The Catalinbread Galileo is a boutique overdrive pedal designed to recreate one of the most iconic guitar sounds in rock history—the combination of a Rangemaster treble booster pushing a cranked Vox AC30. Inspired by Brian May's legendary setup, the Galileo delivers everything from shimmering British cleans to harmonically rich lead tones, all while remaining incredibly responsive to your guitar's volume control and picking dynamics. 

Unlike many conventional overdrive pedals, the Galileo is designed to become an extension of your amplifier rather than simply adding gain. Roll back your guitar's volume for articulate, chimey clean tones or turn it up for singing sustain and focused overdrive that cuts effortlessly through a mix.

This pre-owned Catalinbread Galileo is presented in good condition and offers an excellent opportunity to own a highly regarded boutique overdrive pedal at great value.

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Condition Overview

Good Condition

This pedal shows noticeable cosmetic wear consistent with regular use but is fully functional and ready for its next owner.

Professionally tested by the Fair Deal Music team.

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What's Included?

✔ Catalinbread Galileo Pedal

✔ Fully Tested by Fair Deal Music

✘ No Original Box

✘ No Power Supply

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Condition Notes

• Good overall condition
• Cosmetic signs of regular use
• Footswitch operating correctly
• Controls functioning correctly
• Input and output jacks in full working order

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Fair Deal Quality Control Assessment

Our team has thoroughly inspected and tested this Catalinbread Galileo to ensure it is fully functional and ready for sale.

Checks completed include:

✔ Footswitch tested

✔ Gain control verified

✔ Tone control tested

✔ Volume control verified

✔ Input and output jacks inspected

✔ Power supply connection checked

✔ Signal path tested

✔ Overall functionality confirmed

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Service / Setup Work

Prior to sale this pedal has been:

✔ Fully tested

✔ Controls cleaned where required

✔ Footswitch checked

✔ Audio signal verified

✔ Input and output sockets inspected

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Why Choose The Catalinbread Galileo?

Classic British Amp-In-A-Box Tone

The Galileo captures the sound of a treble booster driving a vintage Vox AC30, producing rich harmonics, focused mids and exceptional dynamic response.

Exceptionally Dynamic

Rather than relying solely on pedal controls, the Galileo responds beautifully to your guitar's volume knob, allowing you to move from clean tones to saturated overdrive without switching the pedal off.

Boutique American Build Quality

Hand-built in Portland, Oregon, Catalinbread pedals are renowned for their robust construction and premium analogue circuits.

Perfect For Vox-Style Amplifiers

While it performs well into many clean amplifiers, the Galileo particularly excels when paired with British-voiced amplifiers and Vox-style circuits.

Compact Pedalboard Friendly Design

Its compact enclosure makes it easy to integrate into almost any pedalboard without sacrificing functionality.

Highly Musical Overdrive

Whether you're chasing vintage British rock tones or simply looking for an articulate boutique overdrive, the Galileo delivers outstanding clarity and touch sensitivity.

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Why Buy Pre-Owned?

Buying pre-owned allows you to access premium boutique pedals while saving money.

Benefits include:

• Better value than buying new
• Professionally tested before sale
• Reduced depreciation
• Access to boutique gear
• Sustainable alternative to buying new

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Comparison Against Popular Alternatives

Catalinbread Galileo vs Catalinbread Royal Albert Hall

Both recreate classic British amplifier sounds, but the Galileo focuses specifically on the treble booster and Vox AC30 combination, while the Royal Albert Hall provides a broader Vox-style preamp experience.

Catalinbread Galileo vs JHS Crayon

The Crayon is a transparent overdrive with broad EQ flexibility, whereas the Galileo is voiced specifically around classic British amp tones.

Catalinbread Galileo vs Wampler Thirty Something

Both target Vox-style sounds, but the Galileo leans more heavily into the Brian May-inspired treble booster character.

Catalinbread Galileo vs Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

The BD-2 is a versatile general-purpose overdrive, while the Galileo delivers a far more specific British amp-inspired tonal character.

