The Catalinbread CB-Distortion is a Catalinbread distortion pedal, currently around $89.99. Close alternatives include the MXR M115 Distortion III and the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive. It pairs well with the Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier and the Traynor SB112.
Catalinbread CB-Distortion
Catalinbread · pedal
The Catalinbread CB Distortion is a single-knob distortion from the minimalist CB Series, with gain and tone locked at the circuit's tonal sweet spot so the only control is output level. It delivers thick, aggressive crunch with exceptional clarity and dynamic response, covering punk grit, hard rock punch, and metal-ready saturation without extensive tweaking. This maximum-tone-for-minimal-controls approach trades deep tone-shaping for consistent, powerful distortion that's dialed in from the factory. It suits players wanting simple, no-fuss, purposeful high-gain distortion rather than a pedal with extensive parameter adjustment.
- distortion
- crunch
- saturation
- hard rock
- consistent
- aggressive
- reliable
- punch
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Catalinbread CB-Distortion is commonly used in
- Hard Rock
- Rock
- Metal
- Punk
- Alternative
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag. - Christian Rock
cited
Inferred from shared tonal signals, not a stated genre tag.
Amps that pair well with the Catalinbread CB-Distortion
Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier
Mesa Boogie
32% matchMesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost
Traynor SB112
Traynor
31% matchStack Traynor SB112 on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Ceriatone HRM 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone HRM 50 pushes a crunchy tone toward mid-forward
Ceriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50
Ceriatone
tonal matchCeriatone Overtone Special HRM Bluesmaster 50 takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward mid-forward
Traynor BB115
Traynor
tonal matchTraynor BB115 takes that saturated character and pushes it toward tight
Gallien-Krueger Legacy 212
Gallien Krueger
tonal matchGallien-Krueger Legacy 212 pushes a crunchy tone toward mid-forward
Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo
Phil Jones
tonal matchStack Phil Jones X4C NanoBass 35W 1x4 Combo on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward mid-forward
Egnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo
Egnater
tonal matchEgnater Renegade 65 4x10 Combo pushes a saturated tone toward tight
Pedals that stack with the Catalinbread CB-Distortion
Z.Vex Super Hard On
Zvex
20% matchStack Z.Vex Super Hard On on top and a crunchy tone tightens toward clean boost
Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
Boss
19% matchFeed a crunchy signal into Boss BD-2 Blues Driver and it comes out closer to clean boost
Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo
Caroline Guitar Company
15% matchPut Caroline Guitar Company Parabola State Tremolo after Catalinbread CB-Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread CB-Distortion's own gain stage
Strymon OB.1 Bass
Strymon
14% matchStrymon OB.1 Bass's own clean boost character is the real reason this is worth trying
Cusack Music Delay TME
Cusack Music
9% matchRun Cusack Music Delay TME after Catalinbread CB-Distortion in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread CB-Distortion's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Catalinbread Epoch-Set
Catalinbread
8% matchKeep Catalinbread CB-Distortion's crunchy voice out front: Catalinbread Epoch-Set goes after Catalinbread CB-Distortion in the signal chain so its warm voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Laney TI-Boost
Laney
tonal matchLaney TI-Boost's own voicing points at a clean amp's front end, and Catalinbread CB-Distortion delivers it
Mooer Flex Boost
Mooer
tonal matchCatalinbread CB-Distortion leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Mooer Flex Boost wants
Cheaper alternatives
Fender Hammertone Metal
Fender
70% similarityShared character: punch, aggressive_playing, hard_rock
Hotone Chunk Distortion
Hotone
66% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, distortion, s_build_quality
Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion
Behringer
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Dunlop Custom Badass
Dunlop
73% similarityShared character: higher_gain, full, aggressive_playing
Univox Super-Fuzz
Univox
70% similarityShared character: grit, full, aggressive_playing
Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion
Electro-Harmonix
70% similarityShared character: higher_gain, hard_rock, aggressive_playing
Black Country Customs Monolith
Black Country Customs
70% similarityShared character: full, aggressive_playing, hard_rock
Maxon DS830 Distortion Master
Maxon
68% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, distortion, s_build_quality
Boss BD-2W Blues Driver Waza Craft
Boss
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
MXR M115 Distortion III
MXR
73% similarityShared character: higher_gain, sweet, aggressive_playing
MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive
MXR
73% similarityShared character: circuit, full, aggressive_playing
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
71% similarityShared character: aggressive_playing, hard_rock, crunch
Marshall Guv'nor
Marshall
71% similarityShared character: clean_amp, sweet, grit
Dunlop Distortion III
Dunlop
70% similarityShared character: higher_gain, aggressive_playing, hard_rock
Suhr Riot
Suhr
70% similarityShared character: clean_amp, hard_rock, crunch
See all alternatives to the Catalinbread CB-Distortion (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Catalinbread CB-Distortion?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR M115 Distortion III, the MXR ZW-44 Berzerker Overdrive, the Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition. Budget picks: Fender Hammertone Metal, Hotone Chunk Distortion, Behringer UM300 Heavy Metal Distortion. Boutique upgrades: Dunlop Custom Badass, Univox Super-Fuzz, Electro-Harmonix Hellmaster Distortion.
What pairs well with the Catalinbread CB-Distortion?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier, Traynor SB112, Ceriatone HRM 50 — Mesa/Boogie Triple Rectifier takes that crunchy character and pushes it toward clean boost.
How much does the Catalinbread CB-Distortion cost?+
Around $89.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).