Hand-built in Portland, Oregon, the Catalinbread Airstrip is a tribute to the legendary custom-built 1972 Trident A-Range console. These consoles relied on discrete transistor circuitry that imparted a signature warmth and character to the signal, and were used on records by iconic British artists such as David Bowie, Elton John, and Queen.
Part of the company’s CB-Range of analog preamps, the Airstrip accurately captures this legacy through a discrete Germanium transistor circuit and a specially selected transformer.
While the 9-18V operation delivers ample headroom and output, a secondary discrete op-amp inspired by a classic UREI design allows the player to push the front end further via the Volume knob.
The combinations allowed by the Trim, Push, and Filter knobs open up a range of tone possibilities, from clean boost and subtle breakup to collapsing fuzz textures.
When these three knobs are set at their lowest, the circuit functions as a clean boost, enhanced by the Volume knob. Turning up the Trim will send more gain and saturation to your signal, delivering very musical overdriven tones.
Filter works primarily on high frequencies, it can soften overly bright tones (particularly useful on fuzzy tones when the Push control is active) or add shimmering highs when pushed.
However, fuzz lovers will have the most fun with the Push knob, which controls the intensity of the fuzz, unlocking the wilder side of the circuit.
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