Howard Gee is one of the best
- Thread starter D_Malone
- Start date
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vjf1968
Poster Extraordinaire
It's a little more complicated than that.
beyer160
Poster Extraordinaire
Howard-era Catalinbread was something special, for sure. The first thing Catalinbread developed after Howard left was a TS9 variant. That kind of says it all, really.
bottlenecker
Doctor of Teleocity
In the existing models, I don't know if there's any overall quality difference.
As far as new product design, they've been completely clueless. I wouldn't want anything they've been trying to introduce.
Good to know, thanks! Existing models was definitely my reference point as I’d just purchased an Adineko hours before reading this thread
. Makes sense—they can still reproduce the hits but the true creative juice is gone.
ConsiderMeMiles
Tele-Meister
Is there a list of all Catalinbread pedals designed by Gee anywhere?
Love my Katzenkonig. Would like to find a low/mid overdrive pedal from Catalinbread to pair it with.
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
Mine is the DLS, followed by the 5F6. I've had a number of Marshall-in-a-box pedals like Wampler's Alexi-Drive, etc but the DLS is tops for me. The 5F6 is not just a good tweed AIAB but it's damn fine OD as well.
I thought Gee would have his own product line available by now but apparently not.
I thought Gee would have his own product line available by now but apparently not.
Ben Harmless
Poster Extraordinaire
Quirky, I know, but I love the Adineko. It instantly turns anything into a dark, soupy swirl. I love it.
I do like the Catalinbread fuzzes, but I am in the minority I think, when I say that I'm not a fan of the dirt pedals. I think the DLS sounds like a Marshall turned up well past the sweet spot.
I'd still call myself a Howard fan though. I hope someone scoops up his new pedals to float the business, because I certainly can't lay out that kind of cash...
I do like the Catalinbread fuzzes, but I am in the minority I think, when I say that I'm not a fan of the dirt pedals. I think the DLS sounds like a Marshall turned up well past the sweet spot.
I'd still call myself a Howard fan though. I hope someone scoops up his new pedals to float the business, because I certainly can't lay out that kind of cash...
Highway 49
Friend of Leo's
Yes, Topanga, great as an always on clean boost, great spring reverb emulation… and it looks really good too. I also really like the Fuzzrite (the second silicon one- haven’t tried the new Germanium). I think perhaps he’s an exceptional pedal builder and Catalinbread are now mostly rehashing his work.
ConsiderMeMiles
Tele-Meister
I’m mostly a Fender guy. Any love for the Formula No. 55?
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
Absolutely, if I didn't have the 5F6 I would have bought a 55. It was a tough decision which could have gone either way. I've had them for as long as I can remember so they were made well before Catalinbread lost it's key employees.
Buffalo0993
Tele-Afflicted
Im a huge fan of Howard era Catalinbread too
My favorite is the Belle Epoch/BED. That thing is magical, no pedal really captures that sound like this one.
I use the topanga on my board for every show. I also have the Pareidolia Tremolo, i use it on my board when necessary. I also have the 5f6.
Ive owned the naga viper, echorec, and Adineko.
Theyre all special pedals. I swear i could pick a Howard pedal out of a line up. For me, hes the best pedal wizard to ever live.
My favorite is the Belle Epoch/BED. That thing is magical, no pedal really captures that sound like this one.
I use the topanga on my board for every show. I also have the Pareidolia Tremolo, i use it on my board when necessary. I also have the 5f6.
Ive owned the naga viper, echorec, and Adineko.
Theyre all special pedals. I swear i could pick a Howard pedal out of a line up. For me, hes the best pedal wizard to ever live.
bottlenecker
Doctor of Teleocity
New germanium fuzzrite? I'm curious, but I'd like to know who's behind it, and I'm more than reluctant to support the nick's mom version of catalinbread.
Highway 49
Friend of Leo's
Yes, I’ve only seen a couple of demos - I think I’m so used to the very specific silicon version sound, that the germanium version sounded rather like lots of other fuzzes. But that is just based on a couple of demos so far so I might be doing it a disservice.
ConsiderMeMiles
Tele-Meister
Does that mean parts/designs/build quality have changed since Gee left?
BluesRockDude
Tele-Meister
As far as I'm aware she sold the company on, so the current incarnation has nothing to do with Howard's firing. I have a 5f6 on my board which is pretty much always on low gain drive, and a Katzenkinig for my heavier stuff. I got a RAH but it just didn't work with my rig, there was something in the mid range that I just couldn't get on with.
E5RSY
Doctor of Teleocity
This pedal made me more excited about playing guitar than I had been in years. Something special about the Katzenkonig. It can be a little noisy, but that can be managed with a little experimentation.
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
I don’t really know to be honest. I just know they lost key players when the split occurred. Then the compan6 was sold a couple of years ago. It’s totally different.
