The Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp is a Catalinbread preamp pedal, currently around $179.99. Close alternatives include the Catalinbread Epoch Bias and the Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive. It pairs well with the Greer Black Mountain and the Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff.
Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp
Catalinbread · pedal
The Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp is a console-inspired overdrive and preamp pedal based on the Trident A-Range channel strip circuit, delivering gain-shaping capability from clean EQ tonal coloring through fuzzy, filtered overdrive tones. The CB-Range designation refers to the Catalinbread A-Range circuit topology. Covers subtle boost, studio-style preamp coloration, and mix-cutting fuzzy overdrive associated with classic rock recordings. Built in Portland, Oregon. Suited for classic rock, studio, and recording-focused players.
What stands out
“Strengths: A-Range channel strip circuit provides the specific console preamp color associated with classic rock recording sessions”
— from the reviews
“Limitations: Specialized console preamp character is a strong tonal identity”
— from the reviews
“Covers subtle boost, studio-style preamp coloration, and mix-cutting fuzzy overdrive associated with classic rock recordings”
— from the listing
“The Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp is a console-inspired overdrive and preamp pedal based on the Trident A-Range channel strip circuit, delivering gain-shaping capability from clean EQ tonal coloring through fuzzy, filtered…”
— from the listing
“Suited for classic rock, studio, and recording-focused players”
— from the listing
Trade-offs
“The Airstrip CB-Range delivers the Trident A-Range console preamp character in an overdrive pedal format, covering the full range from transparent boost through filtered, mix-cutting fuzzy overdrive tones of classic rock recordings”
— from the community notes
- classic rock
- recording
- boost
- eq
- mix
- coloring
- cutting
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp is commonly used in
- Classic Rock
Pedals that stack with the Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp
Greer Black Mountain
Greer
23% matchgain stackingStacks two gain stages for more saturation than either produces alone. (low gain → fuzzy)
The low gain tone has headroom to spare — Greer Black Mountain leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff
Electro-Harmonix
21% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → smooth)
Where this leans bright, Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff answers back smooth
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Walrus Audio Monument CS
Walrus Audio
21% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp's bright voice out front: Walrus Audio Monument CS goes after Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp in the signal chain so its harmonically rich voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor
Sahbro Audio
16% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (bright → warm)
SahBro? Audio Ross Kempressor leans toward compressed, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
T-Rex Junior Roomate
T Rex
13% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Keep T-Rex Junior Roomate after Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
12% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Eventide Modulated Delay's modulated voice goes after Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp's own bright character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes
Electro-Harmonix
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Electro-Harmonix EH-1335/EH-3075 Hot Tubes wants
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
Behringer
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp delivers it
Cheaper alternatives
Catalinbread Super Chili Picoso
Catalinbread
50% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, overdrive
Bogner Ecstasy Blue Mini Overdrive
Bogner
50% similarityShared character: wide range, subtle, boost
Electro-Harmonix Soul Food
Electro-Harmonix
49% similarityShared character: wide range, subtle, boost
Catalinbread StarCrash SideArm
Catalinbread
48% similarityShared character: full
Mesa Boogie Flux-Five
Mesa Boogie
47% similarityShared character: subtle, boost, overdrive
Donner Dumbal Drive
Donner
47% similarityShared character: signal chain, boost, transparent
Boutique & premium upgrades
Browne Amplification Carbon X
Browne Amplification
51% similarityShared character: signal chain, subtle, boost
Fairfield Circuitry Roger That
Fairfield Circuitry
47% similarityShared character: signal chain, transparent
JAM Pedals Lucy Dreamer
Jam Pedals
90% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Catalinbread Epoch Bias
Catalinbread
69% similarityShared character: signal chain, recording, boost
Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive
Rarebird Effects
53% similarityShared character: mix, boost, transparent
Friedman Small Box Overdrive
Friedman
48% similarityShared character: mix, classic rock, full
Alexander Pedals Riff Instant Tone Sanitizer
Alexander Pedals
48% similarityShared character: subtle, boost
Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster
Dallas
48% similarityShared character: boost, overdrive
Friedman BE-OD Deluxe
Friedman
47% similarityShared character: wide range, mix, classic rock
See all alternatives to the Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp?+
The closest matches in character are the Catalinbread Epoch Bias, the Rarebird effects Hatchet Overdrive, the Friedman Small Box Overdrive. Budget picks: Catalinbread Super Chili Picoso, Bogner Ecstasy Blue Mini Overdrive, Electro-Harmonix Soul Food. Boutique upgrades: Browne Amplification Carbon X, Fairfield Circuitry Roger That, JAM Pedals Lucy Dreamer.
What pairs well with the Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Greer Black Mountain, Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff, Walrus Audio Monument CS — The low gain tone has headroom to spare — Greer Black Mountain leans it toward fuzzy to fill it in.
How much does the Catalinbread Airstrip CB-Range Overdrive Preamp cost?+
Around $179.99 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).