The Fulltone Catalyst is a boost and overdrive pedal made by Fulltone. It sits in the same family as the maker's other gain pedals, such as the Fulltone Full-Drive 2 V2 and the Fulltone 2B, and like those it is built to push an amp harder or add grit on its own.
What it does
The Catalyst gives a player more gain in front of the amp, working either as a clean boost that raises the signal level or as a light overdrive when the gain is turned up. Its best-documented use is as a preamp, in the rig of The Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan:
"a Fulltone Catalyst used as a preamp"
That is a common role for a boost pedal of this kind, where the pedal sets the level and character of the signal before it reaches the rest of the chain or the amplifier.
Where it fits among boost pedals
For players comparing options, the Catalyst belongs to the broader category of boost pedals. Fulltone's own range includes several pedals in this lane that a player might weigh against it:
- Fulltone 2B
- Fulltone 2B JFET Booster
- Fulltone Full-Drive 2 V2
- Fulltone Fulldrive 3
- Fulltone Full-Drive 2 Mosfet
- Fulltone Ranger
Videos
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FulltoneMusicalProductsLLC
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Sources (1)
- Rig Rundown, Premier Guitar, 2012-11-20
