The Catalinbread Sidearm is a Catalinbread overdrive pedal, currently around $111.99. Close alternatives include the Paul Cochrane Timmy and the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost. It pairs well with the Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head and the Synergy SL2 Module.
Catalinbread Sidearm
Catalinbread · pedal
The Catalinbread Sidearm is a boost and overdrive pedal from Portland, Oregon, designed as a harmonic enhancer and level boost that adds presence and musical saturation at its gain ceiling. Provides clean boost through light overdrive with a transparent character that preserves the fundamental guitar tone while adding harmonic content and presence. Designed for players who need a reliable, musical boost pedal that sounds like more of the same guitar and amp rather than adding obvious pedal character. Made in Portland by Catalinbread.
- boost
- transparent
- saturation
- fundamental
- drive
- reliable
- overdrive
- clean boost
Price updated Aug 27, 2026
Genres the Catalinbread Sidearm is commonly used in
- Rock
- Blues
- Country
- Alternative
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 Sidearm
Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head
Revv
22% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head gives it high gain to fill it with
Synergy SL2 Module
Synergy
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Synergy SL2 Module brings the high gain it's missing
Ceriatone 2202H
Ceriatone
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Ceriatone 2202H brings the high gain it's missing
Friedman BE-Mini Head
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman BE-Mini Head gives it high gain to fill it with
EVH 000
Evh
tonal matchEVH 000's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own
Hughes & Kettner Warp 7
Hughes & Kettner
tonal matchInto a transparent tone, Hughes & Kettner Warp 7 brings the high gain it's missing
Bad Cat Lynx 50
Bad Cat
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Bad Cat Lynx 50 gives it high gain to fill it with
Friedman Jose LTD
Friedman
tonal matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — Friedman Jose LTD gives it high gain to fill it with
Pedals that stack with the Catalinbread Sidearm
Soldano SLO
Soldano
23% matchInto a transparent tone, Soldano SLO brings the high gain it's missing
JHS Smiley
JHS Pedals
22% matchThe transparent tone has headroom to spare — JHS Smiley gives it fuzzy to fill it with
Boss BF-2 Flanger
Boss
16% matchPut Boss BF-2 Flanger after Catalinbread Sidearm in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Sidearm's own gain stage
Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive
Vox
13% matchVox Valvenergy Silk Drive's own smooth character is the real reason this is worth trying
Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb
Alexander Pedals
8% matchPut Alexander Pedals Now We Are Ghosts Reverb after Catalinbread Sidearm in the signal chain, clear of Catalinbread Sidearm's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Eventide Modulated Delay
Eventide
8% matchEventide Modulated Delay's modulated voice goes after Catalinbread Sidearm in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Catalinbread Sidearm's own transparent character — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Fender Hammertone Overdrive
Fender
tonal matchCatalinbread Sidearm leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform Fender Hammertone Overdrive wants
J. Rockett Blue Note Select
J Rockett
tonal matchCatalinbread Sidearm leans into a clean amp's front end, precisely the platform J. Rockett Blue Note Select wants
Cheaper alternatives
TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive
TC Electronic
70% similarityShared character: boost, guitar, pedal
Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose
Electro-Harmonix
69% similarityShared character: boost, pedal, transparent
JHS 3 Series Overdrive
JHS Pedals
96% similaritysimilar tone character
DOD 250 Overdrive Preamp
Digitech
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Behringer OD300 Overdrive Distortion
Behringer
95% similaritysimilar tone character
MXR Micro Amp
MXR
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Boutique & premium upgrades
Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive
Greer
72% similarityShared character: boost, presence, guitar
Crazy Tube Circuits Clean Little Secret
Crazy Tube Circuits
71% similarityShared character: rich_harmonic_content, boost, presence
JHS Morning Glory
JHS Pedals
70% similarityShared character: boost, guitar, amp
J. Rockett .45 Caliber Overdrive
J Rockett
64% similarityShared character: light, boost, guitar
DigiTech DOD Looking Glass Signature Designer Distortion
Digitech
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Frost Giant Electronics Yama
Frost Giant Electronics
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Similar charactersee all similar tone character →
Paul Cochrane Timmy
Paul Cochrane
71% similarityShared character: boost, guitar, transparent
Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost
Black Arts Toneworks
71% similarityShared character: boost, presence, pedal
Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer
Ibanez
69% similarityShared character: tone, boost, pedal
Catalinbread Blood Donor
Catalinbread
96% similaritysimilar tone character
Dunlop MXR Super Badass Dynamic Overdrive, model M89
Dunlop
95% similaritysimilar tone character
Carl Martin Hydra boost
Carl Martin
95% similaritysimilar tone character
See all alternatives to the Catalinbread Sidearm (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Catalinbread Sidearm?+
The closest matches in character are the Paul Cochrane Timmy, the Black Arts Toneworks -Skyboost, the Ibanez TS9 Tube Screamer. Budget picks: TC Electronic MojoMojo Overdrive, Electro-Harmonix Spruce Goose, JHS 3 Series Overdrive. Boutique upgrades: Greer Lightspeed Organic Overdrive, Crazy Tube Circuits Clean Little Secret, JHS Morning Glory.
What pairs well with the Catalinbread Sidearm?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head, Synergy SL2 Module, Ceriatone 2202H — The transparent tone has headroom to spare — Revv Generator 100P MkIII 3-Channel Head gives it high gain to fill it with.
How much does the Catalinbread Sidearm cost?+
Around $111.99 (live listing price, updated Aug 27, 2026).