The Catalinbread Cold One is a fuzz and distortion pedal with blendable fuzz and distortion sides, released in October 2026 as the Portland maker's reimagined take on the 90s DOD Punkifier12. Guitar Pedal X identifies the original as the DOD FX76 Punkifier and calls the Cold One "a more modern evolved edition" of that circuit, adding that "both are very valid and worthy" takes on it3. gearnews' Jef notes the original pedal "straddled distortion and fuzz, with some interesting results," and that the Cold One keeps that character2.
The price sources disagree: gearnews gives $225.00 USD (also £198.00 GBP and 239.00 EUR) while its Sweetwater listing figure is $199.99 USD, and Guitar Pedal X reported $199 at launch. Both values are given here as published23.
The controls
The Cold One carries five knobs, and the fuzz and distortion sides can be blended against each other1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| FUZZ BLEND | Mixes between the fuzz side of the circuit and the distortion side1 |
| GLITCH | Mixes between fuzz and glitch fuzz on the fuzz side; all the way down, only normal fuzz, all the way up, only the glitch fuzz1 |
| GAIN | Controls the amount of gain on the Distortion side only; has no effect when the Fuzz/Dist Blend knob is maxed1 |
| TONE | Active control that emphasizes either the high frequencies or the low frequencies; active, meaning it does not cut any signal for its operation1 |
| VOL | "Up is up, down is down, ya dig?"1 |
gearnews describes the Gain control as the distortion side, adjusting the amount of gain "so it can do amp-style drive and more"2. The Glitch side is unusual: Catalinbread's product page notes the glitch fuzz mode is heard when the guitar volume is turned down slightly, per its second sound demo, which makes the guitar's own volume knob part of how the effect is played1.
Power and placement on the board
The Cold One accepts 9 to 18 volts DC via a center-negative plug, drawing a negligible 4mA, so a standard supply output handles it easily1. It also includes buffered inputs and outputs, which gearnews says means "it will play nicely anywhere in the signal chain"2. Players who prefer true bypass throughout will want to account for those buffers, while anyone with long cable runs may see them as a benefit.
What reviewers said
- Guitar Pedal X (Stefan Karlsson) sees the Cold One as moving the Punkifier circuit forward: "a very valid and worthy take on this circuit overall"3.
- gearnews' Jef takes a measured view: "I can see it being fun for a while, or useful for standout riffs or solos"2.
- gearnews also reports the pedal is available at Thomann and Sweetwater2.
Where it sits in Catalinbread's fuzz range
Catalinbread builds a wide fuzz line, from the Fuzzrite family including the Fuzzrite Mini to the chaotic oscillating bias fuzz of the Antichthon Deluxe, the StarCrash Fuzz Face variant, and the glitch-oriented Giygas. The Cold One is the line's take on the Punkifier, and its blendable fuzz and distortion sides set it apart from the single-circuit designs elsewhere in the range12. For more on the effect type, see Fuzz Pedals.
Videos
Mike Hermans
Questions
What is the Catalinbread Cold One based on?
The Cold One is Catalinbread's reimagined take on the 90s DOD Punkifier pedal, which gearnews describes as a design that straddled distortion and fuzz with some interesting results. Guitar Pedal X identifies the original as the DOD FX76 Punkifier and calls the Cold One a more modern, evolved edition of that circuit, keeping the original pedal's character while adding the Glitch control.
Does the Cold One have a buffer?
Yes. According to gearnews, the Cold One includes buffered inputs and outputs, so the pedal will play nicely anywhere in the signal chain. That matters for players who mix true bypass and buffered pedals, since the buffers help keep the signal strong over long cable runs and across a large board.
What does the Glitch knob do on the Cold One?
The Glitch knob mixes between the normal fuzz and the glitch fuzz on the fuzz side of the circuit. All the way down you hear only the normal fuzz, and all the way up only the glitch fuzz. Catalinbread's product page notes the glitch fuzz mode is heard when the guitar volume is turned down slightly, per its second sound demo.
Is the Catalinbread Cold One polarity center-negative?
Yes. Catalinbread's product page says the Cold One accepts 9 to 18 volts DC via a center-negative plug, drawing a negligible amount of current at 4mA. That low draw means it will run comfortably from a standard pedalboard power supply without straining a single output.
Sources (3)
- Cold One, Catalinbread Effects
- Catalinbread Cold One: The 90s DOD Punkifier Reimagined, gearnews.com, 2026-10-20
- Guitar Pedal X, Guitar Pedal X, 2026-10-16
