Horse V3 delivers a versatile range of tones, from classic Rat-inspired distortion to unique, feral sounds. The pedal’s robust build and top-mounted jacks add to its appeal. While the market is saturated with Rat variants, the Iron Horse V3 stands out with its blend options, making it a worthy contender. However, users should note the need for level adjustments when toggling clipping settings. Despite the competition, this pedal hits the mark for those seeking a dynamic and robust distortion effect.

positive

Full Review

Walrus Audio Eras Five-State Distortion and Iron Horse High-Gain LM308 Distortion | Guitar World

guitarworld.com

The Walrus Audio Iron Horse LM308 Distortion pedal captivates with its third-generation enhancements, offering a vintage Rat-like tone with an adjustable clipping dial for versatile sonic exploration. The review praises its smooth silicon and punchy LED options, highlighting the pedal's ability to deliver a wide range of drive sounds, from clean boosts to full-on distortion. Notably, the continuous morphing between silicon and LED clipping and top-mounted jacks are appreciated, with no significant drawbacks mentioned. Overall, it's lauded as an adaptable, high-quality distortion pedal that delivers classic tones with modern flexibility.

positive

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4.5 out of 5

Based on 3 Reviews and 14 Ratings

5 star

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1 star

something_bad

305

over 4 years ago

One tone pedal. Really.

If you want a non versatile pedal that gives you only one single tone, this is it. Simple. The tone is nice, yes, I will give you that, but for that price and supposed Walrus quality, I think I should expect more.

With knobs after 9 o'clock everything sounds muddy, horrible and not any real decent chance, just a mess.

Paid almost $200 and sold for half that. Yeah. Good business.

Hope the v2 really fixed that problem, but I'm not paying to find out. Not again.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock

paralelojuan

351

almost 9 years ago

A Freight Train

Imagine a freight train at full speed, that's how this pedal sounds. Strong, dirty, unstoppable. A distortion not suitable for the timid. It doesn't have a standard sound, you can't play everything with it, it's not an OCD. It has its own spirit that dominates the performance, it doesn't easily mold to your sound, it becomes your sound.

This review has been translated automatically into English. See original

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Composer

Genres:

Rock Alternative rock Indie rock