The Catalinbread Airstrip Console Pre is a console preamp pedal: a stompbox built around the front end of a recording console rather than an amp circuit. At its core is a discrete op-amp, based on an old UREI design, which Catalinbread says "slams the front end of the console preamp"1. It sits in Catalinbread's family of console-style preamps, alongside the Catalinbread Airstrip and Catalinbread Airstrip Console Preamp, and the broader line of preamp pedals that also includes the Epoch Bias and the Crooner.
Controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Push | Governs the gain of a discrete op-amp, based on an old UREI design, which slams the front end of the console preamp. At minimum, the op-amp has unity gain and does not affect the operation of the preamp.3 |
| Trim | Works with Push to shape the preamp's drive; with both at maximum, the sound transforms into molten fuzz that ducks in between notes for a swell effect.34 |
| Volume | With Trim and Push at minimum, cranking it offers a superb and very loud clean boost with a tailored tonal profile that makes your guitar sound pre-mastered right out of the box.3 |
The Push control is where the pedal changes character. Catalinbread's product page puts it plainly: "This is where the Airstrip goes from a mild-mannered enhancer to a collapsing wall of fuzz with one simple twist."3
From clean boost to fuzz
The Airstrip covers a wide range from one set of three knobs. At one end, with Trim and Push backed off and Volume up, Catalinbread describes it as a very loud clean boost3. At the other end, with Push and Trim both at maximum, the maker says the sound transforms into molten fuzz that ducks in between notes for a very cool swell effect34. That fuzz territory puts it in reach of players who might otherwise look at fuzz pedals or overdrive pedals for front-end grit.
Power: 9 to 24 volts, center negative
The Airstrip accepts a center-negative DC power supply at anything between 9 and 24 volts3. Catalinbread notes that the more voltage you give it, the more headroom, volume and clarity you will get3, so the supply you choose shapes how clean the preamp runs.
Catalinbread warns that with a non-conforming adapter "you will let the smoke out, possibly permanently damaging the pedal, but definitely damaging your warranty."3 Use a center-negative DC supply within the 9 to 24 volt range, and do not assume any adapter will do.
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Questions
What does the Push control do on the Catalinbread Airstrip?
Push governs the gain of a discrete op-amp, based on an old UREI design, which slams the front end of the console preamp. At its minimum the op-amp has unity gain and does not affect the operation of the preamp. As you turn it up, Catalinbread says the Airstrip goes from a mild-mannered enhancer to a collapsing wall of fuzz with one simple twist.
What polarity does the Airstrip need?
The Airstrip accepts a center-negative DC power supply. Catalinbread specifies anything between 9 and 24 volts, and warns that using a non-conforming adapter can let the smoke out, possibly permanently damaging the pedal and definitely damaging the warranty.
Does more voltage change the sound of the Airstrip?
Yes. According to Catalinbread, the more voltage you give the Airstrip, the more headroom, volume and clarity you get. The pedal accepts anything between 9 and 24 volts DC, so you can run it at higher voltage for a cleaner, louder preamp or lower for earlier breakup.
Can the Airstrip be used as a clean boost?
Yes. Catalinbread says keeping both Trim and Push controls at their minimum settings and cranking the Volume knob offers a superb and very loud clean boost with a tailored tonal profile that makes your guitar sound pre-mastered right out of the box.
What happens if I use the wrong power adapter with the Airstrip?
Catalinbread warns that with a non-conforming adapter you will let the smoke out, possibly permanently damaging the pedal, but definitely damaging your warranty. Use a center-negative DC supply between 9 and 24 volts.
Sources (4)
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X
- Catalinbread Airstrip: Console Magic in a Stompbox, gearnews.com, 2025-01-15
- Airstrip Console Pre (Red), Catalinbread Effects
- Airstrip Console Pre, Catalinbread Effects
