Walrus Audio Teams Up With Ian Martin Allison for the Mantle Bass Preamp/DI
Walrus Audio has teamed up with bass gear guru Ian Martin Allison to create the Mantle, a preamp and DI for electric bass. The pedal is described as premium, bringing studio-grade refinement to any playing situation.
“At the heart of the circuit are our proprietary, custom-wound Sapphire transformers, engineered to deliver the authoritative low-end and midrange push reminiscent of a classic Neve circuit, paired with an airy, articulate top end inspired by revered API preamp architecture,” Walrus writes. “Together, they provide a harmonically rich canvas that elevates your playing while preserving every nuance of your instrument.”
The pedal has a gain knob with Bass and Treble knobs for EQing. The equalization goes beyond simple shelving, though. Each control has an 11-position rotary switch with a true flat response at noon, or position 6. The boosting positions add up to 15dB in 3dB increments. They begin as a shelf and “gradually transition into a broad, musical bell as you increase gain.” The cutting positions introduce steep pass filters at selectable points. “This design allows precision mix shaping or broad musical coloration, without sacrificing elegance or fidelity,” they explain.
The Mantle also has an active/passive switch and a Ground lift to separate the XLR output ground from the circuit ground.
“I am an absolute DI fanatic, owning probably 50+ DIs and preamps. And while they’re all great in specific ways, they all either lack something critical or try to stuff in too many features, making for an underwhelming or even overwhelming user experience! This is exactly why I wanted to make Mantle,” Allison writes. “I needed this product to exist. I’m thrilled to say that now it does. And it is absolutely killer.”
Get the full story and hear it in action with this demo from Ian Martin Allison.
The Walrus Audio Mantle is available directly for $749.99. The first batch has sold out, but pre-orders are open for the next batch in March.
Walrus Audio Mantle Analog Bass Preamp/DI Photos:
Walrus Audio Mantle Analog Bass Preamp/DI Features:
| High-impedance JFET Input Buffer for articulate, touch-sensitive response and exceptional clarity. |
| Up to +23dB of transformer-based gain offering clean, magnetic, harmonically rich amplification with premium depth and detail. |
| Custom-tailored Bass & Treble controls co-designed with Ian, utilizing a sophisticated blend of shelving, bandpass, and selectable LPF/HPF behaviors. |
| Transformer-balanced XLR output ensures expansive headroom, uncompressed dynamics, and commanding low-frequency extension. |
| High-headroom +24V internal power supply for clean dynamics and effortless low-end. |
| Active/Passive Pad & Ground Lift switches for enhanced compatibility to allow for more headroom if needed when using an active bass. |
| Flexible routing with 1/4″ in/out and balanced XLR direct output for modern routing needs. |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
