Catalinbread travels back to the 70's with its StarCrash Themed Collection - including 2 new pedals - the StarCrash Fuzz and SideArm Overdrive
The StarCrash 70’s Collection re-skins 4 Catalinbread classics (Adineko, Katzenkönig, SFT, and Valcoder) and adds 2 brand new period correct pedals - a Screamer-type SideArm Overdrive, and a 70’s style StarCrash Sustaining Fuzz.
I really like the styling of these - which enclosures come in a really appealing apple-green sparkle, and where prices vary from $179 to $209 for the Adineko delay.
I only own the standard Katzenkönig from this circuit selection, I’ve had the SFT on the wishlist...
Catalinbread adds the Epoch Bias / Preamp compact to its Belle Epoch Echoplex-derived Family
We’ve had a number of pedals released into Catalinbread’s Belle Epoch Tape Echo family - starting with the original 2015 compact edition. The Deluxe edition arrived 2 years later, and and 2 years after that we had a large-format Epoch Pre - Preamp/Buffer, which is alas discontinued now.
In fact 2024 kind of sees something of a replacement for that Epoch Pre - in the shape of the 4-controls Epoch Bias - Preamp/Bias pedal.
The range currently consists of 5 pedals - One large DLX, a mini, ...
Catalinbread resurrects its thunderous SuperCharged Overdrive in new and improved Legacy Edition format
I believe the SuperCharged OD was first out in and around 2009 - in a 3-knob edition then - with Volume, Gain and Contour controls. The new one is significantly re-tooled with numerous refinements to the circuit - including an entirely new Tilt EQ control and with more range overall, while the same core 8 x MOSFET gain stage topology remains.
It’s a really full-throated, thick and juicy amp-like overdrive with an incredibly high degree of shaping - where the Tilt EQ pivots around the 800Hz ...
Catalinbread unleash the Deluxe edition of their Dirty Little Secret Plexi Drive - to go head-to-head with the Tsakalis AudioWorks Room #40
I’ve long been saying that Catalinbread should be externalising the SB / SL switch of its DLS - which for such a long time has been an awkward-to-reach internal dip-switch. They finally decide to do it in this Deluxe edition which comes with additional Presence and Boost controls / functions too.
I’ve owned a compact DLS for quite some while - and it’s a decent Plexi type for sure - supposedly Andy Martin’s favourite, but has never quite been one of my own absolute favourites - unlike the ...
Walrus Audio enters the Budget Pedal Arena with its incredibly well-considered Fundamental Series initial offering of 8
Most people consider JHS Pedals’ 3 Series launch back in October of 2020 as the catalyst and forerunner of this particular effects pedal industry Budget phase / development. While I would go back to August of 2019 to EarthQuaker Devices’ first $99 pedal - the Plumes Small Signal Shredder OD - as the starting point of this trend.
Of course Josh Scott was the first to issue a full range of $99 pedals - where he launched with 7 white utilitarian / industrial style 3-knobs + 1-switch - somewhat...
9 cool pairs of Vox-in-a-Box and Marshall Plexi style Pedals which have, or are about to fill slots #17 and #18
Readers of this blog will know that I’ve long and consistently had 2 key pedal types in my pedal-chain - namely a Brian May Vox style pedal, and an Eddie Van Halen Marshall Plexi style pedal - which for the last number of years have populated slots #17 and #18.
My very first pairing was the hybrid set of Bearfoot FX EGDM and MI Effects Super Crunch Box V2 - which overall probably served the longest innings on those two slots.
Since that first pairing we’ve had matched brand pairs - from...
15 of the Best Compact Enclosure Vox in a Box style Overdrives
It’s been a while since I last did a Vox-in-a-box roundup - in fact all the way back to my 2018 12 of the Best Vox Style Pedals feature - so it was about time I did an update. Readers will know that I always have a Vox pedal in my pedal-chain - occupying what is now slot #17.
It started with the Catalinbread Galileo way back when - and then following this rough sequence :
- Catalinbread Galileo
- Bearfoot FX Emerald Green Distortion Machine Silver (Silicon) - longest raining to-date
2022 Best New Time-Based Effects Pedals of the Year
So this is the first selection here where I only own a handful of the candidates - it’s easier to say what is in the reference collection than out :
- Boss RE-2 Space Echo Compact - $249
- Boss RE-202 Space Echo Deluxe - $399
- Chase Bliss Generation Loss MKII Stereo Magnetiser - $399
- Chase Bliss Habit The Echo Collector - $399
- Meris LVX True Stereo Modular Delay System - $599
- Old Blood Noise Endeavors Screen Violence Stereo Saturated Modulated Reverb Pedal - $279
Of those the Gen Loss II ...
2022 Best New Fuzz Pedals of the Year
So for the end of year Fuzz selection the only pedal of note that came a little too late to be included in this roundup was the very recent Reeves Electro BlackHatSound Deluxe Wedge - of which only 15 units have been made so far. Markus has promised me I can get copper insides when the next batch comes around - so I can complete my set!
Other than that everything of note that I’m aware of is included here in this selection. Again I own most of these - while there are still some down on the ...
Catalinbread unleashes smart semi-budget One Knob Elements Series of Overdrive, Distortion and Fuzz Pedals
Kind of taking a leaf out of JHS Pedals’ and Fender’s playbook - or their respective 3 Series and Hammertone Series budget ranges. Catalinbread has sort of delivered its own range of 3 semi-budget pedals - priced not at the killer $99 or below benchmark - but at 50% more at $149. In some ways there is less here than those others’ typically 3+ knob designs. While the Catalinbread Elements Series has THT components onboard versus the others’ SMT types, and a lot of time has been spent crafting ...
