Catalinbread SFT Overdrive Pedal

Catalinbread SFT Overdrive Pedal Overview

The Catalinbread SFT is a vintage Ampeg-style amp-in-a-box, with all the warmth and grunt that you’d expect from the real deal. If you want to inject the distinct tonal character of that classic amp into your rig, the SFT is one to try. With the Stones/Stoner switch, you can go from crunchy Keith Richards to fuzzy Josh Homme in an instant!

This pedal works brilliantly with both guitar and bass.

Foundation Overdrive

The SFT is part of Catalinbread’s family of Foundation Overdrive pedals. Whilst the SFT can perform like a classic drive pedal, it works best as a core part - or “foundation” - of your guitar sound. Using your amplifier as a power amp and the SFT as a virtual pre-amp, you can imbue your rig with the tone and response of a vintage Ampeg.

The natural overdriven tone of the SFT stacks well with boost, distortion and fuzz pedals, adding a lively vintage character whilst preserving your tone’s clarity.

Vintage Amp Tone

Catalinbread have used their ingenuity to accurately recreate the circuit elements that are found in sought-after Ampeg amps and stuck it in a compact stompbox format. The result is a truly authentic playing experience that feels and sounds like you’re playing through the real thing.

The SFT features a response that’s sensitive to the touch and nuance of your playing. Once you’ve got a gnarly drive dialled in, you can clean it up by rolling back your volume control. The SFT has a wide tonal palette that can go from clean boost to vintage crunch to desert fuzz and everything in between.

Two Pedals In One

Thanks to two distinct voicings, that are accessible with a touch of a button, the SFT is effectively two pedals in one.

First up is the Stones mode, which is reminiscent of a late 60’s SVT and nails that not “quite clean, not quite dirty” sound. It boasts plenty of headroom, with a full-bodied tone that can get sparkly if you need it to. Start this mode up and make grown men cry!

Next, there’s the Stoner mode, which is closer to amps like the VT22 and VT40. As soon as you engage the Stoner mode, you’ll start to go with the flow. This mode transforms the SFT into a monster that nails those Kyuss/QotSA riffs and leads. With the gain cranked, the SFT can go from chunky distortion to a powerful fuzz with tonnes of sustain.

The SFT can run up to 18V if you need extra attack and volume or as low as 3-4V for even more saturation.

Interactive Tone Circuit

The SFT’s Treble and Bass controls are highly interactive and have been carefully voiced to provide the most authentic sound. There’s a huge range of tones available by experimenting with the tone and gain controls. The Bass control offers a significant amount of low-end boost, perfect for when you’re using the SFT with a bass or when you need a woolly fuzz. The Treble knob can provide a nice upper-mid kick when you need additional clarity or can be dialled back in Stones mode for a bold clean.

If you want a versatile pedal that can act as both a vintage-style tone enhancer and a raucous, saturated beast - the SFT is a box you need to add to your board. This pedal offers a distinct sound that stands out from the traditional Fender-y/Marshall-y tones and can give you both Stones & Queens sounds at a push of a switch.