Catalinbread Epoch Bias Preamp

The Maestro EP-3 Echoplex has been responsible for some of the most iconic tones in rock history. In 2020, we delivered a pared-down version of that preamp with the Epoch Boost. The all-new Epoch Bias expands on that circuit with a couple crucial differences. The Bias control simulates out-of-spec parts on the original, adjusting the base gain and body of the EP-3, which adds only a trivial amount of gain on its own. The new Filter control brings you the best of the early and late model EP-3, with a tasteful treble cut that lets you adapt the pedal to your rig and tone. Join us and experience the most refined version of the effect that launched a thousand discographies.

The first solid-state Echoplex that was released found its way into innumerable recording studios, guitarists found themselves plugging into it to extract its wonderful preamp qualities right before hitting the amp. And staying true to that, our original Epoch Boost was billed as something of a “mastering tool”, the finishing touch for your tone. And while you are certainly free to place it anywhere you like, almost everyone, including the pros, preferred it at the end of the chain as an “always on” to tighten up the entire mix while adding some extra sparkle on top. It just made everything sound “good.” When it came time to head back to the drawing board, we thought of a couple extra variables you could use to craft your perfect EP-3 experience. We added a Bias control which gives you a little more gain and body from the stock circuit by simulating out-of-spec parts in the preamp core, so that every pedal is “one of the good ones.” We played with the “early” and “later” circuits and found the differences to be a bit too subtle, so we decided to add a well-curated filter knob to take you from early to later and beyond, a tasteful hi-cut that lets you adapt the pedal to your rig, not the other way around. The Preamp control lets you engage a gentle filtering circuit that simulates the Volume control from the original Echoplex, acting on the tone as the echo would have. The stock EP-3 circuit adds only a trivial amount of gain by itself, so we’ve included a Boost knob to wring as much gain from it as possible, giving you a real punch where you need it. It’s certainly our most tweakable EP-3 offering to date, with everything you want and nothing you don’t.