Catalinbread Unveils Ritchie Blackmore-Inspired Dreamcoat and Skewer Pedals
June 24, 2021 · 6 sources
Catalinbread announced two new pedals inspired by Ritchie Blackmore's sound and by the signature graphics of his band's record covers: the Dreamcoat, a preamp pedal recreating the Aiwa TP-1011 reel-to-reel preamp, and the Skewer, a treble booster based on the Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster1. The pair launched as a two-pedal box set, sold exclusively as a set for its first month at a discounted price of $299.99 (usually $359.98), with both pedals to be released as standalone units in a month's time23.
The Dreamcoat preamp
The Dreamcoat is built around a near-exact recreation of the preamp circuit from the Aiwa TP-1011 reel-to-reel deck, the tape machine associated with Blackmore's rig, combined with a passive inductor-based frequency booster of the kind Dawk Stillwell built for the guitarist14. Catalinbread describes the result in its own words:
"It can be an unruly, velcro-y, and sputtery beast, but one that can be tamed at low levels for a more classic rock approach."
A clean blend circuit placed after the frequency boost and tape preamp preserves pick attack and presence1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FREQ | Amount of boost at a frequency band set by an internal trimmer between 2.4KHz and 5KHz, up to a full 10dB boost1 |
| BLEND | Mixes the EQ'd signal with the Aiwa deck circuit1 |
| SAT | Controls feedback in the first stage, a control the original unit lacked1 |
| MIC VOL | The original "distortion" control of the Aiwa deck1 |
| MASTER | Volume, which Catalinbread notes can get "punishingly loud"1 |
The Skewer treble booster
The Skewer takes the same approach Catalinbread applied to its Naga Viper, but instead of the Dallas Rangemaster it is based on the Hornby-Skewes Treble Booster, which came stock with a silicon transistor for a more biting sound16. Catalinbread says it "bites just a little harder than our Naga Viper, and sounds fantastic with the DREAMCOAT"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| SKEW | Adjusts the frequency response of the boost from the stock Hornby-Skewes setting to full range and maximum gain1 |
| BOOST | Level of boost, with the stock setting about two-thirds up1 |
| EXTRA | Extracts more gain from the transistor1 |
An internal trimmer acts as a master volume, and the pedal adds a noise reduction filter and anti-pop switch circuitry1.
The Skewer accepts a 9V battery and must not be run at more than 9V1.
What the press said
Guitar Pedal X noted that the Dreamcoat brings to mind Walrus Audio's 385 Overdrive, itself based on a cinema projector preamp, and that the box set's starting positions, suggested by Catalinbread for settings it calls Classic Rock and Splatty Fuzz on the Dreamcoat and Gritty Breakup and Chime on the Skewer, are aimed at a wide array of peak-time Blackmore sounds46. The set shipped with free domestic shipping6.
Sources (6)
- Dreamcoat/Skewer Special Edition Box Set, Catalinbread Effects
- Catalinbread turns a shade of Deep Purple with a two-pedal box set for exploring Ritchie Blackmore's tone, MusicRadar, 2021-06-25
- Catalinbread’s Dreamcoat and Skewer pedals were inspired by Ritchie Blackmore‘s iconic guitar tone, Guitar.com, 2021-06-23
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2021-06-25
- Best New Guitar Pedal Releases, Delicious Audio, 2021-07-06
- Dreamcoat/Skewer Bundle (B-Stock), Catalinbread Effects