The Catalinbread Blood Donor is a Catalinbread distortion pedal, currently around $129.99. Close alternatives include the Paul Cochrane Timmy and the Carl Martin Boost Kick. It pairs well with the Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head and the Synergy SL2 Module.
Catalinbread Blood Donor
Catalinbread · pedal
The Catalinbread Blood Donor is a clean boost and preamp pedal from Portland, Oregon, designed as a high-quality, transparent signal enhancement tool for pushing tube amplifiers into natural breakup or adding level to the signal chain without frequency coloration. Provides clean, noise-free boost with a wide level range for guitar and bass applications. Functions as an amp input driver, a signal chain level correction tool, or a transparent volume enhancement for solo applications. Part of the Catalinbread professional effects line made in Portland.
- boost
- transparent
- clean
- clean boost
- existing tone
- saturation
- gain
- aggressive
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Catalinbread Blood Donor is commonly used in
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Country
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Blues
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Classic Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Indie Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Catalinbread Blood Donor
Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
20% matchInto a transparent tone, Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head brings the high gain it's missing
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Synergy SL2 Module gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman BE-Mini Head brings the high gain it's missing
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Ceriatone 2202H gives it high gain to fill it with
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Friedman Jose LTD brings the high gain it's missing
Egnater Tweaker 88 Head
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Tweaker 88 Head's low gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Bad Cat
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Bad Cat Lynx 50 brings the high gain it's missing
Pedals that stack with the Catalinbread Blood Donor
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
22% matchInto a transparent tone, JHS Smiley brings the fuzzy it's missing
Fjord Fuzz Berserk
Fjord Fuzz
22% matchFjord Fuzz Berserk's fuzzy fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe
pedal
15% matchPut Dunlop JD-4S Rotovibe after Catalinbread Blood Donor in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Blood Donor's own gain stage
Seymour Duncan Vise Grip Compressor
Seymour Duncan
12% matchSeymour Duncan Vise Grip Compressor's transparent voice suits Catalinbread Blood Donor's own transparent character
Boss RV-5 Digital Reverb
pedal
8% matchBoss RV-5 Digital Reverb's spring voice goes after Catalinbread Blood Donor in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Catalinbread Blood Donor's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Strymon BigSky
Strymon
8% matchKeep Strymon BigSky after Catalinbread Blood Donor in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Blood Donor's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2
Dr Scientist
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Dr. Scientist Frazz Dazzler V2 brings the fuzzy it's missing
Tone City Dry Martini
Tone City
tonal matchInto Catalinbread Blood Donor, Tone City Dry Martini is right at home: it's built around a clean amp's front end
Cheaper alternatives
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
68% similarityShared character: boost, subtle, preamp
MXR MC401 Boost/Line Driver
MXR
68% similarityShared character: signal_chain, boost, transparent
TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive
TC Electronic
66% similarityShared character: boost, subtle, transparent
Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Behringer
66% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, natural
Catalinbread Sidearm
Catalinbread
96% similaritysimilar tone character
JHS 3 Series Overdrive
JHS Pedals
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
67% similarityShared character: 60_watt_all_tube_combo_amplifier, boost, transparent
JAM Boomster mk2
Jam Pedals
67% similarityShared character: subtle_enhancement, 60_watt_all_tube_combo_amplifier, boost
EarthQuaker Devices Westwood
EarthQuaker Devices
66% similarityShared character: boost, aggressive_playing, subtle
Crazy Tube Circuits Super Conductor
Crazy Tube Circuits
66% similarityShared character: all_styles, signal_chain, boost
Beetronics Buzzter Boost Preamp
Beetronics
94% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane
68% similarityShared character: boost, transparent, gain
Carl Martin Boost Kick
Carl Martin
67% similarityShared character: all_styles, tube_driven_signal_path, boost
Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost
Black Arts Toneworks
65% similarityShared character: boost, subtle, transparent
One Control OC-Lge
One Control
96% similaritysimilar tone character
EarthQuaker Devices Life
EarthQuaker Devices
95% similaritysimilar tone character
EarthQuaker Devices Tone Job V2
EarthQuaker Devices
94% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Catalinbread Blood Donor (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Catalinbread Blood Donor?+
The closest matches in character are the Paul Cochrane Timmy, the Carl Martin Boost Kick, the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost. Budget picks: MXR Micro Amp, MXR MC401 Boost/Line Driver, TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive. Boutique upgrades: JHS Morning Glory, JAM Boomster mk2, EarthQuaker Devices Westwood.
What pairs well with the Catalinbread Blood Donor?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head, Synergy SL2 Module, Friedman BE-Mini Head — Into a transparent tone, Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head brings the high gain it's missing.
How much does the Catalinbread Blood Donor cost?+
Around $129.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).