Walrus Audio Lore Review (pedal in hand)

Walrus Audio does unique tones really well. The Lore is a great example of this, combining a number of effects to create ambient sounds that we have not heard in effects pedals of the past few decades (1990s and 2000s). Here's what the Lore combines to get these sounds:

• Reverse reverb and delay
• Modulation
• Octaves/pitch shifting

This combination gives you the following five programs (modes) that you can choose from:

• Program 1: Reverse delay into reverse reverb
• Program 2: Reverse delay into octave up reverb
• Program 3: Reverse delay into octave down reverb
• Program 4: Reverse reverb into forward reverb
• Program 5: Pitch delay into pitch delay

All of these sounds allow you to get really far away (if you want to) from a traditional electric guitar sound, especially when you bump the mix knob to drop your dry signal lower. There are rhythmic aspects to this, and the Lore has a tap tempo, but a lot of the sounds are really ethereal that don't restrict themselves.

Many sounds are not percussive enough to be particularly rhythmic.

I've put together my own demo in the video below, and will cover as much detail as possible in my full Walrus Audio Lore review.

Compare to Other Walrus Audio Pedals

You can use this table to look at live pricing and basic specs for the Lore compared to other Walrus Audio pedals. If you'd like to compare additional pedals you can use the gear search box below to bring up more pedals from Walrus Audio or other brands.

Demo Video

Walrus Audio Lore Price Guide

Pricing updated Fri, September 29th, 2023.

Pricing from Sweetwater

Price Alert

Price History

IDEAL FOR: Ethereal ambient tones, clean channel layering, recording, church/worship music, modern playing styles, post-guitar playing styles.

Lore's Tone Quality and Soundscapes

All of the reverb and delay tones are either reversed or moved an octave (pitch shifted). Variations of these sounds make up the first four programs while only pitch shifted delays are the fifth.

All the sounds are created by combining two effects in series, with one going into another to give the trail a kind of mutation.

Check the demo video above. It's much easier to show you than to explain.

The result is a very unique take on ambient trails.

Here are some of the descriptors I would use:

• Ethereal 
• Layered ambience
• Long trails
• Pitchy and detuned
• Lots of feedback

You can EQ any of these qualities in or out, plus the mix knob gives you complete control over intensity.

Overall Quality

Modern digital pedals rarely have poor tone quality, especially Walrus Audio. Their pedals always sound great, and the Lore is no exception. Of course this depends on the gear you put around the Lore, but the effects layer will sound good and do a lot to dress up your clean signal.

The trails sound full, vibrant, and have a nice sparkle to them, while modulation and pitch-shifting sound thoughtful and intentional.

There's definitely a stretching of the trail that's intriguing.

In other words, they didn't just throw a few effects together.

There's a ton of design put into this pedal, and the result is a very pure-sounding general purpose ambient effect that will do wonders for a boring clean tone.

Tone Usability

The only program I had a hard time placing was the fifth mode, which is pitch delay going into pitch delay.

But even this has its place. It just doesn't seem as widely applicable as the other four modes.

And part of this is just me being too much of a doofus to use it right.

As you can tell in the demo, I had a really hard time finding harmonies in the pitch trails. In some cases I had the dry signal, then the first pitch, followed by a second pitch all sounding off because of not setting the intervals right.

Again, that's on me and not on the pedal.

Price and Value

The Lore has a predictable price tag.

Most of these modernized digital pedals fall in the $300 to $400 price range, especially if they have multiple complex algorithms like the Lore does. This is pretty common since these effects require more programming and more work to get you such a wide variety of sounds.

Today you see less pedals that are just "reverb" or "delay" and more combinations and permutations of effects that end up creating new sounds.

These pedals are usually more expensive.

What you used to be able to do only with large scale multi-effects (remember the big DigiTech pedals?) pedals is now widely available.

Thus, the price point is higher, which I think is a reasonable ask.

Ideal Style Fit

As I've alluded to, this is a very modern flavor of ambience. Don't think Fender reverb or even a simple multi-mode reverb. It's not like the TC Electronic Hall of Fame.

This is for very ethereal tones, which we typically see in pop, new age metal, and sometimes modern rock.

Blues, jazz, classic rock, and grunge are all out. 

Even early 2000s rock would be a pretty big stretch.

Can I use the Lore for bass?

You can use the Walrus Audio Lore for bass rigs, though I'd argue it will have limited application, simply because the pedal gives you so many stretched out sounds. It's definitely not a percussive or rhythmic kind of effect, even on the programs that include delay.

Still, there's nothing excluding it from a bass rig, and the creative ideas you bring to the table are all your own.

I'd say there are better options for bass, but you make the call.

Can I use the Lore for acoustic guitar?

In some styles an acoustic rig could work. But, as I mentioned with bass, the Lore is just way too ethereal and without defined patterns.

Someone who specializes in lead acoustic guitar and unique styles of music might be able to apply it, but there are far better pedal options for acoustic guitars.

Read more: Best pedals for acoustic guitars

Aim for a simpler reverb, delay, and modulation source.

Does it come with a power supply?

Unfortunately, the Lore does not come with its own power supply. We'd recommend using a multi-source, isolated power supply like one of the Voodoo Lab options. Note the mA rating addressed below.

What's the milliamp (mA) rating of the Lore?

The Lore requires a minimum 300 mA current to power on. Do your research on your existing power supply or, if you're going to buy one, make sure it has at least one power source that is rated 300 mA or higher.

Read more: Understanding milliamps in guitar pedal power

What type of bypass switching does it have?

The Lore has a buffered bypass circuit, which has its advantages over true bypass. I've covered the pros and cons of buffered bypass in the article linked below.

Read more: Buffered bypass in guitar pedals

Review Conclusion

The Lore is an incredibly unique and addictive pedal.

For guitar players that want to layer up their clean tones and really push the envelope of creativity, it's a great option and will significantly boost your ambient tone library.

I'd recommend it for lead electric guitar players in more modern styles.

Note that it's not a good candidate to replace a more traditional delay or reverb pedal. It's an additive - an expansion pack, if you will.

If you have questions about our Walrus Audio Lore review or our review process, reach out in the comments section.

I'll do my best to help out.

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