So, along with playing the bass I also dabble in the guitar, I feel if nothing else it helps me understand the relatioship between the guitar and bass. Now, I'm not rich by any means (far from it) but I like to buy the highest quality gear I can afford without breaking the bank. Just for background the guitars are a Epiphone Les Paul traditional pro and a 2016 Tony Iommi signature through a Orange TH35. I bought a Catalinbread Sabbra Cadabra pedal for an overdrive after watching some review videos on youtube and thinking it really sounded great. Well, after getting it and playing it, it in fact sounded great, if even then I thought it ambiently a little noisy. In the past four months the pedal has grown so noisy that it is unplayable. It breaks up when the instrument is picked and the ambient noise bleeds over the guitar tone horribly. I have a MXR phaser and a joyo vintage overdrive in the same chain and powered with the same power suppy and they are fine. Everyone says the noise from this thing is ghastly. So, I have reached out repeatedly to Catalinbred pedals and no one answers any phone numbers listed, I emailed the customer service email and the first email I sent took three days to be answered with some questions about my signal chain and power supply etc. and a promise that "we'll get to the bottom of it."
I replied that it was first in the chain using my fx loop, but that it had been tried in-line direct and stand alone, and also through a friends JCM 800 direct with the same results. I then waited four more days and sent another short inquiry as to what the next steps were when I recieved this back for a reply,
"The Sabbra is our highest-gain pedal and generates a much higher noise floor than the rest of our line. If you purchased it from a retailer, you may wish to try another one, but I cannot guarantee that it will be quieter than the one in your possession. A 9V battery is the best bet for a lower noise floor, followed by its own non-chained 9V adapter, followed by an isolated power supply, then lastly a daisy chain. Running it at 18V will increase the noise floor. Unfortunately, it will never be a quiet pedal, even our master copy here at the shop has a high noise floor. Best, Nicholas"
I replied that this was not acceptable and that the retailer will not take back a four month old pedal and that this is not resolved...but I'm at a loss. I guess I'm out $200 for what amounts to a noisy paperweight. I did some googling and see that this company has been in turmoil for a year or so for a reason that is a bit hazy. Either way, I guess this is more of a warning to others than anything else. If anyone has any ideas, of course I'm open to suggestions.
I replied that it was first in the chain using my fx loop, but that it had been tried in-line direct and stand alone, and also through a friends JCM 800 direct with the same results. I then waited four more days and sent another short inquiry as to what the next steps were when I recieved this back for a reply,
"The Sabbra is our highest-gain pedal and generates a much higher noise floor than the rest of our line. If you purchased it from a retailer, you may wish to try another one, but I cannot guarantee that it will be quieter than the one in your possession. A 9V battery is the best bet for a lower noise floor, followed by its own non-chained 9V adapter, followed by an isolated power supply, then lastly a daisy chain. Running it at 18V will increase the noise floor. Unfortunately, it will never be a quiet pedal, even our master copy here at the shop has a high noise floor. Best, Nicholas"
I replied that this was not acceptable and that the retailer will not take back a four month old pedal and that this is not resolved...but I'm at a loss. I guess I'm out $200 for what amounts to a noisy paperweight. I did some googling and see that this company has been in turmoil for a year or so for a reason that is a bit hazy. Either way, I guess this is more of a warning to others than anything else. If anyone has any ideas, of course I'm open to suggestions.
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