Catalinbread has announced the release of the Airstrip Console Pre pedal, a meticulously crafted stompbox that captures the essence of legendary British mixing consoles.
Catalinbread Airstrip
Inspired by the iconic Trident A-Range, the Airstrip faithfully recreates these legendary consoles’ warm, characterful sound, renowned for transforming guitars from subtle cleans through to overdrive and to full-on fuzz tones.
Catalinbread says, “The Airstrip is a testament to our dedication to capturing the spirit of iconic gear. We’ve poured countless hours into recreating the unique sonic fingerprint of those legendary consoles, delivering a pedal that not only sounds incredible but also offers unparalleled versatility.”
At its core, the Airstrip features a discrete germanium-and-transformer-equipped preamp, meticulously designed to deliver a wide range of tones, from the refined elegance of Lou Reed to the chaotic brilliance of Frank Zappa. When driven hard, console preamps unleash a torrent of harmonics, creating a thick, saturated distortion that imparts a unique character to the sound.
Key Features
- Push: Unleash a ferocious, fuzz-driven overdrive with a dedicated control powered by a discrete op-amp based on a vintage UREI design.
- Volume: Provides plenty of clean boost, ensuring your signal cuts through the mix.
- Filter: A subtle treble filter allows players to fine-tune the high-end response, tailoring the sound to their preferences and rig.
- Trim: Controls the preamp gain, offering precise control over the overall level and character of the signal.
Headroom
The Airstrip can be powered at 18V instead of the standard 9V for increased headroom. This approach mirrors the operation of the Hudson Broadcast, another console-inspired pedal that benefits significantly from higher voltage.
Operating at 18V allows the Airstrip to deliver a wider dynamic range, enabling pristine “mastered”-style clean tones. However, when pushed, it effortlessly transitions into a rich, warm overdrive and even into fuzz territories, making it a remarkably versatile and powerful stompbox.
The Catalinbread Airstrip is now available for pre-order from authorized Catalinbread dealers worldwide.
MSRP – £149.60
More Information
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