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Who Is It For?

Beginners

A great introduction to boutique overdrive pedals for players wanting expressive, amp-like drive tones.

Intermediate Players

Ideal for players looking to upgrade from mass-market overdrive pedals and explore dynamic British-style sounds.

Professional Players

Perfect for gigging musicians, recording artists and session players seeking authentic Vox-inspired overdrive.

Particularly Recommended For

• Classic rock
• Blues
• Britpop
• Indie
• Worship
• Recording studios
• Session guitarists
• Brian May-inspired players

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Why Choose A British-Voiced Overdrive Pedal?

British-inspired overdrive pedals offer a distinctive tonal character that differs significantly from many American-style drive circuits.

Benefits include:

• Rich harmonic content
• Singing lead tones
• Excellent note definition
• Dynamic response to picking
• Superb interaction with your guitar's volume control
• Classic British rock character

For players wanting the feel of a cranked vintage British amplifier without excessive volume, a pedal like the Galileo is an excellent solution.

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Product Story / Context

Catalinbread developed the Galileo to recreate the complete signal chain associated with Brian May's famous setup—a Rangemaster-style treble booster driving multiple Vox AC30 amplifiers. Rather than simply producing more gain, the pedal is designed to behave like an extension of the amplifier itself, encouraging players to shape their sound using their guitar's controls just as Brian May has done throughout his career.

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Associated Artists / Songs / Performances

While the Galileo is not an official signature pedal, it was specifically inspired by the legendary guitar tones of Brian May and the sounds heard on countless Queen recordings including:

• Bohemian Rhapsody
• We Will Rock You
• Tie Your Mother Down
• Brighton Rock
• Killer Queen

Its tonal goal is to recreate the classic treble-boosted Vox AC30 sound that became synonymous with Brian May's playing.

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Technical Specifications

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Power Requirements

• 9-18V DC centre-negative power supply
• Approximate current draw: 5mA
• Compatible with a 9V battery
• Power supply not included

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Pairs Perfectly With

• Isolated pedal power supply
• Pedalboard
• Patch cables
• Vox-style valve amplifier
• Clean boost pedal
• Delay pedal
• Reverb pedal
• Instrument cables
• Selected pre-owned amplifiers
• Boutique guitar effects

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Why Buy From Fair Deal Music?

Fair Deal Music is a family-run independent music retailer founded in 1987 and Birmingham's largest independent music store.

With over 6,000 Excellent 4.9-star Trustpilot reviews, knowledgeable musicians available by phone, online and in-store, fast UK delivery and secure online ordering, customers across the UK trust us for both new and pre-owned equipment.

Every pre-owned effects pedal is thoroughly tested before sale, ensuring you can buy with confidence. Whether you're building your first pedalboard or adding boutique effects to an established rig, our experienced team can help you choose the right equipment.

Looking for advice on choosing the right overdrive pedal, boutique effects or pedalboard setup? Our experienced team of musicians can help by phone, online or in-store.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Catalinbread Galileo suitable for any amplifier?

Yes, although it particularly excels with clean or British-voiced amplifiers where its Vox-inspired character can shine.

Does it only work for Brian May tones?

No. While inspired by Brian May's setup, it is an excellent boutique overdrive for classic rock, blues, indie and worship music.

Can it be powered from a standard pedalboard power supply?

Yes. It accepts a standard 9V DC centre-negative supply and can also operate at up to 18V for increased headroom.

Is it true bypass?

Yes. The Galileo features true bypass switching.

Does it work well with single-coil and humbucker guitars?

Yes. It responds exceptionally well to both pickup types and is particularly sensitive to changes in your guitar's volume control.

Is it suitable for live performance?

Absolutely. Its dynamic response and ability to clean up from the guitar's controls make it an excellent choice for gigging musicians.

Does it include a power supply?

No. A power supply is not included.

Can I try it in-store?

Yes. You're welcome to visit our Birmingham showroom to try available effects pedals and speak with our experienced team.