Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret MKIII

My opinion concerns the version III of the pedal. Analog pedal, standard format, aluminum case, 5 knobs middle, treble, bass, master and pre-amp gain used, it is supposed to represent the front of a Marshall stack.
Intuitive for those who are accustomed to using an amp, nothing complicated.
Inside we find a switch that toggles sound kind superbass (JTM 45) or Superlead (JCM 800), according to the manual switch and a presence. To finish the tower owner pedal is true bypass and can be powered either 9v (battery or AC) or 18v ​​which gives more "headroom" regulars understand!

UTILIZATION

This pedal is part of the series "fundation overdrive" as they say in Catalinbread, ie it sounds and acts like a real amp. It accepts pedals very well placed in front, such as overdrive, fuzz, whawha.
The knobs respond well and can quickly find a tone. Only downside open the pedal to act on internal switch ....

SOUND QUALITY

I think this pedal transcribed very well what it is supposed to recreate, ie the sound of a Marshall, it's still very typical, while those seeking a classic overdrive will be disappointed.
I think we should see this as an amp and pedal instead use an overdrive pedal to like the place in the entry already crunchy amp. It is in this version that I use. I have a Xotic AC Booster Fuzz and 69 'home Fulltone placed before and frankly I love it. With a Strat, the fuzz engaged in the DLS, a wha is Hendrix voodoo chile and under the fingers. With a typical skyscraper Les Paul that also works very well, the sound is fat and easily adjustable via knobs.

OVERALL OPINION

I now have a step back with this pedal it's a few months she sits on my pedalboard, use live no worries. I hesitated before buying it because I read a really negative reviews, but found Cygnus, I thought the worst I revendrais if it does not suit me.
In my opinion a try before you buy because it may not suit everyone, but for me it is a very good pedal.
This pedal is in direct competition with an impressive number of overdrives typed Marshall, SL drive Xotic, Wampler, MI AUDIO etc ....
As often imported products the price of new high, Cygnus is more affordable.

pedal that emulates the sound Marshall, two selectable modes inside the superlead or superbass pedal.

UTILIZATION

Pedal easy to use, Treble, med, bass, volume and Drive. So nothing complicated. Take the time to find his own sound, like all the pedals.
the manual is clear, long, and a bit pointless ...

SOUND QUALITY

Top quality, as there is in my opinion nothing better in this style of pedal.
the pedal is extremely dynamic in the two modes.

I mainly used SuperBass fashion as a vintage overdrive.

OVERALL OPINION

I found this fabulous pedal by the richness of sounds you can get. I'm user of the overdrive aspect of the pedal.
I've read that there 'was too low for SuperBass mode. This is true if you put the bass tone at noon or more. Just down the tones are ultra-efficient.
if you want better than that, buy the original amp

This pedal is a simulation of saturated marshall vintage type (wholesale) channel.
The idea is to have a Catalinbread Marshall on his Fender.

UTILIZATION

Usage is special, better read the instructions before.
The two modes are quite different, and access to the mode change is back under the plate (to unscrew so ... what an idea!)
Once you apply the advice of the manual is very simple. In Superbass not hesitate to put the Bass knob to zero eg.
Saturation is managed well with the volume knob on the guitar.
A slight saturation we move to a higher saturation with its volume (as if we put a boost).

SOUND QUALITY

The sound is very rich, very warm, and very dynamic. For blues to ACDC.
I also use it to "clear" the lowering my guitar volume, and by the preamp to zero, it gives a color I like bp.
In short it is lit all the time actually ...
Love it or do not like, but the sound quality is very good.

OVERALL OPINION

I use it for qques months I am very satisfied.
I love the color of this pedal, its warmth and dynamism.

I would have liked more progressiveness in the gain.

This is a pedal that will not suit everyone. This is not an overdrive or distortion, this is something else. I recommend trying with his equipment to see if it does.

A friend gave me his DLS I've tried on my Delta Blues with Strat, Tele, Gretsch and 2 LP. It is sold as a sensible overdrive play two stacks Marshall Super Bass (JTM45) and Super Lead (JCM800), pre-amps that are enclosed in the box chtite.

UTILIZATION

The manual usually limit this to a small leaf, takes on the appearance of a manual remote control, product philosophy, why and how, different configrations and pictures all there, see the PDF line. To believe in this manual so we seem to have bought two Marshall.

My comment concerns a completely rédibitoire point regarding use.
The switch to switch from SB SL mode is inside the case ... and we are in the V3 ...

SOUND QUALITY

Ben's is not overwhelming, it is far from the Led Zep demo circulating on YouTube and making the pedal we buy the fernmés eyes. Certe found the roughened appearance of the JTM45 with good momentum, we can have a clean sound by playing on his guitar volume as a true now the result is not fantastic and it on any of my guitars, note that SB Mode is crammed with Bass and is not suitable for all configs. Superlead mode is a bit softer but still tight grain is not there, I added distortion pedals behind as advised in this case it is better but it really takes very little gain in the pedal, the, a boost of good quality were obtained (185 euros is not given). I even tried to live in the loop, not better.

OVERALL OPINION

I found that hardness in this pedal especially when you go up the gain that is not what I'm like the idea of ​​Marshall. tru bypass is not obvious at all like many other pedal elsewhere.
That is my view and I am excited to see what are other opinions, especially on a test like Fender Twin or DRRI may be better to you!