Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk2 vs Catalinbread Formula 5F6

The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk2 and the Catalinbread Formula 5F6 are both pedals sharing saturated, harmonically rich, transparent. The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk2 leans dynamic and full. The Catalinbread Formula 5F6 leans compressed. Current prices: $188.95 vs $152.99.

Similarity
citedBlended from circuit-archetype lineage, dynamic feel, tone-signal overlap and tone-vector distance — the tone vector itself is derived from editorial description text, not a measured acoustic signal, so this reflects how similarly the catalog copy describes the two, not a lab measurement. Shown only within a gear class, and only where there's enough evidence to be meaningful.

49% — somewhat different

Shared genres
citedGenres both listings are associated with.
  • Rock
Shared tone character
citedDerived from overlapping tonal signals across both listings.
  • saturated
  • harmonically rich
  • transparent
  • mid-forward
Citation fame
citedCitation/mention fame — how often this gear is cited across artist rigs and gear discussion.
17%
27%
Price

$188.95via Reverb

$152.99via Reverb

Description

The Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk2 is the second-generation Marshall Superlead-inspired overdrive from Portland, Oregon, improving on the original DLS with refined dynamics, improved gain staging, and a more versatile EQ section while preserving the original Plexi-inspired harmonic character. The Mk2 circuit delivers the natural compression, harmonic complexity, and British midrange authority of pushed Plexi-era Marshall amplifiers with improved control over the gain response. Made in Portland by Catalinbread.

The Catalinbread Formula 5F6 is a Fender 5F6-A Tweed Bassman-inspired overdrive from Portland, Oregon, capturing the warm, wide, bass-forward character of the legendary 4x10 tweed Fender amplifier that is the most directly influential amp design in rock history. The 5F6-A Bassman's output stage configuration directly inspired the original Marshall amplifier design, and the Formula 5F6 replicates its distinctive low-mid emphasis, natural power-stage compression, and balanced harmonic saturation. Associated with country and blues lead tones and the amplifier DNA behind British rock. Made in Portland by Catalinbread.

Genres
citedGenres this gear is documented as being used in.
  • Blues Rock
  • Country
  • Blues
Tonal lean
  • dynamic
  • full
  • compressed
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Catalinbread Dirty Little Secret Mk2 vs Catalinbread Formula 5F6 — Shared Character & Differences — NodeTone