The Catalinbread VariOboost is a boost and EQ pedal with a preamp-style gain control, built by the Portland maker Catalinbread. It combines a one-band frequency-selective boost or cut of up to 12dB between 70Hz and 1.4KHz with an optional soft-clipping gain stage, so it can act as a clean-ish tone shaper or add a touch of breakup on top.12
Status and history
The original VariOboost is no longer in production. Catalinbread's site offers a VariOboost Legacy Edition, which carries the same circuit description and controls.2
Controls
The VariOboost keeps things to four knobs, described on Catalinbread's product page:1
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Pre | Introduces more gain into the signal path, configured with high-threshold soft clipping parts. Fully down, the path is unaffected; up, it produces gentle but established soft clipping and pushes the post-EQ op-amp into more breakup.12 |
| Freq | Selects a frequency between 70Hz and 1.4KHz, which is then cut or boosted by the Level control.12 |
| Level | Boosts or cuts the selected frequency by 12dB. It uses a center-detent potentiometer, so at noon the frequency is flat and nothing is boosted or cut regardless of the Freq position.12 |
| Post | The volume control for the unit. Output volume is dramatically increased right before it, giving plenty of clean gain when the Pre knob is minimized.12 |
How the gain stage works
The Pre control is what separates the VariOboost from a straightforward clean boost. Catalinbread describes it as introducing more gain into the signal path "and is configured with some high-threshold soft clipping parts."1 In practice, that means the pedal can stay clean at low settings and only reaches gentle soft clipping as Pre is turned up, with the post-EQ op-amp pushed into more breakup.2 With Pre minimized, the large output headroom before the Post control leaves plenty of clean gain available.1
As a boost and EQ design, it sits alongside other boost pedals and preamp pedals, though its frequency-selective band places it firmly in equalization pedals territory too.
Videos
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Questions
What power does the Catalinbread VariOboost need?
The VariOboost accepts a center-negative DC power supply from 9 to 18 volts, according to Catalinbread's product page. That range means it can run from a standard 9V pedal supply or at a higher voltage, but it has no battery option mentioned, so plan your pedalboard power accordingly.
Is the Catalinbread VariOboost discontinued?
Yes. Delicious Audio described the VariOboost in 2022 as a now-discontinued boost pedal, noting that it had inspired Catalinbread's then-new Tribute overdrive. Catalinbread has since made a Legacy Edition version of the VariOboost circuit available on its own site.
What frequency range does the Freq control cover?
The Freq control selects a frequency between 70Hz and 1.4KHz, which is then cut or boosted by the Level control. That spans from low bass fundamentals up through the midrange, so it can shape a wide slice of a guitar's voice with one band.
What does the Pre knob do on the VariOboost?
The Pre knob introduces more gain into the signal path and is configured with high-threshold soft clipping parts. All the way down, the signal path is unaffected; as it is turned up, it produces gentle but established soft clipping and pushes the post-EQ op-amp into more breakup.
Sources (3)
- VariOboost (B-Stock), Catalinbread Effects
- VariOboost (Legacy Edition), Catalinbread Effects
- Catalinbread Tribute Low-gain Overdrive, Delicious Audio, 2022-04-29
