The Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70 is a Catalinbread distortion pedal. Close alternatives include the J. Rockett Broverdrive and the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion. It pairs well with the Marshall Super Bass and the Laney Richter.
Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70
Catalinbread · pedal
The Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70 is a variation of the Katzenkonig fuzz and distortion pedal from Portland, Oregon, voiced for a 1970s-era sonic character distinct from the standard Katzenkonig. The 70 designation indicates a circuit voicing that captures the specific tonal qualities of heavy 1970s rock and proto-metal, with a warmer, more rounded distortion character compared to the more modern-voiced standard Katzenkonig. Combines the RAT-style distortion and Super Fuzz-inspired harmonic content of the original design in a specifically 1970s voicing. Made in Portland by Catalinbread.
What stands out
“The 70 designation indicates a circuit voicing that captures the specific tonal qualities of heavy 1970s rock and proto-metal, with a warmer, more rounded distortion character compared to the more modern-voiced standard Katzenkonig”
— from the listing
“the catalinbread katzenkonig 70 is a variation of the katzenkonig fuzz and distortion pedal from portland”
— from the listing
“The specific 1970s heavy rock character that rounds off the more aggressive edges of the standard Katzenkonig is the standout voicing difference”
— from the community notes
“katzenkonig variation voiced for 1970s-era heavy rock and proto-metal character”
— from the community notes
“combines the rat-style distortion and super fuzz-inspired harmonic content of the original design in a specifically 1970s voicing”
— from the listing
- distortion
- fuzz
- heavy rock
- harmonic
- round
- aggressive
- hard rock
- more rounded character
Genres the Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70 is commonly used in
Amps that pair well with the Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70
Marshall Super Bass
Marshall
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Run Marshall Super Bass after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Comes later in the signal chain
Laney Richter
Laney
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans warm, Laney Richter answers back bright
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350
Mesa Boogie
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Mesa Boogie Subway D-350's bright balances out the warm tone
PRS DG
PRS
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run PRS DG after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Vox MV50 Brian May
Vox
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Vox MV50 Brian May's bright balances out the warm tone
Fuchs ODH
Fuchs
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Fuchs ODH leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo
Soldano
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Run Soldano SLO-30 2-Channel 30W 1x12 Combo after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head
Marshall
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans warm, Marshall JCM800 2205 50-Watt Amplifier Head answers back bright
Pedals that stack with the Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70
Catalinbread VariOboost
Catalinbread
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Catalinbread VariOboost leans bright right where the warm tone needs it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Tech 21 SansAmp
Tech 21
25% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
Tech 21 SansAmp's bright balances out the warm tone
Comes later in the signal chain
TC Electronic SCF Gold SE Stereo
TC Electronic
20% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor.
Run TC Electronic SCF Gold SE Stereo after Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70 in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70's own gain stage
Comes later in the signal chain
JHS 3 Series Compressor
JHS Pedals
19% matchfills a frequency gapFills in a frequency range the other side doesn't cover, instead of piling more onto what's already there. (warm → bright)
What JHS 3 Series Compressor brings here leans toward compressed — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2
Alexander Pedals
14% 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 Alexander Pedals History Lesson Vol. 2 after Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70 in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Catalinbread Echorec
Catalinbread
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.
Catalinbread Echorec's dark voice goes after Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70 in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70's own fuzzy character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Boss GEB-7 Bass Graphic EQ
Roland
tonal matchComes later in the signal chain
Where this leans warm, Boss GEB-7 Bass Graphic EQ answers back bright
Mad Professor Ruby Red Booster
Mad Professor
tonal matchComes earlier in the signal chain
Run Mad Professor Ruby Red Booster after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright
Alternativessee all similar tone character →
J. Rockett Broverdrive
J Rockett
57% similaritySimilar role and voicing
Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion
Boss
55% similarityShared character: warm, hard rock, fuzz
Catalinbread CB-Distortion
Catalinbread
54% similarityShared character: hard rock, metal, distortion
Source Audio Soundblox Multiwave Distortion
pedal
52% similarityShared character: one octave, metal, fuzz
Joyo Uzi Distortion
Joyo
51% similarityShared character: hard rock, metal, distortion
ProCo RAT 2
Proco
50% similarity“Combines the RAT-style distortion and Super Fuzz-inspired harmonic content of the original design”
Wampler Dracarys
Wampler
49% similarityShared character: metal, distortion, aggressive playing
Suhr Riot Mini Black Edition
Suhr
48% similarityShared character: hard rock, metal, distortion
MXR Eric Gales Raw Dawg
MXR
48% similarityShared character: distortion
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Fault V2
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
48% similarityShared character: distortion
MXR M104 Distortion+
Dunlop
48% similarityShared character: warm, hard rock, metal
Mad Professor 1 Overdrive
Mad Professor
47% similarityShared character: hard rock, distortion
See all alternatives to the Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70?+
The closest matches in character are the J. Rockett Broverdrive, the Boss DS-2 Turbo Distortion, the Catalinbread CB-Distortion.
What pairs well with the Catalinbread Katzenkonig 70?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Super Bass, Laney Richter, Mesa Boogie Subway D-350 — Run Marshall Super Bass after it and the warm edge settles into something more bright.