Catalinbread Formula No. 55 Foundation Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal

The Catalinbread Formula No. 55 is a next-generation 5E3 Tweed Deluxe inspired Foundation Overdrive with incredible range – from Grant Green to Crazy Horse!

5.0

(1 review)

Read 1 Review

Write a Review

SKU: CFORM55XX-P

Print page

Image for Formula No. 55 Foundation Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal from SamAsh

You need Flash player 8+ and JavaScript enabled to view this video.

Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version or update your Flash plugin.

Images (1)
Video (1)

MSRP: ~~$266.00~~ Discounted Price $189.99 Save : $76.01 (29%)

In Stock & Ready To Ship!

Protect Your Investment! ( More Info )

MSRP: ~~$266.00~~ Discounted Price $189.99 Save : $76.01 (29%)

Add to Cart

Store Pickup

Select A Store

Turn your amp into a 100-watt tweed Deluxe!

Well no, but that's what it'll feel like when you plug into your Catalinbread Formula No. 55! Big and powerful, yet refined, the Formula No. 55 melts into your amp, transforming it into a wide ranging tweed monster capable of everything from smokey, clean Grant Green jazz tones all the way to full on raging Crazy Horse excursions!

The old amps from the 50s were primitive beasts and the 5E3 Deluxe was no exception. Its preamp section let a lot of low frequencies through but then it would encounter an output section (power tubes, output transformer, and speaker) that couldn't handle all that low end, often resulting in a flubby response, especially if you turned the Volume up. In fact, if you look at the manual from an old '50s tweed, it advises you to "turn down the Volume should you experience any distortion". Of course, a lot of guitarists ignored that advice and cranked it up anyway, much to Leo's chagrin, and the sound of rock was born. The Formula No. 55 gives you that huge low-end response but was specifically voiced for touch-sensitive dynamics and a fat, but tight and punchy sound. You can play a palm-muted boogie-woogie rhythm pattern, for example, and if you don't bear down too hard with your picking attack you'll get a big chunky, woody sound, the kind of sound that you'd think would flub out if you suddenly started strumming harder. But start thrashing away and the response will get tighter instead of flubbing out! You just have to try it for yourself to see!

The Formula No. 55 is a Foundation Overdrive that reproduces, in exacting detail, the preamp section of the classic tweed 5E3 Deluxe using an all-discrete JFET-based signal path. The Volume and Tone controls replicate, part for part, the circuitry of the 5E3, giving you authentic tweed amp response. The output section is designed to give you lots of punch and volume with a low output impedance to drive your amp perfectly. Set the Hi-Lo button to "Lo" for the cleaner response of a vintage tweed. "Hi" is like hot rodding your amp by swapping in higher gain tubes.

Like all Catalinbread pedals, no SMD parts are used for audio circuitry. Only through-hole components selected for tone and response are used such as carbon composition resistors and premium capacitors. Catalinbread hand-builds them and they tone-test each one to ensure you get the best they can offer.

Controls:

Volume: From warm fat jazz clean to thick horn-like barking overdrive.
Tone: Noon for flat. Turn down for warm, smokey tones. Turn it up to boost upper mids and cut through the mix.
Presence: Adjusts ~ 5khz range. Set to noon to start. Turn it up for more bite! Turn it down to warm things up.
Master: Sets output level. Lots of boost on tap.

Hi-Lo Button:

Hi/Red: Like swapping in hotter tubes, for more gain, overdrive and attitude.
Low/Green: Low gain mode from clean to overdrive

Get your Catalinbread Formula No. 55 Foundation Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal today at the guaranteed lowest price from Sam Ash Direct with our 45-day return and 60-day price protection policy.

Things You Will Get:

Guitar Effect Pedal

See all Catalinbread Distortion/Overdrive/Fuzz/Boost Pedals

Sam Ash the leader of the Pack!

Killer fender deluxe 5e3 sounds ! Sam Ash is the leader again !

BILL

Undisclosed

2021-01-18

Formula No. 55 Foundation Overdrive Guitar Effects Pedal

5.0 1

0.0

Series	Foundation Overdrive
Model	Formula No. 55

Warranty Info:

3 Years Parts and Labor

Catalinbread LLC will repair or replace this unit if it fails to operate due to defects in materials and/or workmanship for a period of 3 years to the date purchased by the original owner. This warranty does not cover misuse or neglect by the user. Nor does it cover cosmetic damage to the finish and external hardware. To qualify the unit must have been purchased by an authorized Catalinbread dealer in the country of the original owner.

To qualify, simply fill out the warranty form and return to manufacturer within 10 days of purchase including a copy of the purchase receipt.