Catalinbread CB Distortion

The Catalinbread CB Distortion is a compact distortion pedal and one third of the CB Series, a trio of pedals that also includes a fuzz and an overdrive. The series takes its look from '80s skate-shop graphics, and each pedal is built around a single knob, so the whole design comes down to one volume-style control and the character of the circuit behind it¹.

What it does

The single-knob design is the defining idea of the CB Series: the Fuzz, Overdrive, and Distortion are each a 1-knob design, with the one control acting as the pedal's main gain and level interaction with the amp¹. That makes the CB Distortion a set-and-forget drive: you dial the knob, and the pedal responds to how hard you dig in.

Loudness is central to how it works. Premier Guitar's reviewer found that, like its CB Fuzz sibling, the CB Distortion is loud, with a ton of volume beyond unity gain that can be used for dramatic dynamic effect, provided the amp is not already driven into heavy compression¹. In practice, that means the pedal has headroom in reserve: rolling the knob back cleans up the interaction, and pushing it past unity lets the pedal slam the front of an amp for touch-responsive dynamics.

Sound and character

Premier Guitar's reviewer described the range of voices the pedal covers:

The same review hears in it the spirit of simple, loud early distortion boxes and a pushed British stack, suggesting units like the MXR Distortion+ and DOD 250 and a Marshall plexi let off its leash¹. Of the three CB Series pedals, the reviewer judged the Distortion the best suited to the '80s skate-shop graphics that adorn the enclosures¹.

Where it sits in Catalinbread's range

Catalinbread has long built its name on characterful drive circuits, and the CB Distortion sits among several of the maker's distortion options¹:

• The Catalinbread Carbide, a three-knob take on the Boss HM-2 chainsaw sound
• The Teaser Stallion, a multi-mode drive from the same maker
• The Knight School Distortion DIY Kit, a build-it-yourself option

For a wider view of the category, see the site's pages on Distortion Pedals, Overdrive Pedals, and Fuzz Pedals, which cover the CB Series' siblings as types.

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