The Catalinbread STS-88 is a Catalinbread flanger pedal, currently around $139. Close alternatives include the MXR Flanger and the JHS 3 Series Flanger. It pairs well with the Marshall Plexi 1959SLP and the Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head.
Catalinbread STS-88
Catalinbread · pedal
The Catalinbread STS-88 is a flanger and reverb pedal described as a love letter to the flanger, combining deep, sinuous flanging with a complementary reverb that enhances the flanger's metallic, swooshing modulation. Controls include Depth and Rate for the flanger, plus Mix and Reverb for the wet/dry blend and reverb size. Rate covers 0.077Hz to approximately 6Hz. Includes a gentle noise gate to suppress inherent guitar hiss and LFO clock noise. Runs at 9V to 18V. Priced at $209. Built in Portland, Oregon.
What stands out
“Includes a gentle noise gate to”
— from the listing
“Controls include Depth and Rate for the flanger, plus Mix and Reverb for the wet/dry blend and reverb size”
— from the listing
“The Catalinbread STS-88 is a flanger and reverb pedal described as a love letter to the flanger, combining deep, sinuous flanging with a complementary reverb that enhances the flanger's metallic, swooshing modulation”
— from the listing
“Use-case wise it suits shoegaze, post-rock, and gothic rock players who want flanger and reverb as an integrated atmospheric unit”
— from the community notes
“Its standout weakness is the specialized gothic-atmospheric character which”
— from the community notes
Trade-offs
“The STS-88 pairs deep, sinuous flanger with a complementary reverb that enhances and extends the flanger's metallic sweep, creating a mutually reinforcing double act , producing gothy, atmosp…”
— from the community notes
- noise gate
- mix
- metallic
- specialized gothic atmospheric character
- modulation
- rock
- post rock
- shoegaze
Price updated Oct 23, 2026
Genres the Catalinbread STS-88 is commonly used in
- Shoegaze
- Rock
- Post-Rock
Amps that pair well with the Catalinbread STS-88
Marshall Plexi 1959SLP
amplifier
16% matchWhat Marshall Plexi 1959SLP brings here leans toward aggressive — that's worth building a pairing around
Comes later in the signal chain
Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head
Dumble
15% matchDumble Overdrive Special Amp Head's own dynamic character is the real reason this is worth trying
Comes later in the signal chain
Pedals that stack with the Catalinbread STS-88
Zvex Fuzz Probe
Zvex
27% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep Zvex Fuzz Probe's fuzzy voice out front: Catalinbread STS-88 goes after Zvex Fuzz Probe in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
ZVEX Fuzz Factory Vertical Vexter
Zvex
24% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep ZVEX Fuzz Factory Vertical Vexter's full voice out front: Catalinbread STS-88 goes after ZVEX Fuzz Factory Vertical Vexter in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander
Alexander Pedals
23% matchsits in the right chain slotPlaced for where it does its job cleanly in the chain, not for a tonal interaction with the anchor. (fuzzy → modulated)
Keep Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander's spring voice out front: Catalinbread STS-88 goes after Alexander Pedals SpaceXpander in the signal chain so its modulated voice doesn't muddy it — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)
Comes later in the signal chain
Caline CP-11 Puffer Fuzz
Caline
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. (fuzzy → modulated)
Catalinbread STS-88's modulated voice goes after Caline CP-11 Puffer Fuzz in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Caline CP-11 Puffer Fuzz's own silicon character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Benson Amps STÖRKN Fuzz
Benson Amps
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. (fuzzy → modulated)
Put Catalinbread STS-88 after Benson Amps STÖRKN Fuzz in the signal chain, clear of Benson Amps STÖRKN Fuzz's own gain stage
Comes earlier in the signal chain
EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter
EarthQuaker Devices
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. (fuzzy → modulated)
Catalinbread STS-88's modulated voice goes after EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with EarthQuaker Devices Data Corrupter's own octave character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Third Man Records Knife Drop Fuzz/Synth
Third Man Records
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. (fuzzy → modulated)
Catalinbread STS-88's modulated voice goes after Third Man Records Knife Drop Fuzz/Synth in the signal chain — it's not there to compete with Third Man Records Knife Drop Fuzz/Synth's own fuzzy character
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Beetronics Overhive
Beetronics
11% matchBeetronics Overhive leans toward transparent, and that's a real, usable character to pair with
Comes earlier in the signal chain
Cheaper alternatives
Boutique & premium upgrades
Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress
Electro-Harmonix
57% similarityShared character: flanger, modulation
Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device
EarthQuaker Devices
57% similarityShared character: flanger, mix
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Flat Flange Shifter Device
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
52% similarityShared character: flanger, mix, modulation
Old Blood Noise Endeavors Flat Light
Old Blood Noise Endeavors
49% similarityShared character: flanger, mix, reverb
Fairfield Circuitry Shallow Water
Fairfield Circuitry
42% similarityShared character: flanger, modulation
T-Rex Tremonti Phaser
T Rex
41% similarityShared character: mix, modulation
Similar character
MXR Flanger
MXR
52% similarityShared character: noise gate, flanger, modulation
JHS 3 Series Flanger
JHS Pedals
47% similarityShared character: flanger, mix, modulation
Boss CE-2 Chorus
Boss
45% similarityShared character: modulation, reverb
Carl Martin Classic Flange Version II
Carl Martin
44% similarityShared character: flanger, modulation, reverb
Dex Tech Memory Flanger, part of Dex Audio's UK-built Memory Range
Dex Tech
41% similarityShared character: flanger, modulation, reverb
See all alternatives to the Catalinbread STS-88 (cheaper + boutique) →
Questions people ask
What are good alternatives to the Catalinbread STS-88?+
The closest matches in character are the MXR Flanger, the JHS 3 Series Flanger, the Boss CE-2 Chorus. Budget picks: Electro-Harmonix Electric Mistress, Boss CH-1 Super Chorus, MXR Phase 90. Boutique upgrades: Electro-Harmonix Deluxe Electric Mistress, Earthquaker Devices Pyramids Stereo Flanging Device, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Flat Flange Shifter Device.
What pairs well with the Catalinbread STS-88?+
Strong matches from rig and tone-complementarity evidence: Marshall Plexi 1959SLP, Dumble Overdrive Special Amp Head, Zvex Fuzz Probe — What Marshall Plexi 1959SLP brings here leans toward aggressive — that's worth building a pairing around.
How much does the Catalinbread STS-88 cost?+
Around $139 (live listing price, updated Oct 23, 2026).